Google Base Retail Rumours Confirmed 87
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.'
Froogle anyone? (Score:3, Interesting)
Froogle (+) anyone? (Score:1, Insightful)
I'm wondering the same thing (Score:4, Interesting)
Really, I don't see the benefit of aggregating content across stores. How often does someone go looking for a doorknob, a picture frame, and a KVM all at once? Online shopping is fundamentally different than shopping at a physical store, but it's not that different: I want to find a competent supplier of each thing, not a one-stop-shop where I have to wonder about the quality of service and related issues. And if they're just showing me info from three different places in a single search, but I am actually making three orders, what's the advantage?
Color me unimpressed
Apple licensed one-click (Score:1)
Re:I'm wondering the same thing (Score:5, Insightful)
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.
Re:I'm wondering the same thing (Score:2)
I just have to say, Fry's fucking rules if you know what you're doing. It's a little bit like going to a sketchy part of town you're not familiar with - you just need to go with someone who knows their way around to avoid getting jacked. If you are aware that you have to always check packages to make sure they have the right product in them, you can do pre
Re:I'm wondering the same thing (Score:2)
Gotta second the "Fry's rules"... (Score:2)
Being a SF Bay longtime resident, I gotta second this... man, I love to read their sunday paper adverts.. it's so dumb of them that they don't just publish this via pdf or something (probably to avoid other stores from "gaming" with their prices).
They're also quite dumb in that up until 1999 or somthing they didn't even have a website... ironically, the
Re:I'm wondering the same thing (Score:1)
Fry's? Unfortunate? (Score:1)
Dude, unfortunate? Over the years they've let me borrow all sorts for goodies to try out and then return after I figured out they didn't work for me/I didn't need them/I didn't like the color, or whatever.
I like Fry's.
Re:Froogle anyone? (Score:4, Insightful)
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.
Re:Froogle anyone? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Froogle anyone? (Score:2)
This is a new thing, not just another pricecompare.com.
Re:Froogle anyone? (Score:1)
Re:Froogle anyone? (Score:1)
base is similar (merchant uploads file), but uses a modified rss/atom feed. It's a lot more flexible as far as specifying attributes (ie, color, size, weight, etc).
Re:Froogle anyone? (Score:1)
For Sale: (Score:1)
Slightly used; usage will increase quickly over time.
Will provide a wealth of information on your competitors and other individuals.
Image:
|insert snapshot of googlebase information here|
Asking Price: $G,ooo,ooo,ooo,ooo,gle
Let's get this out of the way now (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Let's get this out of the way now (Score:3, Funny)
Well, it's a database-driven app, so it's gonna be something like this:
SELECT * FROM BASE;.
Either that, or we go the retail website route: /htdocs/products/*/base
# chown -R google
Well.. (Score:3, Interesting)
Check it out, at least, at aws.typepad.com [typepad.com]
Re:What does WOT mean? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:What does WOT mean? (Score:2)
Re:What does WOT mean? (Score:1)
Google VS EU? (Score:2)
Re:Google VS EU? (Score:2)
No, the EU seems to be hellbent on preventing monopolies from engaging in anti-competitive practices.
What has Google done to stifle competition? What is preventing other organisations from offering the exact same service?
Re:Google VS EU? (Score:1)
If you reduce your circles enough, you can find monopolies everywhere.
Re:Google VS EU? (Score:2)
Why would we do that? The only antitrust lawsuit pending for Apple is the one in California as far as I know, and California is definitely not a member state of the EU. Virgin tried to sue Apple for anticompetitive behaviour in France, but the court ruled against Virgin [silicon.com].
Google Base? (Score:4, Funny)
Google Base joke... (Score:3, Funny)
Google: All the retail is ours.... No that's not right...
Something really obvious...
Google: We own you... No...
Oh well. Maybe someone can set me up the joke...
No? OK....
Re:Google Base joke... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Google Base joke... (Score:2)
Just as long as she brings hot grits.
Re:Google Base joke... (Score:2)
Because our teeth won't handle much more.
Re:Google Base joke... (Score:2)
Re:Google Base joke... (Score:4, Informative)
And don't forget the trolls, GNAA, and spelling errors compliatn [reference.com] with ISO Flaming Standards.
Still leaves a lot to be desired. (Score:5, Interesting)
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?
Re:Still leaves a lot to be desired. (Score:2)
Re:Still leaves a lot to be desired. (Score:2)
Re:Still leaves a lot to be desired. (Score:3, Insightful)
Ever actually tried to get Ebay to resolve a fraud issue? It was easier (and cheaper!) just to forget the whole thing.
Re:Still leaves a lot to be desired. (Score:1)
Tick Tock, Tick Tock. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Tick Tock, Tick Tock. (Score:1)
It pains me that one day I may hate Google more than Microsoft.
Re:Tick Tock, Tick Tock. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Tick Tock, Tick Tock. (Score:2)
Unusually evil...
Technically evil...
Kind of evil...
Somewhat evil...
A tiny bit evil...
Slightly evil...
Lesser evil...
Pretty much evil...
Just short of evil...
Almost evil...
Evil!!!
[I almost put "Microsoft!!!" but I refrained]
Froogle notwithstanding... (Score:1)
After all this time I still have to spend a lot of time just looking for the best prices for things like replacement computer parts to feed my hobby.
Google Information (Score:3, Informative)
I can personally confirm this... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:All your Retail Base belong to us (Score:1)
I Hope It's the Right Items (Score:1)
There *is* a reason that these stores don't have a good online presence. It's probably not a web programmer's fault, but more of the stores not being able to integrate the needs o
Re:I Hope It's the Right Items (Score:2)
I often prefer to pick up now rather than wait for delivery, so I call the store and give them the online price from a relatively reliable online store, if the bricks and mortar store BS about the unr
Now if they add a RFID "service"... (Score:4, Insightful)
This is where the moronic book publishers get things wrong - by Google helping consumers actually FIND the crap they sell, they DRIVE business TOWARDS your stupid company. Oh, and ISPs get it wrong too. The only reason we pay monthly fees to get IP service is because companies like Google provide compelling reasons to do so. Otherwise, I'd take up windsurfing or something...
Re:Now if they add a RFID "service"... (Score:1)
I can see how, on the surface, this looks like an advantage for the Mom & Pop shops, but the reality of it is that it hurts them.
Because the large retailers have more purchasing leverage and lower marginal costs than a Mom & Pop retailer, the large chain is able to offer the product at a lower cost.
When purchasing online the two major points of consideration for any consumer are:
Re:Now if they add a RFID "service"... (Score:2)
Brick and Mortar? (Score:3, Insightful)
Why can't it just be called a physical store? What if my store is made of wood and sheetrock? Who comes up with these obnoxious, self-important business terms?
And with that, I have to go pull the trigger on something...
Re:Brick and Mortar? (Score:1)
Ready to kill yourself yet?
You just don't get it (Score:3, Funny)
Who comes up with these obnoxious, self-important business terms?
Google is unleashing a long tail, soup-to-nuts integrated solution that satisfies pent-up demand and synergizes efficiencies. It's a slam-dunk no-brainer!
Re:Brick and Mortar? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Brick and Mortar? (Score:1)
It's the traditional Economics 101 example of businesses protecting themselves by raising barriers to entry into the mar
ObReference (Score:2)
GoogleBase Copyright Infringement Notice (Score:1)
"GoogleBase?" Just wait a minute, I invented that and I've got the sketches on a napkin to prove it. You owe me big time and until you pay up I'm going to have a judge slap on a restraining order.
Sincerely yours,
Al Gore-Rhythm
Retail Execs to Google: Yeah, I'll get right on it (Score:3, Insightful)
Typical Retail Executive: "Yes, thank you, Google, for offering me an easy way to redefine the retail brand I've been building for years as just another price player. Would you like me to send over demographics of my key customers and how we reach them via advertising too? Yes? OK, I'll get right on that. (click)"
Google Base? (Score:2)
This just in... (Score:1)
This is great! (Score:3, Funny)
Let's zoom ahead about 15 years (Score:2)