If you can spare a moment...

...I require assistance

 

I have an opportunity to take advantage of a small business start-up program through the government here in Ontario.

 

The first thing that popped into my head is anime-related collectable retailing. figures, dolls, action figures, etc!

 

Part of the application is market research. I need honest answers from like-minded people, but finding them in my neck of the woods can be difficult

 

I figured we all have roughly the same interests, and I was hoping some of you would be willing to answer a couple of quick questions.

 

I'll do my best to keep it brief!

 

1: Have you ever purchased an anime-related collectable (figure, toy, doll, etc)?

 

A) Yes!

B) No!

 

2: If you answered yes to question #1, was your last purchase made within the last:

 

A) 5 years?

B) 2 years?

C) 1 year?

D) 6 months or less?

 

3: When you buy anime-related collectables, do you usually buy them from a physical retail store front, or from an online retailer (amiami, hlj, etc.)

 

A) Storefront!

B) Online!

 

4: How many purchases on average do you make in a year?

 

A) 1-10

B) 10-20

C) 20-30

D) 30+

 

5: How many purchases on average do you make in a month?

 

A) 1-3

B) 3-6

C) 6-9

D)9+

 

6: If you buy online, what is the greatest deciding factor when it comes to picking a retailer to buy from?

 

A) retail price

B) shipping price

C) customer service

D) item availability

 

7: The last question is an open question. What sticks out in your mind as something that you value when using a preferred online retailing service?

 

(I'll give an example---> I love how fast amiami ships! I've literally gotten an order 2 days from order date. It always impresses me how fast they get my stuff to me!)

 

Thank you for any and all help!

Here you go!

 

 

1: Have you ever purchased an anime-related collectable (figure, toy, doll, etc)?

 

A) Yes!

 

2: If you answered yes to question #1, was your last purchase made within the last:

 

D) 6 months or less

 

3: When you buy anime-related collectables, do you usually buy them from a physical retail store front, or from an online retailer (amiami, hlj, etc.)

 

B) Online!

 

 

4: How many purchases on average do you make in a year?

 

 

B) 10-20

 

 

5: How many purchases on average do you make in a month?

 

A) 1-3

 

 

 

6: If you buy online, what is the greatest deciding factor when it comes to picking a retailer to buy from?

 

 

C) customer service

 

 

7: The last question is an open question. What sticks out in your mind as something that you value when using a preferred online retailing service?

 

Communication hands down. As long as the selelr keeps me informed throughout the order and process, I can deal with just about anything that may come up. If something happens and the order is delayed, I love hearing about it instead of being left in the dark. I HATE not being informed of what is going on with something of mine. It's so very easy to drop your customer an email to tell them your order is processing, or getting ready to ship or delayed due to weather, whatever. I will pay MORE for items if the communications and service is good. I worked in retail for 20 years and time and time again, people will bend over backwards for you if you just TALK to them and explain things in a timely manner.

 

 

I hope this helps you out!

 

 

 

Billy

1: A

 

2: D

 

3: B

 

Now, are the next few questions still about anime purchases, or just any purchases?

I will just answer these with anime purchases.

 

4: A

 

5: A

 

6: C

 

7: I want someone I can trust, along with good prices and fast shipping.

1: A

2: D

3: B

4: D

5: B

6: D

7: A large selection to choose from that is well organized so it is still easy to browse.

1:A

2:D

3:Does manga count as etc? Because if so then A but if not then B

4:B

5:A

6:C

7:Reliability and ease of use. I want my things to show up on time and in one piece, and I don't want to worry about identity theft or shady dealings like that. Generally that's not a problem with actual sites as opposed to random eBay sellers but you never know. A good reputation is key to me.

1: Have you ever purchased an anime-related collectable (figure, toy, doll, etc)?

 

A) Yes!

 

2: If you answered yes to question #1, was your last purchase made within the last:

 

D) 6 months or less?

 

3: When you buy anime-related collectables, do you usually buy them from a physical retail store front, or from an online retailer (amiami, hlj, etc.)

 

I will buy them from a storefront if it is available but usually it isn't so I choose online. So both XD.

 

4: How many purchases on average do you make in a year?

 

C) 20-30

 

5: How many purchases on average do you make in a month?

 

B) 3-6

 

6: If you buy online, what is the greatest deciding factor when it comes to picking a retailer to buy from?

 

A) retail price

B) shipping price

 

7: The last question is an open question. What sticks out in your mind as something that you value when using a preferred online retailing service?

 

A good reputation is the main thing another thing is their customer service. I have had issues with orders before and when they respond fast and offer a good solution it makes me come back and buy from them again.

1: Have you ever purchased an anime-related collectable (figure, toy, doll, etc)?

 

A) Yes!

 

2: If you answered yes to question #1, was your last purchase made within the last:

 

D) 6 months or less?

 

3: When you buy anime-related collectables, do you usually buy them from a physical retail store front, or from an online retailer (amiami, hlj, etc.)

 

B) Online!

 

4: How many purchases on average do you make in a year?

 

D) 30+ (I'm also counting things like anime DVDs, manga, etc)

 

5: How many purchases on average do you make in a month?

 

B) 3-6

 

6: If you buy online, what is the greatest deciding factor when it comes to picking a retailer to buy from?

 

A) retail price

B) shipping price

 

I can't pick out of these two. I have sometimes decided to not buy from stores when they don't give me free or reasonable shipping. However, I am willing to pay more for shipping if the item is rare or a good deal. I think of the total price (item price + shipping) when I buy online.

 

7: The last question is an open question. What sticks out in your mind as something that you value when using a preferred online retailing service?

 

Fast shipping is irrelevant. I will literally wait weeks to get manga or DVDs because they were shipped USPS Media Mail if I can get free shipping + no sales tax + good item price.

 

Good customer service is nice but 99.9% of the time, I don't need it. Stores most of the time get the right items to me and shipping services most of the time don't lose or damage my stuff.

 

Total price (item price + shipping + tax) and stuff I want to buy. That's all that matters.

1: Have you ever purchased an anime-related collectable (figure, toy, doll, etc)?

A) Yes!

 

2: If you answered yes to question #1, was your last purchase made within the last:

D) 6 months or less?

 

3: When you buy anime-related collectables, do you usually buy them from a physical retail store front, or from an online retailer (amiami, hlj, etc.)

B) Online!

 

4: How many purchases on average do you make in a year?

B) 10-20 (Strictly keeping to purchases of Figures/Toys/Dolls)

 

5: How many purchases on average do you make in a month?

A) 1-3 (Strictly keeping to purchases of Figures/Toys/Dolls)

 

6: If you buy online, what is the greatest deciding factor when it comes to picking a retailer to buy from?

From highest to lowest: Customer Service, Shipping Price, Retail Price, and lastly Item Availability.

 

7: The last question is an open question. What sticks out in your mind as something that you value when using a preferred online retailing service?

 

Communication is extremely important to me when buying anything from anyone. I like for a seller to answer my questions promptly (especially if something in my order needs to be changed) and to be honest about everything they are telling me. Keeping me updated about the status of my item tells me I can trust the retailer I'm buying from and continue to do business with them. I especially love when an online retailer will fix any problems that come up with my order as soon as they possibly can

 

Of course once I've established which retailers I can trust then I will start looking at retail price along with shipping. If an online retailer forces me to use expensive shipping when I'm perfectly fine with using a cheaper method I most likely won't purchase from them. I like to be able to decide when to use a more expensive shipping method or not.

Thank you all for your answers!

 

Your input is a big help, and I very much appreciate you all taking the time, I can't thank you enough!

 

I'll hear back on the 10th of the month if I've been accepted or not, wish me luck!

If you need any more responses, here is mine:

 

1. A

2. D

3. B

4. C

5. B

6. B

7. Whenever I buy something online the main things that matter to me are shipping price, and shipping time. Sometimes individual sellers try to scam on shipping prices, which I never really appreciate. I also don't like whenever a business takes a week to send out an item.

1: A

2: D

3: B

4: B

5: A

6: A

7: Communication and shipping speed are very important to me. I also tend to try and purchase from Canadian sellers when possible, to avoid customs fees.

1: Have you ever purchased an anime-related collectable (figure, toy, doll, etc)?

A) Yes!

 

2: If you answered yes to question #1, was your last purchase made within the last:

B) 2 years?

 

3: When you buy anime-related collectables, do you usually buy them from a physical retail store front, or from an online retailer (amiami, hlj, etc.)

B) Online!

 

4: How many purchases on average do you make in a year?

A) 1-10

 

5: How many purchases on average do you make in a month?

A) 1-3

 

6: If you buy online, what is the greatest deciding factor when it comes to picking a retailer to buy from?

C) customer service

 

7: The last question is an open question. What sticks out in your mind as something that you value when using a preferred online retailing service?

I appreciate a lot the customer service because I feel much more comfortable buying from shop where I know they will reply if I have any question or problema. A fast shipping is also important for me because I don't like them to have me waiting too long for my purchased items.

 

--- I hope my replies to help you. In fact, my average of purchases a month is less than one because I buy anime related items very occasionally.

Thank you all again for your responses, you've been a big help!

 

I presented formally today to a panel, I think it went pretty well I'll hear in a couple of weeks if I've made it through the screening process, wish me luck

1: Have you ever purchased an anime-related collectable (figure, toy, doll, etc)?

 

A) YES!! Over 500 items inface

 

 

2: If you answered yes to question #1, was your last purchase made within the last:

 

A) 5 years?

B) 2 years?

C) 1 year?

D) 6 months or less? <<<<<<< about 2 days ago

 

3: When you buy anime-related collectables, do you usually buy them from a physical retail store front, or from an online retailer (amiami, hlj, etc.)

 

A) Storefront!

B) Online! <<< Online only because I live in the UK and therefor the only shops that sell anime products here sell fakes.

 

4: How many purchases on average do you make in a year?

 

A) 1-10

B) 10-20

C) 20-30

D) 30+ <<<< probably about 100+ items a year

 

5: How many purchases on average do you make in a month?

 

A) 1-3

B) 3-6

C) 6-9

D)9+ <<< easily

 

6: If you buy online, what is the greatest deciding factor when it comes to picking a retailer to buy from?

 

A) retail price <<< definitely the start-off price. Then if the shop will mark items down for customs otherwise UK customs will charge me an extra 20%+ on top ):

B) shipping price

C) customer service

D) item availability

 

7: The last question is an open question. What sticks out in your mind as something that you value when using a preferred online retailing service?

 

Them remembering your preferences.

1: Have you ever purchased an anime-related collectable (figure, toy, doll, etc)?

 

A) Yes!

 

2: If you answered yes to question #1, was your last purchase made within the last:

 

D) 6 months or less?

 

3: When you buy anime-related collectables, do you usually buy them from a physical retail store front, or from an online retailer (amiami, hlj, etc.)

 

B) Online!

 

4: How many purchases on average do you make in a year?

 

D) 30+

 

5: How many purchases on average do you make in a month?

 

B) 3-6

 

6: If you buy online, what is the greatest deciding factor when it comes to picking a retailer to buy from?

 

A) retail price

 

7: The last question is an open question. What sticks out in your mind as something that you value when using a preferred online retailing service?

 

Total price and shipping speed. After that would be the ease of navigation through the seller's website.

1: Have you ever purchased an anime-related collectable (figure, toy, doll, etc)?

 

A) Yes! more than i ever wanted XD

 

 

2: If you answered yes to question #1, was your last purchase made within the last:

 

D) 6 months or less?

 

3: When you buy anime-related collectables, do you usually buy them from a physical retail store front, or from an online retailer (amiami, hlj, etc.)

 

A) Storefront!

B) Online!

 

both

 

4: How many purchases on average do you make in a year?

 

with mangas...

D) 30+

 

5: How many purchases on average do you make in a month?

 

with mangas...

D)9+

 

6: If you buy online, what is the greatest deciding factor when it comes to picking a retailer to buy from?

 

A) retail price

B) shipping price

...both.. but most of the time shipping price, because shipping to germany is expensive most of the time T_T

 

7: The last question is an open question. What sticks out in your mind as something that you value when using a preferred online retailing service?

 

I like it when i get fast answers when i have questions. And good shippingcosts and no paypalfees are great! XD