Wealth Shown to a Pixel Scale

Re:Wealth Shown to a Pixel Scale by randomdata on Friday October 20, 2023 @10:27AM (#37956539)

While some businesses are able to create regulatory moats that prevents (by military force, if necessary) consumers from spending their money elsewhere, I'm not sure what stops consumers from spending their money elsewhere when it comes to Amazon? I see nothing that it offers which is meaningfully unique. Anything I have ever considered buying from Amazon is also available at the 'mom & pop' store down the street.

If consumers actively choose to trade an IOU that offers future goods or services (that's what money is) to Bezos for something Bezos is offering now, and not to you for whatever it is you are offering now, I guess he "deserves" it, no? Surely people should have autonomy in who they decide to make trades with?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Wealth Shown to a Pixel Scale by nehal3m on Friday October 20, 2023 @10:33AM (#37956644)

Bezos is not the one you’re buying from, he just forced himself in between you and the seller. He offers nothing but a platform. Whoever you choose to trade with on Amazon, he’s there to take some off the top.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Wealth Shown to a Pixel Scale by randomdata on Friday October 20, 2023 @10:41AM (#37956772)

Actually, access to use the platform is what you are buying. In fact, Bezos gives the products you are interested in to you for free as an incentive to buy into using his platform. He then, of course, is able to use the proceeds from you buying into using the platform to pay for the product he gave away to you for free, and keeps some for himself to justify operation of the platform.

If the platform doesn't interest you, why pay for it? As before, the store down the street probably sells the same thing. There is nothing I know of that Amazon sells that you can't also get somewhere else.

[ Parent | on HN ]