Rives,
Very interesting post. I recently took a vacation back to where I was raised and educated. My time was divided between visiting with high school chums and the audiophile friends of long ago. I got the pleasure of auditioning lots of tube based systems and buying used vinyl as well. I can only speak of what I experienced in the midwest in my age group. I am 52.
Much to my surprise I discovered that virtually none of my peer group was even interested in having a computer. Those that had internet access used it almost exclusively for email and nothing else. Nobody had a high speed connection. The ones that did have a machine and a dial-up connection offered brief explainations about how difficult it is to master any pc based programs. Most have access to mentors (children/grandchildren) and groused about it not being worth the pain and that none of the mentors knew how to communicate with an adult with zero knowledge.
Those of us that use our computers extensively take for granted that others understand the power of this medium and the instant gratification it provides. I must admit that aside from my interest in this hobby and the modest income I earn from my web based service company for Realtors (virtual tour photo service) the web doesn't offer me much to enhance my life. I still purchase over 99% of my needs through brick and mortar outlets that are local. As a businessman I have discovered that my competitors who are brick and mortar based are simply healthy competition. My cyber competitors as a rule have no morals, choosing instead to steal, lie, and cheat. Their sleazy reputations are an obstacle I must constantly overcome.
Hacking, viruses, IPO's that were a joke, lawsuits galore, the lack of privacy, musical theft, video theft, pornography and all the other negatives about this electronic world are not lost on the uninitiated. The question comes down to the consumer asking themselves if they are more comfortable with brick and mortar or a wall outlet. To them (and rightly so) the net is on a par with the annoying phone solicitors. I agree.
Rives, you are living in a primative world that is much like the wild west was. Until the internet, phones and television are merged into one necessary package with all the inherent governmental rules and regulations, this medium will lack the credibility to seriously compete with brick and mortar on a large scale.
At least you have found part of a niche market here. Besides making the most out of what you have found, the next step, aside from constructing a storefront, is to cultivate relationships with retailers to assist in peddling your wares. Think about this: who did you expect to reach by placing an ad in a physical product?
If one were to remove schools, government, and abused businesses (through employee surfing) from the net connectivity figures, you would get a better picture of where this industry is at in the real world of e-commerce. You are blazing a trail here my friend, a true pioneer. In spite of what we all feel about how advanced everything is, we are still in the internet stone age. Beware of meat eating pedators.
Sincere good luck to you,
Patrick
Very interesting post. I recently took a vacation back to where I was raised and educated. My time was divided between visiting with high school chums and the audiophile friends of long ago. I got the pleasure of auditioning lots of tube based systems and buying used vinyl as well. I can only speak of what I experienced in the midwest in my age group. I am 52.
Much to my surprise I discovered that virtually none of my peer group was even interested in having a computer. Those that had internet access used it almost exclusively for email and nothing else. Nobody had a high speed connection. The ones that did have a machine and a dial-up connection offered brief explainations about how difficult it is to master any pc based programs. Most have access to mentors (children/grandchildren) and groused about it not being worth the pain and that none of the mentors knew how to communicate with an adult with zero knowledge.
Those of us that use our computers extensively take for granted that others understand the power of this medium and the instant gratification it provides. I must admit that aside from my interest in this hobby and the modest income I earn from my web based service company for Realtors (virtual tour photo service) the web doesn't offer me much to enhance my life. I still purchase over 99% of my needs through brick and mortar outlets that are local. As a businessman I have discovered that my competitors who are brick and mortar based are simply healthy competition. My cyber competitors as a rule have no morals, choosing instead to steal, lie, and cheat. Their sleazy reputations are an obstacle I must constantly overcome.
Hacking, viruses, IPO's that were a joke, lawsuits galore, the lack of privacy, musical theft, video theft, pornography and all the other negatives about this electronic world are not lost on the uninitiated. The question comes down to the consumer asking themselves if they are more comfortable with brick and mortar or a wall outlet. To them (and rightly so) the net is on a par with the annoying phone solicitors. I agree.
Rives, you are living in a primative world that is much like the wild west was. Until the internet, phones and television are merged into one necessary package with all the inherent governmental rules and regulations, this medium will lack the credibility to seriously compete with brick and mortar on a large scale.
At least you have found part of a niche market here. Besides making the most out of what you have found, the next step, aside from constructing a storefront, is to cultivate relationships with retailers to assist in peddling your wares. Think about this: who did you expect to reach by placing an ad in a physical product?
If one were to remove schools, government, and abused businesses (through employee surfing) from the net connectivity figures, you would get a better picture of where this industry is at in the real world of e-commerce. You are blazing a trail here my friend, a true pioneer. In spite of what we all feel about how advanced everything is, we are still in the internet stone age. Beware of meat eating pedators.
Sincere good luck to you,
Patrick