Social Media and Consumer Behaviors

Have you ever vetted purchase decisions with your friends online friends? If so, describe your experience. If not, why not?

When it comes to consuming, I still make most of my decisions the old-fashioned way. For me, the Internet has not even come close to replacing more traditional consumer behviors (going out, sampling a product(s), purchasing a product, discussing a product with those trying to sell it) and I hope it never does. Internet life is a subset of REAL life and cannot replace the fun of going out and going shopping.

In what ways do you use the Internet when considering making a purchase? If I have to make a large purchase, like a bigscreen T.V., a electronic gadget, car, apartment etc... I will use the Internet to look up information, compare prices, see reviews from other users/buyers etc...

In what ways has social media* shaped your decision about purchasing an item/items? Other than the above-stated ways, social media has not done much at all to shape my purchasing decisions or habits. I rarely participate in online shopping. For me it's almost an oxymoron. Like for many people, shopping offers a sort of therapy almost. Online it's just clicking buttons. You can see or feel the real item. Test it for fit or quality, only hope that it works out.