HAVE YOU EVER PURCHASED GOODS OR SERVICES ONLINE? DOES THE IDEA OF DOING SO APPEAL TO YOU?
Judging from responses to JADA’s February Question(s) of the Month, online buying has gained a foothold in dentistry.
Exactly half of the 104 readers who answered JADA’s two-pronged February question said yes to both: they have purchased goods and services over the Internet, and the idea of doing so obviously appeals to them.
"The convenience is great," said one respondent.
"Saves time getting hard-to-find items," said another, adding that online shopping also "saves money finding good deals" and is "convenient, as it can be done any time of day, seven days a week."
Some said they had used the Internet to buy consumer goods ("airline tickets, books and tapes," said one reader) but hadn’t yet purchased dental supplies or materials online.
Observed one respondent, "At the present time, the selection of products seems limited compared to catalogue companies."
But others said they saw online buying of dental-office materials and supplies as the wave of the future.
"The days of the door-to-door sales rep are over," said one reader. "This [online buying] is easier, faster, more convenient."
Said another, "I think it will be the primary way we order supplies in the future—the sooner the better."
Still another worried about what would become of his dental supply sales representative. "Although he gets an extra half point in sales commission for my online orders each time I press the ‘Send’ key, it’s a slow elimination of his job."
Other responses to JADA’s February questions:
- – twenty-one respondents answered no to both queries—they had not purchased goods or services online and would not consider doing so;
- – eleven said they hadn’t yet made purchases over the Internet but were considering it;
- – six said they hadn’t bought anything online and were "undecided" about whether they ever would;
- – six noted that they had made purchases online in the past but were uncertain whether they would continue;
- – eight readers said they had purchased goods and services online but would not do it again;
One reader lamented what he saw as the "depersonalization" of online buying. Several others perceived "security issues" as barriers to Internet purchasing. These readers expressed concerns about hackers invading computer systems and making off with confidential information, particularly credit card numbers.
"I am still not sure about the security of the Internet," said one respondent.
Last year, the Association introduced the ADA ECCo Marketplace, a members-only online shopping mall that takes its name from the ADA Electronic Commerce division of ADA Business Enterprises Inc., an Association subsidiary.
The marketplace includes about 80 vendors (with more to come) who offer discounts of as much as 30 percent off mainly consumer goods and services.
Lou Salerno, the ADA’s director of Internet and Intranet Systems, said most credit-card theft results when companies store customer credit-card information in databases that are not encrypted.
"The ADA," she said, "will not keep or store in databases anyone’s credit card number."
She said, too, that the Association is establishing systems that will encrypt all information related to e-commerce transactions with members.
"We’re also working with [the Division of Legal Affairs] on a privacy policy that will disclose to members how we use the data and information gathered on the Web site," said Ms. Salerno, adding that she hoped these efforts would assure members that the Association is creating a "secure environment" for their financial transactions.
