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India's Flipkart Has an Amazon Problem

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Re: India's Flipkart Has an Amazon Problem

#52
Flipkart still has a big 'brand equity' outside metro. Today in small town online shopping means 'Flipkart' (the way Search = Google). And in these places eCommerce solves real life problems. The addressable market is huge and still untapped to large extent.

Most of these places 'Amazon' is still an alien word (but that is changing - albeit slowly).

However, the way I see it there is a little window where Flipkart can still leverage their brand reach, by not loosing the customers while they cleanup their act. Most of these customers would still put up with troubles as they perhaps have a big inertia in moving to a new shopping experience. But it is matter of time.

Flipkart in my experience do not know how to hire people. I have seen top level product management and design - they would not stand a chance when it would come to out thinking and out executing Amazon.

[Edit] And add the fact that Amazon India can willy nilly use the code base of Amazon.com. Till sometime back (perhaps even today, haven't checked recently) Flipkart didn't have any personalization feature in their mobile app. There was no mechanism of surfacing products based upon purchase history or even browsing pattern. It didn't even remember where I last closed the app - every d*&^% time I had to navigate and reach to the place where I was interrupted and had left the app.

Re: India's Flipkart Has an Amazon Problem

#54
post #7

Amazon has earned my trust in every serious interaction I've had with them (live in USA and have prime subscription). Package never arrived? Reimbursed. Next day shipping and it took 2 days? Reimbursed. "New" book from reseller is clearly marked up with underlines and notes? Free book, no need to ship it back. The trust I have with this company is the reason why I order from them so consistently, even if they are mor…

I wonder what the trust looks like in the other direction: if you can get free stuff by lying to customer service, what happens if that becomes popular in the customer base?

Re: India's Flipkart Has an Amazon Problem

#55

I've used both Flipkart and Amazon(India) sites. 1. For me, Flipkart's introduction was only due to the huge discounted prices. Also it was new, better and trusted experience compared to Ebay(India). And Amazon came late in the game. Mentally I associate Flipkart with huge Discounts (and Mi phones). And those discounts don't exist any more. 2. Amazon.in is just a great user experience. Flipkart.com still feels like a…

Flipkart has far better ui. I can filter down my choices. Was never impressed with amazons search. Flipkart has good service as well. But i prefer amazon after the whole mobile only thing.

Re: India's Flipkart Has an Amazon Problem

#56
post #25

Too much negative commentary. Flipkart also did something interesting that fueled their early growth - they offered 'Cash on Delivery' model, cause many people in India don't use Credit/Debit cards for shopping! I never had a bad buying experience with them, but then my shopping has been limited. Must say though that Amazon's recommendation engine and technical prowess in general is superior. I imagine so are Amazon'…

>they offered 'Cash on Delivery' model

Nothing new. Online retailers had had that option for years before flipkart arrived on the scene.

Re: India's Flipkart Has an Amazon Problem

#57
post #25

Too much negative commentary. Flipkart also did something interesting that fueled their early growth - they offered 'Cash on Delivery' model, cause many people in India don't use Credit/Debit cards for shopping! I never had a bad buying experience with them, but then my shopping has been limited. Must say though that Amazon's recommendation engine and technical prowess in general is superior. I imagine so are Amazon'…

> Flipkart also did something interesting that fueled their early growth - they offered 'Cash on Delivery' model, cause many people in India don't use Credit/Debit cards for shopping!

COD model was available way before Flipkart even existed.

> To me Flipkart's weakness in strategic vision started showing up in dealing with the fashion segment

The main weakness with Flipkart are some decisions like making Myntra app only shopping locations. They did it for a full 1 year after reverting back to website access. All this for just more customer data.

Re: India's Flipkart Has an Amazon Problem

#59
post #25

Too much negative commentary. Flipkart also did something interesting that fueled their early growth - they offered 'Cash on Delivery' model, cause many people in India don't use Credit/Debit cards for shopping! I never had a bad buying experience with them, but then my shopping has been limited. Must say though that Amazon's recommendation engine and technical prowess in general is superior. I imagine so are Amazon'…

Whoever, initiated and approved that move!!. Quick Google search showed this name - Punit Soni. Why did he leave? Fallout with the CEO and team?

Re: India's Flipkart Has an Amazon Problem

#60
post #25

Too much negative commentary. Flipkart also did something interesting that fueled their early growth - they offered 'Cash on Delivery' model, cause many people in India don't use Credit/Debit cards for shopping! I never had a bad buying experience with them, but then my shopping has been limited. Must say though that Amazon's recommendation engine and technical prowess in general is superior. I imagine so are Amazon'…

You underestimated the power of Amazon here - it's not technical prowess or recommendation engine. The war was never about technical prowess. It's Amazon's customer service which pulling Flipkart/Snapdeal down to the ground and beating them hard.

Very true! I've practically experienced the difference.
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