Nike won’t sell directly to Amazon anymore • Hacker News Board

Re: Nike won’t sell directly to Amazon anymore

#11

Post by bambax » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 3:42 PM UTC

davidhyde wrote: post #3

People don't mind buying from a vendor's site directly but the vendor should do their best to reduce the admin / pain of doing so. Some tips I wish vendors would follow: 1. Don't capture more information than is absolutely necessary for the transaction. 2. Don't force the user to sign up or join anything if they just want to buy something. 3. Don't automatically add the user to your newsletter and send their details…

4: Whenever possible (which is, in most cases except for huge and/or super cheap items), incorporate shipping costs into the cost of the product. Then you can say: "Free shipping!"

Re: Nike won’t sell directly to Amazon anymore

#12

Post by lm28469 » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 3:42 PM UTC

cobbzilla wrote: post #9

Why would anyone buy shoes on Amazon? They own Zappos, whose focus is specifically footwear, and have a pretty good shopping experience. Never had a problem with counterfeits on Zappos.

People buy all kind of weird things on amazon, toilet paper, shoes, fresh vegetables &c. Convenience is king

Re: Nike won’t sell directly to Amazon anymore

#13

Post by benologist » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 3:53 PM UTC

jinushaun wrote: post #5

devicetray0 wrote: post #2

> The news also follows the recently announced hiring of John Donahoe, former eBay CEO, as the sportswear retailer’s next CEO. Hmm, I see..

The cynic in me sees this less as a change motivated by improving the customer experience, and more about Nike promoting their own walled garden. To be fair, Amazon is the LAST place I would buy Nikes. Counterfeit risk is too high. Comingling inventory is the worst.

The article says Nike agreed to sell on Amazon so Amazon would crack down on counterfeit Nike merchandise. The question is will Amazon stop checking now?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racket_(crime)

     ... promises to protect the target business or person 
     from dangerous individuals in the neighborhood and then 
     either collects the money or causes damage to the 
     business until the owner pays

Re: Nike won’t sell directly to Amazon anymore

#14

Post by Mountain_Skies » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 3:58 PM UTC

jinushaun wrote: post #5

devicetray0 wrote: post #2

> The news also follows the recently announced hiring of John Donahoe, former eBay CEO, as the sportswear retailer’s next CEO. Hmm, I see..

The cynic in me sees this less as a change motivated by improving the customer experience, and more about Nike promoting their own walled garden. To be fair, Amazon is the LAST place I would buy Nikes. Counterfeit risk is too high. Comingling inventory is the worst.

Over the years I've found some really good deals on Nike's site. I'll admit I'm usually lazy and will buy from Amazon to avoid the hassle of creating an account and giving all my info to yet another company but when Nike wants to clear out their inventory of something, they're pretty generous with the discounts.

Re: Nike won’t sell directly to Amazon anymore

#15

Post by jszymborski » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 3:59 PM UTC

bambax wrote: post #11

davidhyde wrote: post #3

People don't mind buying from a vendor's site directly but the vendor should do their best to reduce the admin / pain of doing so. Some tips I wish vendors would follow: 1. Don't capture more information than is absolutely necessary for the transaction. 2. Don't force the user to sign up or join anything if they just want to buy something. 3. Don't automatically add the user to your newsletter and send their details…

4: Whenever possible (which is, in most cases except for huge and/or super cheap items), incorporate shipping costs into the cost of the product. Then you can say: "Free shipping!"

I think the primary barrier here is that, while you can assume based on IP/Locale, you don't entirely know where the customer intends on shipping the product, and therefore rates fluctuate.

It would be great to allow customers to estimate shipping as soon as possible, rather than just before clicking the "give us money" button.

Re: Nike won’t sell directly to Amazon anymore

#16

Post by throwaway35784 » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 4:01 PM UTC

mikece wrote: post #4

davidhyde wrote: post #3

People don't mind buying from a vendor's site directly but the vendor should do their best to reduce the admin / pain of doing so. Some tips I wish vendors would follow: 1. Don't capture more information than is absolutely necessary for the transaction. 2. Don't force the user to sign up or join anything if they just want to buy something. 3. Don't automatically add the user to your newsletter and send their details…

That would be ideal but every piece of data they capture is a component for a future sales funnel. The smart way to do this would be to have some boilerplate language about respecting user's privacy and having a minimum number of required fields and then baiting you to provide more info for discounts, insider info, and whatever else they are willing to give as digital tchotchkes in exchange for more and more marketin…

Your suggestions are what give that icky feeling. It's creepy. People don't like creepy. You are losing costumers.

Re: Nike won’t sell directly to Amazon anymore

#17

Post by rubbingalcohol » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 4:06 PM UTC

Amazon sells so many counterfeit Nike products that I've been using Nike and Adidas' online stores for quite awhile.

Amazon is so bad when it comes to counterfeits that there are only two conditions that will lead me to purchase an item there anymore:

- Either the item is listed as being sold by its original manufacturer and fulfilled by Amazon

- Or I just need something and don't care if it's cheap Chinese crap

I'm sure with Nike officially leaving Amazon this will only get worse. But practically any other big brand you're still looking at paying full price for knock-off merchandise. I can't believe Amazon gets away with having their "head in the sand" to this degree.

Re: Nike won’t sell directly to Amazon anymore

#18

Post by jolmg » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 4:07 PM UTC

jszymborski wrote: post #15

bambax wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

4: Whenever possible (which is, in most cases except for huge and/or super cheap items), incorporate shipping costs into the cost of the product. Then you can say: "Free shipping!"

I think the primary barrier here is that, while you can assume based on IP/Locale, you don't entirely know where the customer intends on shipping the product, and therefore rates fluctuate. It would be great to allow customers to estimate shipping as soon as possible, rather than just before clicking the "give us money" button.

Also, you want to present the same price to all customers.

Re: Nike won’t sell directly to Amazon anymore

#19

Post by beerandt » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 4:10 PM UTC

jszymborski wrote: post #15

bambax wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

4: Whenever possible (which is, in most cases except for huge and/or super cheap items), incorporate shipping costs into the cost of the product. Then you can say: "Free shipping!"

I think the primary barrier here is that, while you can assume based on IP/Locale, you don't entirely know where the customer intends on shipping the product, and therefore rates fluctuate. It would be great to allow customers to estimate shipping as soon as possible, rather than just before clicking the "give us money" button.

But for the continental US, weight and size (and contract terms) is the controlling cost factor, moreso than destination.

Re: Nike won’t sell directly to Amazon anymore

#20

Post by calewis » Wed, Nov 13, 2019, 4:11 PM UTC

I listened to a great pod cast about Amazon recently. On it they talk to the CEO of Birkenstock and he discusses about how they no longer sell on amazon and why. Its a great listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/land-of-the-giants/id1...