Quote:
Originally Posted by Camelopardalis
Amazon is an interesting case. If you look at the US and UK markets, traditional retailers have learned to co-exist with online presences of their own, or go the way of the do-do as market forces dictate. You don't find shopping streets/malls with half of the stores empty. Granted, in some locations you might, but that's more a factor of local socioeconomic problems/policy.
In Australia...I have to wonder if Amazon might have a challenge on their hands. The Great Postal Vortex of Australia is a law to itself. Even courier companies can be somewhat unpredictable. And then you have the highest labour cost of anywhere in the world. Factor in the unique Australian geographic challenge, and a significantly smaller population compared to other markets they operate in and you'll see why it might be "interesting".
There's going to be a gotcha somewhere...like, maybe the product selection they will carry will be somewhat limited? Regardless, local businesses will either cease or shape up.
Don't in any way interpret my ramblings as being for/against what will come next. Since living in Australia I've happily weened of the Amazon addiction  |
yeah, Aussie post is well...crap. Probably one of the worst postal systems in the world. Even the Russian postal system is better imho!
Will Amazon do any good in Australia...I suspect that they'll open up their own distribution carrier - Australia Post is simply too unreliable.
I've been waiting for an item (and an expensive one at that) ordered off a US ebayer...been showing as scanned @ Granville (Sydney) 4.44am Thursday with no further updates. Of course, it came from overseas, went through customs at Sydney airport (as expected), WTF did it go to Granville? There's no distribution centre there, only a LPO. I've gonna give Australia Post till Tuesday arvo and if no further updates, I'll have a go at the buggers. Incompetent with a big I!!!! Don't even get me started on Australia Post, hate the *******s with a passion. Another fine example of a government service being privatised and going downhill fast...more $$$ for less service and quality. But, I'll digress, our invertebrate pollies are as useless as mammary glands on a bull.