I am a frequent customer of Buy.com and have purchased many items from them since the day they opened their website on the front-end of the dotcom boom. With each purchase, my loyalty grew for them because of the great deals, the well-built site, and their amazing ability to deliver what I ordered in a very timely manner.
Tonight I again turned to the site for a needed electronics purchase. Something new was at the top of the site right next to the Buy.com logo – A black ribbon and “Darin Fralick 1979 – 2008“. I felt compelled to click the link and was touched to read the tribute that Buy.com was showing for a colleague who had passed. I respect and admire that Buy.com took the time and effort to memorialize one of their own in such a way.
Having been in e-commerce for many years, I have never seen a company go out of its way in such a public display. We often talk about our web “real estate”, focus on marketing efforts, and work to continuously drive sales. Buy.com set that aside and recognized a friend. While I am sure it is not their intent, my loyalty has now grown. I did not know Darin, but I extend my deepest sympathies to his family and friends.
June 4, 2008 at 8:49 am
I agree 100%!!!
Although I hadn’t known Darin, just seeing his memory displayed in such an open manner by such a large organization means a lot.
June 4, 2008 at 9:28 am
Apparently he died in an auto mobile accident on May 24. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=13&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbcounty.gov%2Fsheriff%2Fcoroner%2FPressRelease.asp&ei=X6NGSKyMNZiU9wST0MWsCA&usg=AFQjCNH1yce0RXLdit7cLu9OeY_lwHvCJg&sig2=HgTFqX8IolUDtcG3rz939w
June 6, 2008 at 1:42 pm
http://www.legacy.com/orangecounty/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=110613828
this is his guestbook
June 7, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I completely agree 100% as well and thank you for your post. Yes, I was actually on their website for a homework assignment I’m doing and noticed Darin’s info as well. Very sad loss at such a young age. Indeed it was a very tasteful and heartfelt tribute to a co-worker and is a rare thing to see in the “corporate” world. How ironic: my assignment was to pick 3 companies’ websites from a list and choose the one displayed their company image the best; Buy.com just got my vote.
June 9, 2008 at 11:12 pm
I will miss you Darin