9 ms·

Same here. I think the reason was the amazing customer service at Amazon, and mostly the effective price on Amazon was always lower.

actuator 8y ago
I think Prime also killed it. Fast deliveries and no minimum amount ended up making Amazon the first choice in my head.
- intended 8y ago
  Didn’t someone calculate that prime prices were too low and will rise (and were already rising)?
meko 8y ago
Until they become a monopoly and all that good customer service dissolves down the drain. It's already happening in the US.
- ryanmarsh 8y ago
  Thank god I haven’t had that happen yet. I’ve had Amazon give above-and-beyond customer service twice recently. They gave me discounts and credits I wasn’t even asking for. I hope it doesn’t go down the drain but I suppose at some point it’s bound to happen.
- ekianjo 8y ago
  we keep hearing this yet there is hardly good evidence for this. And if if occurs then more opportiunities open for their competitors.
  - beiller 8y ago
    How about cable companies? Some argue Amazon is subsidized in the same way, by having USPS shipping cheaply to the outskirts.
    - ekianjo 8y ago
      cable tv you mean? Its not comparable since many have local monopolies in practice.
    - cthalupa 8y ago
      My understanding is that this argument is not a particularly good one. I may be incorrect, but my understanding is that while Amazon pays a discounted rate, this is the same as any other bulk shipper for USPS, and in fact, without Amazon, many routes would not be profitable for USPS without Amazon.
    - bonesss 8y ago
      USPS negotiates rates with companies that engage in bulk transactions at scale. The claim that Amazon is ripping off the USPS is... well that's "fake news": > [Amazons] rates are kept under wraps. That said, we do know the Amazon deal is at least a break-even venture. > That’s because the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act made it illegal for USPS to price parcel delivery below its cost. http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2018/apr/02/donald-trump/trump-usps-postal-service-amazon-losing-fortune/ http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2018/apr/...
      - freehunter 8y ago
        I didn't read it as "Amazon is ripping off the USPS" but rather "Amazon is benefiting from the USPS needing to deliver everywhere in the US, even places where UPS wouldn't deliver". I live three blocks from the post office, my grandma lives 25 miles and down a dirt road from her nearest post office. It's hard to argue that my deliveries cost the same as hers, yet we pay the same price for postage. --edit: I hold no opinion either way on the subject, just clarifying based on what I understood from reading it.
        freeone3000 8y ago
        "Amazon is benefiting from the postal service's reliable, universal delivery" seems like one of those stock phrases we tout out as to why investing in infrastructure is a good idea.
bsder 8y ago
I'm going to assume you aren't in the US because that simply isn't true here. Amazon is quite often not the lowest price. And, while they do still seem to be quite liberal with "send it back and we'll refund plus <mumble>", that doesn't matter if you can't get a genuine product because of all the counterfeits.
- jazoom 8y ago
  >I'm going to assume you aren't in the US because that simply isn't true here. I'm pretty sure most of these comments are about Amazon India since that's what this discussion is about.
- ctvo 8y ago
  The only place on the internet I read about Amazon's supposed counterfeit problem is on HackerNews. I buy everything on Amazon, and I've never had this problem. Do you have any data to back up this claim?
  - ReverseCold 8y ago
    You won't have a problem if you buy "big-ticket" (I'm using this word incorrectly, but hopefully you get what I mean. Normal consumer goods(?).) If you buy something used, or something with a lot of knockoffs (Xiaomi) or old tech (GameCube Controllers) there is a chance you will get a counterfeit. I switched to buying all that stuff from eBay and it's much better. Untrusted-by-default makes eBay a very healthy marketplace to buy and sell in.
  - qaq 8y ago
    I think people are posting based on their personal experience I got fake macbook Pro charger (sold and fulfilled by Amazon) 2 times out of 5 purchases so now just buy directly from apple when I need any Apple accessories.
  - schmidttyOIB 8y ago
    Well, “I’ve never had this problem” doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. From a quick search (says “Apple Computer”, but tell me if that’s really made by Apple or not): https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0787CFNRQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1525756294&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=apple+charger&dpPl=1&dpID=319mHJjRbpL&ref=plSrch https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0787CFNRQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=...
balladeer 8y ago
Customer service and total disregard for what customers wants. Not to mention their "mobile only" stupidity starting with Myntra which they were trying to extend to Flipkart but stopped just in time. I just can't believe that Flipkart still doesn't have filter and sort by ratings. There can be arguments about how effective ratings are but this is one feature I definitely need for buying or booking anything - from my stationary to hotels and buses. PS. I just logged in to Flipkart to check whether they have added that feature yet. I guess my last login was a year ago or more. Last purchase was on July 29, 2015.
colmvp 8y ago
I'm so jealous. In Canada, Amazon is pretty pathetic. So many things are out of stock, or not available for purchase. The few things that are available for purchase are sometimes only offered by third-parties, who jack up the price by an exorbitant amount.
- r_singh 8y ago
  I've read multiple times on HN that Amazon isn't doing very well in other countries (like US, Canada, Argentina, etc.) and that Prime is super expensive as well. In India, Amazon is so good its hard to imagine how it will be sustainable. I paid $8/year for prime (yes a year) and they're now selling it at $16/year for free 24 hours delivery. However, I can foresee how it may not be as good in the near future. Try buying a pair of Apple Airpods and one soon figures AMZN is not best place to make the purchase, it's so hard to tell which seller / product is genuine!
  - is_true 8y ago
    There's no Amazon in Argentina.
    - r_singh 8y ago
      You're right. I misunderstood a reply that said, "I pay 99USD for Amazon Prime here in Argentina". Didn't think the user was talking about US Amazon Prime purchased from Argentina.

actuator 8y ago

I think Prime also killed it. Fast deliveries and no minimum amount ended up making Amazon the first choice in my head.

intended 8y ago
Didn’t someone calculate that prime prices were too low and will rise (and were already rising)?

meko 8y ago

Until they become a monopoly and all that good customer service dissolves down the drain. It's already happening in the US.

ryanmarsh 8y ago
Thank god I haven’t had that happen yet. I’ve had Amazon give above-and-beyond customer service twice recently. They gave me discounts and credits I wasn’t even asking for. I hope it doesn’t go down the drain but I suppose at some point it’s bound to happen.
ekianjo 8y ago
we keep hearing this yet there is hardly good evidence for this. And if if occurs then more opportiunities open for their competitors.
- beiller 8y ago
  How about cable companies? Some argue Amazon is subsidized in the same way, by having USPS shipping cheaply to the outskirts.
  - ekianjo 8y ago
    cable tv you mean? Its not comparable since many have local monopolies in practice.
  - cthalupa 8y ago
    My understanding is that this argument is not a particularly good one. I may be incorrect, but my understanding is that while Amazon pays a discounted rate, this is the same as any other bulk shipper for USPS, and in fact, without Amazon, many routes would not be profitable for USPS without Amazon.
  - bonesss 8y ago
    USPS negotiates rates with companies that engage in bulk transactions at scale. The claim that Amazon is ripping off the USPS is... well that's "fake news": > [Amazons] rates are kept under wraps. That said, we do know the Amazon deal is at least a break-even venture. > That’s because the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act made it illegal for USPS to price parcel delivery below its cost. http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2018/apr/02/donald-trump/trump-usps-postal-service-amazon-losing-fortune/ http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2018/apr/...
    - freehunter 8y ago
      I didn't read it as "Amazon is ripping off the USPS" but rather "Amazon is benefiting from the USPS needing to deliver everywhere in the US, even places where UPS wouldn't deliver". I live three blocks from the post office, my grandma lives 25 miles and down a dirt road from her nearest post office. It's hard to argue that my deliveries cost the same as hers, yet we pay the same price for postage. --edit: I hold no opinion either way on the subject, just clarifying based on what I understood from reading it.
      - freeone3000 8y ago
        "Amazon is benefiting from the postal service's reliable, universal delivery" seems like one of those stock phrases we tout out as to why investing in infrastructure is a good idea.

bsder 8y ago

I'm going to assume you aren't in the US because that simply isn't true here. Amazon is quite often not the lowest price. And, while they do still seem to be quite liberal with "send it back and we'll refund plus <mumble>", that doesn't matter if you can't get a genuine product because of all the counterfeits.

jazoom 8y ago
>I'm going to assume you aren't in the US because that simply isn't true here. I'm pretty sure most of these comments are about Amazon India since that's what this discussion is about.
ctvo 8y ago
The only place on the internet I read about Amazon's supposed counterfeit problem is on HackerNews. I buy everything on Amazon, and I've never had this problem. Do you have any data to back up this claim?
- ReverseCold 8y ago
  You won't have a problem if you buy "big-ticket" (I'm using this word incorrectly, but hopefully you get what I mean. Normal consumer goods(?).) If you buy something used, or something with a lot of knockoffs (Xiaomi) or old tech (GameCube Controllers) there is a chance you will get a counterfeit. I switched to buying all that stuff from eBay and it's much better. Untrusted-by-default makes eBay a very healthy marketplace to buy and sell in.
- qaq 8y ago
  I think people are posting based on their personal experience I got fake macbook Pro charger (sold and fulfilled by Amazon) 2 times out of 5 purchases so now just buy directly from apple when I need any Apple accessories.
- schmidttyOIB 8y ago
  Well, “I’ve never had this problem” doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. From a quick search (says “Apple Computer”, but tell me if that’s really made by Apple or not): https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0787CFNRQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1525756294&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=apple+charger&dpPl=1&dpID=319mHJjRbpL&ref=plSrch https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0787CFNRQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=...

balladeer 8y ago

Customer service and total disregard for what customers wants. Not to mention their "mobile only" stupidity starting with Myntra which they were trying to extend to Flipkart but stopped just in time. I just can't believe that Flipkart still doesn't have filter and sort by ratings. There can be arguments about how effective ratings are but this is one feature I definitely need for buying or booking anything - from my stationary to hotels and buses. PS. I just logged in to Flipkart to check whether they have added that feature yet. I guess my last login was a year ago or more. Last purchase was on July 29, 2015.

colmvp 8y ago

I'm so jealous. In Canada, Amazon is pretty pathetic. So many things are out of stock, or not available for purchase. The few things that are available for purchase are sometimes only offered by third-parties, who jack up the price by an exorbitant amount.

r_singh 8y ago
I've read multiple times on HN that Amazon isn't doing very well in other countries (like US, Canada, Argentina, etc.) and that Prime is super expensive as well. In India, Amazon is so good its hard to imagine how it will be sustainable. I paid $8/year for prime (yes a year) and they're now selling it at $16/year for free 24 hours delivery. However, I can foresee how it may not be as good in the near future. Try buying a pair of Apple Airpods and one soon figures AMZN is not best place to make the purchase, it's so hard to tell which seller / product is genuine!
- is_true 8y ago
  There's no Amazon in Argentina.
  - r_singh 8y ago
    You're right. I misunderstood a reply that said, "I pay 99USD for Amazon Prime here in Argentina". Didn't think the user was talking about US Amazon Prime purchased from Argentina.