group buying

Group buying is the collaborative online shopping of multiple users. This type of collaborative business has become established in social networks and has a social component like social shopping.

In group buying, shopping groups can be made up of acquaintances and friends who arrange to store together online, or by unknown users who are happy to provide advice and recommendations, sometimes in return for a corresponding cost. Group buying is intended to promote the joy of shopping, to make buying an experience and to consolidate the purchase decision through the opinions of friends. It is as if several people shop in stores and advise each other on their fashion choices.

Group-buying can also be considered as power-shopping, which involves reducing the price of goods and products by ordering a larger quantity. Websites for group-buying include groupon.com. vente-privee.com and mashable.com.