Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Amazon to Shut All U.S. Pop-Up Stores as It Rethinks Physical Retail Strategy

wsj.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 123 posts

Re: Amazon to Shut All U.S. Pop-Up Stores as It Rethinks Physical Retail Strategy

#41

Post by ihuman »

droithomme wrote: post #31
ihuman wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is re-boxing Amazon products really that big of a hassle? I just re-use the box the product came in, or the box from another recent Amazon purchase.

It's not a big hassle, nor is obtaining the label or printing it, gluing it on, and taping the box. These are instead several small hassles, many separated in time, each requiring low level focus and effort. Maybe a customer doesn't have packing tape in his house, a cardboard box (since he threw it out) or label glue, so he has to start by to going get those first, after having initiated the return by going to a web…

I know this is just a small part of what you're saying, but you don't have to use label glue. I use clear packing tape to both tape the box shut, and tape/cover the label.

But you're still right. No matter how easy Amazon makes it to ship a return, its still easier to return in person. The only exception is if you're not already going to that store, or don't have a car to go back to the store. I could see Amazon's hybrid in-person/online return options being the best of both worlds.

Re: Amazon to Shut All U.S. Pop-Up Stores as It Rethinks Physical Retail Strategy

#42

Post by nickpsecurity »

heymijo wrote: post #35
kristianc wrote: post #27

This is more or less what Amazon is known for - experimentation, A/B testing and dumping ideas quickly. I'm pretty in awe that Amazon seems to have (at least) three bricks and mortar retail concepts on the go at the same time : Go, pop up stores and Whole Foods, and is only now deciding to cut one of them. Amazon's commitment to going with the data goes so so deep.

What about Amazon makes it successful with having multiple versions of the same concept at one time compared to Google's* lack of success doing the same? *At least my impression of Google and their structure/incentive system that pushes different groups to pursue the same thing and not succeed at any. Messaging is at the forefront in my mind.

It's their strong customer and product focus. I answered in more detail in another thread:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19286649

Re: Amazon to Shut All U.S. Pop-Up Stores as It Rethinks Physical Retail Strategy

#43

Post by k_sh »

heymijo wrote: post #35
kristianc wrote: post #27

This is more or less what Amazon is known for - experimentation, A/B testing and dumping ideas quickly. I'm pretty in awe that Amazon seems to have (at least) three bricks and mortar retail concepts on the go at the same time : Go, pop up stores and Whole Foods, and is only now deciding to cut one of them. Amazon's commitment to going with the data goes so so deep.

What about Amazon makes it successful with having multiple versions of the same concept at one time compared to Google's* lack of success doing the same? *At least my impression of Google and their structure/incentive system that pushes different groups to pursue the same thing and not succeed at any. Messaging is at the forefront in my mind.

Follow-through.

Google is infamous for this sequence of events, time and time again:

1. We made this great new thing that's gonna change the way you verb! Hope you enjoy it!

2. (1-5 years of product stagnation)

3. Hey, thanks for the all the good times. We're closing the thing at the end of the year.

Amazon (for all their warts) is much more adept at keeping customer experience in their crosshairs.

Re: Amazon to Shut All U.S. Pop-Up Stores as It Rethinks Physical Retail Strategy

#44

Post by tracker1 »

heymijo wrote: post #35
kristianc wrote: post #27

This is more or less what Amazon is known for - experimentation, A/B testing and dumping ideas quickly. I'm pretty in awe that Amazon seems to have (at least) three bricks and mortar retail concepts on the go at the same time : Go, pop up stores and Whole Foods, and is only now deciding to cut one of them. Amazon's commitment to going with the data goes so so deep.

What about Amazon makes it successful with having multiple versions of the same concept at one time compared to Google's* lack of success doing the same? *At least my impression of Google and their structure/incentive system that pushes different groups to pursue the same thing and not succeed at any. Messaging is at the forefront in my mind.

I think it comes down to how they handle success at a smaller scale and tend to prioritize for their higher value experiments. I think the better example, on the other side of Google would be Apple, where almost all priority is in the Phone first, Tablet second, everything else after.

For google, you have one line of business than generates billions in revenue and another that generates a few million in profit, in the larger company, it's not likely to gain traction, where in another company it might be larger than the rest of the company.

Re: Amazon to Shut All U.S. Pop-Up Stores as It Rethinks Physical Retail Strategy

#45

Post by erichurkman »

SteveCoast wrote: post #28
kristianc wrote: post #27

This is more or less what Amazon is known for - experimentation, A/B testing and dumping ideas quickly. I'm pretty in awe that Amazon seems to have (at least) three bricks and mortar retail concepts on the go at the same time : Go, pop up stores and Whole Foods, and is only now deciding to cut one of them. Amazon's commitment to going with the data goes so so deep.

I think it's 5: Go, pop-up, 4-star, bookstore, whole foods.

I do hope 4-star works out. It's worked great for me a few times for last minute decent gifts (including for a kid and difficult to buy for relative).

Re: Amazon to Shut All U.S. Pop-Up Stores as It Rethinks Physical Retail Strategy

#46

Post by tareqak »

Kye wrote: post #38
ihuman wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That article uses OP's as the main source. > The move was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

I think it was offered as an alternative for people who felt weird about breaking the paywall but don't mind reporting that uses the paywalled article as a source.

That wasn't quite my intention initially, but I realized that it was an additional benefit. My initial intention was more to add an extra source, which sometimes has the additional benefit of having a marginally different perspective.

Re: Amazon to Shut All U.S. Pop-Up Stores as It Rethinks Physical Retail Strategy

#49

Post by dmix »

MarkMc wrote: post #47

This is an example of US economic dynamism. In France or even the UK people would be saying, "How can we let such a large, profitable company lay off people so easily?"

You understand that "pop-ups" by their very nature are temporary?

Re: Amazon to Shut All U.S. Pop-Up Stores as It Rethinks Physical Retail Strategy

#50

Post by Judgmentality »

k_sh wrote: post #43
heymijo wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What about Amazon makes it successful with having multiple versions of the same concept at one time compared to Google's* lack of success doing the same? *At least my impression of Google and their structure/incentive system that pushes different groups to pursue the same thing and not succeed at any. Messaging is at the forefront in my mind.

Follow-through. Google is infamous for this sequence of events, time and time again: 1. We made this great new thing that's gonna change the way you verb! Hope you enjoy it! 2. (1-5 years of product stagnation) 3. Hey, thanks for the all the good times. We're closing the thing at the end of the year. Amazon (for all their warts) is much more adept at keeping customer experience in their crosshairs.

> Amazon (for all their warts) is much more adept at keeping customer experience in their crosshairs.

Except when it comes to selling counterfeit merchandise. This is more than just a nitpick, they are cannibalizing their core business. What I don't know, and I assume they do know, is how bad is the problem. Is it impacting 1% of customers who ultimately leave their platform (which could easily be offset by other factors), or are we at the tip of the iceberg and they're going to continually lose marketshare with time?

Post reply on HN