ifornia region, regardless of where the physical locations of these other B2C information technology product marketers may be.
The market leader in B2C PC marketing is Dell Computer. Other major players in the B2C PC market are Gateway Computer and Compaq Computer (a division of Hewlett-Packard).
Compaq produces a full line of computers from high-end servers to low-end desktops and hand-held computers. Compaq emphasizes low price in each product group and builds its market position by under-pricing competitors. Dell also produces a full line of computers. Dell, however, emphasizes quality and reliability instead of low price. Compaq markets its products directly to consumers and through retail distributors. Dell markets its products directly to computer only. Thus, while each company provides direct competition for Electronic Village.com, the Dell operation has greater similarity to that of Electronic Village.com than does the Compaq operation.
Both Dell and Compaq emphasize product quality. An important facet to product quality (technical support) is a point of differentiation between Dell and Compaq. Compaq depends on computer resellers and channel partners to provide product support and repairs, while Dell offers both telephone and Web-based technical support. For product repair, however, Dell relies on third-party contractors. Again, the approach of Electronic Village.com has greater similarity to that of Dell than to that of Compaq.
Compaq produces to stock and maintains strategically placed warehouses to assure product availability to resellers. Both delivery speed and delivery reliability are high. Dell, in contrast, produces to order and ships the finished product directly to purchasers. Delivery reliability at Dell is high, but delivery speed depended in part on order volume. Electronic Village.com generally follows the Dell model. With respect to Compaq, Electronic Village.com offers Compaq PCs as a...