Donations by Text Please!

Want to help out by donating to Japan's disaster? But don't know how? Just "Text the word ASIA to 30333 to contribute $5 towards Canadian Red Cross relief efforts in Japan" 

It started off with the disaster in Haiti that had The Salvation Army Canada, World Vision Canada and other charities allowing people to donate through text. How it works is a person texts to a certain chairty  and they will see an x amount charge on their next month's cell phone bill. Charties have found a way to make it easy for people to donate with a simple text. It especially makes it easier for people who want to donate but doesn't want to go through the hassel of writing a cheque or going to the actual charity itself. 

According to this CBC article, the donations for "Haiti was a big success" raising $120 000 in text donations alone. Mobile phone usage is becoming more and more relevant in our daily life, not only can it call, text, and entertain us but it can help bring relief for a country through donating via text message. Owning a cell phone that is supposed to help you has never been so convenient to help others in need. Society talks a lot about the positive and negative sides of technology but this one effort of donating is definitely a positive thing that can continuously help people if such thing were to ever happen again.

The article also mentions that they believe that they're reaching out to a younger geneartion of donators. I find that even with myself, I always want to donate but can never seem to find the time or I don't know where I can donate to but with this easy way of donating it allows me to do so and I can influence my friends to donate as well. 

If we ever find ourselves wanting to donate but don't know how. Remember that the charities have made it easier for us with through something we do on a regular basis, a text. So, whats stopping you now? 

Shopping Wtih Discounts

Two summers ago, I went bungee jumping in Whistler and the cost to jump was $120 and you become a lifetime member. Becoming a lifetime member means that everytime you jump after your first jump, you pay half the price of the orginal. In two weeks, I will be going up to Whistler again to bungee jump for a friend's birthday; however, I won't be paying $60.

Recently, Groupon (a site for daily group-coupons to restaurants, services and products) posted a discount for Whistler Bungee Jump for $65 from $130 (they raised the price). So I advised all my friends to buy the Groupon  but I did not bother as I am already a member. Not knowing that when my friends called to Whistler Bungee to book the jump that I will not be paying half the price of the orginal pricing but instead I will be paying $80. The receptionist at Whistler Bungee told my friend that the member (me) should buy the Groupon and not pay for the member's price -- of course I bought the Groupon.

When I found out about this, I got annoyed because why is it that a member who has jumped before is paying more than the first time bungee jumper? This also made me question the costs of services and products.

Anyways, as all of us are becoming future marketers should we think of different and innovative ways for strategic pricing? As well as be aware of these "Groupon" deals and other deal-like sites to come. And how will it effect pricing of things in the future? Of course as a consumer its an advantage to us for cheap deals on services and products and as a marketer, sites like these will help build market share. But when determining price for a service or product, what are all the things we need to consider? 

So as a consumer, the question is should I now wait for fate to post me a deal that I like and will others think the same? 

Other deal of the day sites:

Living Social

Indulge Living

Social Shopper