The electronics market is filled with latest releases of DVD?s, camcorders, iPods and LCD TVs. Take for example the camcorders segment, popular brand names like Sony, Samsung, Panasonic 3CCD and Sharp dominate the global market. Each company has its own website that promotes its latest releases along with other required installation/maintenance details that is needed by the user.

Unfortunately this information is not sufficient enough for a user who is trying to get real time information on its usage and maintenance. And, this problem is not specific to only the electronics segment.

From simple things like thanksgiving gifts, latest fashion apparels to travel information and video games, users need authentic information to make a purchasing decision. Most users retort to online review sites that act as shopping guide to them.

In fact, many of them pose varied shopping questions on review sites, of which only some get answered. In reality, a piece of information that is really useful to a user can be provided only by another user.

Answers for various questions regarding product usage or pricing information can be easily obtained if the user is able to find someone who perceives the need for that information. And, this is possible only with online sites that offer personalized shopping advice with inputs from other users.

The two primary advantages of User Assisted Shopping are:

1. Getting unbiased help from a community with similar views on a particular product

2. Research stops at one place

As e-commerce is growing rapidly, such sites can definitely enable businesses to grow rapidly with a broader outreach to users. And above all, they can aptly fill the need for personalized attention that is missing from online shopping.

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