this post was submitted on 22 Sep 2024
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I wanted to get printer photo paper for my printer, a Canon. I went to Walmart, They had nothing. Went to Target, they had one pack of photo paper and it was crazy expensive, so I went to micro center. That one was just as expensive. So finally I went back to Amazon, which I was trying to avoid, and saw the price 25 to 40% lower than anywhere I had been. Literally everything that I was looking for, I could find within seconds. Not even Best buy has even close to the amount of inventory or variety, even when you're shopping online....

Therefore, I think Amazon has a literal monopoly in the tech industry right now, you're literally forced to buy from them, because unless you have the money and financial fortitude to protest with your wallet, you're going to be buying from them. There's no other choice. They have so aggressively and dominantly taken over the supply chain market that no other tech company can currently compete with them in any aspect at all. You will be paying 40 to 50% more on everything by cutting out Amazon, and no one has the money for that anymore unless you're upper middle class or above

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 3 weeks ago

It's not just the tech industry, it's most industries. They have tons of inventory of everything.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I am fortunate to live in a country where amazon is not strong and we have aggregated search engines that over all the small shops, compete against Amazon on selection and cost, often beating it. I hope it stays this way.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Wait, your Canon printer needs a specific type of photo paper, not just generic photo paper that's been around for inkjet printers for a very long time now? Have printers really become that enshittified?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Canon printers specifically are designed to take Canon specific photo paper. Even the drivers on your Windows PC are programmed to understand what those photo papers are, and you have to match up to them. If you use some generic paper, the prints will never come out right.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 3 weeks ago

Canon printers specifically are designed to take Canon specific photo paper.

OP, this is what you should be complaining about.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 weeks ago

I believe they are sublimation printers, which require specific inks and papers. I seem to remeber that they produce very long lasting prints, which ordinary inkjets (even pigment) can't achieve.

[–] [email protected] 32 points 3 weeks ago (6 children)

OP, I dislike Amazon and there are definitely plenty of things to accuse them of, but you're literally describing the opposite of a monopoly. Generally the problem with monopolies is that they don't need to compete on price so they'll over charge. You're saying Amazon is a monopoly because they're the cheapest option though. That doesn't follow.

Again, to be clear, I dislike them and believe they're worthy of criticism. I'm not trying to "defend Amazon" here.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 3 weeks ago (5 children)

You need to read The Amazon Anti-Trust Paradox by current FTC head Lina Khan. She argues that the consumer price oriented monopoly definition is old and outdated in the modern setting. Price is not a sufficient proxy for market competitiveness, and in fact, price is often used to kill competitiveness by undercutting new and innovative products.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 weeks ago

That's a good point. Especially when we see so many things where there are exactly two companies competing.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 3 weeks ago

OP didn't say it, but Amazon also forces agreements with sellers not to list same items cheaper elsewhere online which is monopolistic.

I get the nuance you are communicating though.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Many monopolies form by first using a dominant market position to sell at a price no competitor can afford to match. Choice has already been removed before the "competition" folds or pulls out of the market. The consequences don't happen overnight; you feel the squeeze before the "true" monopoly emerges. Amazon isn't going to sell at a cheaper price once their competitors go out of business out of the kindness of their hearts.

Further, high consumer price is just one form monopoly power takes. Reduced labor power, wages, and worse working conditions are other important concerns, in addition to removing product variety and innovation incentive.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

That's a fair point. Bring loss leader can be a stepping stone on the path to being a "real" monopoly.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 weeks ago

Amazon literally did this with diapers.com that led to them acquiring the company and shutting it down. I'm sure they've done it in hundreds of other product spaces as well.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 weeks ago

Just because they are the cheapest option doesn't mean they aren't a monopoly. They clearly have the most inventory. One store having all of the inventory of everything and being the leader for selling products of any kind, is a pretty big problem.

If they can put others out of business (pretty sure they have put smaller stores out of business in the past), they can become an even bigger monopoly.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 3 weeks ago

"A monopoly is a market structure with a single seller or producer that assumes a dominant position in an industry or a sector. Monopolies are discouraged in free-market economies because they stifle competition, limit consumer substitutes, and thus, limit consumer choice." ~investopedia

Nothing about needing to jack prices up. I'd say Amazon fits the description perfectly

[–] [email protected] 13 points 3 weeks ago

I am no economist, but don't you think this behaviour of Amazon leads to "carrot and stick" and at that point it is basically a monopoly right?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

Bought a RX 6400 for a little windoze game box, and shelled out around 30€ /35€ more at a conventional well known shop here, materiel dot net. Bought most of my stuff there over the years, nice people, etc.

But I couldn't just go get it, it "had to" be delivered, so I paid for that too (I guess you do the same on Amazon), high class delivery or so I thought. Ordered thursday, scheduled delivery "wednesday 8h-19h" so okay I WFH but man better be there every minute right?

Got a confirmation SMS/Text around 12, we're delivering your package today! (No more info).

Surprise, they didnt.

Suddenly it's scheduled "Thursday 8h-19h".

Grrr

I bet I would have gotten my card on saturday if I had used amazon (+30€ too...).

I mean are brick & mortar stores dead now for real maybe?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago

Services quality is down across all segments of economy tho this ain't retail specific.

We pay more, we get less. Entire life is being rapidly enshitified

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