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Assuming retail stores that have to pay for more expensive real estate and employees can compete on price, I think there's actually more to price for reasons to
by travisp 14y ago
Assuming retail stores that have to pay for more expensive real estate and employees can compete on price, I think there's actually more to price for reasons to shop at Amazon.
First, a retail store is not really immediate gratification -- I have got get to the retail store. Often times I would rather wait a day or two (and soon it may not even be that much with Amazon), than spend an hour of my time trying to get to and from the store. I also often want to read reviews of what I buy, and Amazon often has the most reviews for any particular product. Trying to lookup reviews, or comparison shop while in a retail store is difficult at best (sometimes not even possible if there is no reception). At least with Amazon if something seems like it may be highly priced, I can quickly search around for an alternative.
With Amazon, I also know the return process will be easy if I need to make a return, and I won't have the go back to the store and argue with a manager.
In other words, there's more to just price that gives Amazon an advantage.
- niggler 14y ago"With Amazon, I also know the return process will be easy if I need to make a return, and I won't have the go back to the store and argue with a manager." Costco is the same way, and they do it in-store ... "I have got get to the retail store" While true, oftentimes you are going there or in the general direction as part of a commute or for some other reason (like getting gas for your car) The more I think about it, the more compelling a long-COST-short-AMZN trade sounds ...
- travisp 14y agoPerhaps this is the difference in where we live. I live in New York. Never is anything more than an expensive small gourmet grocery store or a pharmacy possibly "on the way." Things also tend to be much more expensive than average here. Costco is out of the way and would probably require the rental of a car, or paying for a taxi. Returning something to Costco would be a big hassle compared with just leaving a UPS package for my doorman. Further, I don't have the apartment space necessary for Costco quantities. I prefer to buy smaller quantities (even at higher per unit prices) if it means that I don't fill up my small apartment with paper towel rolls.
- niggler 14y agoI live on union square south but drive out once a month to get bulk items. Depending on where you live, parking can be cheap (I'm paying 450/mo at union square and 300/mo at central park south)
- travisp 14y agoI sold my car -- it wasn't worth spending $300+ on parking plus insurance and gas just in order to have to spend hours of my life to bulk shop and crowd my apartment. But, everyone has different priorities.
- smackfu 14y agoThis post is about Connecticut, and Connecticut has five Costco's to cover the whole state. It's a small state, but that still ends up being a lot of people who are 20-30 miles from the nearest one (for me it's 17 miles). $4 of gas and 40 minutes of driving just to go shopping. (And NEVER EVER short AMZN. It's a really good way to lose a lot of money.)