tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168058716183134757.post2032738042434559190..comments2012-09-14T01:52:44.728-04:00Comments on Comments on Life: American Society's Lack of Digital Ethics - The Death of Brick and Mortar stores?Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10401502415439736208noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168058716183134757.post-42802471734750677982012-04-17T18:54:34.185-04:002012-04-17T18:54:34.185-04:00@ Frank - I agree with business owners being part ...@ Frank - I agree with business owners being part of the economic problem and yes many don't have a clue about digital life. As to the ethics of B&M having lower prices on the web sites compared to their B&M stores, I have mixed feelings. One could say that they are passing along their savings of a web operation to their web customers but at the same time they are competing against themselves. (Some stores keep their web and B&M operations completely separate!!) The original post here was in response to Borders books closing their stores over most of America (later to become all stores). They did have different prices on the web than in the store and customers were frustrated to see a price advertised and walk in the store and not get it. The overhead of a B&M is higher than a web operation (if nothing else, personnel and air conditioning to name a few things) and thus prices will be higher. Somehow the answer is perhaps to find a way to subsidize the B&M with the Web operation allowing the business to pass some of the savings of a web operation onto the customer and part of the savings to lower the price of the store merchandise to be equal with the web site prices. Similar to the way AT&T used to subsidize local service prices with long distance operations. <br /><br />I sympathize with you on the car buying but that isn't so much a matter of ethics as it is simple ignorance and bad attitude. I sent emails out to dealers asking for prices with a breakdown the cost and you would think they were illiterate as they were unable to read and understand what I considered a simple request. The dealer that got my business was not only the lowest price but had done exactly what I had asked. (A handful of others did also). One dealer called my home alter and when my wife told him I had already bought the car, HE GOT MAD and said I hadn't given him a chance. In reality I had recontacted the top 5 or 6 dealers and let them know that they had good prices but didn't have the best price. So Mr. MAd had had his chance and failed the opportunity. // Dealers don't like to give out prices as they know they are dealing with savy consumers. They would much rather "get you in" where they can ply their tricks on you. Had a dealer that I walked into in Tucson Arizona and thought I would have to call the police to get the keys to my car back.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168058716183134757.post-46770520975562402652012-04-17T14:54:30.561-04:002012-04-17T14:54:30.561-04:00Perhaps the bigger problem is lazy business owners...Perhaps the bigger problem is lazy business owners, such as delivery policies from teh 1950s that assume the wife is home all day. Or parts departments that only want to sell to tradespeople, not to individual customers. How about ethics of B&M stores that offer much cheaper prices on their web site, but don't match it in the store? having just recently purchased a new car, I can tell you the majority have zero on-line savvy. Most ignored reading my request on a model and features, and said "come in an talk". A couple offered prices that were higher than the same vehicle in the newspaper ad. So don't talk ethics to me.FrankLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11529029730150183783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168058716183134757.post-37302509890041577702011-07-08T00:58:29.423-04:002011-07-08T00:58:29.423-04:00I agree with your comments 100%. There is u-tube v...I agree with your comments 100%. There is u-tube video out there called(I think) "Don't be an i-phoney". I know I'm only one person but I refuse to buy anything from Amazon. I do my research online but if I want to utilize a stores knowledge I feel obligated to buy something from them. Otherwise the next time I need their expertise they might not be there. Too many people need to have their moral compass adjusted. ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com