> It doesn't matter if they use dollars, bitcoins, or bushels of corn.
Or, say, personal information that can be used in targeting advertising.
> Nearly all users of Google are NOT customers
I'd describe them a suppliers, but unless you've suddenly decided that, contrary your early statement, it does matter what they provide in exchange for the services they receive, they can also, by your logic, be described accurately as "customers".
> and indeed do form part of the product offering, as the OP stated
No, the users do not form part of the product offering; the slave trade is not part of Google's business models.
They are suppliers of inputs (both information used in targeting advertising, and the advertising opportunities through which the actual advertising is delivered being the key pair of inputs) that are used in Google's product offerings; insofar as these inputs are exchanged for services Google provides rather than for cash payment, they are also customers purchasing those services in a non-cash exchange.
"Or, say, personal information that can be used in targeting advertising."
This time, it's the word 'pay' that is being shoehorned.
Let's assume I run a survey company, and I invite a bunch of people over for a BBQ. During lunch I passively monitor their interactions and sell that data. Did the guests pay for the BBQ?
">I'd describe them a suppliers,"
That is a bit more specific and possibly more accurate, but at least 67% less sexy ;).
However it does not invalidate the original product claim. Often suppliers are part of that chain. They supply raw goods (personal data in this case) that gets packaged as part of a product offering (aka adwords) or service, and then sold to the customer.
> Let's assume I run a survey company, and I invite a
> bunch of people over for a BBQ. I then monitor their
> interactions and sell that data. Did the guest pay for
> the BBQ?
If you told them ahead of time that you would do this, then yes, they paid for the food by giving you some information about who they like to talk to at lunch. They would be customers.
If you did not tell them, then you spied on them without consent, and they would be victims.
True
> It doesn't matter if they use dollars, bitcoins, or bushels of corn.
Or, say, personal information that can be used in targeting advertising.
> Nearly all users of Google are NOT customers
I'd describe them a suppliers, but unless you've suddenly decided that, contrary your early statement, it does matter what they provide in exchange for the services they receive, they can also, by your logic, be described accurately as "customers".
> and indeed do form part of the product offering, as the OP stated
No, the users do not form part of the product offering; the slave trade is not part of Google's business models.
They are suppliers of inputs (both information used in targeting advertising, and the advertising opportunities through which the actual advertising is delivered being the key pair of inputs) that are used in Google's product offerings; insofar as these inputs are exchanged for services Google provides rather than for cash payment, they are also customers purchasing those services in a non-cash exchange.