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What possible utility do people get by using a "retail app" rather than the web? Wouldn't the store's website and/or normal shopping websites (Amazon, etc.) hav

What possible utility do people get by using a "retail app" rather than the web? Wouldn't the store's website and/or normal shopping websites (Amazon, etc.) have everything that the Foot Locker app has? Have people been trained or deluded to "always get the app" when it's not necessary?

yoz-y 10y ago
Depends on the app. For some sellers I prefer apps on mobile because their mobile web experience is shitty or inexistent. An app with good caching is preferable to a web app that spends half of the time re-fetching assets. My biggest problem with web-apps is that you can select parts of the chrome half of the time.
emmanvazz 10y ago
I mean the successful branded apps provide better convienence than a mobile site, makes transactions faster or provide functionality (loyalty program) over the mobile site. Like the you can argue there is no need for a Domino's or Amazon app because you can do almost all the functionality via their mobile site but their apps have millions of downloads. Brands can just leverage every inch of performance and convince via native apps. Also at the end of the day the end users are the ones that decide how beneficial these apps for them and if they keep them installed on their phone.
chrisseaton 10y ago
When I'm around my house rather than at my desk and I realise I need to buy something I get my phone out and order it using the Amazon app. For example I could be in the garage, out of engine oil, phone out, scan the barcode on the old one using the camera, oil turns up on my doorstep first thing the next morning, sometimes only ten hours later if I do it in time. Takes literally ten seconds tops. Not so strange is it? See how it saves time and hassle compared to the laptop? Also some people use phones and iPads as their primary or only computer. I would guess especially less wealthy or technically literate people. And the apps are often much more accessible than the websites on those devices.
- mysterypie 10y ago
  I noticed in your example about engine oil that you didn't download and install the Pennzoil app or the Castrol app :-). I get your point about the Amazon app if you use it all the time, you're signed up for it, and the workflow in the app is seamless. But the Foot Locker app? For a once a year purchase of tennis shoes? I'm still thinking that people install these niche apps because they've been indoctrinated into it. Like the way people type "ebay.com" into Google rather than typing ebay.com into the address bar.
TorKlingberg 10y ago
An app stays logged in. Typing a long password on mobile is horrible.
calbear81 10y ago
In the screenshots, they lead with a huge "40 - 55% off retail prices" which is a very effective way to trick someone into downloading a retail app.

yoz-y 10y ago

Depends on the app. For some sellers I prefer apps on mobile because their mobile web experience is shitty or inexistent. An app with good caching is preferable to a web app that spends half of the time re-fetching assets. My biggest problem with web-apps is that you can select parts of the chrome half of the time.

emmanvazz 10y ago

I mean the successful branded apps provide better convienence than a mobile site, makes transactions faster or provide functionality (loyalty program) over the mobile site. Like the you can argue there is no need for a Domino's or Amazon app because you can do almost all the functionality via their mobile site but their apps have millions of downloads. Brands can just leverage every inch of performance and convince via native apps. Also at the end of the day the end users are the ones that decide how beneficial these apps for them and if they keep them installed on their phone.

chrisseaton 10y ago

When I'm around my house rather than at my desk and I realise I need to buy something I get my phone out and order it using the Amazon app. For example I could be in the garage, out of engine oil, phone out, scan the barcode on the old one using the camera, oil turns up on my doorstep first thing the next morning, sometimes only ten hours later if I do it in time. Takes literally ten seconds tops. Not so strange is it? See how it saves time and hassle compared to the laptop? Also some people use phones and iPads as their primary or only computer. I would guess especially less wealthy or technically literate people. And the apps are often much more accessible than the websites on those devices.

mysterypie 10y ago
I noticed in your example about engine oil that you didn't download and install the Pennzoil app or the Castrol app :-). I get your point about the Amazon app if you use it all the time, you're signed up for it, and the workflow in the app is seamless. But the Foot Locker app? For a once a year purchase of tennis shoes? I'm still thinking that people install these niche apps because they've been indoctrinated into it. Like the way people type "ebay.com" into Google rather than typing ebay.com into the address bar.

TorKlingberg 10y ago

An app stays logged in. Typing a long password on mobile is horrible.

calbear81 10y ago

In the screenshots, they lead with a huge "40 - 55% off retail prices" which is a very effective way to trick someone into downloading a retail app.