Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • October 2000 (Revised March 2001)
  • Case
  • HBS Case Collection

BizRate.com

By: Youngme E. Moon
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:22
ShareBar

Abstract

BizRate is a market research firm that collects point-of-purchase customer feedback data from retailing merchants. It then makes its findings available to consumers in the form of "BizRate star ratings," which are displayed on its website. To date, its primary revenue source has come directly from this market research (the company sells detailed customer feedback analysis reports to vendors). In October 1999 (Red October), BizRate introduced a number of e-commerce initiatives, which were so successful that the company's e-commerce revenues are now on the verge of eclipsing revenues from BizRate's research division. This has led to a debate over whether or not BizRate should dump the research side of its business altogether (i.e., continue to collect point-of-sale and follow-up data, but stop producing research reports for vendors) in order to focus on becoming an e-commerce referral site. Includes color exhibits.

Keywords

Business Education; Marketing Channels; Internet and the Web; Customer Relationship Management; Trust; Business Model; Marketing Strategy; Internet and the Web; Business Divisions; Debates; Retail Industry

Citation

Moon, Youngme E. "BizRate.com." Harvard Business School Case 501-024, October 2000. (Revised March 2001.)
  • Educators
  • Purchase

About The Author

Youngme Moon

General Management
→More Publications

More from the Author

    • November 2023
    • Faculty Research

    Team Liquid: Fueling the Business of Fandom

    By: Youngme Moon and Kerry Herman
    • January 2023
    • Faculty Research

    Duolingo: Teaching Languages to the Masses

    By: Youngme Moon
    • July 2022
    • Faculty Research

    Bringing Ideas to Life: The Story of Paul English

    By: Youngme Moon, Frances X. Frei and F. Katelynn Boland
More from the Author
  • Team Liquid: Fueling the Business of Fandom By: Youngme Moon and Kerry Herman
  • Duolingo: Teaching Languages to the Masses By: Youngme Moon
  • Bringing Ideas to Life: The Story of Paul English By: Youngme Moon, Frances X. Frei and F. Katelynn Boland
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College.