Buyer Beware
Doing Business on the Internet
Doing Business on the Internet
Buying and selling on the Internet have changed the way we live. No longer are we required to go to the store to find our favorite products – we can now perform a web search to locate, compare, and buy goods and services. This has changed things not only for consumers, but also for business owners.
Buying and selling on the Internet have changed the way we live. No longer are we required to go to the store to find our favorite products – we can now perform a web search to locate, compare, and buy goods and services. This has changed things not only for consumers, but also for business owners.
In this project you are going to investigate e-Commerce from a consumer standpoint, and see how to shop online, avoid Internet fraud, and locate reseller ratings.
In this project you are going to investigate e-Commerce from a consumer standpoint, and see how to shop online, avoid Internet fraud, and locate reseller ratings.
What is e-commerce?
What is e-commerce?
E-commerce refers to conducting business using the Internet. This includes online banking, trading stocks, and purchasing goods and services. E-commerce has become a fact of modern life, with millions of people now shopping regularly from the convenience of their computers. Many retailers have websites where you can purchase products online, including clothing, flowers, pet food, and even tonight's dinner.
E-commerce refers to conducting business using the Internet. This includes online banking, trading stocks, and purchasing goods and services. E-commerce has become a fact of modern life, with millions of people now shopping regularly from the convenience of their computers. Many retailers have websites where you can purchase products online, including clothing, flowers, pet food, and even tonight's dinner.
e-Commerce as a Consumer
e-Commerce as a Consumer
With everyone shopping online, how can you protect yourself as a consumer? Check out this video on "How to Shop Online" from Learnthenet.org. You will learn how to buy online, and how to avoid scams.
With everyone shopping online, how can you protect yourself as a consumer? Check out this video on "How to Shop Online" from Learnthenet.org. You will learn how to buy online, and how to avoid scams.
Now check out this video, Shopping Safely Online.
Now check out this video, Shopping Safely Online.
Here is a great info graphic to remind you how to shop online most effectively.
Here is a great info graphic to remind you how to shop online most effectively.
Check out the reseller ratings of any potential seller BEFORE you buy to make sure they are reputable, honest and trustworthy! Watch “Online Reviews and Recommendations” video to learn how to critically look for customer reviews and recommendations.
Check out the reseller ratings of any potential seller BEFORE you buy to make sure they are reputable, honest and trustworthy! Watch “Online Reviews and Recommendations” video to learn how to critically look for customer reviews and recommendations.
Key Points to Remember When Shopping Online:
Key Points to Remember When Shopping Online:
·Shop with businesses you know and trust.
·Shop with businesses you know and trust.
·Shop from secure sites that contain "https://" in the web address (the s means that the website is secure).
·Shop from secure sites that contain "https://" in the web address (the s means that the website is secure).
·Use a credit card from a reputable company; one that provides protection from scams, theft, and illegal use.
·Use a credit card from a reputable company; one that provides protection from scams, theft, and illegal use.
·Never send your credit card number or social security number by email.
·Never send your credit card number or social security number by email.
·Watch out for "too good to be true" deals.
·Watch out for "too good to be true" deals.
·Look out for excessive shipping or hidden costs.
·Look out for excessive shipping or hidden costs.
·Print or save a copy of your order for your records.
·Print or save a copy of your order for your records.
·Protect yourself from identify theft, scams and rip-offs by being e-smart! If you are a victim, report your complaint to the Internet Crime Complaint Center orthe Federal Trade
·Protect yourself from identify theft, scams and rip-offs by being e-smart! If you are a victim, report your complaint to the Internet Crime Complaint Center orthe Federal Trade
Assignment
Assignment
You are going to be getting a new smartphone (let’s pretend ;0). Before Mrs. Maurus issues you a mobile smartphone device, you need to research what is the "real" cost of a smartphone over a two year contract. To make it simple you will choose an iPhone 5 for this activity. You are going to download the provided spreadsheet and input the cost of the various items into the spreadsheet to determine the "real" cost of the smartphone. The formulas have been entered for you so all you have to do is enter the cost data.
You are going to be getting a new smartphone (let’s pretend ;0). Before Mrs. Maurus issues you a mobile smartphone device, you need to research what is the "real" cost of a smartphone over a two year contract. To make it simple you will choose an iPhone 5 for this activity. You are going to download the provided spreadsheet and input the cost of the various items into the spreadsheet to determine the "real" cost of the smartphone. The formulas have been entered for you so all you have to do is enter the cost data.
Part 1: Comparing Products
Part 1: Comparing Products
In Part 1, you are going to select an electronic device, look at three different brands, compare products and select the best choice for you based on features rating and value. You will begin by searching for information online, recording that data, and selecting the product.
In Part 1, you are going to select an electronic device, look at three different brands, compare products and select the best choice for you based on features rating and value. You will begin by searching for information online, recording that data, and selecting the product.
Steps:
Steps:
1. Download the Buyer Beware Data Chart at the bottom of this page, Save it to you’re My Documents folder and then Upload it into your Google Drive (You will need to right click on this document and select Open With-> Google Docs).
1. Download the Buyer Beware Data Chart at the bottom of this page, Save it to you’re My Documents folder and then Upload it into your Google Drive (You will need to right click on this document and select Open With-> Google Docs).
2. Select an electronic device you would like to investigate. (ie. television, cell phone, camera, tablet, mp3 player, etc.)
2. Select an electronic device you would like to investigate. (ie. television, cell phone, camera, tablet, mp3 player, etc.)
3. List 3 features that would be important to you if you were to purchase this item before you begin comparing your devices.
3. List 3 features that would be important to you if you were to purchase this item before you begin comparing your devices.
4. Choose three different brands of that product to compare. (ie. iPad, Google Nexus, Kindle Fire, Samsung Galaxy) .
4. Choose three different brands of that product to compare. (ie. iPad, Google Nexus, Kindle Fire, Samsung Galaxy) .
5. Do an initial search of each of the devices using Google Shopping or just a plain search and find at least two prices listed for each device. Get an “average” or “mean” price for each devices and add it to the data chart.
5. Do an initial search of each of the devices using Google Shopping or just a plain search and find at least two prices listed for each device. Get an “average” or “mean” price for each devices and add it to the data chart.
6. Looking at the must have features you would like your product to have, select two main features that you can compare. (ie. screen size, storage size, battery life, etc.)
6. Looking at the must have features you would like your product to have, select two main features that you can compare. (ie. screen size, storage size, battery life, etc.)
7. Research the features on the three devices and list your findings in the data chart.
7. Research the features on the three devices and list your findings in the data chart.
8. Now check for consumer reviews. Most online stores have their own product reviews from customers. Go to Amazon and look for each of your 3 devices. Find and list the star rating for each of your products.
8. Now check for consumer reviews. Most online stores have their own product reviews from customers. Go to Amazon and look for each of your 3 devices. Find and list the star rating for each of your products.
9. Next, read a few reviews and comments for each of your products. List one negative and one positive comment for each product in your data chart.
9. Next, read a few reviews and comments for each of your products. List one negative and one positive comment for each product in your data chart.
**Make sure that when you are reading a negative review, that it is a reasonable critique. Some issues people complain about have nothing to do with the company (strange but true).
**Make sure that when you are reading a negative review, that it is a reasonable critique. Some issues people complain about have nothing to do with the company (strange but true).
10. Compare the all of the data you recorded for the three products. Which product do you think is the best using the data collected about the products.
10. Compare the all of the data you recorded for the three products. Which product do you think is the best using the data collected about the products.
11. On the data chart list your final informed choice of product and store. Write a paragraph that includes your choices and at least 2 supporting details or evidence to support your choice of product and 2 supporting details or evidence to support your choice of company/store.
11. On the data chart list your final informed choice of product and store. Write a paragraph that includes your choices and at least 2 supporting details or evidence to support your choice of product and 2 supporting details or evidence to support your choice of company/store.
Sharing Your Document
Sharing Your Document
When you are done, share this completed document with your teacher by clicking on Share->Make your document Public & then add Mrs. Maurus' email address: maurusja@d7.k12.mi
When you are done, share this completed document with your teacher by clicking on Share->Make your document Public & then add Mrs. Maurus' email address: maurusja@d7.k12.mi