Hmmm … Don’t Quite Remember Buying That One …
Prime Cut: Not sure exactly how that package landed on your doorstep? You’re not alone. A recent survey found that 46 percent of consumers admitted to regularly shopping — and overspending — on Amazon while drinking. Gin drinkers were the biggest offenders, spending an average of $82.40 vs. whiskey’s $38.84.
Prime Cut: Before coming up with a promotion, take in this less good news for retailers: Nearly half of respondents ended up returning their purchases.
MAY I PRESENT
The most epic drunk purchase in the history of drunk purchases. #Barbie #AmeliaEarhart pic.twitter.com/66FadzZ0mK
— Patti Murin (@PattiMurin) May 12, 2018
See the full story on CNBC.
Read Before You Click
Prime Cut: Bots and click farms are attempting to wreak havoc on Amazon’s algorithms and search rankings, flooding the site with fake reviews and ratings to boost competing products.
TWICE Take: This is a new chapter in an old story for Amazon, as it continues to combat counterfeits of both the product and the content variety. While it likely comes as small comfort to the companies affected, Amazon said a recent review determined that less than 1 percent of its reviews were fake.
See the full story in The Wall Street Journal.
Prime Day Is Bad For Amazon’s Brand …
Prime Cut: … Or so says one marketer, who suggests that the overextended, all-encompassing Prime Day will end up diluting the Amazon brand, much in the way that Black Thanksgiving has diluted Black Friday.
TWICE Take: Not sure we can get on board with this theory, but we do appreciate the suggestion of altering it to a “Prime is Personal” promotion that would offer more of this:
The best coffee machine deals on Amazon Prime Day https://t.co/HUQBOw4quy pic.twitter.com/OoQJBMhg7m
— TechRadar (@techradar) July 18, 2018
and less of this.
Clearly I’m a little salty about this. I was excited too. @amazon #primedayfail #salty #shakeitlikeapeppershaker #aintgotnosalt pic.twitter.com/LgpwjnGPfr
— ⓣⓡⓐⓒⓔⓨ (@tracey_lynne12) July 20, 2018
See the full story on TNW
Amazon Stuns (Again)
Prime Cut: It was another monumental quarter for Amazon, which reported a 39 percent increase in revenue, to $52.9 billion. Profits hit $2.5 billion, up from $197 million in the year-ago period.
TWICE Take: Wall Street rejoiced, with research analysts noting that the company is accelerating even more quickly than expected. Daniel Ives, head of technology research at GBH Insights, said the overlap between Whole Foods and Prime members offers a “golden opportunity” for Amazon to increase both retail sales and Prime members.
See the full story on CNBC.
Sure, The Music Is Great, But …
Prime Cut: An overwhelming number of Amazon Prime members cited free two-shipping as the primary reason they subscribe, according to a recent study from The Diffusion Group (TDG). Just 11 percent named Prime Video, while a collective 10 percent cited Prime Music, Photos, Reading, Twitch or other benefits.
TWICE Take: While bundled digital media is nice, TDG pointed out that consumers quickly place heavy value on the siren song of expedited delivery. Michael Greeson, TDG president and research director, said plainly: “This is not to diminish the value that digital media services add to the Prime equation, but it puts it into perspective relative to retail.”
