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Retailers aren't marketplaces. They're retailers. Generally they're buying goods from manufacturers to stock their shelves. Amazon isn't doing that.
by ethanwillis 6y ago
Retailers aren't marketplaces. They're retailers. Generally they're buying goods from manufacturers to stock their shelves. Amazon isn't doing that.
- repsilat 6y agoIs that an important distinction? Near as I can tell the main differences are, - It's probably easier for merchants to sell in a marketplace than through a retailer, and - Suppliers probably get paid by retailers earlier than they get paid by marketplaces. Though neither point is necessarily true, and I'm not really sure there's a hard distinction to be made, and I'm not convinced any difference is morally important here. I could be wrong on any of those points though, and would be glad to hear why if I am.
- gamblor956 6y agoIt's a huge difference, and pretty much the heart of the matter: retailers pay for inventory, marketplaces do not. Of course if you ignore the primary distinguishing factor they look the same. It's like how a non techie can look at a laptop and call it an ipad.
- dredmorbius 6y agohttps://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25046673 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25046673