David Streitfeld

David Streitfeld reports in the following viewpoint that it is as difficult to sell products on the Internet as it is in traditional stores. When e-commerce first began, he explains, Internet companies thought they could grow quickly by spending vast amounts of money on marketing and by underselling the competition, which resulted in most online retailers going bankrupt. Streitfeld asserts that in the future, Internet companies will be successful only if they maintain a strong off-line presence and sell goods in a more traditional manner. David Streitfeld is a Washington Post staff writer.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Streitfeld, what are three clichés that have informed the marketing decisions of Internet retailers?
2. By what percentage did Amazon and Priceline shares fall in 2000, according to...