I feel that I have more power as a consumer and I am more proactive in satisfying my (product and service) needs.  As a passive shopper, I would not have asked a business to perform a task that is not part of its  stated business practice (e.g., neither Streamline nor Shoplink indicate in their websites that they assist with watch repair).  The Internet does indeed reduce information asymmetry between manufacturer/channel and consumer (oh, sorry for getting a little theoretical here), and as a result the consumer has gained greater power in the relationship.  “We the people” (I love the Mercata.com advertisement – “power to the people, right on,” JLennon) have the power to more directly and forcefully express, and have implemented, our desires.  Business to consumer e-commerce will not flourish without consumers; get in the game and shape the future.  (Almost got on the soapbox there for a moment; after all, I am a professor -- smile).

Tomorrow, I think I’ll order some groceries as I am getting hungry, and then, after that, maybe I’ll buy some retirement real estate.  Hey, I’m not getting any younger and why not buy when the pressure is not on.

Incidentally, none of the websites are official sites of the Internet Shopping 24/7 Project (and imagine any other text or phrase that will satisfactorily cover my legal backside).  This is America, however, and any significant RESEARCH funding support would certainly be acknowledged properly.

Thanks for reading…come back again…same bat time, same bat channel.