Amazon blocks non-Prime members from buying certain video games
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Re: Amazon blocks non-Prime members from buying certain video games
#2This is a weird move. I think if I didn't already have prime, I'd just go somewhere else rather than be motivated to subscribe. Hopefully this is just an experiment—I suspect this is ultimately going to be self defeating.
Re: Amazon blocks non-Prime members from buying certain video games
#3I imagine it won't take them many AAA releases to have the numbers to see if this was a good idea or not. I'm fine with Amazon finding more ways to make prime worth it without taking away features from prime members or increasing membership cost.
Re: Amazon blocks non-Prime members from buying certain video games
#4I don't get it. As an incentive to sign up for Prime it makes no sense; Prime needs to offer me things I can't get elsewhere (or at least not for the same price), not return to me things that I can easily get elsewhere. I just spot-checked Amazon US's price for GTA 5, 39.88 [1], and it's the exact same price at Wal-Mart [2], so it's not an exclusive deal or something. (Nor did I spend several minutes hunting for a comparable price; it was the third hit on Google for "Grand Theft Auto 5 PS4" for me. Google being what it is now, YMMV.)
I don't mean "this is a bad idea". I mean "I don't get it". What's the point?
[1]: http://www.amazon.com/Grand-Theft-Auto-V-PlayStation-4/dp/B0...
[2]: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Grand-Theft-Auto-V-PS4/41049186
Re: Amazon blocks non-Prime members from buying certain video games
#5To be honest people shouldn't be complaining they can't get it from Amazon, but getting it from someone else
It's that simple
Re: Amazon blocks non-Prime members from buying certain video games
#6This is a weird move. I think if I didn't already have prime, I'd just go somewhere else rather than be motivated to subscribe. Hopefully this is just an experiment—I suspect this is ultimately going to be self defeating.
It is majorly self defeating. A transaction on Amazon has very little friction, because they already have your payment details, you have a history and you know the quirks of the site.
By forcing people to consider alternatives, it is making people experience that initial friction elsewhere, but once they are setup there the friction is less. It won't take very long to discover other retailers have better prices, better shipping and less quirky sites.
Essentially this is nice gift to Amazon's competitors. Amazon will find out just how "sticky" those competitors are, but this stills seems silly.
Re: Amazon blocks non-Prime members from buying certain video games
#7Weird but not surprising -- not that different from HBO / netflix negotiating exclusive streaming rights to content. Spotify and youtube's 'deal' departments are more important (and more controversial) than their coders / PMs.
If you don't like this, steer clear of strings-attached content platforms.
Re: Amazon blocks non-Prime members from buying certain video games
#8This seems oddly customer-hostile, which is something I've grown to expect from tech companies but not Amazon in specific.
One can't help but wonder if the damage this does to the brand outweighs the strategic gains through Prime subscriptions. After all, selection and availability is a huge part of Amazon's secret sauce to success, more so than customer service, shipping speed, or any other concern.
If customers lose the ability to assume that they can get anything on Amazon, it's hugely damaging to the brand.
Re: Amazon blocks non-Prime members from buying certain video games
#9Weird but not surprising -- not that different from HBO / netflix negotiating exclusive streaming rights to content. Spotify and youtube's 'deal' departments are more important (and more controversial) than their coders / PMs. If you don't like this, steer clear of strings-attached content platforms.
These games aren't exclusive in any way. They can be bought from a large from a large number of other retailers for a comparable price.
Re: Amazon blocks non-Prime members from buying certain video games
#10This is a weird move. I think if I didn't already have prime, I'd just go somewhere else rather than be motivated to subscribe. Hopefully this is just an experiment—I suspect this is ultimately going to be self defeating.
It is majorly self defeating. A transaction on Amazon has very little friction, because they already have your payment details, you have a history and you know the quirks of the site. By forcing people to consider alternatives, it is making people experience that initial friction elsewhere, but once they are setup there the friction is less. It won't take very long to discover other retailers have better prices, bett…
Also, Amazon should want to know everything I buy to better offer me value that allows them to get more sales from me.