Reference no: EM131287166
FINDING THE BEST PRICE: BIZRATE VERSUS EBAY
Economists point to auction Web sites such as eBay as the best means to represent the value of any given product, because the price is determined solely by the value that the consumer attaches to it. That is, the value of the item is accurately reflected in the price paid. Thus, the prices paid for items on eBay must be some of the lowest prices available, right?
Recently, various Internet search engines, such as www.shopzilla.com, www.pricegrabber. com, and www.pricescan.com, have gained popularity. Perhaps one of the most popular is www.bizrate.com. Do auction Web sites or price search engines really give consumers the lowest price? To address this question, we performed searches using both Bizrate and eBay for two specific products: a Sony model DCR-DVD 101 DVD camcorder and a Yamaha receiver, model HTR 5790. At bizrate.com, we found 17 stores that sold the Yamaha receiver at prices ranging from a high of $719 to a low of $495. For the Sony camcorder, we found 51 stores offering it at prices from $800 to $449.
Product
|
Bizerte |
eBay |
Low
|
High
|
Low
|
High
|
Yamaha receiver
|
$495 |
$719
|
$495
|
$550
|
Sony DVD camcorder
|
$449 |
$800
|
$480
|
$774
|
At eBay, the prices for the Yamaha receiver started at $550 and moved down to $495; the Sony camcorder prices ranged from $774 to $480. Thus, it appears from analyzing these two products alone that the lowest prices are available through both channels, but the high-end prices are lower at eBay. eBay displays similar products together on the same page, which may explain why the range of prices found on eBay is narrower than that on Bizrate.
Questions
1. How has the Internet changed price competition for well-known, branded products?
2. Would the nature of price competition on the Internet be different if we had looked for commodities or esoteric luxury products?
3. Do you think this accessibility to detailed price comparisons has reduced price competition, such that all sellers price at the same level?
4. What assumptions do you tend to make about a product that seems priced very low? Very high?
Examine the physical developmental stages of children
: Examine the physical developmental stages of children and adolescents. Examine cognitive developmental stages of children and adolescents. Examine the social and emotional developmental stages of children and adolescents.
|
Preliminary market assessments indicate
: Seattle Grace Hospital plans to invest in a new piece of CT imaging equipment. The hospital estimates that it can bill $1,500 per scan. Preliminary market assessments indicate that demand will be fewer than 5,000 scans per year. The hospital has the ..
|
Has the internet helped lower the price
: Why would retailers charge different prices in different markets or zip codes? Is it ethical for retailers to do so? Is it a good business practice?
|
Is there anything that could be omitted
: Is there anything that could be omitted? Criticism is expected about the course and teaching method. Be direct and to the point. It there is a specific assignment that should be modified be specific with the name and changes.
|
Would nature of price competition on internet be different
: How has the Internet changed price competition for well-known, branded products?- Would the nature of price competition on the Internet be different if we had looked for commodities or esoteric luxury products?
|
Discuss ways to prevent or mitigate the risk
: Discuss ways to prevent or mitigate the risk of the potential torts.
|
Additional cash inflows for the next five years
: Ballard, Inc. estimates that it can generate $5,200 per year in additional cash inflows for the next five years if it modernizes its equipment at a cost of $18,000. Ballard's minimum desired rate of return is 10%. Using the present value factors from..
|
Describe the grade level for which your lesson is written
: Identify the instructional model you have chosen. State the academic standard on which the lesson is based. Describe the grade level for which your lesson is written.
|
Background materials regarding conflict and negotiation
: For the Module 3 SLP you will be applying the concepts you learned in the background materials regarding conflict and negotiation to a situation from your own personal experiences.
|