VRM, Loopt and the Reverse-Groupon effect

I am fascinated with the concept of VRM (Vendor Relationship Management) and have been an irregular regular (or is that regular irregular) for some years.VRM is the idea thhat the user owns the data about themselves,and uses the data inexchange for better dealsfromthe seller. Obviously, it works better if more data is given, and also if more users can aggregate their demand. Thus this play by Loopt caught my eye - Business Insider:

That's the idea behind Loopt's new "u-Deals" product, which it's rolling out first in the San Francisco Bay Area. It's sort of the reverse Groupon.

The big idea: You come up with a deal, get your friends on board, and submit it to Loopt. They'll then try to get their sales team to get the merchant to give you the deal. If it works, you get the deal.

It's an interesting idea. Will it work?

People will have to be realistic about the size and value of the deal, otherwise it's a non-starter.

And better, more desirable merchants probably have no incentive to cut their prices, unless they can fill their shops up during slow times.

I thinkthat'sapretty good summaru of the issues - in Dotcom 1.0 a number of the aggregationsites (or C2B as they were also known) were mooted (some were even floated, iirc) but it all fizzled out as it seemed that toet a bunch of "C" side people to agree on their demand proposition was like herding cats- it still seems easier for a retailer to"propose" a proposition and consumers to react.

However, the thing that keeps me interested in VRM is that part of me thinks that if (i) the power of today's web was harnessed (ii) with modular product design ansd (iii) the sheer numbers onlinenow, it may become a reality.

One to watch.