Amazon is not a search engine. You are doing it wrong!
Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products
21–30 of 438 posts
Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products
#22I would compare this to a supermarket allocating shelf space to maximize its profits, either by placing its own brands front and center or by featuring brands that have made a deal for prime shelf placement. I don't see this as scandalous or even new. Coincidentally, Amazon brand products are usually pretty good in my experience, so this might not be a terrible outcome for users who have already decided to come shop…
That's peculiar. Here the market's products are placed in the bottom and top, whilst third party brands reserve all the immediate-view space
Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products
#23I would compare this to a supermarket allocating shelf space to maximize its profits, either by placing its own brands front and center or by featuring brands that have made a deal for prime shelf placement. I don't see this as scandalous or even new. Coincidentally, Amazon brand products are usually pretty good in my experience, so this might not be a terrible outcome for users who have already decided to come shop…
Grocery stores don't operate as a "marketplace" though. Grocery stores curate their offerings, vet vendors, deal with returns etc... Amazon is more like shopping mall that decides to start operating their own stores and competing with their tenants.
I don't really see how important that distinction is.
Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products
#24I would compare this to a supermarket allocating shelf space to maximize its profits, either by placing its own brands front and center or by featuring brands that have made a deal for prime shelf placement. I don't see this as scandalous or even new. Coincidentally, Amazon brand products are usually pretty good in my experience, so this might not be a terrible outcome for users who have already decided to come shop…
Grocery stores don't operate as a "marketplace" though. Grocery stores curate their offerings, vet vendors, deal with returns etc... Amazon is more like shopping mall that decides to start operating their own stores and competing with their tenants.
Facile argument. Grocery stores actually rent shelf space in many cases and do not take on product liability. It’s a different business entirely.
Amazon is totally within their right imo, those sellers can go back to eBay if they dislike amazon.
Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
Grocery stores don't operate as a "marketplace" though. Grocery stores curate their offerings, vet vendors, deal with returns etc... Amazon is more like shopping mall that decides to start operating their own stores and competing with their tenants.
Is it really? I don't see how this comparison works at all. Amazon gives you distribution, traffic, logistics, etc, with zero risk. They just take a fee if you sell. The only upfront cost is if you pay the premium FBA and that's still a like a 40 bucks per month fee. I'm not trying to defend Amazon, but I don't think that comparison makes sense.
It's obviously not a perfect metaphor, but neither is a grocery store.
>Amazon gives you distribution, traffic, logistics, etc, with zero risk.
Not everyone uses the distribution, and a mall or flea market also provides traffic to tenants.
Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products
#26Of course. Good for them. It’s their fucking store! > Amazon has adjusted its product-search system to more prominently feature listings that are more profitable for the company Unthinkable. A store trying to make a profit selling things. How crazy.
Is this only being down voted because of tone?
I am curious if there actually are any laws relevant to this situation. As far as I can tell, this is exactly like Walmart or BigBoxCo pushing their own brands. It's not illegal and, generally, it's not even a bad thing for the consumer (in the short term).
It really feels like most of the people taking issue with this are doing so because of their personal sentiments rather than legality.
Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products
#27I would compare this to a supermarket allocating shelf space to maximize its profits, either by placing its own brands front and center or by featuring brands that have made a deal for prime shelf placement. I don't see this as scandalous or even new. Coincidentally, Amazon brand products are usually pretty good in my experience, so this might not be a terrible outcome for users who have already decided to come shop…
Grocery stores don't operate as a "marketplace" though. Grocery stores curate their offerings, vet vendors, deal with returns etc... Amazon is more like shopping mall that decides to start operating their own stores and competing with their tenants.
You have a point but I think the fact that grocery stores sell private label goods is the counter-point. Grocery stores re-package goods like rice, beans, paper towels, etc. to compete with their vendors all the time. We call them supermarkets, right? A grocery store is simply a more organized open market. Which is very comparable to Amazon.
I think the problem is that they present the results on good faith that "these results are the best match for you based on your search", not the most profitable for them.
I just ran a search and the default search filter was "Featured", which is so ambiguous it could mean anything, so it seems like a classic bait and switch that played out over the course of a decade of consumers getting the best search results based on reviews and sales.
Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
Grocery stores don't operate as a "marketplace" though. Grocery stores curate their offerings, vet vendors, deal with returns etc... Amazon is more like shopping mall that decides to start operating their own stores and competing with their tenants.
Is it really? I don't see how this comparison works at all. Amazon gives you distribution, traffic, logistics, etc, with zero risk. They just take a fee if you sell. The only upfront cost is if you pay the premium FBA and that's still a like a 40 bucks per month fee. I'm not trying to defend Amazon, but I don't think that comparison makes sense.
Doesn't a grocery store give their product manufacturers those things as well? Distribution, traffic, logistics, marketing.
Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products
#29Of course. Good for them. It’s their fucking store! > Amazon has adjusted its product-search system to more prominently feature listings that are more profitable for the company Unthinkable. A store trying to make a profit selling things. How crazy.
You might want to add some supporting information why you feel that way instead of just sharing your opinion and dropping the mic
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Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products
#30I cannot imagine using Amazon search if they didn’t do this and let 3rd party garbage sit at the top of the rankings.