Monday, December 25, 2006
FutureShop.ca couldn't handle the volume
Although Mark Evans and Rob Hyndman both wrote recent posts about the eMarketer's recent report about the slumbering state of e-commerce in Canada, at least one Canadian website couldn't cope with demand.Future Shop's website was overwhelmed on Christmas Eve with people trying to get early access to its Boxing Day prices.
The sale was advertised to begin at 8:00pm on December 24, but users received a message for at least the first two hours saying:
The request cannot be processed at this time. The amount of traffic exceeds the Web site's configured capacity.Even after the website came up, the "buy now" button showed signs of being overwhelmed as well. It just didn't pay to try to beat the rush to buy disk drives, a colour laser printer or expensive SD cards for the new cameras.
What was it? Unexpected demand, poor infrastructure planning, simply not being ready on time or the misfortune of a server outage taking place on one of the toughest nights to get people to work?
It doesn't matter what happened. These kinds of problems reflect poorly on more than just Future Shop. When a major retailer fails to provide even adequate service levels (let alone a superior shopping experience), it can discourage users from even trying other sites.
I'll send my son to the store when it opens at 6:00am on Tuesday. That's what kids with driver's licenses are for, isn't it?
Technorati Tags:
Mark Evans, Rob Hyndman, Future Shop, e-commerce
Posted by Mark Goldberg @ 12/25/2006 08:09:00 AM 
Comments:
<< Home
Future Shop/Best Buy has had server related problems during the launch of every Boxing Day sale in recent memory.
However, they did do a lot of things right. For instance, they provided the community on my site (RedFlagDeals.com)with the flyers for the Boxing Day sale well in advance of the street date and when their servers were having problems, they were on our forums providing tips and status updates.
I think FS/BB is doing a pretty good job, especially compared to other Canadian retailers. Remember that even Amazon.com has had issues handling load during Black Friday (the rough US equivalent to Boxing Day).
However, they did do a lot of things right. For instance, they provided the community on my site (RedFlagDeals.com)with the flyers for the Boxing Day sale well in advance of the street date and when their servers were having problems, they were on our forums providing tips and status updates.
I think FS/BB is doing a pretty good job, especially compared to other Canadian retailers. Remember that even Amazon.com has had issues handling load during Black Friday (the rough US equivalent to Boxing Day).
Posted by 
: 10:39 AM, January 03, 2007
: 10:39 AM, January 03, 2007
Please repeat the same headline for
Future Shop's Dec 24th 2007 online boxing day sale. Excruciating, loooooong wait for checkout and then just when you think you've succeeded their server crashes. When you try to get back in their is a message that there are too many people accessing the site and your in some queue. Once you get in and by luck finally reach the end of the checkout, it tells you there are no more items left. Enough frustration that I'm imposing a do not buy anything from FutureShop (or BestBuy same company) on myself for 1 year. I learned my lesson not to try this online stuff on boxing day from an ill-prepared Canadian retailer.
Post a Comment
Future Shop's Dec 24th 2007 online boxing day sale. Excruciating, loooooong wait for checkout and then just when you think you've succeeded their server crashes. When you try to get back in their is a message that there are too many people accessing the site and your in some queue. Once you get in and by luck finally reach the end of the checkout, it tells you there are no more items left. Enough frustration that I'm imposing a do not buy anything from FutureShop (or BestBuy same company) on myself for 1 year. I learned my lesson not to try this online stuff on boxing day from an ill-prepared Canadian retailer.
Posted by : 10:56 AM, December 25, 2007
: 10:56 AM, December 25, 2007 << Home
Syndicate
