Online Vendors Research Articles

Assessing the quality of information provided on websites selling Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) to consumers in Canada

BackgroundAmid a Canadian opioid crisis, many have turned to natural health products, such as kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), to manage their opioid withdrawal. Kratom has also been reported to relieve anxiety, improve stamina, and heighten physical performance. Given that kratom is not authorized for sale by Health Canada, many have turned to online retailers to purchase kratom due to its easy accessibility online. This study investigated the quality of consumer health information provided on the websites of online vendors selling kratom to consumers in Canada.MethodsFollowing searches on Google.ca using search terms designed to simulate the information-seeking behaviour of a typical patient-user online, eligible websites were assessed using the 16-question DISCERN instrument, a tool designed to assess the quality of consumer health information. Searches were conducted on March 27, 2020 and only websites presenting information in English were included.ResultsA total of 200 webpages were identified; after screening based on eligibility criteria and combining different webpages that belonged to the same website, 51 websites were found to be eligible. The mean summed DISCERN score across all 51 websites was 36.95 (SD = 2.44) out of 75, which reflects poor quality consumer health information across the subset of websites. The overall quality of websites was poor, as 78% (n = 40) of vendors received a score of 2 or less out of 5.ConclusionsIndividuals who seek information about kratom online are frequently exposed to poor quality consumer health information. Those looking to purchase kratom online are not provided with the critical information necessary to make an informed decision regarding its use, such as the complete details about the risks and side effects or a description of how kratom affects the body. Given the growing interest in kratom, knowledge of the quality of information available can lead to improved dialogue between healthcare providers and patients.

The Importance of eWOM Elements on Online Repurchase Intention: Roles of Trust and Perceived Usefulness

The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of online review elements, including electronic Word of Mouth (eWOM) quantity, credibility, and quality, on customer’s online repurchase intention through the mediating roles of online seller trust and perceived usefulness of the website. A partial least square (PLS) based structural equation modeling (SEM) was chosen to evaluate the measurement of research constructs and test the research hypotheses. This research uses data collected through online questionnaires in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The respondents’ criterion was college students who had read online recommendations before making purchases on Bukalapak.com, an e-commerce platform in Indonesia. The results suggest that the credibility and quality of eWOM have a positive direct effect on consumers’ repurchase intention, while the eWOM quantity has a negative influence on repurchase intentions. The eWOM credibility and quality indirectly influence repurchase intentions through trust in the online vendor. The perceived usefulness of the websiteonly mediates the influence of eWOM quality on online repurchase intention. Limitations and further research were also discussed.

Randomized Trial Testing an Online Responsible Vendor Training in Recreational Marijuana Stores in the United States

An online training in responsible marijuana vendor (RMV) practices was evaluated for effects on compliance with ID checking regulations. A random sample of state-licensed recreational marijuana stores (n = 175) in Colorado and Washington State was selected in 2016-2017 and was enrolled in a randomized pretest-posttest controlled design. After baseline assessment, 75 stores were randomly assigned to a usual and customary training control group, stratified by state and region. The remaining stores (n = 100) were invited to use the RMV training. Stores were posttested at 3 and 9 months postrandomization. The primary outcome was refusal of sale measured with pseudo-underage patrons who attempted to enter stores and purchase cannabis without a state-approved ID. There was no difference by treatment group in refusal of pseudo-underage patron buyers (baseline: 92.5% intervention vs. 94.7% control; 3-month posttest 94.8% vs. 97.5%; 9-month posttest 97.5% vs. 97.1%, p = .286 [one tailed, adjusted for covariates]). The use of training increased refusals at store entry (trained: 65.9% baseline 82.5%, 3 months 79.9%, 9 months; not trained: 82.6%, 83.1%, 84.5%, p = .020 [two tailed, adjusted for covariates]). This difference was especially evident in Washington State (trained: 40.3%, 65.1%, 60.4%; not trained: 57.9%, 68.5%, 72.3%) but not in Colorado (trained: 95.2%, 101.0%, 101.4; not trained: 95.7%, 98.6%, 99.2%, p = .033 [two tailed, adjusted for covariates]). When used by store personnel, online RMV training increased refusal of buyers who appeared young and did not provide a state-approved ID. However, it did not improve refusal rates overall. Stores that had lower refusals at baseline and used the training may have benefited from it.

PENGARUH E-PRICE DAN E-TRUST TERHADAP E-LOYALTY PADA ERA PANDEMIK

As time has developed, many e-commerce platforms exist in Indonesia, so that competition in maintaining consumer loyalty on an e-commerce website often occurs. This study aims to determine the effect of e-price and e-trust on e-loyalty and the role of e-trust in mediating it. The research method used is quantitative and using questionnaire. The population used in this study are consumers who have ever shopped online through the Indonesian online marketplace who are domiciled in the province of Bali. The sampling technique in this study was purposive sampling and accidental sampling and a sample of 120 respondents. The data analysis technique used is descriptive analysis and path analysis. The result of this research is that Shopee is e-commerce with the biggest enthusiasts in Bali. E-price and e-trust have a positive and significant effect on e-loyalty, and e-price has a positive and significant effect on e-trust, e-trust can mediate the effect of e-price on e-loyalty. This research is expected to be able to provide input to further researchers, e-commerce providers, sellers who sell in e-commerce, and customers. Providing reasonable prices, security in transactions, trust in online vendors, will certainly increase consumer loyalty, either by not moving to other e-commerce and recommending it to others.

The quality of information available about Ephedra sinica on online vendor websites: The Canadian consumer experience

BackgroundEphedra sinica (ES) is a natural health product used to promote weight loss, enhance athletic performance, and treat common ailments such as the common cold or flu. Due to restrictions within Canada, Canadians interested in purchasing this product turn to online vendors for the ease and discrete nature of online transactions. However, the information available on these websites for consumers looking to purchase the substance is variable. This study investigated the quality of information about ES available to Canadian consumers on the websites of these online vendors. MethodsFollowing searches on Google.ca, eligible websites were assessed using the DISCERN instrument, a tool consisting of 16 questions, each rated on a five-point Likert scale, to assess the quality of health information about a treatment choice. The data was used to determine the overall quality of information about ES available to consumers on these websites. ResultsA total of 660 webpages were identified, of which 28 websites were found to be eligible. It was determined that the overall quality of information of websites selling ES products online was poor, as 79 % of online vendors received an average score of 2 or below. ConclusionConsumers looking to purchase ES online are lacking critical information about this herbal product that is necessary to make an informed decision about its use. This study's findings can be used by clinicians and researchers to inform patients about the poor quality of information about ES on these websites and help them identify quality sources of information.

Characterizing and assessing compliance of online vendors to the state of Massachusetts ENDS product sales ban.

INTRODUCTIONRecent reports of lung injury associated with Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) products precipitated by increasing vaping prevalence and interest in flavors among adolescents has led to policies that restrict the sale, distribution, and accessibility of ENDS products. This study assessed compliance of online ENDS vendors to the Massachusetts temporary sales ban.METHODSThe study involved structured web surveillance for online ENDS vendors using keyword searches on Google search engine (October to November 2019.) Once vendors were identified, we conducted simulated online purchases, defined as placing an order for an ENDS product by putting it in the website shopping cart without finalizing payment. Simulated purchases and content analysis of websites was conducted to determine compliance characteristics. Fisher’s exact test was used to identify associations between compliance and website characteristics such as location and age verification requirements.RESULTSSimulated online purchases from 50 identified ENDS vendors yielded 72% (n=36) stores that were non-compliant and allowed placement of ENDS product orders, without restrictions, to a Massachusetts address. The remaining 14 websites had processes in place to prevent orders from buyers located in Massachusetts. Other characteristics of interest, including use of age verification, location data, and web registrar/registrant data were collected and reported.CONCLUSIONSThe September 2019 Massachusetts executive order was a comprehensive ban on selling ENDS products both online and offline. However, our study found that close to three-fourths of the vendors appeared to be non-compliant, indicating that implementation and enforcement are ongoing challenges for future tobacco control efforts on the internet. Policymaking needs to be specifically tailored to address the unique challenges of online environments, particularly in the context of identifying non-compliant sites, ensuring age verification, and addressing non-US sellers.

Women’s experiences using drugs to induce abortion acquired in the informal sector in Colombia: qualitative interviews with users in Bogotá and the Coffee Axis

ABSTRACT In 2006, abortion in Colombia was decriminalised under certain circumstances. Yet some women continue to avail themselves of ways to terminate pregnancies outside of the formal health system. In-depth interviews (IDIs) with women who acquired drugs outside of health facilities to terminate their pregnancies (n = 47) were conducted in Bogotá and the Coffee Axis in 2018. Respondents were recruited when they sought postabortion care at a health facility. This analysis examines women’s experiences with medication acquired outside of the health system for a termination: how they obtained the medication, what they received, how they were instructed to use the pills, the symptoms they were told to expect, and their abortion experiences. Respondents purchased the drugs in drug stores, online, from street vendors, or through contacts in their social networks. Women who used online vendors more commonly received the minimum dose of misoprostol according to WHO guidelines to complete the abortion (800 mcg) and received more detailed instructions and information about what to expect than women who bought the drug elsewhere. Common instructions were to take the pills orally and vaginally; most women received incomplete information about what to expect. Most women seeking care did not have a complete abortion before coming to the health facility (they never started bleeding or had an incomplete abortion). Women still face multiple barriers to safe abortion in Colombia; policymakers should promote better awareness about legal abortion availability, access to quality medication and complete information about misoprostol use for women to terminate unwanted pregnancies safely.

The Effects of Product Monetary Value, Product Evaluation Cost, and Customer Enjoyment on Customer Intention to Purchase and Reuse Vendors: Institutional Trust-Based Mechanisms

This study develops a model based on perceived effectiveness of e-commerce institutional mechanisms (PEEIM) and trust-based mechanisms to explain how PEEIM, product monetary value (MV), product evaluation cost (PEC), and enjoyment influence trust online vendor (TV) and how they affect purchase intention (IP) and reuse intention (IR) in e-shopping. The study is based on a survey of 293 online shoppers in Taiwan. Results show that monetary value, product evaluation cost, and customer enjoyment have a positive relationship with trust in online vendors, and a positive indirect and significant relationship on intention to purchase and reuse the products or service in the e-shopping environment. However, PEEIM does not have indirect effects on the customer’s intention to purchase and reuse the products or services through the influence of trust online vendor if the influence of PEEIM on customer trust online vendor is low and no significant effects, but PEEIM does have significant direct effects on a customer’s purchase and reuse intention. In addition, PEEIM has two constantly indirect relationships with a customer to purchase and reuse intention the product or services through the influence of customer enjoyment and customer trust in online vendor relationships. The study contributes important theoretical and practical implications for scholars and e-commerce providers.

Effect of Textual Errors on The Evaluation of a Foreign Online Store

We conducted an experimental study among Japanese consumers to investigate the impact of textual errors on the perception and evaluation of an online store in a cross-border context. In particular, we proposed that the presence of textual errors would result in lower perceived ease of use, ease of communication and trust in a foreign online store. The experiment considered two types of errors, related to the use of language and to the completeness of translation. Four experimental conditions with different levels of textual errors were evaluated. We conducted a survey in Japan, obtaining a total of 1919 responses which were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results showed that the presence of textual errors had a negative effect on all factors in the proposed model, compared to the absence of such errors. We discuss these results and their implications for foreign online vendors.

Dermatologic uses of bloodroot: a review and reappraisal.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a plant, native to North America, containing bioactive compounds that interrupt biological processes. It has been around for centuries and is known for its medicinal properties. Today, naturopathic remedies are becoming more and more popular, especially for skin ailments. There are an alarming number of online vendors marketing their bloodroot-containing products as cures for skin cancer without any scientific evidence supporting such claims. Clinical data concerning the efficacy of bloodroot primarily come from case studies with unfavorable outcomes involving patients who self-treated with bloodroot-containing black salves. However, recent preclinical studies have concluded that sanguinarine, the active component of bloodroot, shows positive evidence of being an efficacious treatment for skin cancers at micromolar doses. This article reviews the mechanism of action of bloodroot as a skin cancer treatment, its misuse in clinical dermatology, and the FDA's stance on products containing bloodroot that are marketed and sold to laypersons. Members of the public should be made aware of the dangers of self-treating with bloodroot-containing products through effective communication and education by clinicians.

C60 in olive oil causes light-dependent toxicity and does not extend lifespan in mice.

C60 is a potent antioxidant that has been reported to substantially extend the lifespan of rodents when formulated in olive oil (C60-OO) or extra virgin olive oil (C60-EVOO). Despite there being no regulated form of C60-OO, people have begun obtaining it from online sources and dosing it to themselves or their pets, presumably with the assumption of safety and efficacy. In this study, we obtain C60-OO from a sample of online vendors, and find marked discrepancies in appearance, impurity profile, concentration, and activity relative to pristine C60-OO formulated in-house. We additionally find that pristine C60-OO causes no acute toxicity in a rodent model but does form toxic species that can cause significant morbidity and mortality in mice in under 2 weeks when exposed to light levels consistent with ambient light. Intraperitoneal injections of C60-OO did not affect the lifespan of CB6F1 female mice. Finally, we conduct a lifespan and health span study in males and females C57BL/6 J mice comparing oral treatment with pristine C60-EVOO and EVOO alone versus untreated controls. We failed to observe significant lifespan and health span benefits of C60-EVOO or EVOO supplementation compared to untreated controls, both starting the treatment in adult or old age. Our results call into question the biological benefit of C60-OO in aging.

COVID-19: State Sales and Use Tax Implications

ABSTRACT A negative consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the major contraction of the economy. In the United States, this has resulted in a significant reduction in sales tax revenues for most state and local governments, compounded by a surge in online retail shopping caused in part by government-mandated lockdowns. We discuss the question of whether the remote online vendor has any obligation to collect and remit sales taxes on purchases by in-state buyers.

Why Don't You Join In? A Typology of Information System Certification Adopters

ABSTRACTWhile the importance of information system (IS) certifications to demonstrate compliance with security and personal data protection requirements is constantly increasing, competing (theoretical) viewpoints exist that outline the rationales for organizations to adopt certifications. The results of these competing perspectives are inconclusive research findings in the certification adoption literature. While organizations may use certifications to signal quality to consumers, others mainly adopt certifications to improve internal processes or create institutional legitimacy. To enhance our understanding of the motivation for online vendors to adopt IS certifications, we conduct a literature review and a ranking‐type Delphi study with two unique panels comprising certified online vendors (N = 15) and certification authorities (N = 24). As a result, we provide a rank‐order list of 24 motivators and 17 demotivators impacting online vendors’ intentions to adopt IS certifications. We reveal that certain motives are context‐independent, whereas other motives are specific for electronic markets (e.g., “signal data protection”). We also provide rich descriptions of potential demotivators, thereby increasing our understanding of the boundary conditions for IS certification adoption. Comparing our findings to three competing theoretical perspectives enabled us to derive a typology of distinctive certification adopters: functionalists, institutionalists, and signalers. In developing this typology, our findings constitute a first step toward alleviating the inconclusive findings in the academic literature as well as highlighting differences in motivating and inhibiting factors that impact vendors’ adoption intentions.

Consumer Perceived Risk by Online Purchasing: The Experiences in Hungary

Abstract The aim of this paper is to identify and categorize the perceived risks that Hungarian consumers connect with online purchasing. The research is based on empirical data collected via a questionnaire and analysed with statistical software. The applied exploratory factor analysis identified five risk categories connected to online purchasing: perceived after-sale risk, perceived data security risk, perceived delivery risk, and perceived product risk. The fifth risk factor seems the most characteristic to Hungarian customers, who are wary of the possibility of online vendors selling fake products on the Internet. The results offer valuable information to companies engaged in online vending concerning the risk factors Hungarian consumers associate with online shopping. One limitation of this study is that it does not evaluate risk-reducing strategies.

Online Shopping Characteristics and Their Influence on Female Buying Behavior

Female online shoppers in the Indian e-commerce industry are growing day by day and the online vendors need to understand their shopping habits to approach them in a better way. A conceptual model is proposed that extends the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) model with three additional constructs namely, trust, convenience, and customer service. The proposed model is examined by means of questionnaire responses collected from around 529 online shoppers. The study reveals that customer service has the major influence on the female's attitude to shop online and perceived behavioural control acts as the most influencing factor in female shoppers' willingness to buy online. The overall descriptive power of the proposed model has an R2 of 52% for female's willingness to use online shopping and an R2 of 46% for attitude towards online shopping. Since it is difficult to attract new shoppers and retain existing customers, excellent customer service can be the answer to the problems related to customer retention and customer loyalty in the online context.

F-phenibut (β-(4-Fluorophenyl)-GABA), a potent GABAB receptor agonist, activates an outward-rectifying K+ current and suppresses the generation of action potentials in mouse cerebellar Purkinje cells

The GABA analog phenibut (β-Phenyl-GABA) is a GABAB receptor agonist that has been licensed for various uses in Russia. Phenibut is also available as a dietary supplement from online vendors worldwide, and previous studies have indicated that phenibut overdose results in intoxication, withdrawal symptoms, and addiction. F-phenibut (β-(4-Fluorophenyl)-GABA), a derivative of phenibut, has not been approved for clinical use. However, it is also available as a nootropic supplement from online suppliers. F-phenibut binds to GABAB with a higher affinity than phenibut; therefore, F-phenibut may lead to more serious intoxication than phenibut. However, the mechanisms by which F-phenibut acts on GABAB receptors and influences neuronal function remain unknown.In the present study, we compared the potency of F-phenibut, phenibut, and the GABAB agonist (±)-baclofen (baclofen) using in vitro patch-clamp recordings obtained from mouse cerebellar Purkinje cells slice preparations Our findings indicate that F-phenibut acted as a potent GABAB agonist. EC50 of outward current density evoked by the three GABAB agonists decreased in the following order: phenibut (1362 μM) > F-phenibut (23.3 μM) > baclofen (6.0 μM). The outward current induced by GABAB agonists was an outward-rectifying K+ current, in contrast to the previous finding that GABAB agonists activates an inward-rectifying K+ current. The K+ current recorded in the present study was insensitive to extracellular Ba2+, intra- or extracellular Cs+, and intra- or extracellular tetraethylammonium-Cl. Moreover, F-phenibut suppressed action potential generation in Purkinje cells. Thus, abuse of F-phenibut may lead to severe damage by inhibiting the excitability of GABAB-expressing neurons.

Severe Methemoglobinemia and Death From Intentional Sodium Nitrite Ingestions.

Sodium nitrite is known to induce methemoglobinemia and hypotension when ingested, but reports of intentional ingestion remain rare. We report five cases of severe methemoglobinemia secondary to large sodium nitrite ingestion that were reported to and managed by the California Poison Control System in 2019, resulting in three fatalities. The estimated doses ingested ranged from 15grams to 113grams, with one patient surviving after an ingestion of 60grams. The highest documented methemoglobin level was 73%. The 2 patients who survived received methylene blue early in their clinical course. One patient required higher doses of methylene blue compared with other cases of nitrite-associated methemoglobinemia. In the patients who survived, all symptoms resolved within 24h. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: These cases highlight the severe toxicity associated with intentional large sodium nitrite ingestion. In management, consideration should be given to administering higher initial or more frequent doses of methylene blue compared with standard practice. Given that sodium nitrite is readily accessible through online vendors, and is being circulated through various suicide forums, it has the potential to be more commonly encountered in the emergency department.

How relying on online reviews impacts private label brand preferences: from ANZMAC 2019

ABSTRACT Consumers are shifting purchasing behavior from physical stores to online vendors and increasingly relying on reviews from peers to make purchase decisions. Brands are keen to use these reviews in promotions and to facilitate product innovation. But there is an unforeseen outcome: this paper shows that when consumers rely on online reviews, they are overall less loyal to brands and more likely to purchase private label brands. Using a large North American sample from a commercial dataset, this paper empirically investigates these relationships and reports implications for retailing and marketing researchers and practitioners.

Determination of the chiral status of different novel psychoactive substance classes by capillary electrophoresis and β-cyclodextrin derivatives.

Besides the abuse of well‐known illicit drugs, consumers discovered new synthetic compounds with similar effects but minor alterations in their chemical structure. Originally, these so‐called novel psychoactive substances (NPS) have been created to circumvent law of prosecution because of illicit drug abuse. During the past decade, such compounds came up in generations, the most popular compound was a synthetic cathinone derivative named mephedrone. Cathinones are structurally related to amphetamines; to date, more than 120 completely new derivatives have been synthesized and are traded via the Internet. Cathinones possess a chiral center; however, only little is known about the pharmacology of their enantiomers. However, NPS comprise further chiral compound classes such as amphetamine derivatives, ketamines, 2‐(aminopropyl)benzofurans, and phenidines. In continuation of our project, a cheap and easy‐to‐perform chiral capillary zone electrophoresis method for enantioseparation of cathinones presented previously was extended to the aforementioned compound classes. Enantioresolution was achieved by simply adding native β‐cyclodextrin, acetyl‐β‐cyclodextrin, 2‐hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin, or carboxymethyl‐β‐cyclodextrin as chiral selector additives to the background electrolyte. Fifty‐one chiral NPS served as analytes mainly purchased from online vendors via the Internet. Using 10 mM of the aforementioned β‐cyclodextrins in a 10 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 2.5), overall, 50 of 51 NPS were resolved. However, chiral separation ability of the selectors differed depending on the analyte. Additionally, simultaneous enantioseparations, the determination of enantiomeric migration orders of selected analytes, and a repeatability study were performed successfully. It was proven that all separated NPS were traded as racemic mixtures.

Authentication of commercial honeys based on Raman fingerprinting and pattern recognition analysis

Our aim was to develop a rapid non-targeted approach to authenticate commercial honey combining Raman spectroscopy and pattern recognition analysis. Honey samples (n = 97) were collected from local and global grocery stores and online vendors. Spectra were collected by handheld and compact benchtop Raman systems equipped with a 1064 nm excitation laser and analyzed by pattern recognition techniques (Soft Independent Model of Class Analogies, SIMCA) to develop classification algorithms. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-RI, AOAC#977.20) was used to verify the authenticity of honeys. Both Raman systems formed distinct SIMCA clusters for the samples associated with their unique sugar profile. Evaluation of store-bought commercial samples indicated adulteration in 16 samples (17%); all samples predicted by the Raman algorithms as non-authentic were confirmed by HPLC-RI. Raman technology provides analytical features for ingredient verification, offering the industry and regulatory agencies valuable resources to ensure accurate labeling of honey products.