How the Consumer Benefits From Store Competition
By Steve Albright
The internet has changed the way we do almost everything. From checking the weather, to corresponding with friends and family, to banking, to shopping, almost everything we do these days can be completed successfully online.
And once someone finds a way for you to go online and do something in the same way you normally would have done it, their competitors must find a new and different way for you to do that same task. Sound confusing? It is not, think about it.
Stores online are nothing new. You saw a video game at Target you wanted to buy, but did not have the money then. You can go online at home and order it. You liked that lipstick but they did not have it in stock at that boutique. Go online to the manufacturer or a million different beauty stores online and order it from them. Done.
But in order to be competitive, each company has to be able to come up with a twist on what they are doing. If you buy it from the beauty stores online instead of in the brick and mortar store, you get free samples of other beauty products. That sounds good to me.
This is the same kind of logic that works behind the idea of penny auction sites like Quibids, Big Deal, or Beezid. The same new, in demand products available at the store, except available at a penny auction for less. Since every person in the auction is paying money every time they bid, the winner can get a $1,000 item for $100 because the rest of the money was paid by their competitors in the auction.
Quibids, Big Deal, and Beezid do not lose money; they are making money, while providing discounted items to customers. What stores online can compete with that? Well, unless of course you do not win the auction. Then the regular stores online are looking pretty good again.
As a consumer, we can easily benefit from the competition of stores online, and those that still exist in the brick and mortar world. However, what we need to remember is to be diligent in checking on the reputation and policies of individual stores. Just because a new store pops up online and has a great deal, does not necessarily mean that you should be spending your money there. Take some time to do a little research before you reveal your credit card number.
But as long as you protect yourself from the occasional scam while shopping online, there is no need not to take advantage of first time buyer deals, or to sign up for mailing lists. Especially around holiday time, you could find yourself in possession of a lot of coupons, generally good for in store or online purchases. Sometimes, the consumer does win.
About The Author
If you would like more info check out additional reviews at http://reviewopedia.com/workathome/quibids-com-reviews-is-quibids-a-scam/ and http://www.reviewopedia.com/storesonline.htm