Consumers + Money + Internet = The Opportuinity to Buy Online

eBusiness Opportunities & Challenges

A Consumers Perspective.

We, the consumer, have access to a  national or global supermarket for shopping,banking and managing nearly every aspect of the, day to day running of our lives. I'll talk about a few issues, in this blog. 

Opportunities 

Staying in is the new going out!

There might be days, when we might not want to leave the house or it's just not an option.The consumer, with the right tools can shop anytime day or night , at any location.For example,the queue's and push n' shove of seasonal shopping is not for everyone.The organised on line shopper has the advantage of  having their Christmas paraphernalia and presents delivered to the door .

I got mine for Half Price On Line :)

Indirectly, there are many reasons why the consumer might be able to buy a product at cheaper cost on line, least of all that the seller is saving on operational costs allowing them to pass on a discount to their customer.The consumer has the luxury of instant price comparison, no trailing around the shop's to find the best bargain.In some cases there is also the option of bypassing the retailer or broker, prices can often be cheaper coming directly from the manufacturer.


Shopping for Fun
If shopping is your sport, sites such as eBay can be your arena.Then there is couponing,this link explains on line couponing .http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/using-coupon-codes-to-save-money.html

Temptation

It can be difficult to shop without falling into the trap of impulse buying. Its all part of the psychology.If this is your downfall, on line shopping can keep the focus on the product you actually do want to purchase. Certainly, on line stores will still use tactics, but the consumer might not succumb so easily when they don't encounter a salesperson.  

Challenges

Can't Touch This!
A tangible product is a physical item, meaning we can touch, smell, hear or taste it. The consumer can't physically see or feel the product they are planning to purchase. There is no guarantee that clothes are going to fit or perishables will be fresh as you like them to be.

Lost in Transportation
What happens if the product you have excitedly waited for turns up in a less than perfect state, or not at all?Depending on the shipping terms and conditions, the consumer may be taking on the risk and hassle of convincing the seller that the goods are unsatisfactory. Consumers can often end up paying shipping costs for returns, this can be costly and time consuming.

Gone Phishing  
Designed to look like the web page of a major bank, these phishing sites send out millions of emails to random addresses.They ask the recipient to log into the banks site using by typing in log in codes and passwords.Voila, the victims might very quickly discover an empty bank account.

A Sense of Community
When the consumer decides to shop or use a business service on line,they might be forsaking their local retailers/services. The consumer faces an ethical challenge,supporting the local community or taking advantage of cheaper on line products/services.

The Death of the Record Shop

Cause of Death.....iTunes

Recession has created a change in consumer behavior, most of us are more cautious about

how we spend? eBusiness is our Toolkit 

Amazon on Cyber Monday 

1. cyber monday

   Web definitions

   1. Cyber Monday is a marketing term for the Monday after Black Friday, the Friday following Thanksgiving in the United States, the term "Cyber Monday" was created by marketing companies to persuade people to shop online. The term made its debut on November 28, 2005 in a Shop. ...
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyber_monday