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The bottom line is that it's not possible to compete on price with Amazon. Amazon does not need to operate storefronts (although ironically it is starting to op
by twblalock 8y ago
The bottom line is that it's not possible to compete on price with Amazon. Amazon does not need to operate storefronts (although ironically it is starting to open them), has a massive selection, and offers very fast shipping.
Amazon also does not need to deal with shoplifting, which is a huge problem for bookstores. I worked at a Border's Books back in college and it was just amazing how many DVDs were stolen. People would fill backpacks with them.
The only way to outcompete Amazon is by becoming a niche player, not by becoming a worse version of Amazon, which is the outcome of the Barnes and Noble strategy.
- Johnny555 8y agoAmazon also does not need to deal with shoplifting They do, but they call it "package theft".
- jeremymcanally 8y agoAnd those Amazon stores, ironically, are hyper-localized. The one in San Jose has a bunch of "popular in your area" and "highly rated in your area" shelves, and I'm guessing other purchasing decisions are influenced heavily by other local data they have available. B&N aren't just playing against Amazon's supply chain but also their insane data collection.
- twblalock 8y agoIronically the Amazon store in Santana Row is across the street from a former Border's location that closed years ago.