There are now many web sites which help take buyers through the complex range of choices open to them. Look at a few of these and consider how well you think they perform their job in minimising consumers' perceived sense of risk when making a new purchase:
http://www.uswitch.co.uk
http://www.moneysupermarket.com
http://www.kelkoo.co.uk/
http://www.pricewatch.co.uk/

There are numerous chat rooms and web sites devoted to customer complaints and comments. Try some of the following and explore the power of word of mouse recommendation:
http://www.ciao.co.uk
http://www.complaints.com
http://www.dooyoo.com

To see the effects that negative campaigning groups can have on a company, visit the following:
McSpotlight: http://www.mcspotlight.org
Boycott Shell: http://www.essentialaction.org/shell/issues.html
Boycott Nike campaign: http://www.viet.net/~nike/

Virtual Society Research Programme: http://www.virtualsociety.org.uk
An ESRC funded programme at Oxford University into the impacts of virtual electronic relationships, including studies of online buying behaviour.

The Future Foundation: http://www.futurefoundation.net/
A research organization that produces reports on the likely future shape of the consumption environment facing businesses, including the effects of social and demographic change. Many reports or abstracts are freely available.

Oxford Institute of Ageing: http://www.ageing.ox.ac.uk/
This site provides some interesting insights into the changing consumption patterns of elderly people.

Association for the Advancement of Relationship Marketing: http://www.aarm.org
AARM is a not-for-profit organisation that has become one of the largest associations focused on the development, understanding and communication of the principles and disciplines of CRM. Its site provides a forum for the advancement and understanding of the disciplines of relationship marketing and contains many useful links.