Live data from Hacker News

Amazon gains wholesale pharmacy licenses in multiple states

stltoday.com

71–80 of 100 posts

Re: Amazon gains wholesale pharmacy licenses in multiple states

#71
post #43

If it takes Amazon to fix American healthcare, god bless them. What a total cluster fuck healthcare is, and if that’s what they want to fix, I’m very supportive. Putting $5k into their stock tomorrow

Considering the constant issues Amazon has had with counterfeit goods the last few years, I don't think I'd want to buy drugs from them.

Re: Amazon gains wholesale pharmacy licenses in multiple states

#72
post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well why not? It's working out well for them so far. Razer thin margins are still better than the zero margins that they would recieve by NOT entering the market. If it is possible to make any money at all, then there is no reason not to take it.

Opportunity cost. They don't have an endless supply of cash (though it may seem like it). They should be going into high margin markets, not just markets that have a minuscule profit margin.

AWS is their high margin product.

It seems to be their strategy is to enter markets that traditionally have razor margins, but the margin can be increased with careful application of technology or scale.

Re: Amazon gains wholesale pharmacy licenses in multiple states

#73
post #67
post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For starters, doctors are in a modern guild system. They artificially limit the number of medical schools, increasing the salaries of licensed doctors while limiting the supply. As society ages and needs more medical services, the poor are continually priced out as the supply of doctors is limited artificially. Although extraordinary unpopular if you speak to doctors (as I have found), drastically increasing the numb…

Medicine cannot be managed by capitalism. Elements of the industry can, but the basic elements of care giving and treatment basically amount to “pay me or die”. The moral hazard in withholding care from some to be able to raise prices on others is too great. Capitalism is great when the incentives line up without creating moral hazard; which they do in a lot of areas. But we as a society can have different priorities…

Are no other countries capitalist systems? Say, Japan, who has fairly awesome compassionate healthcare I would think, they don't have a "socialist" medicare system do they? Britain is kind of hybrid I think? Australia as well maybe.

Re: Amazon gains wholesale pharmacy licenses in multiple states

#74

Apparently better for consumers in general now that there's more competition. One Industry I really really want them to enter is Consumer Airlines. Service in most airlines sucks, like big time. Can't wait for Amazon Airlines with Prime Video and Internet available for all. But of course I know that's a distant dream unless the Prime Air works great.

Man, I hear this argument all the time about airline service.

I've tried many airlines for work...service is fine. If your expecting 1950s level service you can pay 1950s pricing for business class.

Re: Amazon gains wholesale pharmacy licenses in multiple states

#75
post #43

If it takes Amazon to fix American healthcare, god bless them. What a total cluster fuck healthcare is, and if that’s what they want to fix, I’m very supportive. Putting $5k into their stock tomorrow

Considering the constant issues Amazon has had with counterfeit goods the last few years, I don't think I'd want to buy drugs from them.

Yes and wrongly shipped items. I get so many items that aren't correct.

Re: Amazon gains wholesale pharmacy licenses in multiple states

#76

Cvs big fear is drone delivery. Amazon will solve last mile.

Why do they need drones for last mile, they can just use their own existing delivery infrastructure. Drones might be cheaper/better/faster in the long run, but, they aren't required for this to work.

Drones would be killer for pharmacies. Low weight and small packages

Re: Amazon gains wholesale pharmacy licenses in multiple states

#77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Considering the constant issues Amazon has had with counterfeit goods the last few years, I don't think I'd want to buy drugs from them.

Yes and wrongly shipped items. I get so many items that aren't correct.

Really? Anecdotally, I make lots and lots of Amazon orders, I get at least 1 or 2 a week, plus my prime subscriptions, and I have not had an issue getting the wrong item for several years. The only issue I've personally had, is the UPS driver dropped off a neighbor down the street's package at my house, which was a driver mistake.

Re: Amazon gains wholesale pharmacy licenses in multiple states

#78
post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Medicine cannot be managed by capitalism. Elements of the industry can, but the basic elements of care giving and treatment basically amount to “pay me or die”. The moral hazard in withholding care from some to be able to raise prices on others is too great. Capitalism is great when the incentives line up without creating moral hazard; which they do in a lot of areas. But we as a society can have different priorities…

Are no other countries capitalist systems? Say, Japan, who has fairly awesome compassionate healthcare I would think, they don't have a "socialist" medicare system do they? Britain is kind of hybrid I think? Australia as well maybe.

All guarantee basic care and allow you to buy up to better care[1]. Yeah, some things that are quality-of-life impacting but not life-threatening (like say, knee surgery) can have really long waits, but everyone gets seen.

You don’t have people choosing between paying rent or getting their insulin. Also, if the state had to bear the costs of health care, they might be more inclined to deal with the predatory practices of companies selling products that are dangerous long-term (cigarettes, aggressive marketing of junk food, etc)

[1]: Japan apparently has subsidized health care (consumer pays 30% unless they are poor); and the UK definitely provides government care through the NHS, though you can pay out of pocket and go to a private doctor if you have the means. Australia’s system is similar to the US, and they are facing similar problems as well.

Re: Amazon gains wholesale pharmacy licenses in multiple states

#79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes and wrongly shipped items. I get so many items that aren't correct.

Really? Anecdotally, I make lots and lots of Amazon orders, I get at least 1 or 2 a week, plus my prime subscriptions, and I have not had an issue getting the wrong item for several years. The only issue I've personally had, is the UPS driver dropped off a neighbor down the street's package at my house, which was a driver mistake.

Yes. In each case I was refunded the item's costs but still annoying. Their customer support has been okay.

Re: Amazon gains wholesale pharmacy licenses in multiple states

#80
post #67
post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For starters, doctors are in a modern guild system. They artificially limit the number of medical schools, increasing the salaries of licensed doctors while limiting the supply. As society ages and needs more medical services, the poor are continually priced out as the supply of doctors is limited artificially. Although extraordinary unpopular if you speak to doctors (as I have found), drastically increasing the numb…

Medicine cannot be managed by capitalism. Elements of the industry can, but the basic elements of care giving and treatment basically amount to “pay me or die”. The moral hazard in withholding care from some to be able to raise prices on others is too great. Capitalism is great when the incentives line up without creating moral hazard; which they do in a lot of areas. But we as a society can have different priorities…

But you could say the same about food. "Pay me, or starve". But in their greed, food makers have made food cheap.
Post reply on HN