Amazon is destroying e-reader innovation

[shalym]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

The problem may lie in the habits and perceptions of North American consumers. Canadians often buy from the US, but Americans are noticeably reluctant to buy from Canada except for pharmaceutical products. One reason aside from habit or the feeling that if it was any good it wold be sold in the US is that goods manufactured in Canada are often sold cheaper in American stores.

Helen

I don't think that's really true. As an American who does a lot of tech support for a lot of people, I can tell you that I've never met anyone who felt that way, and I've truly never heard anyone say that about Canada. I've heard people say that they won't buy online from *any* foreign country, but that's more out of security fears. They don't single Canada out as a place not to buy from.
I actually think that the people I know that are hesitant to buy from "foreign" websites would probably be ok buying from Canada. Most people I know in the US don't even think of Canada as a truly "foreign" country.

Shari

[little and large]

I hear Usain Bolt is destroying athletics.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by little and large

I hear Usain Bolt is destroying athletics.

Well... have you followed ice skating?

There are some people, even *IN THE NETHERLANDS* who think that we, the Dutch, are 'ruining ice skating', and we should start every race with some sort of handicap to keep the sport interesting.

Idiocy.

Has Russian dominance in chess between 1930 and 2005 ruined chess? Should they all start without the f2 or f7 pawn? No, not really. If anything ruined it, it's the computer. Yes! Finally! An *opening novelty* at move 27! WTF.

Has Phil Taylor ruined darts? Should he start his games at 901 instead of 501? I don't think so. (Although he's fallen off his pedestal somewhat, in recent years...)

And so on...

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Well... have you followed ice skating?


And so on...

Wayne Gretsky destroyed hockey... until the other players stepped up to the new level of play he represented. Instead of whining or walking away, they accepted the challenge.

Faced with a challenge to do better, some people accept it and compete.
Others prefer to complain.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Wayne Gretsky destroyed hockey... until the other players stepped up to the new level of play he represented. Instead of whining or walking away, they accepted the challenge.

Faced with a challenge to do better, some people accept it and compete.
Others prefer to complain.

Regarding sports, there are countries that dominate some sports (at least in the past):

Karate, Judo and Jiu-Jitsu: Japan
Taekwondo: South Korea
Go (Weiqi, Baduk): First Japan, then South Korea, now China
Chess: Russia, now no-one dominates (apart from Magnus Carlsen)
Gymnastics: Romania
Ice Skating: Netherlands (male), Germany (female)
Athletics: Germany
Cricket: England
Darts: England (possibly, shifting to joint domination with Netherlands now)
Basketball: USA

In the USA, Amazon dominates with the Kindle, because of their huge webstore. In Europe, outside the UK, it was mostly a Kobo/Sony combination (with some fringe players), but now it's mostly Kobo, mainly because Amazon/Kindle are either not easily available (Benelux), or because Amazon has much less native language books than Kobo, last time I checked (Netherlands/Belgium, Germany, France...).

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by shalym

I don't think that's really true. As an American who does a lot of tech support for a lot of people, I can tell you that I've never met anyone who felt that way, and I've truly never heard anyone say that about Canada. I've heard people say that they won't buy online from *any* foreign country, but that's more out of security fears. They don't single Canada out as a place not to buy from.
I actually think that the people I know that are hesitant to buy from "foreign" websites would probably be ok buying from Canada. Most people I know in the US don't even think of Canada as a truly "foreign" country.

Shari

I think you misread me. I didn't say they singled out Canada, just that they didn't order generally from here and that Canadian made goods are often sold cheaper in the US than they are in Canada. I would not order something that was more expensive from the US and pay duty etc. on top. I am not faulting the US consumer on this, it is just common sense.

Many (most?) Canadian companies that want to sell in the US have a website that appears to be American and often sell cheaper to the US with lower shipping costs etc. possibly because the competition is steeper pricewise or the sales opportunities are better, or just because everyone else is doing it.

As to the foreign country aspect try spending a Canadian penny in the US. Most Canadian businesses take US money just as if it is Canadian and give appropriate exchange. Most US stores and restaurants etc. refuse Canadian currency and are just as horrified at a penny as a $100 bill. Didn't used to be that way.

Helen

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Regarding sports, there are countries that dominate some sports (at least in the past):

).

Culture.
Given two kids with the same natural talent, the sport they gravitate to will be the one most popular where they live that is compatible with that talent. And, of course, if the sport is successfully practiced for generations the coaches will accumulate the technical expertise to help the younger ones develop better than in countries without that tradition.

Success feeds off success.
In business as well in sports. And likewise, you can't win if you don't play.

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

As to the foreign country aspect try spending a Canadian penny in the US. Most Canadian businesses take US money just as if it is Canadian and give appropriate exchange. Most US stores and restaurants etc. refuse Canadian currency and are just as horrified at a penny as a $100 bill. Didn't used to be that way.

Helen

Some banks won't exchange coins. They will only deal in paper currency for cash exchange.

Others charge outrageous fees, or make it difficult by not offering conversion at all branches. That means if you have a regular deposit drop, you have to do a special bank run, likely to a completely different branch, just to exchange the foreign currency. Those using a pickup service also have to make a special bank run, because foreign currency generally can't be sent with a regular deposit.

There may be some areas right on the Canadian border for whom it's worth it (and could possibly get lower exchange fees due to volume, and their banks might be more accommodating because of the location) but I imagine for most businesses, it simply isn't worth the trouble.

[QuantumIguana]

I don't think Americans pay a whole lot of attention to where the goods they buy come from. They may grumble about Chinese-made goods, but will still buy them so long as the price is cheaper than something American-made.

Near the US-Canada border where they get a lot of Canadian business, stores will accept Canadian money, at the more or less appropriate exchange rate. Away from the border, Americans will look at you as if you are from Mars if you try to spend a Canadian dollar, a Euro or a pound. They just aren't at all familiar with exchanging money.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

Some banks won't exchange coins. They will only deal in paper currency for cash exchange.

Others charge outrageous fees, or make it difficult by not offering conversion at all branches. That means if you have a regular deposit drop, you have to do a special bank run, likely to a completely different branch, just to exchange the foreign currency. Those using a pickup service also have to make a special bank run, because foreign currency generally can't be sent with a regular deposit.

There may be some areas right on the Canadian border for whom it's worth it (and could possibly get lower exchange fees due to volume, and their banks might be more accommodating because of the location) but I imagine for most businesses, it simply isn't worth the trouble.

I am talking pennies and nickels here. in my experience an American restaurant or store will painstakingly sort those out and hand them back even though they are worth more in metal value alone. Especially noticeable close to the border, but also happens in rural areas and large cities such as New York. They notice an accent or some other indication you might be Canadian and start checking the small change. And seriously we don't do this in Canada. I always sort my Canadian coins before going to the US although much to my dismay an occasional one stays hidden in my pocket.

If I was a business owner in the US I might be inclined to say, just take the darn pennies, we'll absorb the possible 3 cent loss and spend the sorting time doing something more useful. But different cultures different values, nothing wrong with that.

Helen

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

I don't think Americans pay a whole lot of attention to where the goods they buy come from. They may grumble about Chinese-made goods, but will still buy them so long as the price is cheaper than something American-made.

Near the US-Canada border where they get a lot of Canadian business, stores will accept Canadian money, at the more or less appropriate exchange rate. Away from the border, Americans will look at you as if you are from Mars if you try to spend a Canadian dollar, a Euro or a pound. They just aren't at all familiar with exchanging money.

I have only shopped in recent years near the BC /Washington border and never had Canadian money accepted although 30 years ago it invariably was especially at the bars. And some of these places a lot of their business is Canadian. And I am shopping at the big name stores like Target and J.C Penny and the smaller stores and restaurants. '

And we can't discount the fact that I may just be coincidentally running into extreme nitpickers although it has happened to me a lot of times and many others of my acquaintance.

Helen

Edit: I also don't think they care where the goods come from. They just will not order them from another country usually which was where this small part of discussion originated I believe before I seemed to lead it way off topic. Mea culpa

Helen

[QuantumIguana]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

I have only shopped in recent years near the BC /Washington border and never had Canadian money accepted although 30 years ago it invariably was especially at the bars. And some of these places a lot of their business is Canadian. And I am shopping at the big name stores like Target and J.C Penny and the smaller stores and restaurants. '

And we can't discount the fact that I may just be coincidentally running into extreme nitpickers although it has happened to me a lot of times and many others of my acquaintance.

Helen

Edit: I also don't think they care where the goods come from. They just will not order them from another country usually which was where this small part of discussion originated I believe before I seemed to lead it way off topic. Mea culpa

Helen

The part of the Canadian border that I know is the border with North Dakota and Minnesota. They do a lot of business with people coming from Winnipeg. You see a lot of Canadian flags at stores along with the American flag.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

Away from the border, Americans will look at you as if you are from Mars if you try to spend a Canadian dollar, a Euro or a pound. They just aren't at all familiar with exchanging money.

Mostly true but as with everything, there are exceptions: cities where there is a lot of international traffic and/or tourism are a lot more accomodating with staff that know how to deal.
Near the airport, I've seen ATMs that dispense Euros as well as dollars. More common, even away from the borders and entry points, local banks have one or more branches that handle foreign currencies and drafts. When I drove to visit my canadian friends the first time I did the conversion at my home bank both going out and after returning. The other times I did them at the border exchange.

[fjtorres]

Well, what do you know: somebody moved some boxes and found another batch of leftover Kindle DXs. International edition (= USB charging) going for US$199.

http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/201...rsion-for-199/

Product page: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002GYWHTU/

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

I agree, by itself, bigger isn't an innovation. It's just bigger. If people were really demanding a larger reader in large numbers, the Kindle DX would have sold better. My Kindle Keyboard and my Paperwhite both fit in my pocket - it's a squeeze, but they fit.

It would be innovative if it was released because no one is doing it (in the US). The DX was innovative, but those were the early days. The DX is interesting. But it's no Android tablet. If it had blue-tooth and I could install Android on it, I would have bought one. So perhaps size in itself (even in a market that is so lacking in innovation) is not enough. We need a truly feature-rich device--blue-tooth and Android and size so the device could double as an e-ink monitor and can interface with a keyboard.