When buying a book online is just too inconvenient, a company called ShopText is developing a way for customers to place impulse orders by text message. The equivalent of candy bars at the check-out counter, a NY Times articles explains that...
...ShopText has introduced a system that lets people buy products instantly using text messages, a process that eliminates the need to go to a store or even visit a Web site. For instance, a woman seeing an ad for a pocketbook in a magazine can order it on the spot simply by sending the text code found beside the item through her cellphone.
Consumers can already use text messages to buy some products. Ads for the new CD by singer Tim McGraw carry a texting code, as do magazine writeups for the new Harry Potter novel coming this summer...
“You’re sitting in Central Park reading a magazine, and you have your phone with you, and you want information on a product or you want to purchase the product,” he said. “The ability is right there.”
Most magazine and newspaper ads for books seem to be more about exposure and name recognition than making direct sales. However, the magazine/text messaging concept would be the equivalent of a blog-to-Amazon link.
If we're going to encourage impulse buying and consumer debt, books might as well get in on the action!
feeling a little negative today, are we? what's got you so jaded?
Posted by: dr dre beats headphones | October 17, 2011 at 10:00 PM