4 ms·

How Amazon Wins: By Steamrolling Rivals and Partners

71 points by juokaz 6y ago

boh 6y ago
I think their ability to perpetually generate gains in productivity and master client service are the bigger factors of their success. The steamrolling no doubt contributes to the success of certain aspects of the business, but it's doubtful that it's a leading factor. Uber, for instance, also steamrolls rivals and partners but its failure as a company is largely due to the total lack of productivity gains in their business model (where they actually lost the gains available in traditional taxi companies).
- chris_j 6y ago
  What gains available in traditional taxi companies did Uber lose?
jariel 6y ago
I'm looking forward to the YC company that builds out Amazon's infra but doesn't sell any of it's own products. This is possible, I think because: 1) Someone has done it, and there's a model to copy. 2) Investors know this - SoftBank etc. make bets at this scale 3) It actually won't take 'Amazon scale' to compete with Amazon. You don't need 500 fulfillment centres across the US. 4) UPS and FedEx are afraid and strategic partnerships there may help solve the last mile problem. Shopify is well positioned to do this, and possibly working on something like this, but it will be a test of them because it may not be in their cultural DNA. 'Physicality' is really a hard thing for software companies to deal with, even the best ones.
temp667 6y ago
Again, anti-trust being used because other businesses are hurt - rather than focusing on consumer impact. They attack the Amazon basics brand. The Amazon brands do well because there is such trash out there that regulators do absolutely NOTHING to stop. For example, battery packs with totaly garbage capacities - no regulatory action is taken to shut these folks down. "The FTC Act prohibits unfair or deceptive advertising in any medium. That is, advertising must tell the truth and not mislead consumers." - https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/advertising-marketing-internet-rules-road https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/adv... Amazon notices a trust deficit, and then makes a set of batteries you can be somewhat more sure are accurately described. Now consumer has a choice. They can buy from maybe a trash brand and save a few bucks (and I'm sure folks do) or they can buy from Amazon. Given folks don't actually trust regulators such as the FTC to actually, you know, do their job, they begin to trust amazon more and more. Apple is going to benefit from this as well. It's not that there are not better tablets, but you have to trust it won't be a crapware filled thing, and after being disappointed a few times it's just not worth it. Meanwhile, after not doing their jobs at ALL with respect scams online, these regulatory bodies ARE sure to come down on the brands users apparently trust as regulatory bodies tend to do when being shown up somehow.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
ashneo76 6y ago
Amazon steam rolls the environment. What happens to the t returned items?? They get dumped for minor annoyances. Better to buy it local where something can get a skilled job fixing it Amazon is undercutting the pay in the delivery driver supply chain. Amazon is anti union. Amazon sells face recognition to police departments and ICE which is used against the public. Amazon Alexa is used to spy on people. Couple with Ring Amazon is evil. Pure evil. Shelfari was launched on October 11, 2006.[5] In February 2007, Amazon invested $1 million in Shelfari,[6] and moved to acquire it a year later in August 2008 On March 28, 2013, Amazon announced its acquisition of Goodreads Shelfari and GoodReads were competitors and that was good for the market Amazon needs to be broken up. And litigated to hell and beyond. Amazon needs to be broken up or it will ruin. And I say this as a look time "left liberal" engineer. The customer is nothing to them. Their profits are what matters. I have been shopping at my local best buy and I have had way better experience then I ever did. Ditto for Lowe's, Target, Sweetwater, BH photo video, newegg, and actual store owners
- judge2020 6y ago
  Replace "amazon is evil" with "amazon is making the absolute most money for their investors possible".
haspoken 6y ago
http://archive.is/q38oo http://archive.is/q38oo

71 points by juokaz 6y ago

boh 6y ago

I think their ability to perpetually generate gains in productivity and master client service are the bigger factors of their success. The steamrolling no doubt contributes to the success of certain aspects of the business, but it's doubtful that it's a leading factor. Uber, for instance, also steamrolls rivals and partners but its failure as a company is largely due to the total lack of productivity gains in their business model (where they actually lost the gains available in traditional taxi companies).

chris_j 6y ago
What gains available in traditional taxi companies did Uber lose?

jariel 6y ago

I'm looking forward to the YC company that builds out Amazon's infra but doesn't sell any of it's own products. This is possible, I think because: 1) Someone has done it, and there's a model to copy. 2) Investors know this - SoftBank etc. make bets at this scale 3) It actually won't take 'Amazon scale' to compete with Amazon. You don't need 500 fulfillment centres across the US. 4) UPS and FedEx are afraid and strategic partnerships there may help solve the last mile problem. Shopify is well positioned to do this, and possibly working on something like this, but it will be a test of them because it may not be in their cultural DNA. 'Physicality' is really a hard thing for software companies to deal with, even the best ones.

temp667 6y ago

Again, anti-trust being used because other businesses are hurt - rather than focusing on consumer impact. They attack the Amazon basics brand. The Amazon brands do well because there is such trash out there that regulators do absolutely NOTHING to stop. For example, battery packs with totaly garbage capacities - no regulatory action is taken to shut these folks down. "The FTC Act prohibits unfair or deceptive advertising in any medium. That is, advertising must tell the truth and not mislead consumers." - https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/advertising-marketing-internet-rules-road https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/adv... Amazon notices a trust deficit, and then makes a set of batteries you can be somewhat more sure are accurately described. Now consumer has a choice. They can buy from maybe a trash brand and save a few bucks (and I'm sure folks do) or they can buy from Amazon. Given folks don't actually trust regulators such as the FTC to actually, you know, do their job, they begin to trust amazon more and more. Apple is going to benefit from this as well. It's not that there are not better tablets, but you have to trust it won't be a crapware filled thing, and after being disappointed a few times it's just not worth it. Meanwhile, after not doing their jobs at ALL with respect scams online, these regulatory bodies ARE sure to come down on the brands users apparently trust as regulatory bodies tend to do when being shown up somehow.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

ashneo76 6y ago

Amazon steam rolls the environment. What happens to the t returned items?? They get dumped for minor annoyances. Better to buy it local where something can get a skilled job fixing it Amazon is undercutting the pay in the delivery driver supply chain. Amazon is anti union. Amazon sells face recognition to police departments and ICE which is used against the public. Amazon Alexa is used to spy on people. Couple with Ring Amazon is evil. Pure evil. Shelfari was launched on October 11, 2006.[5] In February 2007, Amazon invested $1 million in Shelfari,[6] and moved to acquire it a year later in August 2008 On March 28, 2013, Amazon announced its acquisition of Goodreads Shelfari and GoodReads were competitors and that was good for the market Amazon needs to be broken up. And litigated to hell and beyond. Amazon needs to be broken up or it will ruin. And I say this as a look time "left liberal" engineer. The customer is nothing to them. Their profits are what matters. I have been shopping at my local best buy and I have had way better experience then I ever did. Ditto for Lowe's, Target, Sweetwater, BH photo video, newegg, and actual store owners

judge2020 6y ago
Replace "amazon is evil" with "amazon is making the absolute most money for their investors possible".

haspoken 6y ago

http://archive.is/q38oo http://archive.is/q38oo