The speedy growth of online drug seller has transformed the way illegal narcotic are sell and market . How do dealers compete in a virtual world where violence and determent are no longer options ? As with any other product , through customer service , promotional campaigns and pledges of social obligation .
Indeed , ten month after the FBIshut downSilk Road ( left)—the world ’s great online illegal drug market — newly released figures reveal that business is again expand on the “ dark net . ” In October 2013 , there were 18,174 drug listing across four chief market place . An investigating of the dark mesh by BBC Newsrevealedthere are now 43,175 listings across 23 grocery store , where dealers use encryption to pass on with clients .
For today ’s technical school - savvy drug dealer , the net offer quick access to a growing consumer base . And , by eliminate the need for face - to - face , physical meetings , online anonymity intend there is less risk of infection of arrest by undercover police and reduce threats of violence at the hand of rival drug dealer .
These development have led law enforcement functionary to wonder , How do drug dealer increase their market share when pose your competitor to death is no longer a workable choice ?
According to James Martin , a senior lector in criminology at Macquarie University , the “ saturnine net ” is now embracing thesame strategiesas big name on-line retail merchant :
Customer feedback plays a crucial use in order online drug market place . As is the case with legitimate trading websites such as eBay or Amazon Market , all customers who buy drug via a cryptomarket are encouraged to leave alone feedback about the quality of goods received and the level of divine service provided by particular dealer .
The grandness of keep a blemish - free reputation means that online principal are often extremely scrupulous in train positive relationship with their customers . Top - ranked dealers ( those who have draw in the greatest levels of positive customer feedback ) regularly communicate with their guest using rhetoric more conversant in the world of established corporate retailing .
on-line drug seller typically utilize a range of corporal retailing techniques . This includes providing mission statement , “ oaths to customer ” and detailed “ terms and precondition ” advising international transport times and purchasing subroutine . In a further stark line to the conventional drug trade , many even offer full or fond refunds for drug that are found to be sub - received or are intercept by custom .
They must also create innovational merchandising strategy to draw new customers .
usually used method are bulk purchasing discounts , commitment programs and occasional promotional political campaign on holiday such as New Year ’s Eve and “ International Pot Day ” . Other gimmick include “ two - for - one ” specials , drawing giveaway and free drug sample .
At the more extreme end of socially reformist marketing strategy used by on-line dealer are those that involve the publicity of drugs on the base of supposedly “ ethical ” , “ fairish trade ” , “ constitutional ” or “ conflict - free ” source of provision :
“ We are a squad of libertarian cocaine dealers . We never buy coke from combine ! We never corrupt coke from police force ! We help James Leonard Farmer from Peru , Bolivia and some chemistry students in Brazil , Paraguay and Argentina . We do fair deal ! ”
of course , it is unimaginable to verify these claim . It seems unlikely that such descriptions are precise given the countless problem that exist license standardized schemes in the conventional economy . However , the fact that online dealers are use these strategy point to the instauration of an progressively gentrified online drug trade .
Although Martin does n’t celebrate the growing Internet market for narcotic , he argues that it does bid at least some wider benefits for high society — by ending the cycle of “ vehemence and victimisation link up with the conventional drug trade . ”
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