Play.com

Infobox Company
company_name = Play.com
company_
company_type = Private
foundation = 1998
location = Jersey, Channel Islands
key_people = Richard Goulding, Chairman and Simon Perrée, Managing Director
num_employees =
industry = DVD, music, books, electronics & gadgets, music downloads, video games, retailer
products =
revenue =
net_income =
homepage = [http://www.play.com Play.com] Play.com is a Jersey-based online retailer and of DVDs, CDs, Books, Gadgets, DRM-free mp3 downloads, and other electronic products. Founded in 1998, Play.com was one of the first online retailers targeting the UK. It is the second biggest online retailer in the UK market, according to traffic monitor Hitwise, and it is in the top 50 globally. Play.com was ranked second on the November 2006 UK "Hot Shops List" compiled by IMRG and Hitwise. [ [http://www.hitwise.com/news/uk200611.html "November Hitwise - IMRG Hot Shops List"] - hitwise.com; retrieved 2007-05-12] As of January 2008, Play.com has 7,000,000 registered customers, a catalogue of 5,000,000 products, and it employs some 500 staff. [ [http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/casestudy.aspx?casestudyid=4000001155 Microsoft Case Studies: Play.com ] ]

History

It was founded in 1998 under the name Play247.com, but re-branded as Play.com in 2000. Play.com originally sold region 1 and 2 DVDs only, but has since expanded its range to include CDs and video games and other electronic items. Since 2004 it has sold books and electronics, in 2006 it started selling personal computers, posters & T-Shirts and in 2007 it started selling HD DVDs and Blu-rays, with sister site "PlayUSA.com" selling region 1 DVDs, HD DVDs and region A Blu-ray Discs and offering sales in a range of currencies.

The site was originally popular because it stocked every DVD available and offered free delivery on all items. One of the reasons for its success with United Kingdom customers is that they can import items costing £18 and under without paying VAT. [ [http://www.out-law.com/page-7425 "E-commerce firms head for tax haven Channel Islands"] - Out-Law.com 26 October 2006. Retrieved 28 February 2007.]

Play.com now has over 5,000,000 items for sale and most recently added a feature called PlayTrade (like Amazon Marketplace) allowing third party sellers to sell on the site. Playtrade bears several resemblances to Marketplace, replicating that site's two-option account model whereby a seller chooses either to pay a monthly subscription plus a percentage-based closing fee, or no subscription and a per-item flat closing fee plus percentage. As there are no listing fees, this second option allows sellers to set up with no upfront costs. Key differences from Marketplace (as at March 2008) are that the closing fee percentage is 10% as opposed to 17.5%; also there is no postage credit acting as a floor price on items. Unlike Marketplace, it appears impossible to create a new item from scratch; sellers are restricted to selling items already on Play's database, which for books at least does not include superseded editions or most out-of-print titles Or|date=August 2008.

In February 2008 Play.com started selling DRM-free MP3s.

In March 2008 Play.com held a consumer games show which was open to the public, with tickets available through Play.com. This event was backed by Sony, Microsoft, Ubisoft, Activision, and THQ among others. [ [http://www.ripten.com/2008/01/31/playcom-live-first-major-uk-gaming-event/ Play.com Live: First Major UK Gaming Event | Ripten.com ] ]

In May 2008 the Play.com website was redesigned for easier navigation based partially on customer feedback.

In June 2008 Play.com updated their financial system, since then they have ceased to accept Maestro cards displaying the 'Cirrus' sign on the back and have declined outstanding orders using these cards. This policy change is not mentioned anywhere on the site Or|date=August 2008.

Customer Service

Customer service is available via phone. Email support was previously easily available, but has since been removed from easy access. Some queries can still be answered via email, however. [cite web|url=http://www.play.com/HOME/HOME/6-/Help.html?page=terms|title=Terms & Conditions, pt 15. i.] Customers complaining as to non-delivery can only contact Play.com via a web form after three weeks from date of shipment.Fact|date=July 2008

Returns policy

Play.com is covered by Jersey's Distance Selling Regulations [ [http://www.gov.je/EconomicDevelopment/TradingStandards/Business+Advice/DistanceSellingLaw.htm Business Advice - Distance Selling Law for Jersey ] ] , which are modelled on the UK's regulations of the same name. In accordance with Jersey law, customers' rights are set out in the company's "returns policy" which it states as: "Our returns policy is valid for 28 days from receipt of an item." The company's policy is to accept an unwanted item for 7 days from the receipt of the item provided the package has not been opened. Otherwise it will only accept a return within 30 days if the item is faulty. Or|date=August 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.play.com Play.com]
** [http://www.playusa.com PlayUSA.com]
** [http://www.playtrade.com PlayTrade]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20000301125522/http://www.play247.com/ Archived version of play247.com, circa 2000]