Headline grabbing soundbyte?
Am I the only one to think that this comment came across as something headline grabbing to say, without holding up to scrutiny?
The majority of consumers have pretty much always gone to the cheapest source for goods. The internet or 'E'-commerce just made it easier to compare prices. Stands to reason also, if you work out of a warehouse with no storefronts you had reduced overheads and can utilise direct to consumer logistics that are already in place instead of having to worry about warehouse to store.
The advent of the Smartphone just made it easier for a consumer to go in store, look at the product and then check online for lowest price. The fact that store fronts have lasted so long is that they have either had to aggressively cut prices, cut variety to increase SKU buying power as well as join the online only brigade. And we can see what effect that is having with DSG and co struggling. *
So - how is e-commerce dead? Commerce is commerce regardless of the medium a transaction is negotiated using. Is it because it is not longer the 'Buzz word', the seeming panacea of a decade ago?
Did we just but goods *because* it was online? I think we are all guilty of buying something we wouldn't normally simply because it was so easy to do there and then online, or we were pissed, but his sweeping soundbyte smacks of a Schmidt style attempt of stating something that may, at first glance, sound grandiose and profound, but slight examination shows up to be rather wank.
I think anyway.
* Interestingly this has also brought to light the value a significant portion of consumers place on service. John Lewis prices, for example, may not be the best, however the electronic side seems to be doing well. Anecdotally their staff and service in this area seem to be well received, whereas we all know what the general perception of DSG is. Apple may sell most of their products online but their service, (After problems are admitted mind you), is also anecdotally reported as good. Better if you have a store nearby.