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Amazon Local Register

localregister.amazon.com

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Re: Amazon Local Register

#201

Post by btian »

notatoad wrote: post #161
bdcravens wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a friend who's about to start selling CC processing to local merchants at 1.29%. (His commission is 1/3 of that I think, so in theory the processor can go below 1%)

There's no way that is sustainable. The cards generally pay back upwards of 1% in points or cashback, so any processor that can offer rates under 1% is losing money somewhere.

Fidelity Amex offers 2% cashback on everything, and CapitalOne Silver offers 1.5% back on everything. So I'll say that anything under 2% is unsustainable.

But there's another guy who claims to have negotiated for 0.4% processing fee. I don't know how that is even remotely possible.

Re: Amazon Local Register

#202

Post by anigbrowl »

cbhl wrote: post #150
tootie wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a ton of businesses that can never move online. Food service is obviously a big one. Pretty much anything that requires face-to-face interaction or needs to be delivered near real-time (caricature artist on the beach, personal trainer, babysitting service).

Looking at SpoonRocket, Sprig, and ZeroCater makes me wonder how "obvious" this is.

Food delivery has been around a long time but it hasn't stopped people going to restaurants.

Re: Amazon Local Register

#203

Post by calbear81 »

will_brown wrote: post #84
jnardiello wrote: post #33

It's a trap. You, owner of a shop, don't do this. Amazon will first analyze all your sales data, they will than attach reviews to your shop and finally they will oblige you to play by their rules or die (banned or killed by bad reviews) and either way they will grow thanks to your hard work. I'm not joking, this is exactly what they have done (and keep doing) with "partners". Amazon is all but transparent and it has…

In other words Amazon is no different than the existing credit card companies (Visa, MC, AmEx, ect...), the existing merchant services, and the retailers themselves who all collect that data for purposes of selling to third parties and use for in house marketing. Brick and Mortar retailers are concerned about being able to conveniently accept payment and minimizing service charges for the convenience of accepting non…

The whole point of credit is to extend purchasing power that you don't have on hand (cash). Merchants would lose money because people wouldn't be able to use a credit line and instead delay purchasing. Credit also allows for financing large purchases over time and the assumption of default risk.

Re: Amazon Local Register

#204

Post by badusername »

tomasien wrote: post #170
twistedpair wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 1.75% limited of time offer makes me want to vomit. So Amzn should offer a lower rate, free perhaps? Or are they hiding fees somewhere else? Please you explain your aversion more.

It's temporary - they're making it seem like it's lower than it is. They're going to lock people in and then jack up the rate - it's classic CC processing trick and it's BULLSHIT. Even if the real price is written somewhere, it's still horseshit.

You are locked in at the rate if you get in before Jan 2016. I don't see anything wrong with that. It's promotional marketing to catch up to other players.

Re: Amazon Local Register

#205

Post by robin_reala »

ape4 wrote: post #131
robin_reala wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or alternatively Bluetooth. iZettle’s approach is a selfcontained chip+PIN device that communicates with the app on your smartphone wirelessly. The app then handles 3G connection. https://www.izettle.com/gb/card-readers

Of course, Bluetooth. It could still plug into the iPhone audio jack for stability.

I’ve used these devices before. Merchant facing functionality (e.g. entering prices) is on the phone side, customer facing functionality on the box. The customer never needs to touch the phone.

Re: Amazon Local Register

#206

Post by rb2k_ »

_mayo wrote: post #153
rb2k_ wrote: post #103

I'm interested to see how the "manufactured spent / churning" crowd will use this. There are credit cards with 2% (fidelity amex) or 2.2% (barlays arrival plus) cashback out there. Having a 1.75% fee on this will probably have some of them experiment :) I'm sure Amazon will shut that down, but I'd love to see how much spent people can run up before that happens.

Wouldn't that be considered fraud? Since you'd be defrauding Amex (genuinely curious).

Amex still gets their swiping fee from Amazon, I don't think they care particularly much. I would assume Amazon just swallows the possible loss. (hence: introductory rate)

Re: Amazon Local Register

#207

Post by bugsense »

gfodor wrote: post #109
will_brown wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In other words Amazon is no different than the existing credit card companies (Visa, MC, AmEx, ect...), the existing merchant services, and the retailers themselves who all collect that data for purposes of selling to third parties and use for in house marketing. Brick and Mortar retailers are concerned about being able to conveniently accept payment and minimizing service charges for the convenience of accepting non…

Obviously Amazon is different, because unlike credit card companies they are in the business of competing with small retailers. Particularly when you consider their "your margin is my opportunity" strategy giving this data to them should be a terrifying proposition for any business owner.

They will learn your habits and then they will promote their store instead of the physical one where you do the first purchase. Pure evil!

Re: Amazon Local Register

#208

Post by adventured »

taeric wrote: post #56
jnardiello wrote: post #33

It's a trap. You, owner of a shop, don't do this. Amazon will first analyze all your sales data, they will than attach reviews to your shop and finally they will oblige you to play by their rules or die (banned or killed by bad reviews) and either way they will grow thanks to your hard work. I'm not joking, this is exactly what they have done (and keep doing) with "partners". Amazon is all but transparent and it has…

Who actually reads reviews of "partner" shops on Amazon? Don't get me wrong, I give out 5 stars for every one I deal with. Mostly because I rarely realize I dealt with them. Things arrive on time and as advertised. Does this not happen regularly for some folks?

I automatically check who I'm buying a product from on Amazon, and look at their ratings. It started for me years ago when I noticed it becoming ever more common that products were coming from other parties than Amazon, and also for Prime purposes. I'll often balance price against rating; if something costs $X, I'll pay $X more to buy from a very highly regarded supplier vs. one that isn't.

That said, I'm not sure I was aware there are actual reviews. I just check the scorecard.

Re: Amazon Local Register

#209

Post by curun1r »

notatoad wrote: post #163
dminor wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm picturing the conversation like this: You: "The credit card fee is 1.75% until 2016, but Amazon can use your data against you." Coffee shop owner: "I can add .75% to my bottom line for a year?" You: "Yes, but Amazon can use your data against you." Coffee shop owner: "I sign up where now?"

To be fair,amazon probably isn't going to be able to supplant coffee shops any time soon.

For the fresh, barista-brewed cup, you're almost certainly correct. But what about the bag of beans that someone buys along with their coffee? The coffee mug? Hell, go into a Starbucks sometime and look at any item you can buy that you don't have to ask for from someone behind the counter...all of that is what Amazon does better and cheaper (though not friendlier) than any small business can compete with.

Re: Amazon Local Register

#210

Post by tomasien »

rvn1045 wrote: post #197
tomasien wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's temporary - they're making it seem like it's lower than it is. They're going to lock people in and then jack up the rate - it's classic CC processing trick and it's BULLSHIT. Even if the real price is written somewhere, it's still horseshit.

Can you name a significant number of instances where Amazon has not lowered prices over a medium to long term period? Amazon has consistently made things inexpensive for the consumer. Sometimes even taking losses to ensure that customers get a lower price.

This is my point - y'all aren't even reading what Amazon is saying! They're LITERALLY going to raise the price to 2.5% - it's on the page! It's actually spelled out "we are going to raise our prices".
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