>>...however, most products will still be sold via the conventional market place. <<
I tend to disagree although you may be right since "m,ost items" leaves the possibility that I am forgetting many little things. I wouldn't order a razor over the web if I realized my blade was dull, then wait 6 weeks for delivery without shaving. But I would order a box of blades from the cheapest source over the web once I had one blade to tide me over.
I have to admit, I order everything over the web now. Heck I hardly rent movies anymore because I can just buy whatever I want to see for almost the same price since the web guys are all slashing each other's throats trying to gain market share.
This is why I am not bullish on the net. I feel that the internet is going to make this global economy REALLY global. In other words, if Walmart is the cheapest source in town, so what? If I am not ina hurry, I can order the same item direct from the overseas manufacturer, without WMT's mark up in price and have it shipped direct. IN the military, we always catch hops to the Pacific Rim to buy cheap sneekers, coats etc. We can now just order the stuff over the web and they ship the stuff to us without us even having to fly over there anymore. Also if I have a buddy mail it through the military APO in small quantities, it is duty free. Even WMT can't match that.
I think eventually almost everything will be bought over the web. If I want to touch, feel and smell it, I will go to the car dealer up teh street, touch, smell, feel and test drive it. I will then tell him I will think about it and then go to my computer and order it from the cheapest dealer around the country or factory direct. Albertsons is already doing web grocery shopping. SImply fill up your cyber cart and ring out. Your groceries are waiting for you when you get to the real store and they are planning on having home delivery service soon.
The future may be only 7-11 stores and cybershops.
Good Luck,
Lee |
