Shopping on Social Networking Web Sites: Attitudes toward Real versus Virtual Items

February 21st, 2011

This paper is a study about the real and virtual items that social networking sites carry and how they are affected by several attributes. It reveals that product type can effect the target consumers and factors. For the real items the most important things in establishing favourable attitudes toward shopping are age, usefulness, ease of use, security and fit. For virtual items gender, social networking site experience, ease of use and fit are the most influential for attitudes.

From this study we can get very interesting results in regard of how we can present items to specific users. It shows us what we can have in mind in order to present some items to specific users of our application.

Reference

Cha, J. (2009). Shopping on Social Networking Web Sites: Attitudes toward Real versus Virtual Items. Journal of Interactive Advertising10(1), 77-93.

Available from: http://jiad.org/article126

Social Shopper

February 19th, 2011

Social shopper is a facebook application where  a user can search for products based on product name or product categorie. Also users can make review about any type of product they want. Additionally social shopper offers the ability to chat with other friends that have the application

Useful features for Shopster:

-Ability to chat with other users of application

Pros:

-Good separation of categories

-Good user interface

-Top sellers per category

Against:

-Very simple, only basic items, no location based

-Categires of items too general

-Application does not use location information

-Limited number of items

-Limited number of users (30) which in turn means less reviews

-No information about location of store or store

source: http://apps.facebook.com/socialshopper/

Craiglist Notification

February 19th, 2011

This Android application  lets you create search queries for products on Craigslist and then it notifies you when they’re discovered. You can limit queries to a specific category and location or filter search results by titles, images, and a minimum/maximum price. Once you’re notified of a result, you can click on it to launch your browser and see the full listing at Craigslist. From there you can utilize the native functions from the Android browser to share the page with a friend.

Useful features for Shopster:
-Users can search for something and if it is not currently available, when it is available, the application will send a notification to them.
-This application uses map to show where to find a deal. So deals near a user can be presented using their location on the map.
Pros:
-User interface is simple .
-It is easy to start using this application
-Deals can be found not only clothes, but for jobs, services etc.

source:https://market.android.com/details?id=com.mufumbo.craigslist.notification.android

The Coupons app

February 19th, 2011

The Coupons is  a simple but very useful Android app that lists the day’s promotional codes, free stuff, discounts, and online coupons for various merchants. Features include the ability to search coupons by title or barcode, submit coupons, and login to your account. If you own a business you can get your local deal listed in their database of discounts. Users can subscribe to the service as well as comment and rate the various deals and freebies in the list.

Useful features for Shopster:
-A user can send coupons to others so application can become popular very easy.
-Users can get coupons or search for coupons about something they probably want to buy.

source:https://market.android.com/details?id=thecouponsapp.coupon&feature=search_result


The Find

February 19th, 2011

The find, is an android application which offers search for the best deals based on users location. Also can advanced search can be made based on shop, product brand or friends favourites.

Useful features for Shopster:
-Application can show shops with the best offers in the map.
-A user can like shops on facebook.

Pros:
-Excellent accuracy on finding search results



source: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.thefind.shoppingaio&feature=search_result

Shop and style guide

February 19th, 2011

This application offers alerts for special sales, style guides, catalog search and secure purchasing through your iPhone.  Geomapping tools help users find shops or offers near them. Also, Product Catalogs searchable by keyword categories is offered, along with  Filters to narrow down on specific items, allowing users to retrieve relevant data.

source:  http://www.3esolutions.net/services/mobile-application-development/case-studies/shop-and-style-guide

Target

February 19th, 2011

The Target application makes shopping easier for you by giving you products to browse and search, ability to check item availability and aisle location, view the weekly ad, manage your lists and registries, and discover daily deals.

source: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/target/id297430070?mt=8#

Buy.com

February 19th, 2011

The Buy.com is a mobile application for iPhone that help you find various products anywhere, anytime. Reviews of products can be readead but also it is possible to find video reviews for thousands of products
Useful features for Shopster:
– Voice search. Could help users use application while driving or doing something else at the same time.
– Can compare prices from this application and thousands of other merchants while shopping in local stores.
-Video reviews for products are preferred by some users.
-Can find Top Sellers or special deals of the week.
Pros:
– Big Variety of products in different categories.
– Community driven reviews can help in making the best purchasing decisions.

source: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/buy-com/id403446100?mt=8#

DoTogether

February 19th, 2011

DoTogether is a facebook application that is similar to a mall but digital and inside facebook. Friends can suggest disguss and give feedback on varius items that they bought. Rewards for users are given in form of discounts. Shop owners pay fees depending on the amount of traffic the shop has.

Useful features for Shopster:
-Rewards are offered to users in order to make them use the application more.
-Coupons in selected shops are provided from which users can benefit with discounts, shop owners can advertise their business and application becomes more popular.
-Users can filter search results based on price.
-Many search options including location based search.
-Can navigate through categories of items that have subcategories.
-Can make a post about something you are searching for on a social networks, so friends can help you find it.

Negative:
-Could have more categories for items.
-Complicated user interface which is confusing and difficult to use.
-Application does not have many users yet.

Source:  http://dotogether.com/Home/dotogether.aspx

Payvment

February 19th, 2011

Payvment  is a facebook application, which offers to shop owners space to host their products for free. Users can browse products based on categories or search based on keywords. This application has approximately 400 000 monthly users.

Useful features for Shopster:
-Two applications in one: one application for owners of stores to advertise items and one application for buyers.
Pros:
-Many users that can help the application to function properly.
-Users can shop directly from inside of facebook.
Negative:
-No location based search supported by this application.
-It is like any other eshop that sells various items, it does not suggest (other) shops.

source: http://www.facebook.com/payvment