Amazon is stuffing its search results pages with ads • Hacker News Board

Re: Amazon is stuffing its search results pages with ads

#241

Post by astura » Tue, Sep 11, 2018, 4:24 PM UTC

scrooched_moose wrote: post #158

Zelphyr wrote: post #111

Has anyone compiled a list of alternatives to Amazon? I’m not expecting a one-stop-shop where I can buy everything like at Amazon. But a list of online retailers who are better than Amazon at specific categories of products. Because I’m at the point where I would rather pay a little extra and get quality products from a not evil company than continue shopping with Amazon.

Just looking at my recent purchases: Electronics - Newegg and Monoprice Board & Table Top Games - Miniature Market Pet Food - Chewy (owned by PetSmart now) Clothing - Depends on your style, but I tend to stick to Eddie Bauer and Duluth Trading Company for good quality, affordable clothes Comic trade paperbacks - InStockTrades Books - Barnes & Noble (new) and eBay (used) The big one I've still struggling to find a rep…

Zappos is owned by Amazon, FWIW.

Re: Amazon is stuffing its search results pages with ads

#242

Post by gnopgnip » Tue, Sep 11, 2018, 4:26 PM UTC

greedy_buffer wrote: post #91

fishbone wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I almost ordered two pvc plumbing fittings from Amazon last week for $13.99. Thanks to some Hackernews skepticism I cancelled my shopping cart. I found the same fittings at my local hardware store for $8.99. My question is, how dynamic are Amazon’s prices? Do all users see the same prices or is it more like google search where results are “personalized”? It seems like they could dynamically change prices based on use…

If they were personalised it would be hard for sites like camelcamelcamel.com to exist, right? I would speculate that they don't personalise. Offering price discrimination as a service to third party sellers sounds like a minefield too.

The price you see in the buy box is not always the lowest price. Anyone can click through and view all the sellers for an item. Sites like that track all the items for sale.

Re: Amazon is stuffing its search results pages with ads

#243

Post by socalnate1 » Tue, Sep 11, 2018, 4:26 PM UTC

kart23 wrote: post #214

Zelphyr wrote: post #111

Has anyone compiled a list of alternatives to Amazon? I’m not expecting a one-stop-shop where I can buy everything like at Amazon. But a list of online retailers who are better than Amazon at specific categories of products. Because I’m at the point where I would rather pay a little extra and get quality products from a not evil company than continue shopping with Amazon.

Has anyone tried out jet.com? It seemed like they had a very big marketing campaign a few years back, but never gained steam. Never ordered anything, but their ui is pretty nice. Also not sure if they sell everything directly or it is coming from different sellers.

Walmart bought Jet for $3.3 Billion in 2016.

Re: Amazon is stuffing its search results pages with ads

#244

Post by twothamendment » Tue, Sep 11, 2018, 4:28 PM UTC

bgorman wrote: post #104

SteveCoast wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you saved $4.40 to go to Walmart. * There's a non-zero chunk of the population not near a Walmart or similar. * It costs time to go there * It costs vehicle depreciation So if you were going to Walmart anyway, or walked there with nothing better to do you saved the money. But if you didn't then let's say the average wage is $25/hour or so and you spent 30 minutes there and back, and fully loaded vehicle depreciati…

Walmart actually has a pretty good online shopping experience. They even give free 2 day shipping on orders of 35 or more IIRC.

Twice I've gone to walmart.com to load up my cart and get free shipping. Both times I ended up leaving empty handed because I got to the checkout and one or more items didn't qualify for free shipping. I get that there will be exceptions, but they could sure work on telling me that before I get halfway through the checkout. In both cases I ended up back on amazon.

Re: Amazon is stuffing its search results pages with ads

#245

Post by adventured » Tue, Sep 11, 2018, 4:29 PM UTC

Gustomaximus wrote: post #164

cs702 wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Their basic underlying assumption appears to be that they're no longer in danger of losing customers and can now act accordingly. Speaking as a longtime customer, I agree: this is what Amazon's behavior feels like to me nowadays. Search no longer works well for me. Reviews and product ratings are no longer trustworthy. The authenticity of products in key categories (e.g., electronics) can no longer be taken for gra…

Does it though? 1) The day Amazon feel threatened they can become the cheapest in the market quickly again. 2) Given purchasing power scale and people like fast delivery there will only be a handful of companies that can complete with Amazon ever, so it seems unlikely there will be a 'started in the garage' business compete with them now the market is maturing. 3) With the extra profit Amazon are making vs a competit…

> so it seems unlikely there will be a 'started in the garage' business compete with them now the market is maturing.

There never has been. You can't compete in high volume retail ecommerce from a low budget garage scenario. Since the mid 1990s it has required tens of millions of dollars in venture capital just to get into the first inning of the game if you want to compete at that style of mass retail ecommerce.

It'd be like pretending you can compete with BMW, Ford, GM, Toyota, Tesla, etc. starting from a garage. There's a reason so few new car companies get started. Mass retail has horrendous margins and very high operational costs. If you get to choose, start a hotdog vendor business instead of going into low margin retail.

Amazon itself required a million dollars to get started back in 1994. There are no garage businesses in that sort of ecommerce.

Re: Amazon is stuffing its search results pages with ads

#246

Post by awaywopassd » Tue, Sep 11, 2018, 4:30 PM UTC

arbuge wrote: post #19

Their basic underlying assumption appears to be that they're no longer in danger of losing customers and can now act accordingly. Now that they've captured 50%+ of US ecommerce, they've also raised many prices, to the point where they're far from the cheapest price in many cases. A random example... the cat litter I just purchased is $17.89 at Amazon, $13.49 at Walmart. Last week I bought a chair mat for $21.95 on Eb…

> My Prime membership expires in a couple months time, and this time I'm not renewing it, after being a member for several years.

Same here. After almost a decade, I will not renew my Prime membership. It is just scary thinking about it especially losing other benefits like Prime Music and Unlimited Photos backup but Amazon shopping experience keep getting worse.

I am pretty sure I have received a few fake name brand items but pretty hard to tell. In past, if I ever had any complaint, Amazon reps would not only fix the issue but send $10-50 gift cards. Lately, they only fix the issue/replace the item. Maybe, they spoiled me but to me that is sign of declining customer service.

I used to be active Amazon advocate, introduced many of my friends to Amazon. But now I am pretty much on the other side.

Re: Amazon is stuffing its search results pages with ads

#247

Post by scrooched_moose » Tue, Sep 11, 2018, 4:32 PM UTC

astura wrote: post #241

scrooched_moose wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just looking at my recent purchases: Electronics - Newegg and Monoprice Board & Table Top Games - Miniature Market Pet Food - Chewy (owned by PetSmart now) Clothing - Depends on your style, but I tend to stick to Eddie Bauer and Duluth Trading Company for good quality, affordable clothes Comic trade paperbacks - InStockTrades Books - Barnes & Noble (new) and eBay (used) The big one I've still struggling to find a rep…

Zappos is owned by Amazon, FWIW.

Poor wording on my part. I meant to imply that's why I was looking for another alternative.

Re: Amazon is stuffing its search results pages with ads

#248

Post by NegativeK » Tue, Sep 11, 2018, 4:32 PM UTC

Gustomaximus wrote: post #164

cs702 wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Their basic underlying assumption appears to be that they're no longer in danger of losing customers and can now act accordingly. Speaking as a longtime customer, I agree: this is what Amazon's behavior feels like to me nowadays. Search no longer works well for me. Reviews and product ratings are no longer trustworthy. The authenticity of products in key categories (e.g., electronics) can no longer be taken for gra…

Does it though? 1) The day Amazon feel threatened they can become the cheapest in the market quickly again. 2) Given purchasing power scale and people like fast delivery there will only be a handful of companies that can complete with Amazon ever, so it seems unlikely there will be a 'started in the garage' business compete with them now the market is maturing. 3) With the extra profit Amazon are making vs a competit…

As a sibling comment pointed out, cheapest doesn't trump everything -- otherwise we'd be ordering from Aliexpress.

I've spend _way_ too much money on climbing gear in the past three years, very little of which was on Amazon. I simply can't risk getting counterfeit safety-critical goods.

And while I'm not worried about counterfeit mops, I have noticed that the Amazon first habit is now broken in general.

Re: Amazon is stuffing its search results pages with ads

#249

Post by astura » Tue, Sep 11, 2018, 4:33 PM UTC

y-c-o-m-b wrote: post #153

Zelphyr wrote: post #111

Has anyone compiled a list of alternatives to Amazon? I’m not expecting a one-stop-shop where I can buy everything like at Amazon. But a list of online retailers who are better than Amazon at specific categories of products. Because I’m at the point where I would rather pay a little extra and get quality products from a not evil company than continue shopping with Amazon.

Some people are suggesting stop paying for Prime and just use eBay. My biggest concern if I ditch Amazon is losing out on some of the cheap Chinese merchandise that I actually don't mind; flashlights is one example. It never occurred to me that eBay is probably selling the same junk though, so I think i'll start doing comparisons between Amazon and eBay.

eBay sells the same cheap Chinese merchandise, just cheaper.

Re: Amazon is stuffing its search results pages with ads

#250

Post by astura » Tue, Sep 11, 2018, 4:34 PM UTC

Zelphyr wrote: post #111

Has anyone compiled a list of alternatives to Amazon? I’m not expecting a one-stop-shop where I can buy everything like at Amazon. But a list of online retailers who are better than Amazon at specific categories of products. Because I’m at the point where I would rather pay a little extra and get quality products from a not evil company than continue shopping with Amazon.

I've personally ordered stuff from the following places (off the top of my head): Walmart, Target, Lowes, Home Depot, True Value, Best Buy, NewEgg, eBay, TigerDirect, Rakuten, Overstock, Kohls, B&H Photo, Monoprice, drugstore.com (now Walgreens), BuyDig, jet.com (now owned by Walmart), Google Express (order from local stores), Staples, direct from manufacturer, ....

Probably more I can't think of.

I try not to participate in the Amazon empire too much, so far it's been a fine experience. I usually buy when I have a coupon or something goes on sale.