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At least malls had a functional economic agreement between the mall owner and the shops. With social media platforms, they will bring in partners and then screw

by xrd 2y ago

At least malls had a functional economic agreement between the mall owner and the shops. With social media platforms, they will bring in partners and then screw them the second they can cannibalize their business opportunities. Imagine a mall where the owners forcibly removed successful shops with their own carbon copy the moment that shop figured out a good business model.

Terr_ 2y ago
> Imagine a mall where the owners forcibly removed successful shops with their own carbon copy the moment that shop figured out a good business model. Isn't that kind of what Amazon does?
- lesuorac 2y ago
  Amazon isn't a mall though
  - Tostino 2y ago
    What is it then? Seems like a virtual version of a mall to me.
    - lesuorac 2y ago
      The virtual part is the problem. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shopping_mall https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shopping_mall > A shopping mall (or simply mall) is a large indoor shopping center, usually anchored by department stores.
      - Terr_ 2y ago
        Everybody on HN is already perfectly aware that Amazon.com is not a physical shopping mall. Instead of telling us what we already know, explain why you think the difference matters.
        lesuorac 2y ago
        The lack of a physical space. If a mall were to replace Build-a-bear with Stuff-a-snail and the Stuff-a-snail tanks then the mall is on the hook for that space's rent (or really the mall just takes a profitability hit; w/e). If Amazon decides to replace Duracell AA Batteries with Amazon Basics AA Batteries and every gadget comes with a lithium battery now so nobody needs AA then Amazon just cancels future orders and doesn't have to pay taxes for the land the battery factory is on. Not even sure Amazon needs to cancel future orders either; AmazonBasics might work like "Amazon Brand" and they let a third party use the AmazonBasics (or alternative) trademark. If the item is just "Amazon Brand" and not AmazonBasics then Amazon literally has no risk as it's just a seller (not Amazon) having some exclusive agreement to sell that product on Amazon. If that seller does well then Amazon collects fulfillment fees and if that seller does poorly then Amazon collects warehousing fees.
aspenmayer 2y ago
Sounds like Amazon and/or Walmart.

by xrd 2y ago

Terr_ 2y ago

> Imagine a mall where the owners forcibly removed successful shops with their own carbon copy the moment that shop figured out a good business model. Isn't that kind of what Amazon does?

lesuorac 2y ago
Amazon isn't a mall though
- Tostino 2y ago
  What is it then? Seems like a virtual version of a mall to me.
  - lesuorac 2y ago
    The virtual part is the problem. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shopping_mall https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shopping_mall > A shopping mall (or simply mall) is a large indoor shopping center, usually anchored by department stores.
    - Terr_ 2y ago
      Everybody on HN is already perfectly aware that Amazon.com is not a physical shopping mall. Instead of telling us what we already know, explain why you think the difference matters.
      - lesuorac 2y ago
        The lack of a physical space. If a mall were to replace Build-a-bear with Stuff-a-snail and the Stuff-a-snail tanks then the mall is on the hook for that space's rent (or really the mall just takes a profitability hit; w/e). If Amazon decides to replace Duracell AA Batteries with Amazon Basics AA Batteries and every gadget comes with a lithium battery now so nobody needs AA then Amazon just cancels future orders and doesn't have to pay taxes for the land the battery factory is on. Not even sure Amazon needs to cancel future orders either; AmazonBasics might work like "Amazon Brand" and they let a third party use the AmazonBasics (or alternative) trademark. If the item is just "Amazon Brand" and not AmazonBasics then Amazon literally has no risk as it's just a seller (not Amazon) having some exclusive agreement to sell that product on Amazon. If that seller does well then Amazon collects fulfillment fees and if that seller does poorly then Amazon collects warehousing fees.

aspenmayer 2y ago

Sounds like Amazon and/or Walmart.