What are they thinking? Surely this must do more damage to seller goodwill than any supposed customer benefit?
Amazon Will Ban Sale of Apple, Google Video-Streaming Devices
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Re: Amazon Will Ban Sale of Apple, Google Video-Streaming Devices
#12This is a unfortunate turn of events. When I worked for Amazon we were a neutral vendor and would sell anything that is legal. There were a number of first amendment right fights as well. But clearly that era has come to a close.
It came to a close a long time ago. Amazon refuses to sell many legal products, eg caffeine powder and anything with the confederate flag.
Re: Amazon Will Ban Sale of Apple, Google Video-Streaming Devices
#13Isn't this anti-competitive?
Is amazon prime not working on Apple TV anti-competitive?
Re: Amazon Will Ban Sale of Apple, Google Video-Streaming Devices
#14Isn't this anti-competitive?
Sure, but you're allowed to be anti-competitive as long you're not in a monopoly position in the marketplace.
Re: Amazon Will Ban Sale of Apple, Google Video-Streaming Devices
#15Isn't this anti-competitive?
Yes. They're going to get sued.
Re: Amazon Will Ban Sale of Apple, Google Video-Streaming Devices
#16This is gold: "It’s important that the streaming media players we sell interact well with Prime Video in order to avoid customer confusion."
There will be even greater customer confusion when people are wondering where are the Apple TVs and Chromecasts.
Re: Amazon Will Ban Sale of Apple, Google Video-Streaming Devices
#17This is gold: "It’s important that the streaming media players we sell interact well with Prime Video in order to avoid customer confusion."
The new AppleTV has an App Store. Does this mean Amazon can't or won't create an app for Prime Video for the AppleTV? (Can't or won't, either answer would be telling.)
Re: Amazon Will Ban Sale of Apple, Google Video-Streaming Devices
#18Amazon can absolutely do this (but I think it is a slippery slope, possibly a sign of some bad changes ahead at amazon. They really should be neutral about the products listed on their site) but the reason they gave is kinda ridiculous [1]. I have a hard time believing the enough people don't know the difference between Prime & Netflix to make this a legitimate reason to stop selling Chromecast and Apple TV [1]: Over…
The should use the competitor's pages as an opportunity to upsell prime-compatible devices. Show a "Prime Video" logo crossed out that you can click on that takes you to a page telling you why Prime is so much better than whatever you're trying to buy.
(I don't know if that gets into legal hot waters or not, but couldn't be worse than actually not selling competing devices.)
If someone wants to buy an Apple TV, chances are they're just going to go to apple.com to do it, and Amazon has lost the chance to turn that customer over.
Re: Amazon Will Ban Sale of Apple, Google Video-Streaming Devices
#19This is a unfortunate turn of events. When I worked for Amazon we were a neutral vendor and would sell anything that is legal. There were a number of first amendment right fights as well. But clearly that era has come to a close.
It came to a close a long time ago. Amazon refuses to sell many legal products, eg caffeine powder and anything with the confederate flag.
There is a difference between refusing to sell things you think are unethical even if you disagree with the reasoning vs. refusing to sell things for baldly anti-competitive reasons