Posted on 02/01/2014 2:51:31 PM PST by RoosterRedux
Having raised existential questions about why we need brick-and-mortar stores, Amazon is now looking to help out its physical competitors. The e-tailing giant is reportedly planning to offer its popular Kindle tablet as the centerpiece of a new checkout system.
On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the plan will provide credit card readers as well as Kindles. Citing “people briefed on the company’s plans,” the Journal noted that the rollout is not yet set in stone and could be “delayed, altered, or canceled.” On the other hand, it could be ready as soon as the summer.
In December, Amazon bought the technology and engineering team of the San Francisco-based startup GoPago, a mobile payments company that developed point-of-sale systems designed around smartphones and tablets. The GoPago system included an app, a tablet, a credit card reader, a locked cash box, a printer, and even insurance. The GoPago business and customer relationships were purchased separately by mobile payments service provider DoubleBeam.
Smaller retailers first
Given that the world’s largest virtual store has no significant brick-and-mortar retailing experience, Amazon would likely have to leverage its online presence with retailer coupons or discounts to compete with the likes of NCR, VeriFone Systems, Square, and others. Smaller retailers are expected to be the initial targets and, to entice the pitch, Amazon might also offer website development, data analysis, and other services.
(Excerpt) Read more at venturebeat.com ...
Amazon plays a smart game.
That said, I think the drone delivery thing was just for fun (though it may come about some day).
I am surprised that he hasn't sold physical franchises (locations) that can receive bulk shipments overnight and thereby offer free next day shipping to most cities and small towns. Shipping (cost and time) is the primary problem with buying on Amazon.
Otherwise, Amazon is the best. Great service, great array of products.
I own ETF's that own Amazon, but I don't own any shares directly.
I’ve been thinking about this inevitable outcome for years. We use a system of payments that others built on the cheap without needed security, and when it bites us in the axx we’re (consumers) are told to buy ID protection at $20/month. This is total BS. The retail sector and their bankers need to protect us on their dime, or we should never be suckered into using their system again.
The big box stores and internet retailers and credit card companies need to be held accountable for the loss of consumer identification data through their el cheapo security measures.
This policy of putting even a small burden on consumers because of poor security could be ended near term if only the CEOs of these companies were charged and held personally accountable. Their goal is to make us buy spontaneously thinking that their system poses no threat to us personally.
Wrong! Their system does pose a threat. The success of America depends upon confidence in our institutions and politicians. I have lost confidence in both. They are out for short term profits and $$$ while we all face the consequences.
If you write an ebook and market it online with them they roughly take 2/3 and give you the remaining 1/3. Pretty greedy suckers if you ask me...
I am sure Target has lost tons of customers because of their information theft issues.
Absolutely not.
No, I'd much rather have the government run it. It will save me $2500 a year and it will be free. Also, it I like my business even though I didn't build it, I can keep it!
Bezos will mine your data to find out what your best sellers are and then compete with you and kick your ass to the curb.
Unless you manufacture what you sell, he will screw you over in six different positions.
He’s smart and slimy.
In answer to the title — Absolutely not!
My daughter got a refurbished computer from them. The mouse quite in two weeks and within a month the entire computer crashed. I had a blue screen — death screen that no one ever wants to see.
The only thing that worked was the monitor and it has marks on the screen.
I won’t order from them because they support Planned Parenthood.
When you think about it how do brick and mortar stores in business? Impulse purchases. I don’t like Best Buy, but when the wife is in Kohl’s I’ll wander over and “demo” items I might order later on Newegg, Amazon or Ebay.
-— When you think about it how do brick and mortar stores in business? -—
Depends on what you’re buying. I was shoe-shopping online and couldn’t find find any good shoes marked down below retail. Then I went to DSW and found lots of great bargains. Plus I could try on the shoes, etc.
Amazon started collecting NC state tax as of Feb 1. Will cut into NC folk’s savings vs brick & mortar stores.
Shipping is wonderful on Amazon if you have Prime. Not only do you get the movies and TV series to watch on the computer, you can borrow a Kindle book per month to read and most shipping is free for 2 day delivery. We have it and get every penny’s worth of our money. Of course, not everyone would, but it’s just my opinion on how great Prime is.
Compared to what? Traditional book publishers aren’t exactly sharing the wealth with their authors either. I read that typically the author gets less than $1 per book.
Prime is excellent and more than pays for itself, especially at Christmas/holiday time. Fast, efficient, and easy returns. One point, though, we mostly use Amazon as the merchant.
Perhaps, but try marketing an e-book on your own. For the tiny to nonexistent investment an author has to make, it might be well worth it. It's really an amazing service.
More and more I only use American Express card....because they are VIGILANT about stuff looking weird that is being charged to your account.
If you like your checkout, you can keep your checkout.
All your checkouts are belong to us.
Bring the web to the brick/mortar stores. An economical COTS solution.
It might work. A concern such as Amazon could help the bookkeeping.
Stores in a chain where not all locations carry all products, or can run out, might benefit from a kiosk system within the store, if not also at the register. You would order whatever you wanted which wasn’t there on a shelf, and it would be at the store within a promised time frame. Walmart offers this as an online service, but some extra navigation within their main website is needed. The kiosk could better hold the shopper’s hand, so to speak. And often shopping in store will remind a shopper of something else desirable which, however, isn’t physically there. So why send him home to complete the order; let him complete it at a kiosk.
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