By Alistair Barr
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc unveiled major changes to its shopping business on Thursday that will likely prove controversial in the e-commerce world.
Starting in the fall, product search results for users in the United States will be influenced by how much retailers and advertisers pay, a company executive said. In the past, product search results were based mainly on relevance and the program was free.
Google, the world's most popular Internet search engine, will rename its service Google Shopping from the current Google Product Search.
"We are starting to transition Google Product Search in the U.S. to a purely commercial model," said Sameer Samat, vice president of product management at Google Shopping. "This will give merchants greater control over where their products appear on Google Shopping."
Google has been in the product listing and search business for about a decade. During that time, it has provided merchants with free access to shoppers. The company made money by running paid product search ads along with the organic, or unpaid, product listings, according to Eric Best, CEO of Mercent, which helps retailers sell through Google and other e-commerce websites such as Amazon.com and eBay.
"Today, that model goes away," Best said. "It's a very big deal."
The changes may ultimately help Google extract more revenue and profit margin from its retail advertisers, which account for up to 40 percent of Google's advertising base, Best said.
For retailers, there are upsides and downsides, he added.
"The downside is that retailers are going to have to pay for performance when it comes to e-commerce traffic and revenue driven by or through Google," Best said. "The free traffic is disappearing."
The changes may be controversial in the Internet community because Google's search results have traditionally not been influenced by money, Best said.
"Pay-for-placement to some degree is an alternative to purely organic relevancy results," he said. "The fact that shopping results will be more closely tied to bid-for-placement will not sit well with all advertisers."
The new program will help retailers make their products more visible to shoppers searching on Google. The old system was difficult for Google to police because retailers could list a lot of products for free. If they have to pay, it may reduce clutter, Best explained.
"Having a commercial relationship with merchants will encourage them to keep their product information fresh and up to date," Google's Samat wrote in a blog on Thursday. "Higher quality data - whether it's accurate prices, the latest offers or product availability - should mean better shopping results for users, which in turn should create higher quality traffic for merchants."
Google shares were down 1.3 percent at $580.33 on Thursday afternoon. The shares have fallen by 12.8 percent since the beginning of the year.
(Reporting by Alistair Barr; editing by Matthew Lewis)
Costco Wholesale's Third Quarter Earnings Report - Yahoo Finance
Costco Wholesale (Nasdaq: COST) announced its results for the most recent quarter on May 24, 2012. Costco Wholesale operates membership warehouses that offer a selection of nationally branded and selected private-label products in categories such as food, appliances, and sporting goods, at low prices.
In most situations, when earnings do not meet analyst estimates, a business' stock price will tend to drop. On the other hand, when actual earnings beat estimates by a significant amount, the share price will likely surge.SEE: 5 Tricks Companies Use During Earnings Season
The Numbers:
Costco Wholesale's EPS outpaced analyst estimates while the company's revenues came in below predictions. The company reported 88 cents per share versus the 87 cents per share estimate and revenues of $21.85 billion versus the $22.11 billion estimate. EPS rose 20.5% while revenue climbed 5.9% from the same period last year. Costco Wholesale's revenue has grown during each of the past four quarters on a year-over-year basis. The company's net income for the quarter rose 19.1% to $386 million. Last quarter marked the third in a row of rising net income.
A Look Back:
Last quarter was the fifth in a row that the company saw shrinking gross margins, as they fell 1.8 percentage points from the year-earlier quarter to 10.6%. In that span, margins have contracted an average of 0.7 percentage point per quarter on a year-over-year basis.
Net income has increased 10.3% year-over-year on average across the last five quarters. The biggest gain came in the most recent quarter, when income climbed 19.1% from the year-earlier quarter.
Looking Ahead:
For next quarter, analysts have a more positive outlook about the company's expected results. The average estimate for the fourth quarter is $1.29 per share, up from $1.28 90 days ago. Increasing earnings estimate is a positive sign about the company and it typically leads a increase in the stock price. For the fiscal year, the average estimate has moved down from $3.85 a share to $3.84 over the last 60 days.
(Company fundamentals provided by Xignite Financials. Earnings estimates provided by Zacks)
Teenager dies after taking £10 'legal high' Benzo Fury at music festival - Daily Mail
- Alex Heriot, 19, collapsed in the main area at the RockNess festival at Dores, on the shores of Loch Ness, on Saturday night
- Before festival he had tweeted: 'To say I am excited for RockNess 2012 is an absolute understatement'
- Two other festival goers believed to be friends of the dead teenager described as being in a 'comfortable' condition
- Benzo Fury can be bought wholesale over the internet and usually sells for 10 a pill, or 25 for three
By Jill Reilly
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Alex Heriot, 19, collapsed at the RockNess festival
The devastated family of a teenager who collapsed and died at a music festival after apparently taking a 'legal high' have warned about the dangers of taking drugs.
The grieving family of Alex Herriot described the 19-year-old as a 'happy, caring and kind young man' after he collapsed at the RockNess festival in Scotland.
Mr Herriot, from Portobello in Edinburgh, is thought to have experimented with a legal drug called Benzo Fury at the festival, on the shores of Loch News at Dores in the Highlands.
The 19-year-old collapsed in the main area on Saturday night and died in hospital a short time later. His relatives say he was not a habitual user of drugs and had been warned to steer clear of them.
They spoke of their devastation at the loss of an 'immensely popular' young man, saying they would never get over his death.
In a statement issued through Northern Constabulary, the family said: 'Alex, our much loved son, was happy, caring, kind, loyal and affectionate and joined in enthusiastically with any project. He was very popular with a large group of close, good friends.
'He was beautiful both on the outside and the inside where it matters most. He loved his life.
'The fact that we will not be seeing him wandering around the house with his laptop playing his music, teasing his sister and asking if there was any food and 'could he have a bus fare please' is unbearable.
'Alex was attending a music festival which he had been looking forward to enormously. As a young man who enjoyed life, it was unfortunate he chose to experiment with a drug that had such a catastrophic effect on his system.
'We are devastated that we have lost him but anything he did, in every area of his life, was done with good intent, in this case to get the most out of his festival experience.'
Mr Herriot had almost completed an HND in media studies and planned to go to Edinburgh's Queen Margaret University. He was said to have enjoyed film, anime, comedy and music.
Thanking the police and the medics who tried to save his life, the family said: 'The sudden death of our beloved son Alex has left his family in a state of shock and is a loss we will never get over.
On Thursday, the teenager, had written on his Twitter profile page about how much he was looking forward to the Scottish music festival
Festival: More than 30,000 people attended the weekend event and police said 144 revellers had been arrested over drug possession and one for dealing
Friends: Hours later, a 19-year-old woman and 20-year-old man, believed to be friends of the dead teenager, were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness
WHAT IS 'LEGAL HIGH 'BENZO FURY?
‘Legal highs’ are substances which produce the same, or similar effects, to drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy, but are not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
There are a large number of 'legal highs' - some are known by their brand/product name, such as Benzo Fury and it's not always clear what's in these products and their contents can change regularly.
Benzo Fury is a man-made amphetamine which can give users a euphoric high.
It induces feelings of empathy similar to Class A drug ecstasy.
Benzo Fury is also a stimulant and it's side effects include loss of appetite, hallucinations and paranoia.
Controversial 'legal highs' such as Benzo Fury and Ivory Wave are manufactured in laboratories in the Far East and eastern Europe.
They have become a popular alternative to illegal ecstasy and Meow Meow..
'He was a very special person, always in a good mood, funny, interested in everything around him, immensely popular and loved by everyone who knew him.
'He had everything going for him: personality in abundance, very good, close friends, a large extended family unit that supported and adored him; and we are all devastated by our loss.'
In a warning to other youngsters, they said: 'Alex was not a habitual drug user. We know that young people dabble in drugs and Alex had been warned to steer clear. Please, please be aware that certain drugs can kill and please don't be the next youngster to leave their family bereft.'
Mr Herriot died in the early hours of Sunday morning at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, failing to respond to treatment.
Police said over the weekend that early indications show that he may have taken drugs.
Officers said a 19-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man were also taken to hospital from the festival in the early hours of Sunday morning. They are thought to have taken drugs, including so-called legal highs.
The man and woman are described as being in a ‘comfortable’ condition.
Northern Constabulary confirmed Mr Heriot’s death is believed to be drug-related but would not say whether he had taken Benzo Fury.
Toxicology tests are being carried out to discover what substance or mixture, if any, was involved.
Benzo Fury can be bought wholesale over the internet and usually sells for 10 a pill, or 25 for three.
Mr Heriot's father told the Daily Record: 'We are still talking to the police liaison people and we are not sure of the full circumstances of what has happened.
'We are still struggling to take it in.'
On Thursday, the teenager, who was studying at Jewel and Esk College in Dalkeith, Midlothian, had written on his Twitter webpage about how much he was looking forward to the festival, headlined by acts including Mumford & Sons.
Benzo Fury can be bought wholesale over the internet and usually sells for 10 a pill, or 25 for three.
He wrote: ‘To say I am excited for RockNess 2012 is an absolute understatement.’
More than 30,000 people attended the weekend event and police said 144 revellers had been arrested over drug possession and one for dealing.
Legal highs defeat sniffer dogs which are not trained to detect legal substances and so far no other Benzo Fury has been found.
Police and organisers minimised the risk of controlled drugs at the festival through measures, including searches and the use of drugs dogs as well as amnesty bins.
Event commander, Superintendent Stevie Mackay, said: 'Taking drugs or any medicines, which you have not been prescribed, is an extremely risky thing to do.
'If anyone has the tablets described or any other drug, whether controlled or a 'legal high', in their possession, they are advised not to take them and to hand these in.
'Amnesty bins are available at the main Nesstival entrance or anyone can hand in substances to Crew 2000 at the welfare tent.'
‘Legal highs’ are substances which produce the same, or similar effects, to drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy, but are not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
There are a large number of 'legal highs' - some are known by their brand/product name, such as Benzo Fury and it's not always clear what's in these products and their contents can change regularly.
Legal high deaths: Hester Stewart's body, left, was found next to a bottle of GBL in a house in Brighton after a party while Lois Waters, right 24, is believed to have taken party drug mephedrone - known as meow meow - in the lead up to her death
In recent years there have been several highly publicised cases of young people dying after taking drugs which were legal highs.
Hester Stewart's body, 21, was found next to a bottle of GBL in a house in Brighton after a party in 2009, while Lois Waters, 24, is believed to have taken party drug mephedrone - known as meow meow - in the lead up to her death in 2009.
Both substances are now banned, but health professionals and police fear each time a drug is outlawed, a new alternative is introduced on to the market.
Benzo Fury is a man-made amphetamine which can give users a euphoric high and induces feelings of empathy similar to ecstasy.
It is also a stimulant and its side effects include loss of appetite, hallucinations and paranoia.
Fatal collision: Two men killed in a road crash on Friday that involved a bus taking people to RockNess have been named as Mark McFarlane, 38, and Barry Murray, 28
Controversial 'legal highs' such as Benzo Fury are usually produced in laboratories in the Far East and eastern Europe.
They have become a popular alternative to illegal ecstasy and the now banned drug meow meow.
Meanwhile two men killed in a road crash on Friday that involved a bus taking people to RockNess have been named.
A van driver and passenger died in the accident at Ralia, near Newtonmore, Inverness-shire.
Northern Constabulary said the men were Mark McFarlane, 38, and Barry Murray, 28, decorators from the Glasgow area.
Meanwhile, police are anxious to trace Zoe McArthur, 18, of Edinburgh, who was last seen on Saturday evening at the festival.
Make-up free Mendes! Eva is still a natural beauty on grocery shopping trip - Daily Mail
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She is often seen in full glamour mode in a stunning gown and full make-up on the red carpet.
But Eva Mendes looked a far cry from her usual movie star self as she went grocery shopping in Los Angeles yesterday.
The 38-year-old actress stepped out without a scrap of make-up while doing her food shop, but still managed to look good in a stylish outfit
Natural beauty: Eva Mendes went grocery shopping in Los Angeles yesterday wearing no make-up
She sported a chic slate grey playsuit with cropped cream cardigan and matching cream wedge sandals.
An oversized straw bag and a loose ponytail completed the look.
The star looked to be enjoying her shopping trip, flashing a smile as she carried armfuls of goods to her grocery cart.
Primped and preened: Eva looked a far cry from full glamour mode as she stepped out on the red carpet at the Costume Gala in New York last month
Decisions decisions: Eva looked pensive as she wheeled her grocery cart around the store
The star has recently returned from Canada where she joined boyfriend Ryan Gosling at his mother Donna's college graduation in Ontario.
The couple are said to have been dating for only eight months and have already been the subject of break-up rumours.
It had been claimed that Eva and Ryan had split, but the reports were put to rest when they were pictured strolling hand in hand around New York last month.
Casual chic: Eva still looked stylish in her all-in-one playsuit, cropped cream cardigan and wedge heels
Neither has been been forthcoming about their relationship, although Eva has praised her Canadian co-star's talents as an actor, calling him her 'dream co-star' in the March issue of Marie Claire.
'I have never felt so creatively satisfied on a film. He’s amazing,' she said of her experience filming thriller A Place Beyond The Pines with Ryan.
'I play Ryan Gosling's love interest and his baby mama,' she also recently told Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show.
Healthy choice: Eva's cart included include flowers, bags of salad and fruit
Robson to captain completely changed England team - eTaiwan News
The uncapped Robson takes over from club teammate and test skipper Chris Robshaw as part of the wholesale changes made for the game in Kimberley following the defeat in the first test against the Springboks on Saturday.
"George has had a tremendous season for Harlequins, has made a great contribution to this tour already, both in training and as part of the leadership group, and I know he will captain the team well," Coach Stuart Lancaster said.
"Every one of the 22 is desperate to play. They have trained superbly and their attitude while waiting for their chance has been first class. There is a lot of competition for places across the board and Wednesday gives these players a chance to lay down a marker."
Lancaster also picked Danny Care at scrumhalf, giving the Harlequins No. 9 a chance to prove himself again after he was dropped for the Six Nations because of a failed drunk-driving test.
None of the players who were involved in the 22-17 loss in Durban in the series opener were included in the starting 15. Only replacements Lee Dickson and Tom Palmer were kept from the test 22.
Charlie Hodgson was picked at flyhalf and James Haskell _ who has been playing in the southern hemisphere's Super 15 competition this season _ was picked at flanker.
Leicester's Thomas Waldrom will start at No. 8, with Carl Fearns of Bath in the No. 7 jersey against a Barbarians team made up of players from South Africa's second-tier Vodacom Cup competition.
David Strettle has a chance to reclaim his test spot after being picked on the right wing, with Christian Wade on the left wing. Anthony Allen and Jordan Turner-Hall are the centers.
Nick Abendanon, who joined the squad as a replacement for injured fullback Mike Brown, went straight onto the bench.
England was still counting the cost of the bruising clash with the Springboks after Brown was ruled out of the remainder of the tour and center Brad Barritt was sidelined for the second test.
England's Rugby Football Union said Brown would return home after a fracture and ligament damage to his right thumb. The South African-born Barritt had surgery on a lacerated left eyeball following the Kings Park game and will miss the second test in Johannesburg this weekend.
Lancaster said he is hopeful that Barritt _ a key player and defensive organizer in England's midfield _ would be available for the third test at Port Elizabeth on June 23.
South Africa also reinforced its squad ahead of the second test at Ellis Park by calling in utility back Gio Aplon and prop Dean Greyling as cover for fullback Zane Kirchner and Coenie Oosthuizen.
Kirchner was replaced at halftime against England with a knee injury, while front-rower Oosthuizen had a stiff nick. Kirchner would not be considered for the second test, the South African Rugby Union said, although both players would remain with the squad.
A decision on Oosthuizen's availability after the front-ranker's test debut on Saturday would be made in the week.
___
England: Alex Goode, David Strettle, Anthony Allen, Jordan Turner-Hall, Christian Wade, Charlie Hodgson, Danny Care; Thomas Waldrom, Carl Fearns, James Haskell, George Robson (captain), Graham Kitchener, Paul Doran Jones, Joe Gray, Matt Mullan.
Replacements: Tom Youngs, Rupert Harden, Tom Palmer, Jamie Gibson, Lee Dickson, George Lowe, Nick Abendanon.
what is this 'drugs' real use?
- amy, luck of the irish , 11/6/2012 17:09
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