While goblins and ghosts may make you feel scared on Halloween night, something scary is lurking in the world of retail: bad customer experiences. From missing information about the product to inaccurate or inconsistent information, find out the ways these ghouls of product information can send chills down your spine. Then, discover how is the best way to get rid of them, so that your customer experience is better than terrifying.
Halloween is just near. It’s not just the goblins and ghouls who will be making noise.
Every day, shoppers go to the online aisles of online shops or the physical shelves in brick-and-mortar stores, only to be confronted with products that send chillsdowns their backs. Actually, the majority of customers (66 percent) think that brands could have done more to improve the experiences they offer customers.
These frightening experiences can be more terrifying than any ghostly appearance, and since the bustling holiday season comes just after Halloween, there’s never a better time to face and eliminate these ghosts of retail than now.
Let’s examine some of the terrifying experiences customers often encounter to ensure it is possible that both you and your staff can effectively remove negative product information from your shelves and monitors.
1. Missing Product Information
We’ve all been through the misery of looking for an item, then clicking an advertisement, only to discover that crucial information is not there. Then you’re left to wonder about size, material,s or the return policy and even your estimated shipping date. The lack of information could make shoppers feel uncertain, which can cause them to drop their purchase.
It is a fact that the missing information is one of the most important components that allows customers to make educated decisions. If important information, such as specifications, details, or benefits are not included in the process, potential buyers are left in the dark, which causes anxiety. In the last twelve months, nearly two-thirds (66 percent) of buyers have resisted purchasing a large purchase due to incomplete or incorrect information about the product.
To prevent this from happening, begin by establishing a central repository for all information related to products that your team, suppliers,s and manufacturers can readily access. This ensures up-to-date and exact product information is accessible across all listings. It also makes the process of updating whenever something is changed.
Also important is to maintain uniform, well-structured formatting for your descriptions of products. Utilizing tables, lists, or section headings you allow consumers to read and locate the information they require quickly. If customers know where to look for crucial information about a product It not only improves their experience but also creates confidence in your brand and encourages them to go from consideration to buying.
2. Incorrect Product Information
If you’re looking to purchase a coat for winter from an established fashion store. The coat you find is appealing because of its elegant style and description that claims it’s made from high-end, warm materials that are suitable for extreme winter. The site of the retailer states that it’s suitable for harsh winters and even shows a photo of the coat worn in icy conditions. However, when you receive the coat,t and you try it on, you realize there’s no warmth as they claim. I’m. The material used is thin, hin and the coat does not have the proper insulation. In dissatisfaction, you go back to the website of this retailer to process returns, possibly writing a negative review.
This isn’t a common event, vent, and in fact, 40 percent of respondents said they had returned a product due to incorrect product information.
For companies, handling returns can be expensive and time-consuming. Returns processing can result in the loss of sales as well as problems with managing inventory, since the items returned may have to be replenished or discounted before being disposed of. Not just do they have to require additional handling and shippingowever, they also run the risk of harming their reputation. Unsatisfied customers are more likely to leave negative reviews, which can reduce the probability of future sales and also erode confidence in the brand.
In a wider sense, the return of products is a major contributor to the increase in carbon emissions due to transportation and disposal, since numerous items, notably those in the fast-fashion industry, end up in the trash. The reduction in return rates when you provide precise and accurate information on the product does more than improve the customer experience, but helps to promote more sustainable business methods.
To keep accurate and current information, particularly when sourcing goods from different manufacturers or suppliers,s it is crucial to keep an authoritative source for all information about products. By working closely with manufacturers and suppliers and having a single central location for information about products You can collect and provide consistent, accurate details about the products that you offer to all key customers.
It’s also beneficial to establish a thorough quality control procedure that allows your team to periodically check product information and spot anyerroneoust information.
3. Inconsistent Information Across Different Channels
If you think that your customers are only looking for you through one channel Think again. 73% of people are using multiple channels in their shopping experience, and often it’s a mix of both in-person and online channels. In a recent poll that we conducted, it was found that the most preferred method to research and discover is the traditional search engines; however, the most popular spot to buy something was in a store.
We should not forget the recent increase in commerce searches powered by AI; SEMrush predicts that agentic search will replace traditional searches in favor of the preferred choice of most consumers in 2028. LLMs require precise, relevant, and enhanced information about the product to be able to answer questions from customers and inquiries.
For businesses, inaccurate information on products does not just impact the customer experience, but it canalso result in increased operational costs. If customers are unclear about the product’s specifications and specifications, they’re more likely to seek out customer service to get clarification, which adds stress on support teams. In addition, inconsistencies in information could result in a higher number of returns on products, since buyers who receive items that don’t meet their expectations might seek returns or even exchanges.
Solving the issue of inconsistent information about products across different channels starts by using an integrated one source of reference for your product information. A central PIM system will ensure that each marketing and sales channel, including eCommerce websites and kiosks in retail stores, has access to up-to-date information, which can prevent common problems like items appearing to be on the internet but not being available at physical shops, and price differences between various platforms.
In addition, implementing a solid multichannel strategy for retail is crucial to unify the experience for customers. Incorporating features such as “buy online, pick up in-store” (BOPIS), which 62% of consumers say they’ve used, provides an omnichannel shopping experience that can be adapted to the requirements of today’s consumers.
4. Wrong Units of Measure, Currency, or Language
From the top of your heads, do you know the rate of conversion for Yen in USD? What is the French term meaning “long-sleeve sweater”, or the English term to mean “Lan Mao Zi “?
The majority of consumers don’t. So, providing the wrong measurement units and/or currency or languages can result in confusion and frustration for your customers, which can lead to a loss of sales or damage to your brand’s image. An individual buyer might be ready to purchase, but become annoyed when they cannot determine the length of the furniture piece actually isbecauset it’s listed in centimeters rather than inches, or quit their shopping carts due to prices that are in Euros in place of dollars.
The confusion may not only cause cart abandonment, but it also affects confidence. If consumers are unsure about the veracity of information about the product, they could believe that other information, such as the claims on quality or avaiavailabilityould also be inaccurate, which can discourage the purchase in the future.
The key to success in this case lies in the technology for your product da. ta The PIM system should be coupled with AI-powered translation as well as localization tools. This will help automate the process of translating, localizing units of measure and currencies, and keep the same uniformity across different platforms. By integrating a syndication system, you allow for the smooth distribution of data across different sales channels of sales, and when the syndication platform is in constant communication with the PIM and the PIM, data can be changed in a flash.
5. Missing or Misleading Visual Graphics
The expression “a picture is worth a thousand words” can’t be more appropriate in the realm of e-commerce. Visual elements, like videos, product images, diagrams,m,s, or pictures, really play an important role in helping customers comprehend the product they’re purchasing. If these elements are not present or misleading, it could result in confusion and dissatisfaction, and could cause potential buyers to flee.
Offering high-quality, precise images and ensuring that each listing has images from different angles, or even offering the option of a 3D rendering, can provide buyers with a full understanding of the product. It can also aid in bridging the gap between online and in-store shopping and give them a tangible experience of the item.
Utilizing videos to show how the product works or the way it is displayed in a real-life environment can significantly increase the understanding of customers and increase engagement by providing answers to questions or concerns that static images aren’t able to provide. Customers can also be encouraged to upload their own images and videos or write reviews about the product, as seeing real-life users using the product can help to build trust through authentic, relatable viewpoints.
Information about the product can play an important role in filling in the gaps caused by poor or inadequate images. Complete product descriptions, specifications, and feature lists assist consumersin understandingd the details of a product, like its materials, functions,s and intended usage. When images are not as effective or not as clearly written texcanto address the questions that buyers might have regarding the product and help them make informed decisions, without using only images.
Specifications and FAQs may provide additional information that images might not provide, for example, compatibility with other products or maintenance instructions.
Scaring Off Bad Product Experiences
As Halloween draws nnearr the time is now to face the spooky retail characters that ruin the experience of customers. These terrifying experiences are not just a source of confusion and frustration for customers, but can also undermine trust in the brand, increase returns, and create logistical nightmares. And because of the hectic Christmas shopping season just ahead,d the stakesare higherh.
The secret to removing the demons of retail lies in keeping up-to-date, accurate information about products, which is consistent across all channels and tailored to the demands of your worldwide customer base. By investing in the best technology, you will be able to ensure that customers will be presented with accurate, clear information that will not only improve the shopping experience but decreases the cost of returns and help build lasting brand trust. Don’t let poor product information cause your customers to be hesitant. Treat them with the smooth, secure, and trustworthy experience they deserve.
