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News from the world of retail....

Wow. A tough day for Amazon.

First Google announces it's going to create a eBook store to go after the niche currently held by Amazon/Kindle. Only their shop will be hardware independent so you will be able to read your book on just about anything.

Then there is Walmart, who apparently has their panties in a twist because people keep calling Amazon the "Walmart of the web". So they are launching a full frontal assault on amazons book business. Heavily discounting some highly anticipated upcoming books.

I gotta say, it would make me nervous if both Google and Walmart were gunning for my customers.

And Amazon has started same-day delivery

Isn't that what Amazon did when it first started?

I see this hurting independent resellers who use Amazon as a selling platform for their own business more than I see it hurting Amazon. The independent resellers have been able to undercut Amazon's prices for years.

According to that article:Am I the only one who thinks it's odd that Los Angeles is not on that list?

I'd suspect it's not in LA because you guys are so dammed spread out and then there is the traffic. Also, if you look at the cost, I think you'll see it's a bit of a niche market that won't get all that much use anyway.

For example, Shipping charges on books is a base of $14.49 + $3.99/book and they can deliver up until 8:00pm.

Is it just me, or is it weird that Google will be "selling" something? I know they have their shopping site but it's basically just a specified search engine.

The market for iTunes and iPods have not collapse under pressure of the copious non-hardware-dependent competition out there. Amazon may eventually have to make the same kinds of concessions that Apple eventually did re: DRM and such, but as long as they continue to position their product as a superior usability option than trying to read on your phone or your laptop, they should have nothing to worry about. Even if this leads to a boom in readers, Amazon has the same advantage with the Kindle that the iPod has. Namely, popularity breeds popularity and being the first to get the concept right gives you a lot of momentum, even if competitors can produce technically equivalent/superior/cheaper products. People still want iPods, if Amazon plays it right, they'll still want Kindles.

Yes, oftentimes when you're the #1 brand in your market, #2's advertising benefits you as well (as long as you do enough to stay on top, of course)

So are you arguing there is no reason for Amazon to worry about Google and Walmart going after it's business or just that it won't totally collapse Amazon?

When isn't there a reason for huge companies to worry about where they might be losing business? Of course it's something they'll have to address, they can't just cross their fingers and hope it all works out, they'll obviously have to come up with a business plan to keep themselves relevant. All I'm saying is that there are a couple factors (gadget loyalty and an existing model to emulate) that tend to tilt the balance in their favor.