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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

#241

Post by logfromblammo »

Given the functionality of Amazon's search algorithm before this, I can't exactly say that any changes to it could make it worse.

I can't even count the number of times I have searched for Product-X, by lowest price, and encountered a dozen pages of Clearly-Not-X and Actually-Just-An-Accessory-For-X before even reaching the first X.

Or Item-Sold-By-Weight-Y, that comes in 30 different package sizes, none of which is tagged with comparable unit prices. If you want some Y, you cannot order your search by $/kg or $/L. And sometimes it's difficult to figure out exactly how much Y you would be getting. The giant barrel of industrial generic will be listed next to the 20 oz bottle of gold-plated spiritual-grade Woo-Woo brand.

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

#242

Post by mikob »

jhallenworld wrote: post #145
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…

They do care about the quality of their own products. I posted a negative review on an Amazon product, and they called me(!) so that I could further elaborate. It was very odd because they called within an hour of the review. At some point I must have given them my phone number. This was a review for their TV Cube. I was trying to buy something with good voice control to allow a paralyzed person to browse YouTube, an…

If you're still looking for a good way to browse YouTube - I've made a Chrome extension that let's you browse the web using voice control - https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/lipsurf-voice-cont...

Hope this helps.

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

#243

Post by ceejayoz »

partialrecall wrote: post #198
ceejayoz wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amazon is at least liable (theoretically, at least) if they sell an AmazonBasics product that winds up giving my kids lead poisoning, and will have a lot harder time disappearing into the wind to avoid a lawsuit. They disclaim any liability for third-party sellers.

Sure, but will a lawsuit unpoison your kid? Unless Amazon is currently testing products for lead before recommending them, which somehow I doubt, then the potential of a lawsuit against Amazon isn't actually protecting your child.

There's at least someone with deep pockets to go after, which is very much not the case for some random drop shipper in China.

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

#244

Post by toasterlovin »

benologist wrote: post #177
toasterlovin wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, there is not a direct analogy because Amazon is not a monopoly . They aren't even the largest retailer.

It was actually abusing their platform to deliberately harm other companies that sparked the antitrust. That abuse created a monopoly but the monopoly was not why they got in trouble. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browser_wars

The only reason bundling IE was an issue is because Microsoft had a monopoly on PC operating systems. The monopoly is a necessary precondition for the antitrust action.

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

#245

Post by inapis »

gambiting wrote: post #205
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…

(I can only guess you are American) - American experiences with Amazon are so different to mine over here in the UK it's incredible. I buy tonnes of different stuff from Amazon(multiple hundred orders last year) and I have never ever gotten anything counterfeit or had any issues. In fact every time when their 1-day delivery arrives late they just extend my prime by a month, no questions asked. And yet every time I go…

Amazon India has a counterfeit problem if you are not careful. I’ve had counterfeit batteries, chargers and skincare items. Though delivery issues have never happened.

I’ve to keep my guard up when ordering from Amazon. It’s no longer the easy convenient and cheap option.

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

#246

Post by toasterlovin »

cptskippy wrote: post #172
toasterlovin wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Small nitpick, but what you are referring to is not an affiliate program. An affiliate program is where a website gets a cut of the sales for providing links to a retailer's site. So, The Wirecutter makes money by using affiliate links to Amazon and other retailers on their product review articles.

Yeah you're right. I'm not sure what the correct term is.

I'm not sure either, tbh. Perhaps 'marketplace' or 'platform'.

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

#247

Post by bduerst »

jonknee wrote: post #55
ryanmcbride wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

> When a grocery store puts something on it's shelves, the store itself bought it from the manufacturer. They have already made their money. On Amazon, manufacturers don't make money when the item is listed, they make it only if and when a customer buys the product. It's way more complicated than that. Manufacturers pay stores to carry their products, feature their products in special places in stores, get forced to…

Only certain big box retailers do that, like Best Buy, whose business model have them leasing floor space in their physical locations, which has tangible scarcity.

Amazon is not leasing retail floor space, so to GP's point, any comparisons between Amazon's open platform and traditional physical retail spaces are moot.

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

#248

Post by toasterlovin »

mattmcknight wrote: post #228
toasterlovin wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some advice (from a company that sells our own products on Amazon): buy only from Amazon or the manufacturer . When buying from the manufacturer, look at the 1 and 2 star ratings. They will be the best barometer of product quality.

Is there a reliable way of determining that the seller is the actual manufacturer and not a copy cat name?

In my opinion, it's pretty safe to assume that sellers misrepresenting themselves as the manufacturer won't last long on any platform. Manufacturers are all pretty aware of Amazon at this point.

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

#249

Post by [deleted] »

toasterlovin wrote: post #244
benologist wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was actually abusing their platform to deliberately harm other companies that sparked the antitrust. That abuse created a monopoly but the monopoly was not why they got in trouble. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browser_wars

The only reason bundling IE was an issue is because Microsoft had a monopoly on PC operating systems. The monopoly is a necessary precondition for the antitrust action.

[deleted]

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

#250

Post by xxxpupugo »

Certhas wrote: post #88
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…

It is definitely not a monopoly...I for one goes to Wallmart.com frequently depending on price.

Disclaimer: ex-Amazon employee.

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