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For better or worse, Target and Walmart have both been able to keep a much higher level of quality control over the merchandise and who is selling it. Amazon ch

For better or worse, Target and Walmart have both been able to keep a much higher level of quality control over the merchandise and who is selling it. Amazon charges a fee to sell on their marketplace each month: $39.99, in addition to transaction fees. Their incentives are this: maximize the number of sellers to increase fee revenue and give users the largest selection. That is in stark contrast with how retailers work with suppliers, whereas both Walmart and Target have rigorous human screening and management of every supplier and marketplace seller. https://corporate.target.com/about/products-services/suppliers https://corporate.target.com/about/products-services/supplie... It really makes Amazon look and feel like the world's flea market.

brudgers 7y ago
I think that's a slight on flea markets. The flea market charges for a booth. The flea market doesn't take a percentage of sales. The flea market doesn't recommend items. The flea market doesn't show different items at different prices to different people. It also doesn't charge buyers a membership fee.
- solarkraft 7y ago
  > The flea market doesn't show different items at different prices to different people. Does Amazon really do that? > It also doesn't charge buyers a membership fee. Neither does Amazon.
  - brudgers 7y ago
    The industry term is "dynamic pricing." This article from 2014 links (near the top) to Amazon's admission to the practice. https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/11/03/if-you-use-a-mac-or-an-android-e-commerce-sites-may-be-charging-you-more/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/11/03/...
  - rubyn00bie 7y ago
    > > It also doesn't charge buyers a membership fee. > Neither does Amazon. Yeah, I think that's exactly what Amazon Prime is... And for me, personally, it is losing value quickly because of the fuckery Amazon is pulling with all their different stores (it's fucking difficult to buy shit from Amazon and avoid Pantry or whatever the other fuckery is called so you actually get your "free" [not actually free] shipping).

brudgers 7y ago

I think that's a slight on flea markets. The flea market charges for a booth. The flea market doesn't take a percentage of sales. The flea market doesn't recommend items. The flea market doesn't show different items at different prices to different people. It also doesn't charge buyers a membership fee.

solarkraft 7y ago
> The flea market doesn't show different items at different prices to different people. Does Amazon really do that? > It also doesn't charge buyers a membership fee. Neither does Amazon.
- brudgers 7y ago
  The industry term is "dynamic pricing." This article from 2014 links (near the top) to Amazon's admission to the practice. https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/11/03/if-you-use-a-mac-or-an-android-e-commerce-sites-may-be-charging-you-more/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/11/03/...
- rubyn00bie 7y ago
  > > It also doesn't charge buyers a membership fee. > Neither does Amazon. Yeah, I think that's exactly what Amazon Prime is... And for me, personally, it is losing value quickly because of the fuckery Amazon is pulling with all their different stores (it's fucking difficult to buy shit from Amazon and avoid Pantry or whatever the other fuckery is called so you actually get your "free" [not actually free] shipping).