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"Millions of Americans staying at home are relying on Amazon . . . "

Super Mario

Banned
You used to go to Amazon for the best price. While it sometimes still is, it's just not as it was. Their groceries, which people may "rely on" is a terrible business. Price was never their long-term goal. It was to become a monster, with a hand in everything, and to become a convenience company.
 

Old Retro

Member
I drove by a Homeless Depot to get some quick hardware, saw all the miscreants I'd rather not deal with and said "I'd rather order parts online for the same price and it'll be here in days". I can then douse the item in 91% alcohol when I receive it. Also, there's just some shit you can't buy anymore from brick and morter stores that had to close because of Amazon. 🤷‍♀️
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
Almost all stocks dropped big in March, but if you had intuition, money lying around and some balls to roll the dice, not only did Amazon rebound great, but many other online retailers, pizza joints (recent article about Domino's and Papa Johns doing great), online education companies, and any company that sells boring staples like toilet paper and cleaners.

I just rolled the dice on a down and out stock down 66%. It actually bottomed at -75%, but I missed out buying it at rock bottom.

Crossing fingers. Already up 5% in two days.
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
You used to go to Amazon for the best price. While it sometimes still is, it's just not as it was. Their groceries, which people may "rely on" is a terrible business. Price was never their long-term goal. It was to become a monster, with a hand in everything, and to become a convenience company.
I think it was, like every other online retailer 20 years ago when the internet took off and people started buying things online.

Back then it was price first. Variety wasn't great back then. But you got a good price, get free shipping if you hit $50 (every store had a different amount) and hey! I just got shit delivered to my door and cheaper.

What happened is online stores realized people are lazy fucks and would pay equal or even more just to get home delivery. So might as well jack up the price. No more lowest price. It can be higher or at best match the lowest.

Same goes for video games. Only the past maybe 3 years have digital deals been really good. But it wasn't long ago that online prices for Xbox and PS were crap and you could get the disc for $20 off on a pre-order. And even better sell it when youre done and get another $10-20 back. Instead people just said fuck it, and I'll buy a digital version that costs more and can't sell back because I don't want to get up and put in a disc.
 
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Considering all their bad press, I'd be tooting my own horn, too. There's no doubt that Amazon helped keep the wheels of the economy greased during lockdown.
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
Considering all their bad press, I'd be tooting my own horn, too. There's no doubt that Amazon helped keep the wheels of the economy greased during lockdown.
Yup. Good on them. I didn't use them since I stocked up on groceries already and for the past few months I don't think I've bought anything other than food and a pack of paper towels. But I always like to see companies run well..... unlike stodgy government with trillion $ budgets who probably couldn't even run a hot dog stand.

Even better, some places like Walmart and Amazon have hired more workers to keep up with demand. Let's face it, online retailers, grocery stores and drug stores got the biggest win ever due to COVID. While most other shops are closed due to being non-essential, they are allowed to stay open.

What Amazon/WM could have done is take advantage by jacking up prices, shitting on delivery times, and banking all the profits from jumps in sales. But they actually hired more people even though it pumps up the cost line.
 
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