Would Amazon exist without Showrooming?

[Zorba]

I purchase from Amazon all the time, have a prime membership, etc. But their website is so terrible, I really wonder if they would exist at all, or at least beyond books, music and movies, if it weren't for showrooming.

Now I don't just mean showrooming in a brick and mortar store, but also on other websites that are actually designed well.

Some recent examples:
My wife is pregnant and I was looking for some workout clothes for her. I tried searching and starting at the top and selecting category by category and filtering. No matter how I got there, 90% of the clothing was non-maternity, a lot wasn't even clothing.

I built a computer recently, picked out all the components on Newegg then purchased on Amazon. Even trying to do something simple like pick out RAM or a SDD on Amazon would be impossible, since the filtering is so bad, the product description is non-existent on most items, and anyone can create a new listing. Plus, no matter how you filter, you'll end up getting a pair of used underwear listed in the results.

I am putting a new audio system in my car, again I had to pick out everything on other websites and then search for specific part numbers on Amazon. Many of the parts have multiple listings for the exact same part. One connector had 20 different listings for it when I searched, none of them prime, then I clicked a link on a forum and it took me to a listing sold by amazon.

Anyways, I like Amazon because I can get just about anything, usually for a decent price. But I really don't think they would be able to sell anything if they didn't have other companies investing vast amounts of money into stores/websites that allow people to find the products to begin with.

Not to mention Amazon also has a large counterfeit parts issue on some items through the marketplace and if you give the seller a bad review for it Amazon will remove the review because it is "About the product, not the seller."

 

[OverVolt]

I think yes. I almost never showroom. I've literally never driven to BBY just to look at something in person then go buy it online. I think marketing does a sufficient job of driving demand. I generally already know what I want online even without showrooming.

 

[Kaido]

Yeah, they would be fine. Most of the stuff I buy is review-based, which is usually on the first row of the search results, and I typically only buy items with Prime, preferably sold by a first-party vendor who is partnered with Amazon. But like you said, they do have a filter problem & a lot of scammy third-party sellers. For computer stuff, I typically just go with Newegg because of the search issue like you said, unless Amazon is a lot cheaper.

 

[poofyhairguy]

No....but I would buy a hell of a lot less off Amazon without camelcamelcamel.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

How is it any worse than going into one retail store and then buying it for less in another retail store?

 

[Zorba]

How is it any worse than going into one retail store and then buying it for less in another retail store?

My complaint is that is seems Amazon is completely dependent on you doing your research somewhere else, except for their reviews which are great, and then buying from them.

I am also not saying it morally wrong, I am just wondering what they are going to do when they drive everyone else out of business and why their website basically has the same functionality it had in 1996.

 

[stlc8tr]

Amazon's search and filter designs sucks but I'd be willing to bet that's by design.

Given their resources, they've AB-ed the hell out of design and must have found that terrible search/filter increases sales overall.

 

[purbeast0]

ive been buying regulary (average probably at least 1 order a week) from amazon for about 3 years now that i've had prime, and i've never once "showroomed" so for me personally, no it wouldnt make a difference.

even if items are a tad more expensive on amazon, i will purchase them from amazon due to convenience and customer service.

 

[Kaido]

even if items are a tad more expensive on amazon, i will purchase them from amazon due to convenience and customer service.

Same. Login, buy it, and easy returns.

Also seconding camelcamelcamel.

 

[poofyhairguy]

My complaint is that is seems Amazon is completely dependent on you doing your research somewhere else, except for their reviews which are great, and then buying from them.

I am also not saying it morally wrong, I am just wondering what they are going to do when they drive everyone else out of business and why their website basically has the same functionality it had in 1996.

You miss the point that retailers can fight back. I have bought a lot of stuff from Best Buy in the last year because they don't fight me matching Amazon prices. Now that Amazon does tax why not buy it locally for the same price if you can?

 

[purbeast0]

You miss the point that retailers can fight back. I have bought a lot of stuff from Best Buy in the last year because they don't fight me matching Amazon prices. Now that Amazon does tax why not buy it locally for the same price if you can?

because time = money, and not having to waste time going to a store saves time. and i don't get haggled about buying a $5 service plan for a $10 bluray when i buy it at amazon.

 

[DrPizza]

I'm still not sure what you mean by their existence depending on that showrooming, but I agree completely about their search. I've often suspected that there's some sort of reason for the order of search results - maybe some people willing to share more profit with Amazon or something. That only seems to be true for particular products, or products from particular categories - I'll search for something very specific and have to run through 3 pages of related, but not matching items from one or two vendors before I get to the item I'm looking for. I've gotten to the point where I guess "page 5" and based on the results on page 5, try to determine if I've passed what I'm looking for, because the items are even more unrelated; or if I haven't gone far enough, because everything seems to be from the same vendor on that page.

 

[Zorba]

ive been buying regulary (average probably at least 1 order a week) from amazon for about 3 years now that i've had prime, and i've never once "showroomed" so for me personally, no it wouldnt make a difference.

even if items are a tad more expensive on amazon, i will purchase them from amazon due to convenience and customer service.

So do you find Amazon's search/filtering to adequate to find, research and buy a new item type, every time? If not, how do you research it, if you have never looked at different store online or B&M then bought on Amazon?

There are a lot of things I buy this way, but I also buy a lot of things that are more complicated than searching "Microusb charger, oh this has good reviews, get it." For example, appliance parts, I always find the part number someone else, then order on Amazon.

To be far, sometimes I can find stuff on amazon that I can't find anywhere else, generally pretty unique stuff.

Edit: BTW: I am talking about things more complicated than a blue-ray, etc. Things like computer hardware or AV equipment, etc. Not things that you just randomly say "Man I want a popcorn popper, let's see what on Amazon."

 

[Homerboy]

Never "showroom" (never even heard of the term)
Order from Amazon all.the.time.

It comes down to ease of ordering and delivery for me. As Purebeasthas said, time = money, and I'd rather just click-click-get then drive to store and dink around. Not to mention, every time I do shop retail, I want to kill somebody there.

 

[purbeast0]

So do you find Amazon's search/filtering to adequate to find, research and buy a new item type, every time? If not, how do you research it, if you have never looked at different store online or B&M then bought on Amazon?

There are a lot of things I buy this way, but I also buy a lot of things that are more complicated than searching "Microusb charger, oh this has good reviews, get it." For example, appliance parts, I always find the part number someone else, then order on Amazon.

To be far, sometimes I can find stuff on amazon that I can't find anywhere else, generally pretty unique stuff.

Edit: BTW: I am talking about things more complicated than a blue-ray, etc. Things like computer hardware or AV equipment, etc. Not things that you just randomly say "Man I want a popcorn popper, let's see what on Amazon."

i very rarely "browse" for items when i shop. 99% of the times when i'm shopping for something i know what i already want to buy before i even go to amazon.

but for instance when i bought my bluray player recently, i just went to AVS and did my research there, found the bluray player i wanted, searched for it on amazon and purchased it. that is the same thing i did when i purchased my amp and projection screen from amazon.

 

[CraKaJaX]

i very rarely "browse" for items when i shop. 99% of the times when i'm shopping for something i know what i already want to buy before i even go to amazon.

but for instance when i bought my bluray player recently, i just went to AVS and did my research there, found the bluray player i wanted, searched for it on amazon and purchased it. that is the same thing i did when i purchased my amp and projection screen from amazon.

100% this. I don't necessarily 'window shop' on any websites anymore. I may see something that pops up on my Amazon homepage that looks interesting because of my recent searches or whatever, but that's about it.

 

[Homerboy]

i very rarely "browse" for items when i shop. 99% of the times when i'm shopping for something i know what i already want to buy before i even go to amazon.

but for instance when i bought my bluray player recently, i just went to AVS and did my research there, found the bluray player i wanted, searched for it on amazon and purchased it. that is the same thing i did when i purchased my amp and projection screen from amazon.

Pretty much this.

And for smaller items -- I just buy. I needed some electrical timers for Christmas lights today. Went to Amazon, searched, found a 2 pack for $15 shipped. Clicked "Add to Cart" and done.

Same damn price (to the penny) at Home Depot. Never had to put on pants.

 

[manly]

My complaint is that is seems Amazon is completely dependent on you doing your research somewhere else, except for their reviews which are great, and then buying from them.

I am also not saying it morally wrong, I am just wondering what they are going to do when they drive everyone else out of business and why their website basically has the same functionality it had in 1996.

I spend a heck of a lot more time reading customer reviews (including sorting out all the fake ones lately) than I do glancing at a product on display in a B&M store.

Even in a case where showrooming is considered desirable, such as looking at a big Ultra HDTV, I still trust online critical reviews more than my own eyes.

I think part of your criticism boils down to Amazon has a terrible interface for PC components. Everybody knows this, and some of us support Newegg just for that reason. But that puts a relatively small dent in Amazon's overall popularity.

 

[Anubis]

yes

ive never "show roomed"

and the number that do is going to be an order of magnitude smaller then you think do

 

[Carson Dyle]

Yes, Amazon would still exist. The customer reviews are invaluable (but you really need to take them with a grain of salt). I've bought dozens, maybe hundreds of items from Amazon that weren't available locally to "showroom", even if I'd wanted to.

Don't underestimate the value of having no sales tax, either. I get an instant 7.5% discount on anything from Amazon, even if it's exactly the same price as the local store.

 

[slag]

i very rarely "browse" for items when i shop. 99% of the times when i'm shopping for something i know what i already want to buy before i even go to amazon.

but for instance when i bought my bluray player recently, i just went to AVS and did my research there, found the bluray player i wanted, searched for it on amazon and purchased it. that is the same thing i did when i purchased my amp and projection screen from amazon.

Exactly the way I shop. I know what I want when I am going to go find the best price and/or quickest shipping. I don't browse Amazon.com because I only shop when I am looking for something I want/need, not just looking to look.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Never had to put on pants.

So true.

 

[Matthiasa]

Yes, Amazon would still exist. The customer reviews are invaluable (but you really need to take them with a grain of salt). I've bought dozens, maybe hundreds of items from Amazon that weren't available locally to "showroom", even if I'd wanted to.

Don't underestimate the value of having no sales tax, either. I get an instant 7.5% discount on anything from Amazon, even if it's exactly the same price as the local store.

Legally speaking you are still suppose to pay sales tax on it just that just almost no one does.

That said, even that only applies to states they don't automatically add sales tax.

 

[lxskllr]

If I buy from Amazon, it's usually because what I want is difficult to find locally, so I don't 'showroom'. They really need to chillout on their js. That's what makes me disinclined to shop there. That crap hits the computer hard.

 

[Homerboy]

If I buy from Amazon, it's usually because what I want is difficult to find locally, so I don't 'showroom'. They really need to chillout on their js. That's what makes me disinclined to shop there. That crap hits the computer hard.

Uhhh so you don't shop somewhere based on the fact that their website bumps your CPU usage up to 51+%?