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Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products

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Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products

#81

Post by sokoloff »

Pxtl wrote: post #34

Considering how shopping at Amazon now feels like shopping at an electronics bazaar in Singapore with giant bins of random knock-off products of suspicious quality, tweaking the algo to push name-brand options (even if it's their own name-brand) would be a welcome move to me as a buyer. Obviously it's grossly unfair to their vendors, but from a strictly user-centric view it's an improvement. Otherwise, Amazon feels l…

It’s odd to me to think that something which is user-centric could be “grossly unfair” to vendors.

If you view vendors on the platform as existing to serve the users (as I do), the contradiction evaporates. If you view users as existing to serve the vendors, then it’s possible.

Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products

#82

Post by whoisjuan »

berdon wrote: post #28
whoisjuan wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Perhaps, but with minimal control, larger risks and upfront costs. Especially if you're a small company selling under consignment.

Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products

#83

Post by j-c-hewitt »

ryanmcbride wrote: post #45
monitron wrote: post #6

I 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…

EDIT: I didn't explain this well at all because I couldn't find the episode and haven't listened since it came out, I highly suggest someone better than me find the episode because it makes much more sense and has WAY more information than me. There was a planet money episode about this exact comparison the other day. Basically it comes down to: When a grocery store puts something on it's shelves, the store itself bo…

This isn't true in most cases. Amazon does buy stuff wholesale through their Vendor program. Almost all sellers are also buying wholesale apart from manufacturers going direct to consumer.

If it is shipped & sold by Amazon, Amazon already paid for it from their supplier. If it is shipped & sold by SomeOtherStore, generally they bought it already from someone. There are a lot of dropshippers also and that is a different story.

Amazon similarly protects itself with onerous contracts that can force suppliers to eat the cost of unsold products at times, and does whatever it can to avoid buying unproven products.

Grocery stores and other retailers in general can be protected by refund policies and buyback policies so they are not necessarily taking as much risk especially on packaged products with long expiry dates. They can also liquidate stuff that doesn't get purchased to recoup some money.

Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products

#84

Post by Rafuino »

"After the Journal’s inquiries, Amazon took down its A9 website, which had stood for about a decade and a half. The site included the statement: 'One of A9’s tenets is that relevance is in the eye of the customer and we strive to get the best results for our users.'"

Huh, that's an interesting reaction.

Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products

#85

Post by luckylion »

ry_ry wrote: post #37
bsamuels wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You might want to add some supporting information why you feel that way instead of just sharing your opinion and dropping the mic

I think their point is simply that "it's their store" - and to be brutally honest, I agree. Two not-entirely-random examples of similar behaviour: Supermarkets place their own brand merchandise where they feel it'll sell best. Undeniably good business, and certainly no reason for concern. Perhaps more questionably, but bare with me - Google place AMP content, which is to say content they have made their product by me…

> I think their point is simply that "it's their store" - and to be brutally honest, I agree.

Amazon claims they are a marketplace, not a store. Amazon itself is only one player on that marketplace, according to Amazon.

Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products

#86

Post by TazeTSchnitzel »

sokoloff wrote: post #81
Pxtl wrote: post #34

Considering how shopping at Amazon now feels like shopping at an electronics bazaar in Singapore with giant bins of random knock-off products of suspicious quality, tweaking the algo to push name-brand options (even if it's their own name-brand) would be a welcome move to me as a buyer. Obviously it's grossly unfair to their vendors, but from a strictly user-centric view it's an improvement. Otherwise, Amazon feels l…

It’s odd to me to think that something which is user-centric could be “grossly unfair” to vendors. If you view vendors on the platform as existing to serve the users (as I do), the contradiction evaporates. If you view users as existing to serve the vendors, then it’s possible.

Something can be unfair to vendors in a way which is bad for consumers. Amazon's own products might be, for example, more expensive or worse quality.

Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products

#87

Post by chihuahua »

josefresco wrote: post #51

Side rant: Where is my Amazon branded phone case?!? This weekend I placed a half dozen searches for "iphone 11 case" and was only presented with super shady, low quality vendors. Floveme? Tendam? Donse? Spigen? and my favorite: Vapesoon. Is it just too early for the legit brands to have a case ready? Or am I doing it wrong?

I agree the brand names sound ridiculous, but I bought a Spigen phone case from Amazon for a Moto X4 and I'm very happy with it. Fits perfectly, looks fine, good access to buttons etc.

Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products

#88

Post by Certhas »

Pxtl wrote: post #34

Considering how shopping at Amazon now feels like shopping at an electronics bazaar in Singapore with giant bins of random knock-off products of suspicious quality, tweaking the algo to push name-brand options (even if it's their own name-brand) would be a welcome move to me as a buyer. Obviously it's grossly unfair to their vendors, but from a strictly user-centric view it's an improvement. Otherwise, Amazon feels l…

Still, they are the monopoly marketplace online. They should be doing _everything_ to avoid looking like they are abusing their monopoly position to muscle into other fields. The fact that they don't seem too bothered just seems to indicate to me that regulators are not prepared to act on them.

Really the rule should simply be that if you operate a market place you can't sell on it. Full stop. Then we could simply be happy that amazon is finally improving it's search and/or the quality of its listings.

Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products

#89

Post by atoav »

ryanmcbride wrote: post #45
monitron wrote: post #6

I 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…

EDIT: I didn't explain this well at all because I couldn't find the episode and haven't listened since it came out, I highly suggest someone better than me find the episode because it makes much more sense and has WAY more information than me. There was a planet money episode about this exact comparison the other day. Basically it comes down to: When a grocery store puts something on it's shelves, the store itself bo…

But the shelves of Grocery stores are different: you cannot just change things around all the time without your customers complaining or going to another market with better offers. The amount of shelves is more or less constant throughout the life of a store and promoting your own brand often means you lose out on the money others offer you to get a good spot.

On Amazon there are as many shelves as there are product categories and the thing has much much more fluctuation.

What that means is, that a "promoted" product is sometimes the only one which stays at a fixed spot, while all all the others are to be found on the miscellaneous-pile.

Re: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products

#90

Post by sokoloff »

TazeTSchnitzel wrote: post #86
sokoloff wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s odd to me to think that something which is user-centric could be “grossly unfair” to vendors. If you view vendors on the platform as existing to serve the users (as I do), the contradiction evaporates. If you view users as existing to serve the vendors, then it’s possible.

Something can be unfair to vendors in a way which is bad for consumers. Amazon's own products might be, for example, more expensive or worse quality.

That would then not be user-centric.
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