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Amazon always claims to focus on its customers, and ignore its competitors, this is supposed to be an important facet of the "Its always Day 1" philosophy. The

by mataug 5y ago

Amazon always claims to focus on its customers, and ignore its competitors, this is supposed to be an important facet of the "Its always Day 1" philosophy. These actions, along with Amazon's complaints about Jedi contract seem to imply that amazon has now entered day 2. PS: I understand that the circumstances around the Jedi contract are different. I'm just trying to make a point that Amazon is now focussing more on its competitors rather than its customers.

polote 5y ago
You can't focus on your competitors when you don't have competitors. Has Amazon, the website, any competitors? They have an unique proposition, like Apple
- zdragnar 5y ago
  Yup, Walmart seems the obvious comparison, at least for retail. Much of what you'll find on Amazon, you can find there, including fast, free shipping.
  - polote 5y ago
    Can you buy things like high end bike parts on Walmart? Or addidas running shoes? Honest question
    - saddlerustle 5y ago
      Walmart.com has third-party sellers, same as Amazon. Both those things are available.
      - travoc 5y ago
        Does Walmart commingle goods from counterfeit sellers with that of reputable sellers for optimized delivery? Amazon does.
        skeeter2020 5y ago
        I don't know if Walmart has the same extent of 3rd party fulfillment that Amazon does, which seems to be the source & cause of the commingling issues. Walmart always seems to be either the supplier or it's 3rd party; don't know if this true though
        thaumasiotes 5y ago
        > I don't know if Walmart has the same extent of 3rd party fulfillment that Amazon does, which seems to be the source & cause of the commingling issues. This reads weirdly to me; I'd describe Amazon's situation as "they provide first-party fulfillment of 3rd-party sales.
    - deep-root 5y ago
      Honest answer - maybe. Amazon is so rampant with fraud parts[1] and shoes it's hard to know there as well. Best to buy "nice" things elsewhere than Amazon. For me 100% no-go on Amazon is anything that goes in or on your body, like lotion and vitamins. Coin-flip you get a fake since almost anyone has the means to produce fraud. [1] https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cycling-discussion/1206193-amazon-warning.html https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cycling-discussion/120619...
    - nwsm 5y ago
      Can you buy anything high end on Amazon? I wouldn't.
    - lhorie 5y ago
      If you know exactly what you want, you're better off going directly to the company's website or a retailer specialized in that category. Pretty much every such company has e-commerce these days and the risk of getting scammed is basically zero.
      - sokoloff 5y ago
        I’ve tried doing that. I often end back buying it from Amazon. Why? The company is often selling for the same price, with an outsized shipping charge, longer delivery time, and no free returns.
      - OJFord 5y ago
        Not when shipping, and ease of returns in the event of a problem are considered. I don't mean to shill Amazon, I'd like direct to be as good; it's just rarely close in my experience.
- smoldesu 5y ago
  Amazon and Apple have both taken ordinary products (the computer, the book, the cell-phone, the convenience store) and commoditized them using the power of the internet. No foul play yet, but the issues start when they begin gaslighting the little guys: Apple's biggest concern is their development ecosystem right now, and Amazon's biggest concern is antitrust commissions. Frame it however you like, but they still 'compete' with their traditional analogs, be it indirectly or directly. The mindset you're encouraging is the one that drives Tesla shares to $1k a pop, solely because "they're not like other auto manufacturers!"
- lhorie 5y ago
  Walmart and Costco come to mind for a lot of the sort of shopping I do. Single category retailers often provide better experiences (think Zara, Home Depot). Aliexpress has way wider selection across the board and very cheap prices (though with very long delivery times). I tend to use Amazon more for the intersection of things that are somewhat niche and that I'd like fast delivery on.
- smegger001 5y ago
  Walmart, Ebay, Alibaba/AliExpress, Costco all jump to mind.
  - adventured 5y ago
    Target also has a perfectly fine site. Their business is doing quite well the last few years, including online.
- blibble 5y ago
  aliexpress seems to be pretty much the same, except cheaper and you know you will be getting a knockoff (instead of maybe)
koboll 5y ago
Here is the actual ex parte filing: https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Amazon-Ex-Parte-on-S.pdf https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Amazo... It is quite short and basically alleges SpaceX failed to fulfill various requirements when filing its amendment. Mainly, it alleges SpaceX submitted two different configuration options and the Commission's rules require them to settle on a single configuration option to submit. Are those legitimate allegations? I have no idea. I'm not an expert on FCC amendment rules, and I doubt many here are either. But it seems kind of misleading to call that "because it can't compete" when the filing says something completely different.
- ineedasername 5y ago
  But it seems kind of misleading to call that "because it can't compete" when the filing says something completely different. Well, it's not like Amazon is going to say "we're 3 years behind SpaceX so we need you to slow them down" It's also not a good look for Amazon when it has has significantly more contact with the FCC over SpaceX than in providing its own details in response to FCC questions But this is just SpaceX's side of things, so I'll take it with a grain of salt. Also Amazon may fully expect the FCC to reject their request and simply wants that precedent set for when it needs/wants to submit a similarly flexible plan for their own deployment.
- xt00 5y ago
  https://fcc.report/IBFS/SAT-AMD-20210818-00105/12943361 https://fcc.report/IBFS/SAT-AMD-20210818-00105/12943361 "In Configuration 1—SpaceX’s preferred scenario—the amendment proposed herein would revise the pending application in three main respects to fully leverage these new capabilities: 1. SpaceX will more evenly spread capacity by latitude by targeting multiple inclinations, ensuring better, more consistent global coverage even as it continues to operate at lower, more sustainable altitudes than most other NGSO systems. 2.SpaceX will nearly double the number of satellites deployed in a sun-synchronous orbit optimized for key throughput demand times and service to Polar Regions, resulting in additional capacity for those chronically underserved areas such as Alaska. 3.The revised orbital planes will enable “single plane” launch campaigns, not requiring long dwell times in a low parking orbit waiting for orbital precession to spread satellites into other planes. These satellites can launch, be checked out at low altitude, and can all quickly go to their on-station positions. Configuration 2 utilizes a smaller number of satellites per plane than Configuration 1, yet also spreads capacity more evenly by latitude for more consistent coverage across the globe. Neither configuration requests any additional spectrum or results in a significant increase in the potential for interference to any other spectrum user, including other NGSO licensees and current applicants. Although SpaceX proposes to rearrange the orbital parameters of its Gen2 System, it will slightly reduce the number of satellites in the constellation. Moreover, SpaceX will continue to leverage the inherent advantages of operating at lower altitudes than most NGSO constellations. Not only will atmospheric drag at these altitudes ensure that any debris quickly disintegrates in the atmosphere and pose no further danger to space operations or life on the ground, but operation at these altitudes is also consistent with a key recommendation from the astronomical community to minimize any effect on astronomical observations. "
chaostheory 5y ago
Amazon entered Day 2 as while back. Its customer service has been a shadow of its former self for years now. It also took them years to resolve the problems stemming from commingling their inventory with 3rd parties.
- prova_modena 5y ago
  Are those co-mingling issues actually resolved now? I still avoid purchasing anything on Amazon where receiving a counterfeit or slightly not-as-described item would be consequential. I haven't personally had a bad experience, but have read enough anecdotes and reviews about it over the past year or two that it has strongly shaped my Amazon purchasing habits.
- OJFord 5y ago
  From what I read on HN, its customer service must be very variable regionally. In the UK, I often knowingly pay more to buy from Amazon, because it continues to be my experience that if something goes wrong or isn't up to scratch, worst case they'll refund and send Hermes to collect it, no questions asked.
  - smegger001 5y ago
    Also Audible, a subsidiary of Amazon, has very good customer service and a notoriously generous return policy. So it veries depending on business group as well as region.
    - aynyc 5y ago
      Same for Zappos.
- techie128 5y ago
  I have lost faith in Amazon a while ago. I base my opinion on their amazon.com online shopping experience. The ratings are regularly gamed, the "Amazon's Choice" label is completely unreliable, the quality of products sold by Amazon under their own brand (Amazon Basics) is highly suspect, they're not price competitive any more, I won't buy baby or health care products due to poor warehousing practices and commingled inventory. Several years ago shopping at amazon.com meant you'd likely get a price competitive, good quality product with reliable reviews. Sadly that situation doesn't exist any more.
awsthro00945 5y ago
>Amazon always claims to focus on its customers, and ignore its competitors That's not what Amazon claims. The actual Amazon leadership principal is: "Leaders start with the customer and work backwards. They work vigorously to earn and keep customer trust. Although leaders pay attention to competitors, they obsess over customers." I also don't see how this is "focusing more on its competitors". Amazon had previously identified a plan for Kuiper to serve its customers, and SpaceX interfered with that. The tactics to do so are debatable, but I think it's easily arguable that this protest is in the interest of serving its customers.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

by mataug 5y ago

polote 5y ago

You can't focus on your competitors when you don't have competitors. Has Amazon, the website, any competitors? They have an unique proposition, like Apple

zdragnar 5y ago
Yup, Walmart seems the obvious comparison, at least for retail. Much of what you'll find on Amazon, you can find there, including fast, free shipping.
- polote 5y ago
  Can you buy things like high end bike parts on Walmart? Or addidas running shoes? Honest question
  - saddlerustle 5y ago
    Walmart.com has third-party sellers, same as Amazon. Both those things are available.
    - travoc 5y ago
      Does Walmart commingle goods from counterfeit sellers with that of reputable sellers for optimized delivery? Amazon does.
      - skeeter2020 5y ago
        I don't know if Walmart has the same extent of 3rd party fulfillment that Amazon does, which seems to be the source & cause of the commingling issues. Walmart always seems to be either the supplier or it's 3rd party; don't know if this true though
        thaumasiotes 5y ago
        > I don't know if Walmart has the same extent of 3rd party fulfillment that Amazon does, which seems to be the source & cause of the commingling issues. This reads weirdly to me; I'd describe Amazon's situation as "they provide first-party fulfillment of 3rd-party sales.
  - deep-root 5y ago
    Honest answer - maybe. Amazon is so rampant with fraud parts[1] and shoes it's hard to know there as well. Best to buy "nice" things elsewhere than Amazon. For me 100% no-go on Amazon is anything that goes in or on your body, like lotion and vitamins. Coin-flip you get a fake since almost anyone has the means to produce fraud. [1] https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cycling-discussion/1206193-amazon-warning.html https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cycling-discussion/120619...
  - nwsm 5y ago
    Can you buy anything high end on Amazon? I wouldn't.
  - lhorie 5y ago
    If you know exactly what you want, you're better off going directly to the company's website or a retailer specialized in that category. Pretty much every such company has e-commerce these days and the risk of getting scammed is basically zero.
    - sokoloff 5y ago
      I’ve tried doing that. I often end back buying it from Amazon. Why? The company is often selling for the same price, with an outsized shipping charge, longer delivery time, and no free returns.
    - OJFord 5y ago
      Not when shipping, and ease of returns in the event of a problem are considered. I don't mean to shill Amazon, I'd like direct to be as good; it's just rarely close in my experience.
smoldesu 5y ago
Amazon and Apple have both taken ordinary products (the computer, the book, the cell-phone, the convenience store) and commoditized them using the power of the internet. No foul play yet, but the issues start when they begin gaslighting the little guys: Apple's biggest concern is their development ecosystem right now, and Amazon's biggest concern is antitrust commissions. Frame it however you like, but they still 'compete' with their traditional analogs, be it indirectly or directly. The mindset you're encouraging is the one that drives Tesla shares to $1k a pop, solely because "they're not like other auto manufacturers!"
lhorie 5y ago
Walmart and Costco come to mind for a lot of the sort of shopping I do. Single category retailers often provide better experiences (think Zara, Home Depot). Aliexpress has way wider selection across the board and very cheap prices (though with very long delivery times). I tend to use Amazon more for the intersection of things that are somewhat niche and that I'd like fast delivery on.
smegger001 5y ago
Walmart, Ebay, Alibaba/AliExpress, Costco all jump to mind.
- adventured 5y ago
  Target also has a perfectly fine site. Their business is doing quite well the last few years, including online.
blibble 5y ago
aliexpress seems to be pretty much the same, except cheaper and you know you will be getting a knockoff (instead of maybe)

koboll 5y ago

Here is the actual ex parte filing: https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Amazon-Ex-Parte-on-S.pdf https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Amazo... It is quite short and basically alleges SpaceX failed to fulfill various requirements when filing its amendment. Mainly, it alleges SpaceX submitted two different configuration options and the Commission's rules require them to settle on a single configuration option to submit. Are those legitimate allegations? I have no idea. I'm not an expert on FCC amendment rules, and I doubt many here are either. But it seems kind of misleading to call that "because it can't compete" when the filing says something completely different.

ineedasername 5y ago
But it seems kind of misleading to call that "because it can't compete" when the filing says something completely different. Well, it's not like Amazon is going to say "we're 3 years behind SpaceX so we need you to slow them down" It's also not a good look for Amazon when it has has significantly more contact with the FCC over SpaceX than in providing its own details in response to FCC questions But this is just SpaceX's side of things, so I'll take it with a grain of salt. Also Amazon may fully expect the FCC to reject their request and simply wants that precedent set for when it needs/wants to submit a similarly flexible plan for their own deployment.
xt00 5y ago
https://fcc.report/IBFS/SAT-AMD-20210818-00105/12943361 https://fcc.report/IBFS/SAT-AMD-20210818-00105/12943361 "In Configuration 1—SpaceX’s preferred scenario—the amendment proposed herein would revise the pending application in three main respects to fully leverage these new capabilities: 1. SpaceX will more evenly spread capacity by latitude by targeting multiple inclinations, ensuring better, more consistent global coverage even as it continues to operate at lower, more sustainable altitudes than most other NGSO systems. 2.SpaceX will nearly double the number of satellites deployed in a sun-synchronous orbit optimized for key throughput demand times and service to Polar Regions, resulting in additional capacity for those chronically underserved areas such as Alaska. 3.The revised orbital planes will enable “single plane” launch campaigns, not requiring long dwell times in a low parking orbit waiting for orbital precession to spread satellites into other planes. These satellites can launch, be checked out at low altitude, and can all quickly go to their on-station positions. Configuration 2 utilizes a smaller number of satellites per plane than Configuration 1, yet also spreads capacity more evenly by latitude for more consistent coverage across the globe. Neither configuration requests any additional spectrum or results in a significant increase in the potential for interference to any other spectrum user, including other NGSO licensees and current applicants. Although SpaceX proposes to rearrange the orbital parameters of its Gen2 System, it will slightly reduce the number of satellites in the constellation. Moreover, SpaceX will continue to leverage the inherent advantages of operating at lower altitudes than most NGSO constellations. Not only will atmospheric drag at these altitudes ensure that any debris quickly disintegrates in the atmosphere and pose no further danger to space operations or life on the ground, but operation at these altitudes is also consistent with a key recommendation from the astronomical community to minimize any effect on astronomical observations. "

chaostheory 5y ago

Amazon entered Day 2 as while back. Its customer service has been a shadow of its former self for years now. It also took them years to resolve the problems stemming from commingling their inventory with 3rd parties.

prova_modena 5y ago
Are those co-mingling issues actually resolved now? I still avoid purchasing anything on Amazon where receiving a counterfeit or slightly not-as-described item would be consequential. I haven't personally had a bad experience, but have read enough anecdotes and reviews about it over the past year or two that it has strongly shaped my Amazon purchasing habits.
OJFord 5y ago
From what I read on HN, its customer service must be very variable regionally. In the UK, I often knowingly pay more to buy from Amazon, because it continues to be my experience that if something goes wrong or isn't up to scratch, worst case they'll refund and send Hermes to collect it, no questions asked.
- smegger001 5y ago
  Also Audible, a subsidiary of Amazon, has very good customer service and a notoriously generous return policy. So it veries depending on business group as well as region.
  - aynyc 5y ago
    Same for Zappos.
techie128 5y ago
I have lost faith in Amazon a while ago. I base my opinion on their amazon.com online shopping experience. The ratings are regularly gamed, the "Amazon's Choice" label is completely unreliable, the quality of products sold by Amazon under their own brand (Amazon Basics) is highly suspect, they're not price competitive any more, I won't buy baby or health care products due to poor warehousing practices and commingled inventory. Several years ago shopping at amazon.com meant you'd likely get a price competitive, good quality product with reliable reviews. Sadly that situation doesn't exist any more.

awsthro00945 5y ago

>Amazon always claims to focus on its customers, and ignore its competitors That's not what Amazon claims. The actual Amazon leadership principal is: "Leaders start with the customer and work backwards. They work vigorously to earn and keep customer trust. Although leaders pay attention to competitors, they obsess over customers." I also don't see how this is "focusing more on its competitors". Amazon had previously identified a plan for Kuiper to serve its customers, and SpaceX interfered with that. The tactics to do so are debatable, but I think it's easily arguable that this protest is in the interest of serving its customers.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]