Again, do you consider the consumer?
The consumer has spoken, the market dictates- Amazon wins, small businesses lose, so does that mean it's a good thing? Long term? Sure some small businesses thrive with new distribution, no question. Want to buy a book or a 200 watt gas generator than comes in a crate- sure Amazon has it. Amazing really.
Amazon does a great job, the search is great, logistics is great. But I am not a lazy American sitting around clicking and shopping on some items. Sometimes I want to walk in and look at things before I make a decision. I can't argue with how well they operate or what they offer other than being the
only option. There will be only frustrated consumers if the lousy QC from Chinese imported crap continues as it is on some products, I had several things come in that were out of spec, unusable- that's life. Amazon just takes refunds, they don't care or know anything about what they sell or answer questions, they let hear say and "reviews", real or fake do their bidding. Irrelevant to you, I cannot return anything from outside the US either as it is a nightmare, and not cost effective. I have to have somebody mule it back for me. The company employs box stuffers, who can you call to ask technical pre-sale questions?
Retail in some cases like say Consumer electronics- has turned to the same- Bestbuy and other chain stores for years has had less than knowledgeable employees. Lot's of bad information with all the PC and accessories and building I did in years past.
What happens when there are no alternatives?
Amazon will wipe out much of retail, it already has. Companies that are in small towns, with mandated govt overreach just called it a day. Some small companies adapted though. A friend has a dress shop in the mall, a few years back things changed in consumer behavior, so she no longer bothers focusing on selling dresses since women seem to buy their formal prom and wedding dresses online- online or from Amazon. They arrive, and don't fit all the time. So she charges to modify them to fit. She used to have good employees, now this current generation is nothing but frustration. Going to close and retire next year when Medicare kicks in.
Amazon competes with it's own commodity customers. I gave you the Paint Ball example earlier this year. I have another acquaintance that sells online guitar lessons and bitches because of no Amazon search visibility mixed in with all the other hundreds of competing, cheaper lessons- not as good as theirs.
I bought a bunch of Electronic components and had them shipped down south to me from Ebay and Amazon. Fulfilled by Amazon, arrived as ordered but quality was semi usable. I cannot go down the street to order those parts, I tried and when I could get what I needed, when I have they are same chinese crap quality locally. Cannot find brand components reasonable locally or on Amazon, and minimum orders with distributors don't work.