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(Quartz)   FTC to Amazon: "Any day now"   (qz.com) divider line
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    More: Giggity, Amazon.com, Occupational safety and health, Sales, Law, E-commerce, The Wall Street Journal, Federal Trade Commission, National Labor Relations Board  
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5068 clicks; posted to Business » and Politics » on 04 Feb 2023 at 12:23 PM (6 weeks ago)   |   Favorite    |   share:  Share on Twitter share via Email Share on Facebook



76 Comments     (+0 »)
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centrifugal bumblepuppy
2023-02-04 12:37:28 PM  
My better half is getting stuff off Temu.com, which is the US site for Chinese e-commerce market Pinduoduo. It's like getting junk and knickknacks off Amazon, but for much cheaper and slower thanks to free shipping from China. We are getting an orange Temu package weekly.
 
Eddie Barzoom
2023-02-04 12:38:27 PM  
Nearly 2/3 of all US Households have a Prime membership. That's truly breathtaking.
 
NathanAllen
2023-02-04 12:39:01 PM  
Bold.

But sperating the digital from logistics would make the most sense. Though, logistics will continue to have the data to sell, so not sure if that works better than now.
 
misanthropicsob [OhFark]
2023-02-04 12:43:21 PM  
ANGH
 
AntonChigger
2023-02-04 12:46:53 PM  

centrifugal bumblepuppy: My better half is getting stuff off Temu.com, which is the US site for Chinese e-commerce market Pinduoduo. It's like getting junk and knickknacks off Amazon, but for much cheaper and slower thanks to free shipping from China. We are getting an orange Temu package weekly.


So you're slightly inconveniencing yourself to give a little less money directly to China instead of Bezos.

Congrats?
 
Tarl3k
2023-02-04 12:48:01 PM  
I'll believe it when the lawsuit is filed, but this is something that needs to happen to a LOT of companies here in America.  We're living in a modern gilded age, and it took a large anti-trust movement to get us out of it last time.
 
WithinReason
2023-02-04 12:51:35 PM  
Fark user imageView Full Size
 
LovesToSpooge
2023-02-04 12:53:26 PM  
Amazon is worthless. They don't sell the large butt plugs my Mom uses.
 
farkitallletitend
2023-02-04 12:53:31 PM  

centrifugal bumblepuppy: My better half is getting stuff off Temu.com, which is the US site for Chinese e-commerce market Pinduoduo. It's like getting junk and knickknacks off Amazon, but for much cheaper and slower thanks to free shipping from China. We are getting an orange Temu package weekly.


You buy cheap knock off junk directly from the source. Weekly. Everyone needs a hobby.
 
sinner4ever
2023-02-04 12:59:38 PM  
In capitalism ,we always err on the side of stock prices.
 
The Irresponsible Captain [TotalFark]
2023-02-04 1:00:29 PM  
There's a new interest in organized labor. If we start getting some trust busting too I might just start getting optimistic.
 
qorkfiend
2023-02-04 1:01:03 PM  

WithinReason: [Fark user image image 425x236]


Might as well not bother, right?
 
NathanAllen
2023-02-04 1:03:35 PM  

LovesToSpooge: Amazon is worthless. They don't sell the large butt plugs my Mom uses.


/narrator: later he would check Amazon and realize how wrong he was and how happy his Mom would be.
 
BunkyBrewman [TotalFark]
2023-02-04 1:03:39 PM  

centrifugal bumblepuppy: My better half is getting stuff off Temu.com, which is the US site for Chinese e-commerce market Pinduoduo. It's like getting junk and knickknacks off Amazon, but for much cheaper and slower thanks to free shipping from China. We are getting an orange Temu package weekly.


Now try returning anything and let us know how much the return postage to China is going to cost.
 
farkitallletitend
2023-02-04 1:04:55 PM  

centrifugal bumblepuppy: My better half is getting stuff off Temu.com, which is the US site for Chinese e-commerce market Pinduoduo. It's like getting junk and knickknacks off Amazon, but for much cheaper and slower thanks to free shipping from China. We are getting an orange Temu package weekly.


Interesting group buying option. It says if the group buying number is not met then your money is refunded and you can purchase the item without the group discount. If the company pools that money in an interest bearing account and holds say a million transactions daily within that liquid account that could be a chunk of change for them year over year. It's like giving them a loan in return for getting a lower price that may or may not come. Whether you purchase items or not they make money from those that opt into a group buying option.
Smart and deceitful.
 
iheartscotch
2023-02-04 1:07:17 PM  
I got one over on Bezos the other day. One of the titles on Audible was clearly supposed to cost money but it was marked as $0.00. So...I got a free book.

/ SUCK IT, BEZOS
 
Man On Pink Corner
2023-02-04 1:07:32 PM  

Eddie Barzoom: Nearly 2/3 of all US Households have a Prime membership. That's truly breathtaking.


Yeah, but not many have Total Prime or Ultra Prime.  That's where it gets good.  With Total Prime, the search box returns only the items you actually asked for, while if you upgrade to Ultra Prime you can deselect third-party sellers on all items, not just a few.  And if you do leave the third-party option turned on, it respects your choice of seller location, doesn't promote listings from sellers with single-digit positive ratings, and (best of all) doesn't pull your order from shelves where Chinese counterfeits are commingled with legitimate brand-name products.

Obviously that impacts profitability, which is probably why Total costs $1000/year and Ultra is so exclusive that it requires an NDA.  I sure hope they don't have a way to tie my Fark user name to my UP account.  I've said too much already.

Bottom line is, shopping on Amazon is a whole different experience if you pony up for the TP or UP plan.  It's as good as it used to be before they turned the company into a mid-market Ali Express clone. Sucks for everybody else, though.
 
guilt by association
2023-02-04 1:10:45 PM  

Tarl3k: I'll believe it when the lawsuit is filed, but this is something that needs to happen to a LOT of companies here in America.  We're living in a modern gilded age, and it took a large anti-trust movement to get us out of it last time.


Yup.

I'd like to see telecoms, grocers, real estate investment/property management, and data collection/advertising companies on the FTC's to-do list.
 
mrparks
2023-02-04 1:11:54 PM  

centrifugal bumblepuppy: My better half is getting stuff off Temu.com, which is the US site for Chinese e-commerce market Pinduoduo. It's like getting junk and knickknacks off Amazon, but for much cheaper and slower thanks to free shipping from China. We are getting an orange Temu package weekly.


I saw an ad for that on YouTube and I thought they were advertising a similarly named adult toy.

Still got the whiplash in the neck. Good times.
 
WithinReason
2023-02-04 1:18:47 PM  

qorkfiend: WithinReason: [Fark user image image 425x236]

Might as well not bother, right?


If you want to think negative
 
austerity101
2023-02-04 1:19:48 PM  

LovesToSpooge: Amazon is worthless. They don't sell the large butt plugs my Mom uses.


Does she ... wear them out? How often does one need to replace a butt plug?
 
LovesToSpooge
2023-02-04 1:25:01 PM  

austerity101: LovesToSpooge: Amazon is worthless. They don't sell the large butt plugs my Mom uses.

Does she ... wear them out? How often does one need to replace a butt plug?


Your bother keeps stealing them.
 
austerity101
2023-02-04 1:26:24 PM  

LovesToSpooge: austerity101: LovesToSpooge: Amazon is worthless. They don't sell the large butt plugs my Mom uses.

Does she ... wear them out? How often does one need to replace a butt plug?

Your bother keeps stealing them.


Oh, bother.
 
majestic
2023-02-04 1:32:43 PM  

Eddie Barzoom: Nearly 2/3 of all US Households have a Prime membership. That's truly breathtaking.


I find that difficult to believe. I am the only person I know with a Prime membership. My friends and family all use mine.
 
otherginger [TotalFark]
2023-02-04 1:35:18 PM  
I'm Amazon's biatch. There are too many ways in which it conveniences me. Even now when I am angry about the demise of Amazon Smile.
 
halfjack
2023-02-04 1:36:38 PM  

Man On Pink Corner: Eddie Barzoom: Nearly 2/3 of all US Households have a Prime membership. That's truly breathtaking.

Yeah, but not many have Total Prime or Ultra Prime.  That's where it gets good.  With Total Prime, the search box returns only the items you actually asked for, while if you upgrade to Ultra Prime you can deselect third-party sellers on all items, not just a few.  And if you do leave the third-party option turned on, it respects your choice of seller location, doesn't promote listings from sellers with single-digit positive ratings, and (best of all) doesn't pull your order from shelves where Chinese counterfeits are commingled with legitimate brand-name products.

Obviously that impacts profitability, which is probably why Total costs $1000/year and Ultra is so exclusive that it requires an NDA.  I sure hope they don't have a way to tie my Fark user name to my UP account.  I've said too much already.

Bottom line is, shopping on Amazon is a whole different experience if you pony up for the TP or UP plan.  It's as good as it used to be before they turned the company into a mid-market Ali Express clone. Sucks for everybody else, though.


...I


...I can't tell if you are joking or not. Are you?
 
full8me
2023-02-04 1:37:45 PM  
Well, combined with the FTC's action against Walmart, it looks like Lina Khan is determined to give the SCOTUS the excuse to eliminate the entire agency.
 
BlazeTrailer
2023-02-04 1:38:44 PM  

centrifugal bumblepuppy: My better half is getting stuff off Temu.com, which is the US site for Chinese e-commerce market Pinduoduo. It's like getting junk and knickknacks off Amazon, but for much cheaper and slower thanks to free shipping from China. We are getting an orange Temu package weekly.


This is an ad!

/for Amazon
 
Eddie Barzoom
2023-02-04 1:39:39 PM  
If You Have To Ask - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Youtube 80y5k35sx3w
 
Senseless_drivel
2023-02-04 1:41:58 PM  
I hope this doesn't impact their ability to create great Prime movies and series such as... and, uh... well, where else can you find so much Hitler lives and the Nazis won original programming?
 
Man On Pink Corner
2023-02-04 1:42:36 PM  

halfjack: I can't tell if you are joking or not. Are you?


Like I said, I've said too much already.
 
ruetheday69
2023-02-04 1:44:10 PM  

Eddie Barzoom: Nearly 2/3 of all US Households have a Prime membership. That's truly breathtaking.


Are they including businesses in that number? It really only says 80 million prime subscriptions.
 
fatassbastard [TotalFark]
2023-02-04 1:44:34 PM  
Hey now, I'm sure the FTC will find them guilty of 5 or 6 transgressions, and fine them $1 million each.

What will you say then, smitty? WHAT WILL YOU SAY THEN?!?
 
BlazeTrailer
2023-02-04 1:51:40 PM  

austerity101: LovesToSpooge: Amazon is worthless. They don't sell the large butt plugs my Mom uses.

Does she ... wear them out? How often does one need to replace a butt plug?


Your abilities....uh...improve.
 
tyyreaunn
2023-02-04 1:55:11 PM  
Has no one else noticed that the FTC doesn't have the best recent track record of successfully holding companies accountable, for any except the most egregious violations?

They also seem to be picking politically popular but legally dubious cases - a strategy which isn't working out all that well.

/angh
 
harleyquinnical
2023-02-04 1:58:33 PM  

otherginger: I'm Amazon's biatch. There are too many ways in which it conveniences me. Even now when I am angry about the demise of Amazon Smile.


Amazon is an Internet bazaar without the active hawking or haggling, but there is just so much to look at. I get where the FTC is coming from with the prioritization of its own products.  It's what nailed Microsoft back in the day with IE.

I would love to see the FTC go after the TelComs, especially the likes of Comcast and Cox for their regional exclusivity rights acting as monopolies for high speed Internet. Stupid Telecommunications Act of 1996.
 
Moroning [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2023-02-04 2:04:47 PM  

centrifugal bumblepuppy: My better half is getting stuff off Temu.com, which is the US site for Chinese e-commerce market Pinduoduo. It's like getting junk and knickknacks off Amazon, but for much cheaper and slower thanks to free shipping from China. We are getting an orange Temu package weekly.


Congrats on directly supporting genocide, instead of indirectly supporting genocide.
 
DeathByGeekSquad
2023-02-04 2:16:55 PM  
Maybe if Walmart, Target, and other retailers would enhance their farking digital marketplace with some actual investment they'd get some farking traffic.  Walmart's online shopping experience is awful.

And yeah, Prime has a high membership, because it's a multifaceted subscription that includes a lot of elements of the ecosystem, not just free shipping.

Rather than dismantle, these farking traditional brick and mortar companies need to fully commit to the digital age.
 
DarkSoulNoHope
2023-02-04 2:18:24 PM  

qorkfiend: WithinReason: [Fark user image image 425x236]

Might as well not bother, right?


Isn't that your angle? Or do you only push the "Might as well not bother" narrative when it comes to you protecting politicians from criticism?
 
astelmaszek
2023-02-04 2:22:33 PM  

DeathByGeekSquad: Maybe if Walmart, Target, and other retailers would enhance their farking digital marketplace with some actual investment they'd get some farking traffic.  Walmart's online shopping experience is awful.

And yeah, Prime has a high membership, because it's a multifaceted subscription that includes a lot of elements of the ecosystem, not just free shipping.

Rather than dismantle, these farking traditional brick and mortar companies need to fully commit to the digital age.


Walmart is aweful but I love getting a package of Apple TV's instead of just one or the best one ever was a case of 12 3D sensors that were a grand a piece instead of just the one I ordered. I donated a couple to my local community college and sold the rest on eBay.
 
Chajeungna
2023-02-04 2:29:44 PM  

majestic: Eddie Barzoom: Nearly 2/3 of all US Households have a Prime membership. That's truly breathtaking.

I find that difficult to believe. I am the only person I know with a Prime membership. My friends and family all use mine.


Seems worse than that, though multiple Prime memberships per household could be a thing I suppose.

Households in 2017-2021: 124M
U.S. Amazon Prime memberships 2021:151M (possibly 166M as of April 2022)
 
GentDirkly
2023-02-04 2:48:23 PM  

tyyreaunn: Has no one else noticed that the FTC doesn't have the best recent track record of successfully holding companies accountable, for any except the most egregious violations?

They also seem to be picking politically popular but legally dubious cases - a strategy which isn't working out all that well.

/angh


Almost like the law needs to change, rather than the legal strategy.
Democrats don't want to fix these problems any more than Republicans do.
Congress has so many jobs that they've simply ignored for the past 30 years or so.
 
wildcardjack
2023-02-04 2:58:17 PM  
If you look at Amazon from the outside, you see a behemoth. But it's also a fulfillment company, hundreds of small and medium businesses use their massive system to warehouse and distribute merchandise that may never be seen on an Amazon website.
 
Bruscar
2023-02-04 3:04:06 PM  
The last time I ordered from Amazon, I checked to make sure the order would be filled by an Amazon warehouse because I've been ripped off too many times by sellers on the Amazon marketplace. Amazon shipped me an empty box. Obtaining a refund was a time-consuming process. I just don't think I can do business with Amazon anymore.
 
Eddie Barzoom
2023-02-04 3:05:54 PM  

Chajeungna: majestic: Eddie Barzoom: Nearly 2/3 of all US Households have a Prime membership. That's truly breathtaking.

I find that difficult to believe. I am the only person I know with a Prime membership. My friends and family all use mine.

Seems worse than that, though multiple Prime memberships per household could be a thing I suppose.

Households in 2017-2021: 124M
U.S. Amazon Prime memberships 2021:151M (possibly 166M as of April 2022)


The larger number likely includes business subscribers. The article mentions about 80 million and then lists a households stat; but is not as clear as it could be.
 
otherginger [TotalFark]
2023-02-04 3:11:12 PM  

Bruscar: The last time I ordered from Amazon, I checked to make sure the order would be filled by an Amazon warehouse because I've been ripped off too many times by sellers on the Amazon marketplace. Amazon shipped me an empty box. Obtaining a refund was a time-consuming process. I just don't think I can do business with Amazon anymore.


Really? It usually takes me a minute with the bot in the app.
 
drjekel_mrhyde
2023-02-04 3:11:35 PM  

guilt by association: Tarl3k: I'll believe it when the lawsuit is filed, but this is something that needs to happen to a LOT of companies here in America.  We're living in a modern gilded age, and it took a large anti-trust movement to get us out of it last time.

Yup.

I'd like to see telecoms, grocers, real estate investment/property management, and data collection/advertising companies on the FTC's to-do list.


Reported.
 
drjekel_mrhyde
2023-02-04 3:16:48 PM  

harleyquinnical: otherginger: I'm Amazon's biatch. There are too many ways in which it conveniences me. Even now when I am angry about the demise of Amazon Smile.

Amazon is an Internet bazaar without the active hawking or haggling, but there is just so much to look at. I get where the FTC is coming from with the prioritization of its own products.  It's what nailed Microsoft back in the day with IE.

I would love to see the FTC go after the TelComs, especially the likes of Comcast and Cox for their regional exclusivity rights acting as monopolies for high speed Internet. Stupid Telecommunications Act of 1996.


Could they really go after them now since people can get "HSI" form satellite and "5G" telecoms?
 
Dr. Bison
2023-02-04 3:17:50 PM  
While there was no fine, the judge ordered Amazon to stop engaging in unfair labor practices and to post public notices that it would cease any further union intimidation.

doubletoasted.comView Full Size
 
TheYeti
2023-02-04 3:22:16 PM  
Well, based on FTC recent successes I should really buy a lot more Amazon stock.
 
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