Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Victor Lazlo who wrote (114896)	1/10/2001 9:59:29 AM
From: Glenn D. Rudolph	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 164684

From The Street Life and so accurate: "LETTER TO JEFF BEZOS.... This is a story of why Amazon will NEVER succeed selling consumer electronics on the Web. Or indeed why NO ONE will succeed selling consumer electronics on the Web, UNLESS--they are linked to a store network. Bought my Mom a little (13") white TV from AMZN for her kitchen for Xmas. TV is white? Oh, yes--white. Says so right on the box when we opened it on Xmas. Open the box and the TV is...black. Call Amazon. They tell us to repack the TV (!@#$%^&* !), they will send out a special mailing label. When Ma receives mailing label, she "simply" calls UPS and they will pick it up and deliver it free. This, I tell Ma, will never happen. It doesn't. Mailing label came yesterday (not too bad), but then she calls UPS and they say, "Oh no, we'll pick it up, but not for free. You gotta call Amazon. Ma calls Amazon. First they tell her she has wrong mailing label. Then they tell her she needs son's e-mail address and value of TV!!!!!!!!!! (This to a woman who cringes at the sight of a Smith Corona (not beer, silly, a typewriter!) So I tell her TV costs $500 (tee-hee), and give her e-mail address. Then UPS says okay, but we'll still charge you $10. Amazon has to reimburse you the $10. Sure. Mom has been on phone all morning. This isn't the last of it. Meanwhile, two days after Christmas, we went down to the local TV store, where my old junior high school hoops buddy, Ed, works. Ed's delighted to see us. "Hi, Mrs. Serwer, how are you? I remember your dogs." Ed had a little whitie in stock, maybe it cost $20 more, I don't know. "If you ever have any trouble with it, Mrs. S., just give me a call. Here's my card," Ed said. I took the sucker home, worked like a charm. So you see, there's only so much you can do on the Web. Silly, free e-mail being one of them. Again, prognosis for Amazon: Brand name will survive. Either gets bought or merges, or sets up major JV with bricks-and-mortar company. Bezos may or may not last. Out. "