Local Inventory, Blue Dot, Mobile Searches Rolled Out By Google

[engine]

Local Inventory, Blue Dot, Mobile Searches Rolled Out By Google [news.cnet.com]

It took a while, but Google has made its big move as a local shopping inventory gatekeeper. The company said Thursday that it will offer mobile device users inventory checks on local stores, allowing them to see if products are available.

The program has already enlisted some key retailers including Sears, Best buy, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and West Elm. Rest assured that local merchants, which increasingly rely on Google to send business their way, will follow suit.

[googlemobile.blogspot.com...] you see a blue dot, you can tap on the adjacent "In stock nearby" link, and you'll be taken to the seller's page where you'll see whether the item is "In Stock" or has "Limited Availability" near you. You'll also see how far away the stores are from you -- as long as you've enabled My Location or manually specified your location.


Retailers that want to participate should fill out this form. [google.com]

[blend27]

Now this is useful. But no CRAKABERY App?

[incrediBILL]

Sounds cool if they actually keep the inventory updated and you aren't chasing stale data.

What they don't know is I'm more likely to click on my Amazon APP and have it shipped with Amazon Prime cheaper and tax free in 2 days instead of chasing inventory all over town.

[JS_Harris]

inventory checks on local stores

soon to be followed by

Google offers, discounts and related inventory lists

which is ultimately to be followed by

advertising of other products, data mining and selling of user behavior and a Google interface at every store

It's a good idea in theory but in reality get ready to be monitored and then influenced. Yes, I have a tin foil hat on as I write this. I can see MANY other ways to make money from knowing exactly how many products are where inside a country... and MANY ways to gather information (rfid devices) from multiple sources to gather private information and product history.

Imagine a trip to the dump, you spot a tub of toothpaste, and can quickly figure out that Jane Doe bought it 3 months ago and you can then instantly send her TOOTHPASTE purchase reminders and offers every three months because that is her personal toothpaste cycle... do we need this ?