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From September 2007
By Tracy Mullin
Looking around the table at nearly two dozen
online retail executives, it was easy to predict
which way the vote would go. There was energy,
excitement and conviction in the air. When
Shop.org’s board of directors decided to expand
its vision to include policy and advocacy at its
July meeting, we did not take it lightly. It’s a
huge step, but those of us on the board felt
that it was an important move to make. With this
decision, Shop.org will help shape the current
political debate on issues affecting the online
industry and have a say in what happens in the
future. |
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I’ll be the first to admit that most online
retailers didn’t get into this business to
dabble in politics. But as the Internet grows in
importance, a move toward advocacy becomes
almost inevitable. Though Congress is tackling
some e-commerce matters now, it does not compare
to myriad issues on the horizon. The time has
come for one association to speak clearly for e-tailers,
and I can think of no better group to tackle
that challenge than Shop.org.
Though NRF has been lobbying on behalf of the
online retail industry for many years, this new
development will give Shop.org members a unique
voice, opportunities to testify on Capitol Hill,
submit letters to congressional offices on
behalf of the industry and to expand upon the
work that NRF has already accomplished in this
area. Through the newly-formed Policy Advocacy
Group, online retailers will clarify current
problems and help us identify future issues.
This month, at Shop.org’s Annual Summit in Las
Vegas, members of the NRF lobbying team will
speak about the current climate on Capitol Hill
and listen to online retailers talk about the
most important issues they face.
While a move toward advocacy was largely a
pro-active step, there are a few issues that
Shop.org will begin addressing immediately. The
first challenge, a “spyware bill” that has
morphed into a general online privacy bill,
would essentially require consumers to “opt in”
in order for retailers to collect any personal
information on their websites. This move could
ultimately affect our customers’ experiences
while shopping online and add another step to a
checkout process that consumers love for its
simplicity.
Shop.org also plans to tackle credit card
interchange, which requires merchants to pay a
percentage of their sales back to credit card
companies. This practice is especially damaging
for online retailers that are required to pay
“card not present” fees, which can be 50 percent
higher than those paid by traditional retailers.
In the future, the group will also address
patent trolling, click fraud and net neutrality.
Historically, online retailers have concentrated
on growing their businesses and reaching out to
consumers. But with the maturing of the industry
comes responsibility for ensuring that
e-commerce has a seat at the table when
legislation that could affect the business is
being considered in Washington. Conversations
about online retailing are already taking place
on Capitol Hill: Shop.org now will be a part of
them. |
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