Anyone can pick up a Sunday paper and clip coupons from the grocery store and manufacturers’ circulars, or go to their mailbox and fetch the latest coupon mailer, but you may be eligible for even more savings depending on who you are, or the company you keep. Most people are familiar with the senior discounts at many diner and casual dining chains, but there are many other discounts available for seniors as well, and some places define seniors as young as 50. Anyone over 50 is eligible to join AARP, the American Association of Retired Persons.
For $12.50 a year, you and your spouse or partner can enjoy discounts on everything from hotels to computers, and many things in between. Don’t wait for a merchant to offer you the discount, ask everywhere you go if they have one. Military members have enjoyed many special discounts over the years, but since September 11, 2001, many companies have gone out of their way to offer specials to military members and their families in recognition of the sacrifices they make.
If you have a poorly designed shopping cart system, you will lose customers regardless of how great your website is. Consider the factors below when choosing your ideal shopping cart.
Software or Service Provider
For most small businesses, I recommend using an ASP, which means the shopping cart service is hosted by a third party company. For ASP shopping carts, setup was designed to require no programming skills and very user friendly. Some ASPs also offer packages that include a merchant account and a payment gateway. This takes care of the painstaking process of setting them up separately.
Directory
