also through a section of the site called "Beyond Lands End" where visitors can follow the adventures of naturalist Jim Fowler or other outdoor oriented activities.
E-bay provides an opportunity to consumers that is difficult to come by via traditional retailing efforts. Auctions give buyers the chance to pay the lowest possible price while it gives sellers the chance to gain the highest possible price for their goods. Typical auctions are not held for only one or two items, so many sellers would be unable to avail themselves of this option; instead, they might use consignment shops to sell their goods, or a garage sale, or some other venue which offers only limited visibility for themselves and their products. Consumers are also limited in their ability to learn about products which might be on the market through traditional venues; e-bay offers a large number of items available in a short period of time with an easy-to-use search engine.
The disadvantage to e-bay is that customers cannot inspect the goods in question (although pictures can be posted) and neither customers nor sellers actually meet. The site does allow users to post comments about their experiences with particular buyers and sellers, but these are only as reliable as the people who are posting the messages. Left with no warranty regarding the products, this is a case of where "buyer beware" is the overriding guideline. E-bay has recently started providing some buyer protection through Lloyd's of London, but this coverage is cumbersome to execute and may not be as convenient as warranties offered through traditional shopping methods.
In the case of Lands End, the advantage to shopping on the Internet is the convenience of shopping from one's home or office at any time of
...