Philip F. Dreis - Antique Cupboard, Waukesha, WI
"With the coming of the Internet, we felt that the BBB online seal would add credibility to our site, and we get compliments on it all the time. I feel the program is very worthwhile."

Jim McDaniel - Australian and Amazonian Adventures, Austin, TX
"I think the BBBOnLine seal adds a great deal of value. Trust is a big issue when dealing with an unknown company on the web, especially if you might be conducting a $5,000 or $10,000 transaction. When the BBB program started up, we felt that it would be in our best interest to join it, because the BBB has a lot of name recognition. We do get people who mention that being a member of the BBB was a factor in their buying decision."

Sheila McMahon, President - A Bit O' Blarney, Gulf Shores, AL
"I definitely feel that it has added value to my website. Online customers are sometimes scared to make purchases, and I find that a lot of my customers are actually making their very first online purchase from me! Therefore, it is VERY important for me to treat them with the utmost of customer service, because I am potentially influencing all of their future online purchases. The BBB seal lets them know that they can feel safe and secure with buying from A Bit O' Blarney.com. For any new or old online business the BBB Reliability seal adds value, and should definitely be an integral part of any business program. Along with business cards, stationary, and a business checking account should be the implementation of the BBBOnLine program."

Lynn Jebbia, President - Acadia Wreath Company, Bar Harbor, ME
"While we first contacted the BBB for help with a problem, we joined the Bureau and BBBOnLine because we wanted people to know we were a reliable business. Having a working BBB seal on the web site lets people know that we'll deliver what we promise. And we're very pleased with how often people actually click to our online BBB report to verify that."

Armand Belanger, Owner - Advantage Accommodations, Sandy, UT
"Many clients using our services and products live hundreds or even thousands of miles from Salt Lake City. The ability for the potential clients to view our BBB record, via the BBBOnLine program, is a very valuable tool for the clients to know that we are a legitimate business in good standing with the BBB. Potential clients who have viewed our documentation on the BBBOnLine program commonly state that the documentation was the reason they contacted us instead of calling our competitors. My thanks to the BBB for initiating the program and for giving my company the privilege to participate."

Pam Burge - Burge's Hickory Smoked Turkeys & Hams, Inc., Lewisville, AR
"The Better Business Bureau helps us with the trust issue. We are a small company and unknown outside of our area. Both corporate clients, who give our products as gifts, and individual consumers have mentioned our BBBOnLine seal when ordering from us. It has helped increase their confidence that we will deliver as promised."

Albert Hepp - BuySelf Realty, Edina, MN
"The BBBOnLine Reliability Seal reliability seal completely changes the mindset of our potential customers. They used to be worried about internet horror stories, and now they simply ask about what we can do for them. They now act as if a trusted friend has given them an endorsement, which has really helped our sales. It is clear that our customer's comfort level with us has risen because of the BBBOnLine Reliability Seal on our website. They used to need to talk with us and spend time before reaching the comfort level they now get right away. Thanks BBB!"

John Marick - Consumer Cellular, Inc., Lake Oswego, OR
"We don't have the name recognition or advertising budget of our competitors. Advertising spending in the cellular industry exceeded spending in the beverage industry last year, and one company alone spent over a billion dollars. As a smaller company, we have to find other ways to get out our message. Having the BBBOnLine seal gives us credibility and increases consumer comfort in doing business with us."

Lisa Lesikar - Cozumel Vacation Rentals, Tyler, TX
"90% of our customers come from the U.S. and Canada. But we've also booked homes for people from Japan, Kuwait, France, Sweden, Norway, Italy, England, Ireland, Mexico, and even Antarctica. The Better Business Bureau has an excellent reputation, and by being a member and displaying the BBBOnLine seal on our web site, we give our customers an extra sense of security when they are renting a vacation home from us. They know that we could not have joined the Better Business Bureau had we not been an established business, and that we could not remain a member in good standing if we were not a reliable company that adhered to high standards of customer satisfaction. Joining the Better Business Bureau and displaying the BBBOnLine seal was a smart marketing decision that has added real value to our business."

Debbie Van Bourgondien, Vice President - DutchBulbs.com, Babylon, NY
"The BBBOnLine seal definitely adds value to our web sites. Customers, even experienced web shoppers, are still wary of giving out personal information over the Internet. Even though companies have greatly improved their security measures since the advent of online shopping, people are still hesitant. The BBBOnLine seal educates our customers and shows them that we are a reputable e-commerce company. It is important to us, and to our customers, that we stand behind our products - we want our customers to be satisfied at all times."

J.R. Lee, Director of Marketing - GolfBagShipping.com, Fremont, CA
"The BBBOnLine seal saved a lot of time for a relatively new company like ours to convince our potential customers that we are not a fly-by-night company. Prior to getting the seal, we would have a lot of calls asking about our company's track record and people who would decide NOT to try our service. Nowadays, I don't think we get 1 or 2 calls a month and our new customer conversion rate has gone up!"

Drew Reger, President - The GPS Store, Ocean Isle Beach, NC
"The BBBOnLine seal is very valuable to us. In the early years of the business we were always fighting issues of credibility. We wanted to give customers the products and tools they needed, but also a comfort level in buying from us. We've found that people are much more comfortable doing business with a company that is associated with the Better Business Bureau. We are very happy to be a part of the BBBOnLine program and would definitely recommend it to any business."

Marco Pescara, V.P. Direct Marketing - Hickory Farms, Maumee, OH
"At Hickory Farms, maintaining the highest standards for customer service, secure transactions, and privacy protection is of the utmost importance. By participating in the BBBOnLine's Reliability seal program, our customers know that Hickory Farms meets or exceeds all of the Better Business Bureau membership standards including resolving customer disputes through Better Business Bureau dispute resolution processes."

Ellen Chernoff Simon - Imadulation, Dallas, TX
"These days many people are concerned about doing business online, and the BBB seal does add security and comfort to those who may be hesitant about credibility. There is a world of opportunity on the WWW and I personally feel at ease when I order on line and see the BBB seal. It tells me that the merchant cares enough to offer that extra measure of assuredness of quality and accountability to his or her customers."

Jerry Fowler - Jerry Fowler and The Results Team Realtors, Columbia, SC
"I joined because I know customers and clients are looking for a site they can trust and depend on. The BBBOnLine has long been a company you can trust and believe in. Why trust a site without the symbol of trust. It's not just a symbol that you pay for. The BBBOnLine actually checks out the site and in my case they checked to see how fast I would respond to offers I had on my site. The BBBOnLine designation had to be earned not purchased. I am proud to have the approval of the BBBOnLine. There have been several occasions where customer came to me rather than one of my competitors and after an interview I found it was because we had the BBBOnLine. I would suggest to anyone to apply for the BBBOnLine. The Internet has become one of our major marketing tools. I find my BBBOnLine designation invaluable."

Will Burnell, Sales/Advertising - Joseph Chermak Saab/Suzuki, Clarks Summit, PA
"The BBBOnLine seal is a plus for us because it increases consumer confidence in us. We got the seal because of what the BBB stands for. We show our BBB membership plaque in our showroom, and the web site is an extension of our showroom. It stands to reason to add the seal to our site, and it also tells consumers that they have recourse if they have a concern down the road."

Michael Jones - Just Strings, Nashua, NH
"The BBBOnLine Reliability program is an essential element of JustStrings.com's emphasis on customer service. Over the last several years, we've received many positive, unsolicited comments from first-time customers about our participation in the program. There's nothing like a trusted third-party to highlight our commitment to our customers."

Sushil K. Tuli - Leader Mortgage Corp., Arlington, MA
"Displaying the BBBOnLine seal on our company's web site has helped us by providing a recognizable sign that we are a reputable organization dedicated to providing the highest level of quality customer service and maintaining the outstanding reputation we have worked to establish. At Leader Mortgage, we work hard to maintain our image as an ethical mortgage lender. The prestige associated with the BBB seal provides a clear indication that our company is committed to upholding the standards set by the BBB regarding licensing, customer service and policy adherence. When potential customers visit our web page, the BBBOnLine seal provides the reassurance that we are a reliable company and that our dedication to our customers is recognized."

Rob Mangiafico - LexiConn.com, Colchester, CT
"As with any competitive industry that uses the internet for sales and marketing, distinguishing our company from our competitors is essential. The BBBOnLine seal allows us to do just that. When a customer comes to our website and is not familiar with our company or services, giving them the opportunity to review our track record and see that we have been in business since 1996 speaks volumes to our credibility and stability. In an industry where scams and bad service are all too common, this provides instant assurance to prospective clients and that can be the difference when it comes to obtaining new business. With the seal on our website and being a BBB member for a number of years, we are able to put potential clients at ease that we are a customer service oriented company that is safe and reliable."

Susan Daffron, President - Logical Expressions, Inc., Spokane, WA
"In today's increasingly crowded and confusing Internet environment, there are thousands of graphic design and programming firms with Web sites. All of them claim to provide quality services, but it's impossible for consumers to know which ones are honest business people and which ones are not.

The BBBOnLine Reliability Seal on our sites demonstrates that we take our relationships with our clients very seriously. We have always believed in treating our clients as friends, which is why most of our clients have been working with us for many years. Our clients come from throughout the United States, and when people hear about Logical Expressions, Inc. and come to our site looking for publishing services or software, the BBBOnLine Reliability seal separates us from the scam artists and online riff raff lurking in cyberspace."

Cherie Flett, Marketing Director - MisterArt.com, Houston, TX
"Customers asked whether we were BBB members before we joined BBBOnLine. The BBBOnLine seal gives comfort to all Internet shoppers and shows them we care about our customers and our business. We proudly display it on every page of our site to continually remind site visitors that we are a member of an organization promoting customer trust and confidence, and that we work hard to ensure all customers have a safe and pleasant shopping experience."

Bob Page, Founder and Owner - Replacements, Ltd., Greensboro, NC
"The BBBOnLine seal helps customers know right away that they are dealing with a reputable business that will stand behind its products and services. I can't imagine doing business online without it."

Lois Riley - SilverShake.com, Fort Worth, TX
"We strongly believe that becoming a BBB member and having the BBBOnLine seal have greatly contributed to the success of SilverShake.com in terms of consumer confidence and trust. There is no doubt about that."

David Van Seters, President - Small Potatoes Urban Delivery (SPUD), Vancouver, BC
"We feel that the seal gives consumers greater confidence that we are a reputable company even though we don't have a store front, and tells them that if they have complaints we will respond to them in a fair and honest manner."

Monte Robertson - Software Security Solutions, Lakewood, CO
"One of the key factors in computer security is trust. The other is integrity. I choose to display the BBBOnLine seal on my web site because it is a symbol recognized around the world that represents honesty, integrity and trust. I hold this symbol in high regard and as a torch that says, give me a chance to earn your trust, others have and do. I have had people tell me that one of the deciding factors they chose our services was we are a BBB member. In this day and age trust like that is hard to come by."

Steven Alves - Stevens Home Improvement Company, Fairhaven, MA
"We are finding that homeowners are doing more "home" work before making a decision about spending their hard-earned money. Teaming up with a well-respected organization like the BBB puts us in another level of professionalism. The Better Business Bureau's seal shows homeowners that we are a member of the BBB and that we are proud to have our company history and performance record available for their review. People will look upon a company displaying the BBBOnLine seal in a higher regard."

Jim Myers, Owner - Stylus Central.com, Warwick, RI
"Customers that surf onto a website need to feel that they are dealing with a reputable merchant before they will order. I have had customers tell me that they checked with the BBB prior to ordering. The BBBOnLine link is proof that we will be there for them after the sale. They know that if there are any conflicts, they will have the BBB there to help resolve them."

Michael Cottam, President - TheBigDay.com, Portland, OR
"Our customers come to us at one of life's milestone moments. It's our mission to make their dreams come true. We try to go the extra mile to help them have "the perfect honeymoon," that they will remember through all of life's ups, downs and even hairpin curves.

We believe that having the BBBOnLine Reliability Seal tells customers that we are reputable, and reflects our commitment to them. As a provider of service in cyberspace, we expect to be judged by the standards of any bricks and mortar business and to exceed these standards every time. Before we added the BBBOnLine seal to our site, we had people asking why we weren't members. It was a matter of trust. People don't ask us whether they can trust us anymore."

Kory Woods, Webmaster - Uncle's Games, Puzzles and More, Spokane, WA
"The BBBOnLine seal adds quite a bit to the reliability of the site. Basically what is does is give the customer a place to file a complaint that is outside the company that they are having a problem with. A third party handling issues makes the customer feel more secure that the problem will be addressed and that their voice will be heard, plus it also lets them know if this company has had any problems in the past. To put it simply, the ability to get to know a company and its business practices with a single click makes the customer more likely to place an order over the internet."

Michael Dauberman, Executive Vice President - Uniglobe.com Inc., Renton, WA
"Displaying the BBBOnLine seal on our company's web site has helped us by giving prospective customers the required level of confidence necessary in purchasing high ticket items over the web. Displaying the BBBOnLine seal saves customers time when they are deciding where to make their travel purchase. It eliminates any question concerning the legitimacy of our company. Our participation in BBBOnLine has been for the sole purpose of building customer confidence in our ability to fulfill their travel purchase expectations."

Greenfield Online Surveys
In a 1998 survey of web shoppers conducted by Greenfield Online for BBBOnLine, a large majority (84%) agreed that the recognition of companies on the Web by a reputable third party (such as the Better Business Bureau) would make them more confident about buying from companies they do not know. More than three-quarters (78%) report that they would shop more online if they could be assured a company is reputable.

Greenfield Online conducted another survey in the fall of 2001. The new survey showed that eighty-nine percent (89%) of Internet users say they would be "more confident" buying from a company with a BBBBOnLine Reliability Seal than from a company that does not display the seal. In addition, more than half of online consumers would be "extremely likely" or "very likely" to buy from a company they did not know if the company were a member of the BBB and carried the BBBOnLine Reliability Seal, or if the company carried the BBBOnLine Privacy Seal.

Money magazine, November 1998
Money magazine reviewed online Seals of Assurance and named BBBOnLine "the gold standard", saying "We did some clicking around to check out the more prominent trustmarks, and our view is that the Better Business Bureau's is the gold standard. To qualify, a retailer must, among other things, become a BBB member, provide detailed management information and agree to binding arbitration."

PC World magazine, 1998 and 1999
For two consecutive years, PC World magazine named BBBOnLine as a "Saint" on its annual "Saints and Sinners" list, due to our "ongoing commitment to safe, responsible e-commerce."

PCWorld, September 1998
A September 1998, PCWorld review of a number of online seals of assurance found BBBOnLine to be the "Best Of The Bunch", saying "A seal is only as good as the company awarding it. The seal of the Better Business Bureau - an organization that existed long before anyone heard of the Internet - offers more meaningful protection than the others we examined."
Buying Online? Trust the Better Business Bureau."