The selling point of Facebook is supposedly the "lock-in" it has one you as a customer because your friends are there. I can't really be bothered with it because so many people I don't want to know are there! And all the spam and dire else that comes with the Internet. I do shop online, but that's largely because I don't like shops and shopping - plus some stuff is much cheaper than my 'local' chain- store.
What I'd like to be able to do is buy in advance direct from manufacturers in an environment of peer review on quality and service. One can easily imagine a kind of auction service for such in which I put up what I want and manufacturers and service suppliers could bid to fulfill my needs and that of my agreed collective. I'd want fellow members to be able to control and advertising and for a collective representation if things go wrong. The technology to run Facebook is hardly a barrier to entry. My idea would be to undercut retailing through a new logistic model that would not involve the collective auction becoming a retailer or holding stock. One example is Green Metropolis which just takes a fee on books held by members and sold through its site. I think a lot of fingers will get burned over Facebook. I wonder if there is an alternative that would not be concerned with retailing and all its gimmicks? I've never responded to a Google ad so far and suspect there must be a better way to source essentials.
