Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Pros & Cons of Online shopping
Advantages
• Convenient
Convenience includes the overall ease of finding a product, time spent on shopping, minimization of overall shoppoing effort (Schaupp & Belanger, 2005). Online shopping allows consumers to shop at the convenience of their own home, and to save traveling time to retail stores and spend their time on other important tasks and hobbies. Researchers idenfity convenience as a 'fundamental objective' related to online shopping (Schaupp & Belanger, 2005). This is relevant to 72% of online shoppers' claim that they would rather surf online than go to retail store to attain information about a product (Lokken et al., 2003). According to a study, 72% of online shoppers chose convenience over privacy (Bhatnagar, Misra, & Rao, 2000). In addition to ease of finding products online and shopping time reduction, consumers can shop without time limitation with 24-hr access at their convenience because the World Wide Web never closees. Lokken mentions 24-hr access as a beneficial characteristic of online shopping (Lokken et al., 2003). Also, consumers can exchange information online through chatting and discussion forums to help them make wise consumer decisions.
• No need for vendors and no pressure to buy
Online shopping benefits both the society as a whole and individuals. The society can save human resources when consumers help themselves by browsing freely online instead of asking for assistance from vendors. In addition, consumers are freed from the pressure to buy from the vendors and can spend more time to make wise purchase decisions. But it is imorpant that Web sites have good product descriptions because it is one of the significant condition that satisfy consumers (Limayem, M., Khalifa, M., & Frini, A., 2000).
• "Infinite shelfspace" available
Consumers desire a variety of products because they look for the right product that will fully satisfy them. There is infinite variety of products available online because online shopping allows consumers to browse through products that are made all around the world without geographical boundaries.
• Able to compare product price and features
With the online tools that enable product comparison, consumers can compare product prices and features to make a better decision with less effort. More details are included in solutions section.
Disadvantages/Concerns
• Enjoyment of retail shopping lost
Many enjoy shopping with others and it is often a good way to make social connections. When shopping independently online, the enjoyment is lost.
• Privacy and security issues
Privacy is the number one reason that non-online shoppers do not shop online. Almost 95% of Web users have declined to provide personal information to Web sites at one time or another when asked (Hoffman, Novak, & Peralta, 1999). Another recent study has found that privacy was the top concern of customers while security ranked bottom (Schaupp & Belanger, 2005). This proves that many do not trust the privay of the Internet and are concerned with their credit card fauds, unwanted solicitation, and use of their information for other purposes. Security of Web sites is not the top concern because many shop on Web sites that they trust so that other factors appear to be more important than security.
• Access to the Internet and computer necessary
Because one needs money to buy a computer and to have internet connection, online shopping seems to be limited people of reasonable amount of income. Also, since it is harder to learn computer at an older age, the elderly people tend shop at traditional retail stores.
• Product category risk
Product category risk is related to functional products such as apparel, perfume, and electronics, that have functions that cannot fully be expeirenced online. Online shopper are worried that the products will not be what they have expected by viewing online. This is a clear disadvantage of onlins shopping because it shows that "[t]he likelihood of purchasing on the Internet decreases with increases in product risk" (Bhatnagar, Misra, & Rao, 20000, p. 100). Apparels in particular had negative rating in online shopping because of it is difficult to feel and see the texture of color online that is incomparable to going to a retail store, even with magnifying tools online. Also, one cannot try on a clothing before buying it online, so it would be very inconvenient if the size did not fit the person and he/she had to return it.
• Too many choices
Although having access to a very large number of products is highly desirable, consumers have limited cognitive resources and may simply be unable to process the potentially vast amounts of information about these alternatives (Haubl & Trifts, 2000). Online stores need to provide the variety in an organized way that will facilitate shopping online.
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~jinnie/advantage.html
• Convenient
Convenience includes the overall ease of finding a product, time spent on shopping, minimization of overall shoppoing effort (Schaupp & Belanger, 2005). Online shopping allows consumers to shop at the convenience of their own home, and to save traveling time to retail stores and spend their time on other important tasks and hobbies. Researchers idenfity convenience as a 'fundamental objective' related to online shopping (Schaupp & Belanger, 2005). This is relevant to 72% of online shoppers' claim that they would rather surf online than go to retail store to attain information about a product (Lokken et al., 2003). According to a study, 72% of online shoppers chose convenience over privacy (Bhatnagar, Misra, & Rao, 2000). In addition to ease of finding products online and shopping time reduction, consumers can shop without time limitation with 24-hr access at their convenience because the World Wide Web never closees. Lokken mentions 24-hr access as a beneficial characteristic of online shopping (Lokken et al., 2003). Also, consumers can exchange information online through chatting and discussion forums to help them make wise consumer decisions.
• No need for vendors and no pressure to buy
Online shopping benefits both the society as a whole and individuals. The society can save human resources when consumers help themselves by browsing freely online instead of asking for assistance from vendors. In addition, consumers are freed from the pressure to buy from the vendors and can spend more time to make wise purchase decisions. But it is imorpant that Web sites have good product descriptions because it is one of the significant condition that satisfy consumers (Limayem, M., Khalifa, M., & Frini, A., 2000).
• "Infinite shelfspace" available
Consumers desire a variety of products because they look for the right product that will fully satisfy them. There is infinite variety of products available online because online shopping allows consumers to browse through products that are made all around the world without geographical boundaries.
• Able to compare product price and features
With the online tools that enable product comparison, consumers can compare product prices and features to make a better decision with less effort. More details are included in solutions section.
Disadvantages/Concerns
• Enjoyment of retail shopping lost
Many enjoy shopping with others and it is often a good way to make social connections. When shopping independently online, the enjoyment is lost.
• Privacy and security issues
Privacy is the number one reason that non-online shoppers do not shop online. Almost 95% of Web users have declined to provide personal information to Web sites at one time or another when asked (Hoffman, Novak, & Peralta, 1999). Another recent study has found that privacy was the top concern of customers while security ranked bottom (Schaupp & Belanger, 2005). This proves that many do not trust the privay of the Internet and are concerned with their credit card fauds, unwanted solicitation, and use of their information for other purposes. Security of Web sites is not the top concern because many shop on Web sites that they trust so that other factors appear to be more important than security.
• Access to the Internet and computer necessary
Because one needs money to buy a computer and to have internet connection, online shopping seems to be limited people of reasonable amount of income. Also, since it is harder to learn computer at an older age, the elderly people tend shop at traditional retail stores.
• Product category risk
Product category risk is related to functional products such as apparel, perfume, and electronics, that have functions that cannot fully be expeirenced online. Online shopper are worried that the products will not be what they have expected by viewing online. This is a clear disadvantage of onlins shopping because it shows that "[t]he likelihood of purchasing on the Internet decreases with increases in product risk" (Bhatnagar, Misra, & Rao, 20000, p. 100). Apparels in particular had negative rating in online shopping because of it is difficult to feel and see the texture of color online that is incomparable to going to a retail store, even with magnifying tools online. Also, one cannot try on a clothing before buying it online, so it would be very inconvenient if the size did not fit the person and he/she had to return it.
• Too many choices
Although having access to a very large number of products is highly desirable, consumers have limited cognitive resources and may simply be unable to process the potentially vast amounts of information about these alternatives (Haubl & Trifts, 2000). Online stores need to provide the variety in an organized way that will facilitate shopping online.
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~jinnie/advantage.html
Friday, February 20, 2009
[Feb.21] Classes that I am taking this quarter
I'm not taking any other writing classes at UCD beside LIN 96. Since I can only take 12 credits, other classes are something that has more to do with my majors, which are Russian and Business management. For this quarter, I'm taking Macro economics, Personal Finance and Marketing.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
E-bay
eBay SnapshotFounded in September 1995, eBay is a global online marketplace where practically anyone can trade practically anything.
<http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/EBAYPRESS/551802470x0x223370/C99E1580-C708-46FA-A1B5-3FB94A64ABB2/eBayMarketplacesFastFacts.pdf>
Achieved Record Fourth Quarter and Annual Net Revenues of $19.5 million and $47.4 million, respectively
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 26 -- eBay Inc. (http://www.ebay.com), the world's largest person-to-person online trading community, today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 1998.
About eBay eBay (http://www.ebay.com), the world's personal trading community(TM), pioneered person-to-person online trading. Founded in 1995, eBay has developed an efficient and entertaining trading site on the Web that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. eBay has more than 2.1 million registered users. Currently, there are more than one million items listed for sale. More than 150,000 items are added daily in more than 1,000 categories including: antiques; books, movies and music; coins and stamps; collectibles; computers; dolls and figures; jewelry and gemstones; photo and electronics; pottery and glass; sports memorabilia; and toys.
<http://news.ebay.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=15256>
San Jose, Calif., January 21, 2009 . eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2008. The ecommerce company posted fourth quarter revenue of $2.04 billion, representing a $145 million year-over-year decrease due primarily to the impact on eBay of a stronger dollar and macroeconomic conditions globally. PayPal, Classifieds, text and graphical advertising and Skype performed well, growing revenue on a year-over-year basis. The company recorded net income on a GAAP basis of $367 million or $0.29 per diluted share, and non-GAAP net income of $524 million or $0.41 per diluted share.
For the full year, eBay Inc. posted $8.54 billion in revenue, net income on a GAAP basis of $1.78 billion or $1.36 per diluted share, and non-GAAP net income of $2.24 billion or $1.71 per diluted share. http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/EBAY/551829009x0x266606/581a206a-78df-4c3c-81c4-4a8b57e62440/eBay_FINALQ42008EarningsRelease.pdf>
eBay Inc.: A Short History
eBay was born over Labor Day weekend in 1995, when Pierre Omidyar, a computer programmer, wrote the code for an auction website that he ran from his home computer.
Today, Omidyar's hobby is known as eBay, the world's largest online marketplace - where practically anyone can sell practically anything at any time. It's an idea that BusinessWeek once called "nothing less than a virtual, self-regulating global economy."
With a presence in 39 markets, including the U.S., and approximately 84 million active users worldwide, eBay has changed the face of Internet commerce. In 2007, the total value of sold items on eBay's trading platforms was nearly $60 billion. This means that eBay users worldwide trade more than $1,900 worth of goods on the site every second.
The benefit to consumers is clear: eBay provides an open trading platform where the market determines the value of items that are sold. Over the years, the site has become a cultural barometer of sorts, providing a view into what objects consumers want most at any time.
Since its initial public offering in 1998, the company has continued to innovate and connect people - and not just through its marketplaces. Two critical acquisitions have made eBay Inc. a global leader in online payments and communications as well.
PayPal enables any individual or business with an email address to securely, easily and quickly send and receive payments online. Acquired by eBay Inc. in October 2002, PayPal builds on the existing financial infrastructure of bank accounts and credit cards and uses the world's most advanced proprietary fraud prevention systems to create a safe payment solution. Today, PayPal is a global leader in online payment solutions: It has 149 million registered users and is accepted by millions of merchants worldwide - on and off eBay. PayPal's Q1 2008 global total payment volume of $14.4 billion accounted for nearly 9 percent of worldwide eCommerce.
Acquired by eBay Inc. in October 2005, Skype is the world's fastest-growing Internet communication company that has revolutionized the way people talk online. With more than 309 million registered users as of early 2008, Skype allows people everywhere to make unlimited voice and video calls online for free using its software. Skype is available in 28 languages and is used in almost every country on Earth. This business unit generates revenue through its premium offerings, such as calls (using its software) made to and from landline and mobile phones; voicemail; call forwarding; and personalization, including ringtones and avatars. In addition to its presence on eBay, Skype has relationships with a growing network of hardware and software providers.
Other key acquisitions have strengthened eBay Inc.'s portfolio of ecommerce companies, including shopping.com, a pioneer in online comparison shopping; Stubhub, a leading online marketplace for the resale of event tickets; rent.com, the most visited online apartment listing service in the U.S.; StumbleUpon, an online solution that helps people discover and share content on the web; and market-leading online classifieds sites including LoQUo.com, Intoko, and Netherlands-based Marktplaats.nl. The company has also grown its classifieds business through Kijiji, which launched in the U.S. in 2007.
*For the latest company data, please refer to the press releases and Fast Facts sections of the newsroom at http://news.ebay.com.
eBay Headquarters:
<http://news.ebay.com/about.cfm>
<http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/EBAYPRESS/551802470x0x223370/C99E1580-C708-46FA-A1B5-3FB94A64ABB2/eBayMarketplacesFastFacts.pdf>
Achieved Record Fourth Quarter and Annual Net Revenues of $19.5 million and $47.4 million, respectively
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 26 -- eBay Inc. (http://www.ebay.com), the world's largest person-to-person online trading community, today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 1998.
About eBay eBay (http://www.ebay.com), the world's personal trading community(TM), pioneered person-to-person online trading. Founded in 1995, eBay has developed an efficient and entertaining trading site on the Web that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. eBay has more than 2.1 million registered users. Currently, there are more than one million items listed for sale. More than 150,000 items are added daily in more than 1,000 categories including: antiques; books, movies and music; coins and stamps; collectibles; computers; dolls and figures; jewelry and gemstones; photo and electronics; pottery and glass; sports memorabilia; and toys.
<http://news.ebay.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=15256>
San Jose, Calif., January 21, 2009 . eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2008. The ecommerce company posted fourth quarter revenue of $2.04 billion, representing a $145 million year-over-year decrease due primarily to the impact on eBay of a stronger dollar and macroeconomic conditions globally. PayPal, Classifieds, text and graphical advertising and Skype performed well, growing revenue on a year-over-year basis. The company recorded net income on a GAAP basis of $367 million or $0.29 per diluted share, and non-GAAP net income of $524 million or $0.41 per diluted share.
For the full year, eBay Inc. posted $8.54 billion in revenue, net income on a GAAP basis of $1.78 billion or $1.36 per diluted share, and non-GAAP net income of $2.24 billion or $1.71 per diluted share. http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/EBAY/551829009x0x266606/581a206a-78df-4c3c-81c4-4a8b57e62440/eBay_FINALQ42008EarningsRelease.pdf>
eBay Inc.: A Short History
eBay was born over Labor Day weekend in 1995, when Pierre Omidyar, a computer programmer, wrote the code for an auction website that he ran from his home computer.
Today, Omidyar's hobby is known as eBay, the world's largest online marketplace - where practically anyone can sell practically anything at any time. It's an idea that BusinessWeek once called "nothing less than a virtual, self-regulating global economy."
With a presence in 39 markets, including the U.S., and approximately 84 million active users worldwide, eBay has changed the face of Internet commerce. In 2007, the total value of sold items on eBay's trading platforms was nearly $60 billion. This means that eBay users worldwide trade more than $1,900 worth of goods on the site every second.
The benefit to consumers is clear: eBay provides an open trading platform where the market determines the value of items that are sold. Over the years, the site has become a cultural barometer of sorts, providing a view into what objects consumers want most at any time.
Since its initial public offering in 1998, the company has continued to innovate and connect people - and not just through its marketplaces. Two critical acquisitions have made eBay Inc. a global leader in online payments and communications as well.
PayPal enables any individual or business with an email address to securely, easily and quickly send and receive payments online. Acquired by eBay Inc. in October 2002, PayPal builds on the existing financial infrastructure of bank accounts and credit cards and uses the world's most advanced proprietary fraud prevention systems to create a safe payment solution. Today, PayPal is a global leader in online payment solutions: It has 149 million registered users and is accepted by millions of merchants worldwide - on and off eBay. PayPal's Q1 2008 global total payment volume of $14.4 billion accounted for nearly 9 percent of worldwide eCommerce.
Acquired by eBay Inc. in October 2005, Skype is the world's fastest-growing Internet communication company that has revolutionized the way people talk online. With more than 309 million registered users as of early 2008, Skype allows people everywhere to make unlimited voice and video calls online for free using its software. Skype is available in 28 languages and is used in almost every country on Earth. This business unit generates revenue through its premium offerings, such as calls (using its software) made to and from landline and mobile phones; voicemail; call forwarding; and personalization, including ringtones and avatars. In addition to its presence on eBay, Skype has relationships with a growing network of hardware and software providers.
Other key acquisitions have strengthened eBay Inc.'s portfolio of ecommerce companies, including shopping.com, a pioneer in online comparison shopping; Stubhub, a leading online marketplace for the resale of event tickets; rent.com, the most visited online apartment listing service in the U.S.; StumbleUpon, an online solution that helps people discover and share content on the web; and market-leading online classifieds sites including LoQUo.com, Intoko, and Netherlands-based Marktplaats.nl. The company has also grown its classifieds business through Kijiji, which launched in the U.S. in 2007.
*For the latest company data, please refer to the press releases and Fast Facts sections of the newsroom at http://news.ebay.com.
eBay Headquarters:
<http://news.ebay.com/about.cfm>
Friday, January 16, 2009
[Jan.16.09] What I like to do with computer. :]
I was not born with Computer.!
But I do love doing computer and feel like I was born to use computer.
I think it's not just for me.
I've never seen my parents playing computer games in my life.
But I've heard a lot young people killing themselves for not stop playing games for more than 24 hours long.! It's not few, a lot more than what you can imagine it would be! especially you are in your 40s or 50s. in my mom's age. To be honest, my mom who was used to blackmail me into stoping games ended up getting into computer games, too! It was fun to joke on her about this by the way. It's time to wrap it up. hate to say this but good-bye. I'll get back to u later. =)
But I do love doing computer and feel like I was born to use computer.
I think it's not just for me.
I've never seen my parents playing computer games in my life.
But I've heard a lot young people killing themselves for not stop playing games for more than 24 hours long.! It's not few, a lot more than what you can imagine it would be! especially you are in your 40s or 50s. in my mom's age. To be honest, my mom who was used to blackmail me into stoping games ended up getting into computer games, too! It was fun to joke on her about this by the way. It's time to wrap it up. hate to say this but good-bye. I'll get back to u later. =)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
