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Team Buying Latest Bargain Shopping Trend in China
In a piece of interesting trend-watch spotting, groups of disparate consumers in China are organizing on a single mission – to use mob power to negotiate group discounts at retail shops and showrooms. Groups meet online at a variety of websites like TeamBuy, Taobao and Liba and then agree on a time and place. The websites make money from ad revenues and/or commissions from suppliers.
Springwise asks, “So who’s going to introduce this concept in San Francisco, Toronto, Sao Paulo, Barcelona or Sydney? The PR value from being the first to do this outside China will be priceless. And may we suggest that the future founders turn it into a hybrid online/offline model, going for maximum reach and visibility?”
I wonder if these groups negotiate a discount for a specific product – or just a general percentage off. Specific product discounts work great for home electronics, but I’m not sure I want 800 people besides myself walking away with the same Chloe purse.
Hello,
One company in US, has already thought about the concept of group buying online.
Please visit the website of Nethaggler. The ‘Haggle’ option is where shoppers, can negotiate with the seller, to get group discounts.
Thanks,
Here’s a shameless plug which I apologise wholeheartedly for – a new team buying / tuangou web site for the English speaking world has just been launched: StoreMob.com
StoreMob is for team buying in the real world, based on the concept now so famous in China.
People organise online to meet at a bricks and mortar shop and negotiate at the store for a group discount and/or freebies and goodie bags.
I’m happy to help if you have any questions – don’t hesitate to get in touch – thanks and regards! eliot -at- storemob