Slashdot Mirror
Nike Thought It Didn't Need Amazon -- Then the Ground Shifted (wsj.com)
An anonymous reader shares a report: For years, Nike was one of the biggest holdouts against Amazon.com, refusing to provide its sneakers and athletic clothing for sale on the hulking e-commerce site. Its products were so cool, the company reasoned, it didn't need or want the help. Recently, Nike reversed course. Behind that decision lies a dramatic shift in the balance of power between brands and Amazon (Editor's note: the link could be paywalled; syndicated source). For decades, big consumer brands carefully controlled which retailers could sell their wares and at what prices. And for years, Amazon left the brands alone. Lately, the explosion of third-party sellers on the site has led to authentic goods from companies such as Nike, Chanel, The North Face, Patagonia and Urban Decay being sold on Amazon even though they don't authorize the sales, undercutting their grip on pricing and distribution. Even though Nike didn't send Amazon its products either directly or through approved wholesalers, Nike is the most purchased apparel brand on the site, according to a Morgan Stanley survey. A recent search for Nike products on Amazon turned up roughly 73,000 items. These days, there are so many third-party resellers, who generally are allowed to resell goods they have lawfully acquired at whatever price they want, that companies see few ways to stop them.
That's racist.
That's Amazon's whole things - those 3rd party sales aren't Amazon's responsibility to check for authenticity. Biggest clearinghouse for fakes in the world.
Are we supposed to care about what happens to asshole companies that blantly overprice their merchandise? Fuck 'em. This serves them right.
Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
It's really the only thing as an automation freelancer that I continually see job posts for. Something about sneakerbots is profitable to the right people and I've never understood why. They treat that shit like it's wall street high frequency trading.
Nike had a fairly substantial role in making the modern shoe what it is today.
I love how supposedly educated/smart people here are so ignorant of history and science. Sure the science and evolution of the shoe isn't "sexy", but one can only imagine what shoes from the 1960s and earlier were like, where the answer is bad.
Old and busted: "Nike: Just do it"
New hotness (approved by POTUS): "Nike: Just grab her by the *****, unless she's Amazonian goddess with a magic lasso, then just let her do you."
I'm sure some wordsmith will figure out how to shorten this up. The best short version I can come up with is: "Nike: Just get ****ed."
Nike does an Apple - and pays very little tax, all things equal.
The respective tax authorities now have Amazon to prove cost base, and possibly prove price transfer tax avoidance. Who knows what Amazon sales numbers may prove.
With Ebay charging 15% - Arbitrage is difficult to impossible.
With Amazon and price match (they are smarter than Ebay) arbitrage WILL occur.
Now if Nike gestures one finger - the tax and IRS will have them cold. If they join the game, they can manipulate prices enough to give the IRS the finger.
Nike are joining to extend the end game because it makes sense. But some brand name expert says Amazon WILL devalue price premiums for all brand names.All Amazon and Ebay need to - is say no listing fee and 1/2 success free for say NIKE products - to get the ball rolling. repeat and rinse for other brands.
neverending wmd on credit holycost winding down now,, thank mom... our real time creators.. sing along.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHLQs6u9wXw rated c for corny.. best of intentions all around...
Their shoes never fit my wide feet. My brother in law gave me a pair and I put them in the trash. Later I read the shoes became collectible and were selling for $100 USD in Japan.
Did creimer also jump on the bandwagon?
These days, there are so many third-party resellers, who generally are allowed to resell goods they have lawfully acquired at whatever price they want, that companies see few ways to stop them.
Good. We'd all like to be able to stop people from competing with us, but nobody should have the power to do so.
Secession is the right of all sentient beings.
A first step is taken, now let me import your shoes from South East Asia where they cost a fraction of what you gouge here.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
https://solecollector.com/news... ~50% on a $100 MRSP b4 other discounts like loyalty volumes buy 2-3 pairs etc.. Maybe some enterprising dealers figure out how to game promotions in modest volumes scoop up inventory and resell on e-commerce? There is a lot of retail margin that can be shaved. Plus as others mentioned Gray imports where sold in another country cheaper whether due to foreign exchange fluctuations or other favorable pricing factors. Stores offer loyalty programs for future purchase discounts but these are modest vs some of the e-commerce sites. Mobile phone companies typically can use IMEIs to help track gray and unauthorized product distribution. Maybe a new kind of sneaker net will evolve to counter the price cutters.
Remind me what this is again? Oh, clothing or shoes or some shit? Oh, people care about brands in shoes still? Oh? I'm confused? You mean they are going to work with Amazon to fix prices?
Are we supposed to care about what happens to asshole companies that blantly overprice their merchandise? Fuck 'em. This serves them right.
Yes, because Amazon currently takes 50% of all online shopping dollars spent. That's a lot of control.
If a mega-corp like Nike can't fight the current of Amazon, what chance does anyone else have?
... then the Ground Shifted
So.. Nike lost its footing?
vos nescitis quicquam, nec cogitatis quia expedit nobis ut unus moriatur homo pro populo et non tota gens pereat.