"Any suggestions on starting an e-commerce site without a phone contact? What are the pros and cons of doing that? I'll be unable to answer phones at first because of my day job."
I'm convinced that the greatest barrier to online business is lack of trust. When potential customers are afraid they might not be able to get in touch with the e-tailer if there's something wrong with the order, they shop elsewhere. If possible, list a phone number as well as a physical address. A message machine can record messages from daytime callers that you can return by phone or e-mail that evening.
Other ways to build trust are:
A photo of yourself, your staff, or your physical place of business.
Testimonials from satisfied customers.
Your story, explaining why you are in this business, with personal anecdotes that help readers visualize you as a real person.
Logos of trusted organizations you are a member of, such as TRUSTe, BBB Online, or BizRate.
Links to your privacy policy.
Guarantee and return policy.
Shipping costs and policies.
The more trust your website exudes, the more sales you're likely to make.
