Amazon is the cheapest place to shop. Well it used to be but slowly but surely as it has destroyed its competitors, prices have started to rise. Other factors to be in mind that the more you visit an item, the higher the price will go. So never browse Amazon signed in and if you do browse always delete your cookies first.
However, in line with Amazon destroying its competitors, representatives of Britain’s bookstores have made a plea for help, as they face extinction at the hands of Amazon’s cheaper prices and uncanny ability to avoid paying their fair share of tax.
The Booksellers Association, which represents over 1,000 outlets in the UK, said it needs help from the government to stand up to Amazon’s “relentless expansion” that’s putting shop owners out of business.
The group’s CEO Tim Godfray told the Guardian than one bookshop a week is closing its doors (73 in the last year) and more face the same fate if nothing is done about Amazon’s dominance.
Somehow, I can see this falling on deaf ears, or too little will be done before it becomes too late.
Hi Gavin. It seems to be the nature of things, that a monopoly is almost inevitable. We have the same exact case here in New Zealand with the giant online auction site “Trademe”, which has destroyed all competition, and is now hiking fees on auctions to the point they have most likely opened a spot for competition again.
I did a brief comparison between Trademe and Amazon on my own blog, here should you wish to read it. http://www.coolstuffnz.com/2013/05/a-good-time-for-new-zealanders-to-buy.html
Regards
Dom 🙂
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