6 ms·

This is a prime(!) example of a really powerful kind of first-mover advantage. It will be difficult to overcome with communication or advertising. I remember A

by Digory 9y ago

This is a prime(!) example of a really powerful kind of first-mover advantage. It will be difficult to overcome with communication or advertising. I remember Amazon's policy, like millions of others, because of a little shot of dopamine in my 20s. Amazon was the first to do it; we all discovered it and it seemed like a bit of the future. I've used Wal-mart shipping, but couldn't tell you what the policy is, because it didn't strike me as new or unusual when I ran across it. I'm not sure you can communicate out of that hole in my cohort. (Now, you might change my behavior if you convince me that Wal-Mart is better about weeding out counterfeits; that's new information).

omg_ketchup 9y ago
Maybe make some commercials? "Yeah, we've got free 2-day shipping, and you don't need a membership. Or we have 1-hour pickup. How close is your nearest river?"
creepydata 9y ago
Stupid question but what exactly about Amazon gave you a shot of dopamine in your 20s?
- darawk 9y ago
  Free two-day shipping, presumably. I know that gave me a shot of dopamine when I first discovered it.
  - fivestar 9y ago
    This is sad--you people need to come to grips with your materialism and cut...that...shit...out. There's nothing you can buy that will actually make you happier. I'm just as guilty as anyone, quite honestly, but am trying to get better. I look at my neighbors just filling up their houses with shit they don't need. Yesterday, I was driving through a neighborhood and lo and behold there was a house with two full Bagsters out in front full of--you guessed it--shit they didn't need! I wonder if I can order a Bagster on Amazon? Ayup!
    - jjawssd 9y ago
      > cut...that...shit...out > I'm just as guilty as anyone > trying to get better > trying Do as I say not as I do?
    - Touche 9y ago
      You know that Amazon sells stuff other than materialistic bling, right? I mean, I buy soap and toilet paper and stuff like that on Amazon. No, that doesn't make me happier, but it makes my significant other happier which I guess in a round-about way does make me happier. :shrug:
    - criddell 9y ago
      > There's nothing you can buy that will actually make you happier. Nothing? Lots of things I buy make me happier. The stuff I buy that doesn't make me happy is often stuff that I need anyway (like dog food and toilet paper).
  - creepydata 9y ago
    Ummm... What? I don't consider $80/year free. Maybe it's just me but I can't imagine getting a shot of dopamine from paying money to shop. $80 is pretty pricey at that.
    - Touche 9y ago
      You're not paying money to shop; you're paying money for shipping and unlimited access to their video library (and a bunch of other stuff, I'm sure). I'm not sure what the average shipping cost is, but if it were $5 then you should get Prime if you are going to buy more than 16 things from them.
      - creepydata 9y ago
        The video portion was only added in 2011 and I really, really don't see the appeal of prepaying for shipping. Especially $80/year worth. I either upgrade to 2 day if I need it earlier and if I don't I'll use the saver shipping and get it in a week.
        Touche 9y ago
        The appeal is that the shipping cost is much cheaper the more you buy. Do you not understand the appeal of any membership service? Costco is the same idea, for example. Or gym memberships, etc.
    - Digory 9y ago
      For several years before Prime, Amazon offered free two-day shipping on most $25 orders, no extra fees or membership. Maybe it started out at $50.
      - creepydata 9y ago
        Super Saver shipping was never 2-day, it was always 5-7 day, at least since 2002 which was the first time I've ordered from Amazon. Prime also started at $80/year, I looked it up. Paying $80/year to get my items slightly earlier sounds like a terrible deal.
- corford 9y ago
  Assuming we're talking like 10+ years ago, it was the hassle free speed of ordering, the cheap, fast deliveries (and accurate delivery time estimates), the product selection, the live inventory and ease of returns. Compared to everyone else doing e-commerce at that time, Amazon was in a league of its own (at least in the UK).
- Digory 9y ago
  Others have said it, but Amazon's free two-day shipping with $25 (or was it $50?) purchase felt nearly magical. As a student, I could take a $40 cab ride, or spend all day Saturday on train schlepping a shower curtain from Bed Bath, music from Best Buy, and a cheap dorm fridge from Wal-Mart. Or I could order it from Amazon at competitive prices, and it showed up on my door step in two days. Amazon was the equivalent of finding entire extra days in your schedule. (Note, Prime came later. The original magic was two-days, $25 minimum, no membership.)

by Digory 9y ago

omg_ketchup 9y ago

Maybe make some commercials? "Yeah, we've got free 2-day shipping, and you don't need a membership. Or we have 1-hour pickup. How close is your nearest river?"

creepydata 9y ago

Stupid question but what exactly about Amazon gave you a shot of dopamine in your 20s?

darawk 9y ago
Free two-day shipping, presumably. I know that gave me a shot of dopamine when I first discovered it.
- fivestar 9y ago
  This is sad--you people need to come to grips with your materialism and cut...that...shit...out. There's nothing you can buy that will actually make you happier. I'm just as guilty as anyone, quite honestly, but am trying to get better. I look at my neighbors just filling up their houses with shit they don't need. Yesterday, I was driving through a neighborhood and lo and behold there was a house with two full Bagsters out in front full of--you guessed it--shit they didn't need! I wonder if I can order a Bagster on Amazon? Ayup!
  - jjawssd 9y ago
    > cut...that...shit...out > I'm just as guilty as anyone > trying to get better > trying Do as I say not as I do?
  - Touche 9y ago
    You know that Amazon sells stuff other than materialistic bling, right? I mean, I buy soap and toilet paper and stuff like that on Amazon. No, that doesn't make me happier, but it makes my significant other happier which I guess in a round-about way does make me happier. :shrug:
  - criddell 9y ago
    > There's nothing you can buy that will actually make you happier. Nothing? Lots of things I buy make me happier. The stuff I buy that doesn't make me happy is often stuff that I need anyway (like dog food and toilet paper).
- creepydata 9y ago
  Ummm... What? I don't consider $80/year free. Maybe it's just me but I can't imagine getting a shot of dopamine from paying money to shop. $80 is pretty pricey at that.
  - Touche 9y ago
    You're not paying money to shop; you're paying money for shipping and unlimited access to their video library (and a bunch of other stuff, I'm sure). I'm not sure what the average shipping cost is, but if it were $5 then you should get Prime if you are going to buy more than 16 things from them.
    - creepydata 9y ago
      The video portion was only added in 2011 and I really, really don't see the appeal of prepaying for shipping. Especially $80/year worth. I either upgrade to 2 day if I need it earlier and if I don't I'll use the saver shipping and get it in a week.
      - Touche 9y ago
        The appeal is that the shipping cost is much cheaper the more you buy. Do you not understand the appeal of any membership service? Costco is the same idea, for example. Or gym memberships, etc.
  - Digory 9y ago
    For several years before Prime, Amazon offered free two-day shipping on most $25 orders, no extra fees or membership. Maybe it started out at $50.
    - creepydata 9y ago
      Super Saver shipping was never 2-day, it was always 5-7 day, at least since 2002 which was the first time I've ordered from Amazon. Prime also started at $80/year, I looked it up. Paying $80/year to get my items slightly earlier sounds like a terrible deal.
corford 9y ago
Assuming we're talking like 10+ years ago, it was the hassle free speed of ordering, the cheap, fast deliveries (and accurate delivery time estimates), the product selection, the live inventory and ease of returns. Compared to everyone else doing e-commerce at that time, Amazon was in a league of its own (at least in the UK).
Digory 9y ago
Others have said it, but Amazon's free two-day shipping with $25 (or was it $50?) purchase felt nearly magical. As a student, I could take a $40 cab ride, or spend all day Saturday on train schlepping a shower curtain from Bed Bath, music from Best Buy, and a cheap dorm fridge from Wal-Mart. Or I could order it from Amazon at competitive prices, and it showed up on my door step in two days. Amazon was the equivalent of finding entire extra days in your schedule. (Note, Prime came later. The original magic was two-days, $25 minimum, no membership.)