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naraburns  nihil supernum  1yr ago (text post)   4039 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for March 26, 2023

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Google is better at searching Amazon than Amazon though, if you are looking for something in particular rather than whoever is best at convincing Amazon's algorithm to favour their dropshipped crap. I'm pretty sure Amazon does this on purpose, so as with many things -- it's working for somebody, just not for you.

Who is it working for though? I actively avoid searching for products on Amazon nowadays. It is awful compared to other internet marketplaces or retailers. But then Amazon entered my market only a couple years ago and there were already established players by then. Did they simply become a powerful monopoly in some areas and are just exploiting this?

Its sellers and manufacturers fighting it out like dogs under a carpet. Amazon makes money no matter what. Also most people shop on their phones now, so getting on the first scroll-page is HUGE money. Many millions are spent on both official help (Amazon's pay to win search results) and covert manipulation tactics against your competitors.

I think it's "Amazon Marketplace sellers" at this point mainly -- although Amazon search was horrible even when most things came directly from Amazon, so I think there's some less scrutable goals at work in terms of showing you things that Amazon wants you to buy, as distinct from things that you would like to buy.

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