I've soured a bit on Amazon. The algorithmic price fluctuations are my number one complaint. I used to love them because it was a no brainer. Sure I could surf around and find a slightly cheaper price, but Amazon has my card info, ships quick and back up their products. Now with the price fluctuations I feel obligated to check the price history on camelcamelcamel, surf around to see if it a good price. Basically now I have to think about it. I've also waffled on buying something for a while, make the decision only to find the price has gone up. I end up not buying or buying from someone else even though the price might be slightly higher just out of pure annoyance.
Then there is prime. Prime is great as long as you are a member. If not you are second class citizen. It used to be that the cheapest shipping option and now free shipping has an unspoken social contract. Give me a great rate (or free) and I accept the gamble that it might show up in two days or take the listed maximum of 9 days. The last few orders through Amazon I have watched the order sit there for three of four days at the fulfillment center to make sure it arrives in the five to nine day range for free shipping.
Then there are the merchants. There is sleaze all over the place here, especially in used books, but the fulfilled by amazon merchants are the worst. I can buy the same item from amazon or from a merchant with prices that are slightly cheaper, the same price, slightly more expensive, or an order of magnitude more expensive (literally, check the highest price next time you are shopping on amazon) from the same fulfillment center? WTF.
I still use Amazon but I would really like good competition here. I have had good luck with some of the big box stores online shopping. Similar prices and 5 to 9 day free shipping that shows up in three.
I would love to see someone compete with Amazon, but who on Earth can? I think most of their strength comes from their ridiculously good infrastructure; both technological and the $14bn they just spent on new warehouses.
Who the heck can compete with that? The only one in a position to (that I can think of) is Walmart, and I don't think their track record is very good thus far.
Although I can't find the source, I remember Amazon being referred to as the "world's largest charity" or some-such, because Bezos could give a heck about short term profits, and always push for the long-term gain. They're slowly taking over the world @.@.
I doubt Amazon would use expensive space in the warehouse to waste value by "letting a box sit in a corner" or something like that. All space in the warehouse must be dedicated to adding value to the customer, not taking it away, or else you're spending money on making your company worse with bad process. What is really going on is that they are actually using the shipping capacity of the warehouse or are getting better at stocking inventory that moves, so there is less idle time to catch up with low priority orders.
I order used books off Amazon constantly, and it's probably my #1 expense after food and shelter. Never had a single problem, but I pay attention to the 3rd party seller's history and read the extended descriptions that most of them fill out. I have no problem ordering from new sellers either and never ran into an issue, exercising due caution is much easier on Amazon than eBay.
I don't understand your argument about price. You seem to be arguing for less choice and consumer power.
Then there is prime. Prime is great as long as you are a member. If not you are second class citizen. It used to be that the cheapest shipping option and now free shipping has an unspoken social contract. Give me a great rate (or free) and I accept the gamble that it might show up in two days or take the listed maximum of 9 days. The last few orders through Amazon I have watched the order sit there for three of four days at the fulfillment center to make sure it arrives in the five to nine day range for free shipping.
Then there are the merchants. There is sleaze all over the place here, especially in used books, but the fulfilled by amazon merchants are the worst. I can buy the same item from amazon or from a merchant with prices that are slightly cheaper, the same price, slightly more expensive, or an order of magnitude more expensive (literally, check the highest price next time you are shopping on amazon) from the same fulfillment center? WTF.
I still use Amazon but I would really like good competition here. I have had good luck with some of the big box stores online shopping. Similar prices and 5 to 9 day free shipping that shows up in three.