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Agreed. I think it will lead to a product gulf where on low end you have stuff that can be cranked out for cheap with low margins, and other stuff that is premi

Agreed. I think it will lead to a product gulf where on low end you have stuff that can be cranked out for cheap with low margins, and other stuff that is premium. Nothing in the middle.

frognumber 2y ago
I am not sure. I think on the premium end, no one will want to risk Amazon knock-offs, brick-filled boxes, and other shenanigans. There was a day not long ago where everything premium I bought came from Amazon because I trusted them. That day is long gone. On the low-end, I actually don't get how sellers stay in business with Amazon fees, but for the most part, my go-to is increasingly direct (Aliexpress, eBay, or similar). I'm down to about two Amazon orders per month. That's down from several orders a week a half-decade ago. It's also a bit of an increasing death spiral, since I gave up Prime and Amazon is now just annoying without Prime. I do feel there is room for a vendor to take Amazon's place. The next one should have: - 100% direct supply chains. No knockoffs. If I order Sandisk, it either comes form Sandisk, or from Sandisk direct to the vendor. - 2019-era Amazon customer service - Fair prices. Fair doesn't mean beating Amazon and Walmart (customer service costs something), but that I never get hit with a 10x markup. I should be able to trust I'm not being cheated without shopping around. - Honest reviews - Ideally, over time, shoppers, vendor-recommended products, and expert reviews. Trader Joes and Apple to well by virtue of fewer, better SKUs. Buying dpreview could have been a great fit for Amazon, but as is, building out something like the old Wirecutter, Consumer Reports, etc. - I can even see more social models, like forums with company reps, experts, etc. where I can ask a question before I buy. The logistics here are a multi-billion-dollar play, but might be possible either leveraging local stores or in partnership with a Fedex or UPS.

Agreed. I think it will lead to a product gulf where on low end you have stuff that can be cranked out for cheap with low margins, and other stuff that is premium. Nothing in the middle.

frognumber 2y ago

I am not sure. I think on the premium end, no one will want to risk Amazon knock-offs, brick-filled boxes, and other shenanigans. There was a day not long ago where everything premium I bought came from Amazon because I trusted them. That day is long gone. On the low-end, I actually don't get how sellers stay in business with Amazon fees, but for the most part, my go-to is increasingly direct (Aliexpress, eBay, or similar). I'm down to about two Amazon orders per month. That's down from several orders a week a half-decade ago. It's also a bit of an increasing death spiral, since I gave up Prime and Amazon is now just annoying without Prime. I do feel there is room for a vendor to take Amazon's place. The next one should have: - 100% direct supply chains. No knockoffs. If I order Sandisk, it either comes form Sandisk, or from Sandisk direct to the vendor. - 2019-era Amazon customer service - Fair prices. Fair doesn't mean beating Amazon and Walmart (customer service costs something), but that I never get hit with a 10x markup. I should be able to trust I'm not being cheated without shopping around. - Honest reviews - Ideally, over time, shoppers, vendor-recommended products, and expert reviews. Trader Joes and Apple to well by virtue of fewer, better SKUs. Buying dpreview could have been a great fit for Amazon, but as is, building out something like the old Wirecutter, Consumer Reports, etc. - I can even see more social models, like forums with company reps, experts, etc. where I can ask a question before I buy. The logistics here are a multi-billion-dollar play, but might be possible either leveraging local stores or in partnership with a Fedex or UPS.