CS 2020 Questions and Answers (Note: the appearance of Covid in March 2020 led to the suspension of this page)


31 March

Question: I have reached out to my group via email on a few occasions and have yet to receive a response. A day that I missed class may have been the day the groups were introduced. Are the slide-shows already made and I just need to put the information into them or will I need to start from scratch? 

Answer: Yes, it’s from scratch. Earlier, I had written all telling them they could do the presentations as a group or break up the big topic into smaller topics and submit individual presentations. Ok?


Question: I saw where the other person asked about having the tests on surveyMonkey? But I was wondering how to get to the page? Or if there is already a link posted for it. Also, are we allowed to go ahead and take the tests early? And finish the class faster? 

Answer: Thanks for your question. First, EVERYONE will need to take Test 2 next week. I’m working on it now and I will have it delivered to your e-mail Tuesday, April 7. SurveyMonkey will invite you at your e-mail. I'll post HINTS soon.

As to the subsequent tests, they are not ready yet but will be soon. Yes, you may take those when you are ready.


BUT, I will need people’s group project submissions soon so that those can be posted for all to study from. Ok?

My Comments on eCommerce student presentation

EXCELLENT PRESENTATION! See it at:

 http://peace.saumag.edu/faculty/kardas/Courses/CogSci/E-commerceS2020.pdf

 As I did in class, I will comment here on the presentation:

Definition of eCommerce depends on the establishment of the internet infrastructure. That technology enabled a leap from traditional commerce to eCommerce. I like to think of eBay, for example as a worldwide garage sale. Recall, I sold my 1952 Chevy truck, my first foray on eBay, to a buyer in Germany. Earlier, I had been unsuccessful selling it in Magnolia, Little Rock, or Dallas.

 Also, in the definition, note that B to B, Business to Business eCommerce was the earliest form.

 In my eCommerce link (see below) I point out that Walmart lost $2 billion last year on their eCommerce site. But, they were happy about it because it was a marked improvement over the year before. They saw the trend line was going up. Note that the same thing happened with Amazon. Bezos, the owner, had to endure years of losses before ever showing a profit. Today, he’s the richest person in the world.

 http://peace.saumag.edu/faculty/kardas/Courses/CogSci/outline.html

or

http://edkardas.com/Courses/CogSci/ecommerce.html

 (both are working now, BTW)

 That points out how people have become used to buying online. Now, with the corona virus that trend has taken off even further. Look at Walmart again, their largest sales come from groceries (unlike Amazon). Yesterday I spoke to someone who was on his way to our Walmart to collect his grocery order. He did not want to risk walking around in the store.

 The presentation highlights some of the tools necessary to implement eCommerce. All of those have developed or evolved over time. From the consumer’s point of view, the buying tool is probably the most important. Notice how tools have emerged as needs arise, for example for dealing with fraud, returns, or analytics.

 Speaking of fraud, remember human nature. Anytime a beneficial  technology develops some will attempt to exploit it. Again, tools have been developed to combat such persons. Look at our eBay sale (link is below). Notice some of the ways eBay tries to combat fraud. Each seller has an online reputation, mine I’m happy to report is 100%. However, you should know I did have a dispute or two in the past. One buyer did not like the condition of my father’s old Italian accordion, so we settled our dispute via e-mail. On the other hand, I once bought a small item that was never delivered but I never reported it. I guess I should have. eBay also includes money back guarantees and a process for settling disputes between buyers and sellers. 

 Look at our eBay sale (link below). I buy more than I sell on eBay and I look at Amazon first, then eBay, and then on Google when I want something. Over the last several years I have noticed that our Walmart store has decreased its stock in many areas especially hardware and sporting goods. It has become nearly impossible for me to depend on Walmart for small hardware parts (e.g., nuts and bolts) like I did before. A few years ago we needed a new ping pong net and the associate told us to buy it online. Realize, of course, that Walmart knows what it’s doing and just because I want them to stock more small hardware they are not going to listen to me. 😊

 On another Walmart manner, I once filled out a form asking our local Walmart to stock Newman’s Own Mango Salsa (TXK Walmarts stock it BTW). That did nothing, our Walmart still does not stock it.

 Our eBay sale see:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/223961140252

 Hey! Someone bid the minimum, $10 and there have been 29 viewers so far. If you have never sold on eBay be aware that the last few minutes of a sale can be exciting. Hopefully, we’ll see some competition for those jeans. Next will shipping. I’ll pay the shipping cost. If the bid stays at $10 I might clear less than $5. But the point of this sale was to show you how eBay works.

 The presentation did a good job of pointing out benefits of eCommerce:

Lower cost possible compared to traditional commerce

Ease of use, thanks to well-designed web sites

24/7 availability. I’m sure you have seen that our Walmart and other local stores have restricted their hours or closed altogether

Quick delivery. Notice how eCommerce has been a boon for delivery services. Also, truck drivers have become even more important now during the virus crisis. I’m reading the book that led to the movie The Irishman. In it, Hoffa is quoted as saying, “If you got it, it came in a truck.” Still true.

 Of course, there are challenges and drawbacks to eCommerce as well:

Identity problems. How does a site verify your identity. I don’t know about you, but my phone has a LONG list of names and passwords for the many places I need to have access to including banks, credit cards, Walmart, Amazon, my health payment card, hotels, Apple, Social Security Administration, and the North Texas Thruway to only list a few. Some of those now require two-step identification, meaning they will text me a code to enter before granting access. But, a little hassle is better than someone emptying my bank account. Speaking of that, btw. My bank imposes a $1000 limit on debit card transactions. So, if I wish to buy something that costs more, I need to ask them to raise the limit temporarily. I also must inform them when I leave town so that they allow card charges in areas outside where I normally do business.

 Privacy is another challenge. Notice on my eCommerce page I discuss how we voluntarily give out personal information. Notice how Amazon or other sites will link your purchases to those of others saying, “people who bought X also bought Y”

 From the seller’s point of view, customer loyalty is important. Notice how you’ll get e-mails from sellers offering you the same or similar products you have bought before. Notice how quickly your web searches are populated by the merchants’ ads on the pages you are looking at. There’s money in that information too. Google and other search engines make a lot of money from that kind of advertising.

 Returns are another challenge. Traditionally Walmart brick and mortar store would take nearly anything back for credit. Now, they are much more restrictive. Online returns are burdensome and may cost you the price of shipping. I did have a good and bad experience recently with a return. The product I wanted fit only the newest version of what I owned. When the product arrived it was for the older version. The bad story is I contacted the seller and he gave me a flat “No” for answer. He would not take the return. But, I had been dealing with another eBay merchant about the same product. I explained what happened and, fortunately, he needed what I had and he had what I needed. We exchanged products, but did it on eBay itself, to avoid running afoul of the eBay rules. We were both satisfied.

 So, here’s my comments. If you have any questions send them. Remember, I’ll post all of those and the answers on our Questions page.


29 March

Question: Good evening professor, I am having a bit of trouble understanding how the rest of the semester will play out in this course. Are the surveys you upload for us to take on SurveyMonkey meant to be viewed as tests that will be graded or simply critiques of peers' presentations that are simply participation-focused?

Additionally, since the new tests for each presentation are to be completed at our own pace, is Test 2 still due April 7? Or is it going to be timed and only available for a certain duration of time on April 7th?

Answer: SurveyMonkey “surveys” will be tests. Yes.

Test 2 is basically left over from before. It will be available starting on April 7 and you’ll have a week to complete it. Ok?



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