It’s amazing how the internet has impacted us so much since it’s breaking debut many, many moons ago.  Now it seems that if we do not have the internet we can’t function at all.  I know a couple weeks ago I thought I was going to lose my mind.  My usb or key thing or whatever you call it broke and anyways it was under warranty so I had to have AT&T send me another one because they couldn’t replace in one of the corporate stores.  Why is beyond me but anyway needless to say I was upset.  So it took them about a week to send me another one because I was being cheap and didn’t want to pay the $12 for next day.  OMG! I thought a part of my life for a week was yanked out by AT&T.  You don’t know how much you need the internet until you don’t have it.  Do you know the number of Americans actively using the Internet from their homes in a given week in April, 2006 was 113,644,910 out a total of 205,133,028 with Internet access, according to Nielsen.  These users spent an average of 8 3/4 hours on the Internet per week.  The total number active on the Internet from their homes in the whole month was 143,596,769 with an average of over 30 hours spent per month.  Shut-up… and this was in 2006.  So you can basically quadriple that number and that would still be maybe the minimum number of users. 

It’s as if we are addicted.  We use the internet for what seems to be everything.  What phone books, look on the internet.  Who uses 411 anymore, just click on the internet and find what you need plus the reviews.  You want to save time from going to the store, go on the internet…order you an outfit, groceries..anything you want.  You need to get a message out there, hey guess what..go to the internet.  Who needs a tv set, you have the internet.  OMG! speaking of TV, when the presidential election was going on the impact that the internet on this election was mind blowing.  The presidential candidates’ Internet performances ended with Barack Obama (65.62%) and John McCain (34.38%). “The SIPP Index results this week provide a glimpse into the grass root support base for each of the candidates heading into the final days of the 2008 Presidential Election. From the early days of the campaigns back in August 2007 Barack Obama clearly stood out as someone who was leveraging the Internet and connecting with voters on unprecedented levels,” said Ryan Vartoogian President of Spartan Internet Consulting. 

The internet has so many functions that we seem to not be able to tear away from the screen or go even a day without it.  You can even keep in touch with family members near and far.  Communication between the continents from all over the world has become easier. Instead of phoning overseas now one can talk with his relatives abroad through the use of the internet and its software, such as messengers. Not only can one talk but see the other person become a possibiilty.  Too bad it can’t help me lose weight.. oh wait yeah it can if I follow what it says!! LOL!  You get my point!

Competition, competition, competition!!!! There is so much competition out there it’s ridiculous crazy.  It was hypothesized that people who are motivated by competition are motivated for at least three reasons: competition allows them to satisfy the need to win, competition provides the opportunity or reason for improving their performance, and competition motivates them to put forth greater effort that can result in high levels of performance.  Now if you ask me this relates not only to every business but to each individual.  It seems as though we live in a world that thrives off of competition and why not, we love it.  You even turn on the television and you see the reality shows, the dance off show, heck even the new competes for the top story.  Plus we can’t forget about our lovely economic situation which doesn’t make it any better.  I seriously believe that is why competition now is off the charts.  Everybody wants to win or at least get some piece of the pie.

You know there is even a website to Web Marketing Association’s Webward where you can vote for the best web sites in 96 industries.  There is different award levels in which you can win or be nominated for.  For example American Airlines in 2008 won the Airline Standard of Excellence award, Disney channel for Broadcasting Standard of Excellence and America First Credit Union for Credit Union Standard Excellence award.  These are just to name a few winner of 2008.  When you have a minute, take a quick look.  Half of these companies I’ve never even heard of.  LOL! That goes to show you how tuned in I am about the technology world!

So now that the competition is out of control I have one thing to say.  You snooze you lose!!! The competition is just waiting for you to take your eyes off the prize so they can jump right in.  I know I would! : )  This is the best time to strike.  When they take the wrong approach on things and leave their customers unattended…BAM step right in!  Now don’t even get me started on how competition starts the price wars.  Back in 2008, CVS announced it would sell 90-day supplies of more than 400 medications for $9.99 and offer discounts for cash-paying patients at its in-store medical clinics.  Of course this is all came about by Wal-mart..  Gotta love Wal-mart their always stirring up the pot.  Granted the cheaper prices are sweet but sometimes it’s not that great.  Don’t get me wrong I love paying for cheap meds but it always seems as though that money I save I end up spending on something else I think I need..and that’s exactly how they get you!  Either way as long as in the US of A competition will never die.  We love it, we need it and can’t live with out it!!!

I don’t know about you but I hate telemarketers.  They are bothersome and a waste of time.  It never fails that they either call you in the middle of dinner or early Saturday or Sunday morning when your catching some z’s.  They are so annoying.  Come on I know you feel me on this.  Now don’t get me wrong, I know it pays the bills for some and hey my props to you especially with the economic crisis currently going on… but seriously do you have to call that late or that early and then when I tell you NO twice you keep badgering me.

Now there are a couple of things that you can do to prevent telemarkerters from dialing you up.  The most effective and easiest way to prevent telemarketing calls is to register your home and personal phone number(s) with the National Do Not Call Registry operated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).  You can sign up either by phone or online.  The downside to this is that while you may sign up there are still exceptions to the rule.  There are always exceptions to the rules so why would this be any different.  Charities, researchers, political campaigns, business in which you have given written consent and business that you have a relationship with such as Citibank for me.  Those sneaky little suckers.  During the whole presidential campaigning Obama called my parents house. LOL!  Yeah right, it was a political campaign recording.

Is telemarketing even effective?  Well for some Telemarketing is necessary to many businesses.  Some may try to use to promote their company which is all fine and dandy but if your gonna do it, please do it professionally and with pride.  Don’t use people that sound like robots or are chewing a peice of gum on the other end.  You have to treat telemarketing in a sense like customer service.  You have to try to make a connection with that person on the other end of the line.  Again I personally will not answer a call that starts with 877, 800 or 888 and if it happens to be another number and I hear the robot like person on the other end, I’ll either hang up or immediately say NOT INTERESTED and then hang up. : )

Electronic distribution is Genious.  Who says I have to go to the store to purchase what I need.  With all this new age technology I don’t even have to get up from my sofa to put in a movie, order my groceries or even an outfit.  Okay well maybe I have to get up..but just to sign my receipt from the UPS guy, but you know what I mean.  I have the power!!!!!  Plus I don’t have to deal with other people in the stores.  Anyhow we have evolved so much it’s ridiculous crazy. 

A wicked example of electronic distribution is the software distribution.  All i have to do is go online and choose the software I want to purchase, simply click to buy and download.  I don’t have to deal with a sales person trying to sell me all kinds of programs I don’t need.  Back in 2006, electronic distribution accounts for only 1 percent of all software sold, according to Asknet, which was spun out of the Karlsruhe University in 1995. But the company said it sees substantial growth potential.  Can you believe that, now that was in 2006, we are now in 2009 and I know that percent has been blown out the window.  I’m one who is a little iffy about buying certain things online, but I took a chance when I purchased Microsoft Office from the Microsoft website.  Granted they sent me a cd in that mail but I was also able to download the program from the site.  I thought I was supercool.

Another form of electronic distribution is the film industry.  Now a days you can even download movies from Blockbuster instead of going into the store.  Back in 2006 (LONDON), Warner Bros Entertainment UK and Arts Alliance Media, Europe’s leading provider of digital film distribution services, have signed an electronic sell-through digital distribution agreement to allow consumers to download Warner Bros movies and TV series to own for the first time.  At that time Superman Returns was the first available DVD.  There are thousands of sights that allow you to use electronic distribution to watch old and new films.  All in all regardless of the type of electronic distribution used the technology is there at the touch of your fingers, you just now a days need to know how to use it.  In the near future that may be our only form of receiving goods and services.

Just as the arguments continues about generic versus branded products so does the debate for store brand versus national brand.  It’a almost all the same.  Once again I would have to say with trying to save where I can, I would definetly say I purchase more store brand that I do the national brand.  In 2005, A double-blind nationwide taste test released by Meyers Research found that participants overall preferred the taste of private-label products over better-known national brands by 51 percent to 49 percent.  I’m sure the statistics have changed dramatically since then considering our economic situation.  Everyone is trying to pinch pennies and save money somehow, especially those with a bigger size family.  Not to mention there is almost not that much difference in the two as there were about 5 or 10 years ago.

You know before when I did’t have a care in the world and times were good I was a national brand loyalist through and through.  I thought the private brand or store brand was cheap and beneath me.  Ask me my thoughts today!  The private label has come along way.  Today that gap has narrowed; private-label quality levels are much higher than ever before, and they are more consistent, especially in categories historically characterized by little product innovation.  Now that I’m grown or think I am, I’m so much with the national brand.  I’m more with where can I get more for my buck.  So for those who are embarrassed or feel your going to be looked at differently if you buy store brand instead of national brand.  Think again. : )

I think depending on the person generic brand is great, saves money and is not that much different than a brand name product.  It’s cheaper and sometimes tastes or if other than food works the same.  For example I can go to Macy’s and buy a black t-shirt for $40 plus and go to Walmart and buy the cheaper brand that looks exactly the same for about $5.  For me as a consumer I would go with Walmart.  For what I’m going to wear the shirt the cheaper is the better deal.  I’m a bargain shopper so anywhere I can save is sweet for me.  It can be with food, clothes, household items, hair products, etc. but I will say if I purchase a product and I absolutely love it whether it be generic or name brand I will continue to buy that product regardless of the price until I find a substitute that works the same. 

So, why is there a price difference at all? A lot of it has to do with the quality of products that are put into the item.  The band name may look fancy smancy where the generic may be a little less appealing and bland.  However it may seem when speaking of food the ingredients included in each of the brands may be exactly the same which brings the question.  Would you pay possible $2 to $3 more for a slight taste difference.  I as a consumer going through the hard times as just about every other person right now would sacrifice my taste buds and go with the cheaper.  Quality isn’t always everything, plus a little hot sauce and lime… who can tell the difference. LOL!!  Don’t ge me wrong there are some items in which I will not sacrifice and buy generic such as laundry detergent.. I’m a TIDE girl and will not budge but when it comes to bleach I will go with generic.  As for drinks I will not substitute my coke brand for a Dr. Cola or whatever you call it.  Any other soda I will except Coke.  I’m just wierd like that.  It just doesn’t taste the same.

As far as medication is concerned I’m all for generic.  The cost of meds right now is ridiculous especially if you have no insurance.  Generic drugs are copies of brand-name drugs that have exactly the same dosage, intended use, effects, side effects, route of administration, risks, safety, and strength as the original drug.  This may be so true but I’ve run into people at the pharmacy that get really upset because they got the generic instead of the real deal.  I’m like really…. you would rather pay $100 than $10.  Wow can I be your friend and you can take me shopping.  I can only imagine that these people are brand name straight away and spend up the wazoo when they could save so much.  I say whoever started this generic stuff is GENIOUS!!!!!