3 ms·

I think what Airbnb, and uber, lyft, Amazon etc. All fail to understand is the longevity ans stickiness of brand. Once you become an untrustworthy or low qualit

I think what Airbnb, and uber, lyft, Amazon etc. All fail to understand is the longevity ans stickiness of brand. Once you become an untrustworthy or low quality brand, it's very hard to change that. You can still do fine (see: wal mart) but you'll always be looking over your shoulder for higher quality brands that poach the most lucrative customers, and eventually, thats what will lead to your downfall (see: wal mart)

curiousgal 7y ago
At least with Amazon, their customer service makes up for any fake goods they sell.
- ghostly_s 7y ago
  Amazon provides customer service?
  - Liquix 7y ago
    Their live chat is fairly responsive. With regard to low quality or knockoff goods it's pretty trivial to get return shipping waived or $5-20 store credit, as long as you don't abuse the system.
organsnyder 7y ago
Walmart has had a "downfall"? I prefer to avoid shopping there, but the business appears to be doing quite well.
harryh 7y ago
Ah yes, the downfall of WalMart. The...checks notes...largest company by revenue in America.
- booi 7y ago
  yeah if anything Walmart explicitly disproves this statement. Also see Dollar General et. al, Comcast, AT&T etc..
Dirlewanger 7y ago
It's not that they fail to understand it, they just don't care. The C-suite in all these VC-funded companies just want to get to the exit so they get paid.
thebokehwokeh2 7y ago
Stickiness of brand also depends on the target audience. For brands who seek premium audiences, this is true, but for mass appeal lowest-cost persons, such as those who use all of the aforementioned listed, because of the lack of competition, brand is hardly a factor. Given the complexity of building these services, and the lack of comparable competing options, you are left to begrudgingly accept what you're left with.
president 7y ago
Walmart, the airline industry, et al proved that people will put up with garbage experience as long as your goods/services are priced cheap enough.
- ghaff 7y ago
  And there are plenty of low end hotel chains, e.g. Motel 6, that I assume are doing OK. But I also assume they offer some base level of crappy quality (in addition to things like a 24 hour desk and no question that they're actually allowed to rent the room.)
dplgk 7y ago
It's why they want to establish an monopoly and dominate their sector. Cable companies are universally hated and they're doing fine.

curiousgal 7y ago

At least with Amazon, their customer service makes up for any fake goods they sell.

ghostly_s 7y ago
Amazon provides customer service?
- Liquix 7y ago
  Their live chat is fairly responsive. With regard to low quality or knockoff goods it's pretty trivial to get return shipping waived or $5-20 store credit, as long as you don't abuse the system.

organsnyder 7y ago

Walmart has had a "downfall"? I prefer to avoid shopping there, but the business appears to be doing quite well.

harryh 7y ago

Ah yes, the downfall of WalMart. The...checks notes...largest company by revenue in America.

booi 7y ago
yeah if anything Walmart explicitly disproves this statement. Also see Dollar General et. al, Comcast, AT&T etc..

Dirlewanger 7y ago

It's not that they fail to understand it, they just don't care. The C-suite in all these VC-funded companies just want to get to the exit so they get paid.

thebokehwokeh2 7y ago

Stickiness of brand also depends on the target audience. For brands who seek premium audiences, this is true, but for mass appeal lowest-cost persons, such as those who use all of the aforementioned listed, because of the lack of competition, brand is hardly a factor. Given the complexity of building these services, and the lack of comparable competing options, you are left to begrudgingly accept what you're left with.

president 7y ago

Walmart, the airline industry, et al proved that people will put up with garbage experience as long as your goods/services are priced cheap enough.

ghaff 7y ago
And there are plenty of low end hotel chains, e.g. Motel 6, that I assume are doing OK. But I also assume they offer some base level of crappy quality (in addition to things like a 24 hour desk and no question that they're actually allowed to rent the room.)

dplgk 7y ago

It's why they want to establish an monopoly and dominate their sector. Cable companies are universally hated and they're doing fine.