Online sale

I don't know about you, but when I hear about online shopping, mega-platforms, customer support, assistance, and dropshipping, I immediately get a serious case of "deep skepticism."

What do you think it depends on? I've formed my own opinion. I don't know how valid it is, but it’s based on my experience—on what the world was like thirty years ago and what it has become today.

Let's be clear: rude shopkeepers, dishonest people, and tricksters have always existed. And unfortunately, as part of human nature, they always will. They will probably evolve—actually, they already have—into a "super breed of swindlers."

Today, however, they have much more powerful weapons: algorithms, artificial intelligence, and sophisticated marketing techniques. And it seems that the more unscrupulous you are, the more the system rewards you. The more money you make, the more you exploit people and their weaknesses.

These "structures" are unreachable. They have robots that answer for them, waste your time, and bounce you from one service to another. You can never speak to someone who can truly solve your problem, which over time becomes insurmountable and frustrating. But beware: it’s not their problem, it’s yours.

And here comes the worst part: you get so frustrated with yourself for not being able to communicate with a real human being that next time, you don’t even try. Mission accomplished. They have solved their problem: you won’t bother them anymore. Sure, you can switch suppliers. But you are just one person. They still win.

My Approach: The Opposite

In my online store, this doesn’t happen. Behind that phone, it's me. On the chat, it’s also me. I reply to all emails, and I do it in real-time.

I wouldn’t be able to look at myself in the mirror if I didn’t. Once I understood how the "big entities" operate, I chose to do the exact opposite. I keep my humanity. In my imperfection, I try to do my best to be present and provide quick, meaningful responses.

My fight against the e-commerce giants is also reflected in my minimal presence on social media and Google, with an intentionally limited advertising budget.

Today, some companies spend up to 25% of their revenue on advertising on social media and Google. Now, let me ask you one question: who do you think pays for that investment? Of course, a company needs to stay competitive and sell, but... in the end, who really bears the cost?

I have chosen not to follow this logic. I prefer to build a direct relationship with my customers. I prefer quality over quantity. I prefer trust over aggressive advertising.

And you? What do you think?