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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

#291

Post by [deleted] »

toasterlovin wrote: post #289
benologist wrote: post #261

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microsoft had a monopoly, and they leveraged it to create a monopoly, but that does not mean abuse requires a monopoly. Abuse does not require emulating any particular prior instance of abuse.

But the abuse only becomes a problem when a monopoly creates a lack of alternatives for consumers or suppliers. Amazon sellers have a plethora of other retailers who they can use to reach customers if they don't like Amazon's behavior. Netscape had no such options.

[deleted]

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

#292

Post by learc83 »

wccrawford wrote: post #184
philipodonnell wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A grocery store is simply a more organized open market. That’s not true though right? Don’t grocery stores buy the products that are on their shelves and they are reselling them? That’s fundamentally different from a marketplace.

I think that's true for most goods, but there were definitely brands that stocked their own shelves at Publix when I worked there. That said, what brands got that special treatment was very much decided by Publix, so they were still curating the selection, they just weren't paying up-front for the goods or responsible for keeping those shelves looking good.

Generally Publix still owns that inventory though (even if they have a buyback guarantee) My dad worked for Lance snacks when I was a kid. He stocked the shelves, but the stores paid him for the product.

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

#293

Post by ikeboy »

vinay427 wrote: post #269
ikeboy wrote: post #237

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nothing illegal about that unless Anker has a design patent.

I appreciated your response but as far as I can tell, they were asking whether Anker is badge engineering generic products or is a victim of counterfeiting, which I think is a slightly different question that I'm also looking for the answer to.

The only way it would be counterfeit is if they sell it as an Anker product or print Anker on the product.

My assumption would be that the same factory that makes Anker products is also selling the same designs to competitors - it's also possible that a different factory just cloned it.

Note that even if it's the same factory, they could have different quality control for different clients. So quality can differ even on identical designs.

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

#294

Post by avgDev »

nacs wrote: post #274
avgDev wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think Amazon can be quickly replaced. I was attracted to Amazon only because of lower prices. That was it and now it is no longer the case. As soon as another big player steps up and offers lower prices and simple UI there won't be a need for me to shop on Amazon.

Except its not just the lower prices that are important -- the quick order processing and shipping are a huge reason why Amazon is succeeding. Living near a metro area, I can get items from Amazon items within 24-48 hours (with Prime). Sometimes it even arrives later the same day. Plus the whole free shipping (as long as you're Prime) thing..

The free shipping is weird....I recently noticed that my father was looking up something he wanted me to order for him....his price was less, same item and amazon seller. I logged in and boom my price was $3 higher on a 20 dollar item. So, I'm not sure how "free" the shipping is anymore.

I do agree that fast shipping is a big part of amazon but I think another big player could match the processing speed.

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

#295

Post by yoavm »

papln wrote: post #257
gambiting wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(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…

It's likely related to (1) US market is largest "single-language * consumer spending" market, so almost everyone outside of US/UK market puts effort in US first. (2) USPS/UPU offers nearly 0-cost shipping for China to US. Can you ship a 2oz packet from China to the UK for under $1?

I don't know specifically about the UK, but the zero cost shipping from China isn't a US thing. It's an international agreement, and I've seen things being shipped for free from China to both Europe and the Middle East.

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

#296

Post by learc83 »

tracer4201 wrote: post #76
learc83 wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No analogy is perfect. Amazon obviously isn't a mall, but it's not a grocery store either. A grocery store owns the goods in their possession even if they have agreements for sellers to buy some unsold product back. Amazon does not own the 3rd party goods in their possession.

You’re dismissing the mall call by saying no analogy is perfect since it doesn’t work for your argument but then you’re comparing against grocery stores, which is a pretty gross simplification. Amazon isn’t a grocery store. The majority of their catalog isn’t even available at most grocery stores, maybe excluding WalMart. My family owned several convenience stores growing up. Some products were bought and it was your…

> You’re dismissing the mall call by saying no analogy is perfect since it doesn’t work for your argument but then you’re comparing against grocery stores, which is a pretty gross simplification.

No I'm saying it has very important distinctions that make the grocery store analogy inappropriate and that the mall or flea market analogy is closer in some respects, but not all.

>Amazon isn’t a grocery store. The majority of their catalog isn’t even available at most grocery stores, maybe excluding WalMart.

Of course it's not. That's a big part of my original point.

> Some were displayed on shelves and you only paid for what was actually sold.

My dad worked for Lance (and frito lay for a while). I could be wrong and you could have had a very unusual distributor. But my guess is you misunderstood what was happening.

Companies do sometimes offer buyback guarantees and you might even be able to buy items on credit, so that it appears you're only paying for what sells, but that's not actually how it works. Those items are the property of the store while they are on the shelf.

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

#297

Post by [deleted] »

toasterlovin wrote: post #289
benologist wrote: post #261

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microsoft had a monopoly, and they leveraged it to create a monopoly, but that does not mean abuse requires a monopoly. Abuse does not require emulating any particular prior instance of abuse.

But the abuse only becomes a problem when a monopoly creates a lack of alternatives for consumers or suppliers. Amazon sellers have a plethora of other retailers who they can use to reach customers if they don't like Amazon's behavior. Netscape had no such options.

[deleted]

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

#298

Post by swrobel »

Wow, had no idea they were still using the A9 moniker at all. I'll always remember it as their ill-fated Google competitor that they tried to make cool by shoehorning into perhaps the cringeworthiest moment of an already-cringeworthy show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNZ-3KLF7A0

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

#299

Post by cptaj »

We definitely need platform legislation for the web.

After a certain size, they should be regulated as public utilities. So many companies completely depend on Amazon's platform for their business and they're all easy prey for the behemoth.

I did some work for a company that sells batteries on Amazon. A simple dispute got them suspended across the board. A decision made by a third rate employee from god knows where, probably without even a cursory reading of the case, made in a split second, brought down a company with 10 years in the market and hundreds of employees.

No due process, no rights, nothing. You can't defend yourself, they just shut you down and then you have to beg for weeks to be let back in. After weeks and hundreds of thousands in losses, you have no legal recourse against a wrongful suspension.

You can make the argument that they could just set up their own online store for the batteries and you're right, they can. But amazon and ebay are so big that its practically impossible to sell these things at scale without them. Its not a fair game and this is but one of the issues.

They definitely need to be treated as public utilities after a certain amount of users.

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

#300

Post by learc83 »

johnqpub wrote: post #61
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. That's not how it works for a some perishable products in grocery stores. For example, bread is stocked daily by the bakeries themselves. Same thing with…

> For example, bread is stocked daily by the bakeries themselves. Same thing with potato chips.

The store still buys those items from them. Some bigger stores will force the vendor to offer a buyback guarantee, but while the product is on their shelves, the store owns them.

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