Consumers should collaborate to get the best deal, but we rarely shop together. Odd~

Consumers can effect local markets when they shop together, but is consumerism coordinated in our community?

Is there a role for citizen journalism (CJ) in creating awareness and transparency in the costs of local commodities?

...the price of milk blog?

I dunno where I'm going with all this, but I have received so many contacts about the Prius car-share idea and the Xtracycle kits that the ideas about a community mercantile exchange bouncing around in mi cabeza are really starting to take shape...

...as a community of consumers, perhaps we could coordinate our collective purchases to reduce costs, and maybe create a few local delivery jobs if folks are willing to "plug-in" to the idea of community buying power.

Create one big uber-store, distributed across the community, with folks ready and willing during all hours (web enabled) to take, make, and build purchase orders for bulk goods, specialty items, or local services.

just an idea, any thoughts?