Description: I run a sophisticated multi-store ecommerce operation and have noted for a period of years trends related to ordering patterns indicative of order hijacking (theft). When describing the problem, I often relate that ordering patterns in the physical retail environment are similar to those in a virtual environment. You would expect your business to do well if it had a great location, longer hours of operation, offered fair pricing, better selection, better customer service, free shipping promotions, and so on. My storefronts are in a constant state of modification. For many system wide modifications, I notice an immediate improvement in sales, then a decline back to an artificial base line number of orders after a period of a day or two. Change prices, increase in orders, then back to base line. Free 3 day priority mail, increase in orders, then back to base line. Install animated spokespersons, increase in orders, then back to base line. Install PayPal shopping cart, increase in orders, then back to base line. Change our logo artwork, increase in orders, then back to base line. I could go on, but you get the picture. This following example perfectly captures my experience. Imagine adding performance parts (exhaust, intake, cam, performance computer chip, suspension and tires) to your car one at a time. It’s performance is immediately improved upon each upgrade. Then a few days later, the car goes back to performing as though the part was never installed even though the performance upgrades are still installed. The latest example of such activity occurred on Wednesday, November 14th. A new vendor relationship was established and pricing changes were made to 2 manufacturer’s product lines. Prices for the products were reduced, but were still substantially higher than my online competitors. Contrary to common belief, consumers buy products from online vendors for many reasons, not necessarily price alone. This is the result: Wed 11/14/2007 3:07 PM Wed 11/14/2007 4:54 PM Wed 11/14/2007 5:59 PM Thu 11/15/2007 6:34 AM Thu 11/15/2007 11:24 AM Thu 11/15/2007 3:11 PM Thu 11/15/2007 5:25 PM Thu 11/15/2007 7:19 PM Sat 11/17/2007 9:44 AM Sun 11/18/2007 5:08 PM Mon 11/19/2007 6:57 PM Wed 11/21/2007 9:02 AM Thu 11/22/2007 12:31 AM Thu 11/22/2007 10:51 AM Sat 11/24/2007 6:51 AM Sun 11/25/2007 10:14 AM Tue 11/27/2007 7:11 AM Tue 11/27/2007 1:57 PM Wed 11/28/2007 7:42 AM Pricing changes were started and completed Wednesday afternoon. As exampled above, an immediate increase in ordering activity was registered, then 2 days later, the orders related to those manufacturers were reduced to a base line of 1 order a day. Displayed are 2 weeks of activity. During that time no other pricing changes were made. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MY PRICES ARE SUBSTANCIALLY HIGHER THAN OTHER ONLINE VENDORS, SO PURCHASES WERE NOT BASED ON BETTER PRICING. AS THERE ARE CUSTOMERS ON THE STORES 24/7, SYSTEM WIDE CHANGES LIKE THE ONE NOTED HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATELY FEEDBACK. The thieves appear to be able to monitor the system. They pull back to some degree when viewing a system wide change (price in this case) and then make whatever adjustments are necessary on their end. After a day or two, they re-start large scale theft of orders again. I am confident that I am a victim of theft, most likely from a competitor or by someone with access to the products via a fulfillment arrangement. They are not geniuses as the theft activity is easily identifiable. In closing, I need a highly experienced individual intimately familiar with ecommerce security able to stop and prevent further theft activity. Identification of the criminals is not a not a priority. Do not reply to this post unless you can demonstrate that you are able to produce results.