Trump is determined to take down Amazon — and it could be terrible news for HQ2

[Cyber Liberty]

And then it popped right back up.

Not yet it hasn't, but I'm sure it will.  Mrs. Liberty, who is the analyst in this house. is sure of it.

[Cyber Liberty]

Trying to...

I hope you can get 'er done before May-June.  That's a Hella time to do heavy work like moving.

[LMAO]

Government picking winners and losers ( like Union steel companies benefitting from tariffs) is also Fascism or versions of Communism.

But still his acolytes insist Trump is the most Conservative president we've ever had.

No he's not.  He's already to the Left of W Bush AFAIC.

In many ways, Trump is becoming BHO’s third term

[kevindavis007]

And Amazon is big for the most part because consumers freely chose them. There isn't a thing on Amazon (other than a few of their branded products but even those have competing types of products) that most people can't choose to buy at a local business or one of thousands of places online.

This really comes down to two things- greed and pettiness. Greed from people that want some of their money and pettiness that they don't agree with them on everything. The government shouldn't be in the business of either (but sadly they are).

I also think it comes down to nostalgia for the mom and pop stores.  However, truth be told, a lot of mom and pop stores didn't have the item or way overpriced.

[kevindavis007]

In many ways, Trump is becoming BHO’s third term

Imagine if a Dem attacked amazon.com

[jmyrlefuller]

I also think it comes down to nostalgia for the mom and pop stores.  However, truth be told, a lot of mom and pop stores didn't have the item or way overpriced.

Well, mom and pop can't afford to lose money on an item solely to maintain market share the way a behemoth like Amazon can.

Do you want to know why mom and pops are popular? Responsiveness. Big chains like Amazon and Wal-Mart have a corporate structure, a chain of command that is inflexible. Each store runs things the way the detached corporate bosses, who usually have never met the employees their human resources departments hired or the customers they're serving, tell you to run them. You pay the employees what they tell you to; so, you have an employee that can provide more value than a mere drone? Too bad, he was hired as a drone, and that's all we have for him. They look at numbers and issue the diktat.

There's a reason why people constantly complain about working and shopping at corporate chains. They treat their employees and their customers like numbers.

[Sanguine]

Well, mom and pop can't afford to lose money on an item solely to maintain market share the way a behemoth like Amazon can.

Do you want to know why mom and pops are popular? Responsiveness. Big chains like Amazon and Wal-Mart have a corporate structure, a chain of command that is inflexible. Each store runs things the way the detached corporate bosses, who usually have never met the employees their human resources departments hired or the customers they're serving, tell you to run them. You pay the employees what they tell you to; so, you have an employee that can provide more value than a mere drone? Too bad, he was hired as a drone, and that's all we have for him. They look at numbers and issue the diktat.

There's a reason why people constantly complain about working and shopping at corporate chains. They treat their employees and their customers like numbers.

J. Myrle, I remember when we had a local hardware store, owned by one of the old timer families.  Limited stock, over-priced and, per the owner: "that's what we've got, take it or leave it".  I usually left it, and as soon as a chain store was built fairly close, the local store closed down.  I realize some mom-and-pops aren't like that, but for me, I don't miss the locals. 

[Polly Ticks]

Well, mom and pop can't afford to lose money on an item solely to maintain market share the way a behemoth like Amazon can.

Do you want to know why mom and pops are popular? Responsiveness. Big chains like Amazon and Wal-Mart have a corporate structure, a chain of command that is inflexible. Each store runs things the way the detached corporate bosses, who usually have never met the employees their human resources departments hired or the customers they're serving, tell you to run them. You pay the employees what they tell you to; so, you have an employee that can provide more value than a mere drone? Too bad, he was hired as a drone, and that's all we have for him. They look at numbers and issue the diktat.

There's a reason why people constantly complain about working and shopping at corporate chains. They treat their employees and their customers like numbers.

I've never worked for a big chain retail but based on what I hear from friends who have, I think you're largely right about their employees -- at least their warehouse employees -- being numbers. 

Having said that, my experience as an Amazon customer has been that they do customer service as good or better than anyone.  They've issued refunds for items damaged in shipping with no questions asked and they don't even require a return of the damaged item first (or at all, in some cases).  They've replaced at no charge a Kindle reader that was more than a year out of warranty.  And I don't have to wait 2 hours on hold when I call their customer service line, either.  All-in-all, I have been delighted with how they have taken care of me as a customer.

[Cyber Liberty]

I like Amazon because I can find almost anything, even if they're items normally not served locally by existing distribution systems.  If I want Maple Syrup only sold in Vermont, I can find it on Amazon and have it in my hands in Arizona within a few days.  I'm also lazy and like things delivered like a pizza.

[Applewood]

Where I live, most of the Mom and Pop stores from my youth are gone.  For a time they were replaced with payday loan scam outfits.  Now we have a business open today, then tomorrow it's gone.  More than a few have been raided by the police. 

I don't drive.  For some stores, there is public transportation, but when it's brutally cold out, I can't be outside waiting for a bus that might not show up.  And if the item is really large -- how an I going to cart it home on a bus?  And sometimes I will find a grocery item I like  at the local supermarket one day -- then a month or so later, the store no longer carries it. Much of the time, I'll find it on Amazon.

For me, online shopping has been a godsend.  There are only a handful of online retailers I can trust, and Amazon is one of them.  I have a prime membership, which allows me to get free shipping on many items and Prime Movies and TV.  Even for non-Prime items I can get some things from a third party seller on Amazon shipped free if I don't mind waiting a week or two.   

And as @Polly Ticks indicated, if something goes wrong, Amazon's customer service is exemplary.  Once the shipper claimed it had delivered a package from Amazon, but I never received it, or it was stolen.   Amazon credited my card right away.  Another time, I ordered a food item that was supposed to be low sodium, but it wasn't.  I could have returned it for free, if i could print a shipping label -- except I didn't have a printer.  Amazon said, forget about trying to return it.  My card was credited and i found a local food pantry willing to take the food.

Sure, i don't mind patronizing local businesses if I had any around or any which were reputable.  Since I don't, I will stick with Amazon.

[Cyber Liberty]

And sometimes I will find a grocery item I like  at the local supermarket one day -- then a month or so later, the store no longer carries it. Much of the time, I'll find it on Amazon.

That's been the story for me.  My local supermarket, Fry's (Kroger) does that to me a lot, so I'll just take the empty bottle of whatever, search it on Amazon, and find at least a half-dozen sellers offering it.

[musiclady]

That's been the story for me.  My local supermarket, Fry's (Kroger) does that to me a lot, so I'll just take the empty bottle of whatever, search it on Amazon, and find at least a half-dozen sellers offering it.

My experience as well. I can get everything that Kroger stops selling on Amazon.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

If this story is true, I'd like to know how he can legally target and destroy a business. 

And contrary to what this report says --  if he is successful in destroying Amazon, he's going to have a lot of very irate people on his hands.  Jeff Bezos should be the least of his worries.

The source appears to be a questionable site.  I would not trust it by perusing other stories on it, as it seems liberal bent.

[Applewood]

The source appears to be a questionable site.  I would not trust it by perusing other stories on it, as it seems liberal bent.

The story, or variations thereof, has been reported elsewhere.  It's well known that Trump is out to get Bezos and his two major companies, Amazon and WaPo because he is paranoid and a little kid -- out to get his enemies, real or imagined.  He also has to creare drama to keep his fans entertained.  As long as they are entertained, they will continue to support him.

By the way, it looks like this is a manufactured vendetta, as it appears appears Trump's campaign regularly used Amazon for supplies:

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/381143-fec-filings-show-trump-campaign-spent-158k-on-amazon-orders-despite

The reality tv presidency.   

[truth_seeker]

Just heard on the radio, that USPS loses $1.50 for every Amazon package carrier/delivered.

[kevindavis007]

Just heard on the radio, that USPS loses $1.50 for every Amazon package carrier/delivered.

So what..

[WingNot]

Just heard on the radio, that USPS loses $1.50 for every Amazon package carrier/delivered.

They make it up on volume.

[Cyber Liberty]

Just heard on the radio, that USPS loses $1.50 for every Amazon package carrier/delivered.

So what?  The USPS has been doing such a bang-up delivering boxes job Amazon started their own delivery.  They won't need USPS for much in a few years.  Problem solved!

[WingNot]

So what?  The USPS has been doing such a bang-up delivering boxes job Amazon started their own delivery.  They won't need USPS for much in a few years.  Problem solved!

Makes you wonder why no terrorist ever uses the USPS.

[Cyber Liberty]

Makes you wonder why no terrorist ever uses the USPS.

When you absolutely, positively need a package at its destination at a certain time, USPS is the last place you want to ship something.  No allowances for DST, either.

[INVAR]

Imagine if a Dem attacked amazon.com

Yup.  The same folks ambivalent or cheering Trump bashing Amazon would be in fits of outrage that if Obama was picking winners and losers based on his own personal desires to manipulate the market to punish those he decides need punishing and rewarding those businesses he wants to promote.

[kevindavis007]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9d72nbezwM

[roamer_1]

I agree.  For 95% of people getting everything via AMZ via mail, that may be fine.  Not for me though, and my prerogative  as a consumer to exercise that right.

I do that too... As much as I can. I prefer local shops, where I can have the actual object in my hand before I buy.

But the writing is on the wall - A hub kit (both sides, with brakes and calipers) for my van, bought locally through warehouses where I have a p1 account, were going to run nearly 500 bucks (and 5 business days), just for the parts.

Online, same exact parts, same exact brand... Eighty bucks, and two days away.

I like my local vendors, but not that much.

[WingNot]

When you absolutely, positively need a package at its destination at a certain time, USPS is the last place you want to ship something.  No allowances for DST, either.

Unions.  It kills the efficiency.

[Cyber Liberty]

Unions.  It kills the efficiency.

UPS is a union shop, too.  It's the deadly combination at USPS:  unions + government = pus