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How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

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Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#291

Post by Kadin »

mh- wrote: post #162
adestefan wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except for the times they charge you $8 for return shipping on a $5 item.

I've never been charged for return shipping. was this purchase an item sold _by_ amazon, not merely fulfilled by them (a la amazon marketplace)?

Amazon charges you for return shipping (or obliges you to use your own shipping, e.g. USPS) depending on the reason you are returning an item. If you are returning it just because you decided you didn't want it, they don't pay to take it back.

That was my experience with some housewares stuff, about three weeks ago. I decided to take the item down to the Post Office to ship it back rather than using Amazon's label, because it was cheaper that way. (If I'd used the label, they would have deducted $8 or something out of the amount they were going to refund me eventually; USPS was something like $4-5.)

Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#292

Post by Kadin »

earl wrote: post #41
ddt wrote: post #11

It'll destroy larger B&M stores but I doubt it'll fully outdo local specialty shops. What you'll see is a stratification between hyper specialty B&M that sell luxury items only a tiny subset of people want, but are willing to pay out the nose for, and places like Amazon filling the role of Target and Walmart, being the catch-all for everything else that most people need on a week-to-week or month-to-month basis. Whil…

Also, amazon is kind of skeevy; I'm very leery of buying food, cosmetics, or toiletries from them because they make it really hard to tell from whom you're buying stuff. I'm happy to buy eg usb cables from the cheapest vendor, but I don't trust any of the chinese knockoff shit if it's going to regularly touch my skin or be eaten. Particularly since china appears to have no real food safety laws and poisoned 300k of t…

I think that's sort of overstating the problem a little bit, although I agree that Amazon shot its brand in the foot with the way it has implemented the "Marketplace".

The whole "Marketplace" concept might have seemed cool back when everybody was trying to be an eBay competitor, but I'd be happy if they just ditched it, or moved it over to some subsite-ghetto where I don't ever have to see it. When I go to Amazon.com, I want to purchase products from Amazon, not from some random guy in a basement somewhere, using them for payment processing.

That said, they make it pretty easy to tell who you're buying from, at least when you get to the point of checking out. Sometimes if you're moving quickly, you might not realize it until then, and I have definitely abandoned would-be sales when I've realized an item is coming from a Marketplace seller rather than Amazon itself.

Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#293

Post by greedo »

dinkumthinkum wrote: post #58
ddt wrote: post #11

It'll destroy larger B&M stores but I doubt it'll fully outdo local specialty shops. What you'll see is a stratification between hyper specialty B&M that sell luxury items only a tiny subset of people want, but are willing to pay out the nose for, and places like Amazon filling the role of Target and Walmart, being the catch-all for everything else that most people need on a week-to-week or month-to-month basis. Whil…

For most people that think this is going to wipe out the B&M stores ... Have you guys been outside of Mountain View lately? I mean, this is just the most ridiculous thing; it's just nonsense. Has anyone here ever been to a Wal-mart? You think all those people are going to say "Nope, just buying next-day shipped products from Amazon now." It's just not serious.

Not saying it'll knock out Wal-Mart, just the other B&M stores.

Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#294

Post by greedo »

arjn wrote: post #183

My opinion is that this may not be the end of local retail. I would still prefer to shop at my local grocers and farmers market on the weekend. Sometimes shopping is more than just shopping, its also an outing with family.

What percentage does this comprise of your annual purchases?

Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#295

Post by michaelt »

GFischer wrote: post #242
cglace wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe for electronics but for clothes I don't mind driving to the store. Trying stuff on till I find what works. Asking knowledgeable staff for suggestions/opinions. I think I've had one positive result from buying clothes online.

I have an idea for a side project/startup tackling that problem. What's your main problem? Finding out how it would look on you? How it feels/quality? What are the suggestions and opinions you look for? Thanks :)

I ordered some jeans online, taking measurements from another pair of jeans. In fact I aggregated together measurements of my body, measurements of my existing pairs of jeans, and sizes from the labels of my existing pairs of jeans.

The first pair that came were too short, and a bit big at the waist; the company agreed to swap them for a shorter pair (but I had to pay to ship the old pair back to them). I couldn't tell if going to a two-inch-smaller waist would mean an uncomfortably tight waist, so I didn't ask them to send me a pair with a smaller waist. The fit is now at best acceptable.

I could have been more stubborn about it and done more exchanges until I was happier with the fit, but that would have meant more inconvenience - and the expense of shipping them back again. Had I been buying at a shop I could have tried on a whole bunch of pairs of jeans, and I think I'd be happier with the overall fit.

For comparison, I have successfully brought sneakers, t-shirts and sweaters online so I'm no stranger to shopping for clothes online.

Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#296

Post by sigkill »

jbattle wrote: post #253
sigkill wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This maybe a bit impractical by todays social norms but I don't think anyone has ever thought of carbon-fibre footwear combined with leather cushions. I'm reasonably sure that this will be light and strong. We only need comfort testing, but I think the flip-side would be that womens shoes would cost upward of $200-$300 equivalent. I don't know if there's a market for that.

I would think when you are spending ++$ to look fashionable, you really don't want the shoes to last. Wearing three year old 'fashionable' shoes would sort miss the point, no?

I think you've unknowingly nailed the problem. Unlike men, womens' fashion moves at a very rapid pace. So for long term, it'd be more prudent to buy something timeless rather than the current trend.

Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#297

Post by Tichy »

rickmb wrote: post #226
Tichy wrote: post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can't say I agree - shopping feels like a huge waste of time to me. Living in a big city in Europe, but still a shopping trip will take at least 1h. Of course for other people it is heaven.

One hour still beats same day delivery on every front except having to put on pants and leave the house. People for whom that isn't a barrier form a considerable market (albeit that they may be underrepresented on HN...) But also, same day delivery is logistically near impossible and quite expensive in exactly those cities for exactly the same reasons. The density doesn't make them car friendly, and certainly not del…

Maybe, though I have to say same day delivery is not really the most important aspect to me. For example we get a box of groceries delivered once per week, which is a huge time saver. In general, any kind of thing I can get delivered I will probably prefer - within ecological bounds, but I think delivery vans might not even be that bad. Certainly more efficient than people driving to the mall by car, I presume.

Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#299

Post by arjunnarayan »

enjo wrote: post #243
sigkill wrote: post #236

Earlier quoted context omitted.

WOW! I am so out of touch with these high end shoe prices. Suddenly, my idea doesn't seem that far-fetched after all. Except, I know of not many women who'd like the carbon fibre look. I guess, designer labels...

$750 isn't particularly expensive on the upper end. This doesn't apply just to shoes, btw. There is a broad luxury market for almost anything. Don't believe me? Visit a western wear store sometime.

That's the thing with Veblen goods. At some point, they go from being the means to an end to being an end themselves.

Re: How Amazon’s ambitious new push for same-day delivery will destroy local retail

#300

Post by gwern »

ricardobeat wrote: post #127
jusben1369 wrote: post #67

Remember when home videos were going to obliterate movie cinemas? Who would go out when they can watch a movie on their couch?! For a while too things dipped. Then people realized there was a social element to going to the movies that made it a compelling experience. Add to that iMax and 3D etc. Heck, who would bother going to an Apple store when you can buy everything online! Amazon is to shopping what McDonalds is…

You get fat? I rarely go to the movies because I can watch netflix on my couch (and save $20-$30). Movie attendance still grows because of economic growth, but in relative numbers it's falling (down 4% in the US/2011).

And there are other factors; 3D movies apparently have contributed to profits.
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