Slashdot Mirror
Google Base Retail Rumours Confirmed
kaufmanmoore writes "According to an MSNBC report, the head of Google's European arm has said that Google wants to use Google Base for brick and mortar stores to submit lists of goods and prices in order to create an online presence." From the article: "Google would index and package the information into a consumer-friendly search engine, giving its users a virtual supermarket across a number of retail brands. Mr Arora said: 'Google Base is going to have a huge impact on retailers," adding that the move reflected internal research, which found many leading European retailers did not feel they were competitive enough online.'
All your base are belong to Google... Really!
Am I the only one who (for a second) thought that google were actually beginning construction of their other base
So they will index deals submitted by stores.
Who is going to collect the funds?
Who is going to deal with the fraud?
Who is going to be responsible for the accuracy of the information presented?
Will google police stores that advertise one price but sell at another (or just bury more profit in S&H?)
Sounds like a high tech flea market. Without any guarantees this could devolve quickly into a disaster. Is Google prepared to vouch for the information, if not how will they convince people to use a service they won't stand behind?
* Winners compare their achievements to their goals, losers compare theirs to that of others.
And the Google Countdown to Evil continues... Don't get me wrong, I love Google, but they really need to make sure that they're using their powers for Awesome.
Face it my friend, in Internet terms we're older than the hills, and the youngsters here are rolling their eyes every time we give a phlegmy chuckle at one of those catch phrases from the good old days. Still, I for one welcome our new Google Base overlords, so long as they have Natalie Portman as their spokesmodel, naked and petrified.
Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
I think it is very similar to Froogle. But I am sure someone in Google has noticed that fact also.
What I think is interesting is how Google payments works with Google base and not Froogle.
I think when retailers go for Google base, there will be a pre-built e-commerce rig waiting to go.
Froogle will be for the rest of us punters.
-- I doubt, therefore I might be.
How often does someone go looking for a doorknob, a picture frame, and a KVM all at once?
Have you not noticed the recent Wal*Mart ad campaign? "I went in for chips and salsa, and walked out with this great deck furniture." Or "I went in for hemorhoids cream, and walked out with a new car." That kind of thing.
The point is, when someone's in the mood to browse and spend, the more products you can put in front of them, the more they'll buy. "Stack 'em high and watch 'em buy" is a retail maxim. Why do you think Fry's Electronics (for those unfortunate enough to have one near them) load up their check out lanes with all kinds of random junk? This is just more of the same, present as many products as possible, and people will inevitably buy them. It's just how our culture is.
God invented whiskey so the Irish would not rule the world.