Amazon is nobody's friend

[Nyssa]

I find it interesting that so many people consider Amazon a monopoly. I have yet to find anything on Amazon that I could not find elsewhere if I looked hard enough. They just happen to make most things easier to find.

Personally, books/e-books are the only things I buy from Amazon. They have taken the place of Barnes and Noble, except when it comes to children books. We rather take the kids to the store so that they can pick out their own. We will order gifts/surprises through Amazon, however.

[RDaneel54]

Monopoly means exclusive ownership, posssession or control. Amazon makes the Kindle, but there are many other e-reader devices. Amazon is not exclusive even for mobi, azw, etc. e-books. This means Amazon is not a monopoly and probably and hopefully will never be one.

Oh, they're not your friend either.

They do have great customer service though. I've been a customer for many years and I am very pleased with their level of service including:

1. Physical product delivery.
2. Physical product return and replacement (if necessary).
3. Kindle e-book delivery.
4. Breadth and depth of e-book selections.
5. New library wifi delivery.

But they are not my friend.

[Cpl Punishment]

Originally Posted by RDaneel54

Monopoly means exclusive ownership, posssession or control. Amazon makes the Kindle, but there are many other e-reader devices. Amazon is not exclusive even for mobi, azw, etc. e-books. This means Amazon is not a monopoly and probably and hopefully will never be one.

Oh, they're not your friend either.

They do have great customer service though. I've been a customer for many years and I am very pleased with their level of service including:

1. Physical product delivery.
2. Physical product return and replacement (if necessary).
3. Kindle e-book delivery.
4. Breadth and depth of e-book selections.
5. New library wifi delivery.

But they are not my friend.

Totally agree with you.....We have an excellent customer/biz relationship...They sell to me products at decent prices and get it to me very fast....They don't take candy from baby's..but I have never been to Amazon for dinner....

[frahse]

Originally Posted by Hellmark

Yeah, but considering how MS has officially killed off the format, I do not see any other reader adding support for it.

Hellmark,
on many levels you are correct, but on another level which is the one that addresses "happy customers" since MS seems to be letting LIT go, perhaps they could also let go an easy official converter for it that Amazon could pick up and install in their software.

They could call it "a perk" or a "feature." "A customer convenience." Indeed, a "public service."

What I mean is that it shouldn't cost anything, so why shouldn't Amazon do it?

"For me!"

Now you can ask me what I want for Christmas.

[avariel]

Originally Posted by mlewis78

Silly article. As so many people here have said, Amazon is a business. They are a monopoly, but as long as they keep their book prices low, I'm a customer. Their customer service is the best. And since I've had my kindle (3 yrs.), I have other sources of books and don't need to buy many paper books or Kbooks from them.

When they become ONLY store, the prices will go up. Until then, I like them and will use them.

While Amazon has contributed to the demise of certain brick & mortar book stores, Barnes & Noble killed the independent book stores in my city a long time ago.

A monopoly means that they have no competition. They have lots of competition, therefore it is not a monopoly.

[frahse]

And finally, a confession.

I must confess that Amazon and I are more than friends.

We have had a very strong relationship for some time that was further symbolized and solidified when I entered into a Prime Membership.

Yes, I admit it. I am a Prime!

It is good to come out of the closet!!

Also on that note and in the spirit of full disclosure, I received my third (3rd) package of the week from Amazon today.

Again for an item less than $25,

2 day delivery
free shipping

impeccable and guaranteed service!

I only wish they sold hunting dogs, guns, and ammunition.

[OtterBooks]

I've had 3 separate boxes from Amazon arrive at once. Books, toothpaste, a package of $2 highlighting markers. $2 product. Shipped free 2nd day air. Those highlighters were $3 at Walmart, plus tax. Take that, local economy!

Yesterday at 2pm I ordered a last minute birthday gift for a friend. I didn't even order 1-day delivery, just the standard Prime delivery. She got it this afternoon. One of the items in the package was even from a third-party seller via Amazon. No idea how they pulled that off.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

I've had 3 separate boxes from Amazon arrive at once. Books, toothpaste, a package of $2 highlighting markers. $2 product. Shipped free 2nd day air. Those highlighters were $3 at Walmart, plus tax. Take that, local economy!

Yesterday at 2pm I ordered a last minute birthday gift for a friend. I didn't even order 1-day delivery, just the standard Prime delivery. She got it this afternoon. One of the items in the package was even from a third-party seller via Amazon. No idea how they pulled that off.

Indeed my dear Otter.

Once I ordered something at night. Don't remember if it was before Midnight. I got it the next day. How the hell do they do it?

And yes, I understand that if you pay money, good money you can get stuff quick. A man came to me one afternoon and said that a component wouldn't work on an imported machine despite what the supplier had indicated. The machine itself had instructions that explicitly said not to use the common US (supposedly equivalent) specification or the warranty wasn't good.
I entered into one of those controlled panic states, where you stomach gets that sick funny feeling, because the completion date was just a few days away, went back and looked up what I needed and then called a supplier. He introduced me to UPS overnight heavy weight shipping.

The factory was in the next state, actually in the mountains. I knew the area. The item was at the site the next afternoon. In fact it got there so quick that it sat for a day before it was installed.

The item was something like $70 or $80 dollars. Shipping was near a $100. I was saved! I would have paid a $1,000, or more.

Amazon will do it for free. Amazon is Genius!!

Pure genius and efficiency.

I like to send those boxed calendars to friends and relatives for Christmas. They cost $8 to $15 usually. Used to be I would have them all shipped to me, to get the $25 free shipping, and then I would repackage them and mail them myself.

No more! Prime membership privileges sends them quick and free.

Amazon is my friend!

[Skip Wyona]

I like Amazon and am a frequent customer. I like it that their items are cheap and shipping is often free. I also recognize that Amazon does not control the book market ... yet, but not for want of trying. I would like Amazon even better however if Amazon did not have unfair advantages in what is supposed to be a free market. Can there be no doubt that Amazon gets a free ride to the detriment of brick and mortar stores? Should not buyers have to pay sales tax for example as they must for most other purchases? I fear that these praises of Amazon posted here might have unforeseen consequences in the future. All users should take warning from Aesop and re-read the fable 'Killing the Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs'.

[DMB]

Amazon appears to do well in the UK and it does charge VAT.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Skip Wyona

I like Amazon and am a frequent customer. I like it that their items are cheap and shipping is often free. I also recognize that Amazon does not control the book market ... yet, but not for want of trying. I would like Amazon even better however if Amazon did not have unfair advantages in what is supposed to be a free market. Can there be no doubt that Amazon gets a free ride to the detriment of brick and mortar stores? Should not buyers have to pay sales tax for example as they must for most other purchases? I fear that these praises of Amazon posted here might have unforeseen consequences in the future. All users should take warning from Aesop and re-read the fable 'Killing the Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs'.

That(taxation) is changing, has changed.

And it's not just Amazon, it's the tax laws/all internet companies.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by DMB

Amazon appears to do well in the UK and it does charge VAT.

Of course it charges VAT; how could it not do so?

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

Made good how? By returning the money? That's it?

If I recall correctly, the book was in the $5-$10 range, and they gave customers back $30. More than fair.

[DMB]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Of course it charges VAT; how could it not do so?

VAT is the UK sales tax. I happen to think it is quite wrong for VAT to be charged on ebooks when it isn't on dtbooks, but if Amazon can do well despite VAT, it ought to manage to pay US sales taxes.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by DMB

VAT is the UK sales tax. I happen to think it is quite wrong for VAT to be charged on ebooks when it isn't on dtbooks, but if Amazon can do well despite VAT, it ought to manage to pay US sales taxes.

Well, you know as well as I do that that's down to the EU's "eCommerce" VAT directive, which requires all EU states to charge the full rate of VAT on downloaded items. Amazon has absolutely no say in the matter .

Yes, I entirely agree that sales tax should be charged on internet sales, but we're probably straying into the area of politics here, and shouldn't go down that road.