Welcome to RepricerExpress’ weekly round-up of the top five stories from the world of Amazon and ecommerce.
Google Amazon row leads to restricted YouTube access: Leo Kelion at BBC News reports that Google plans to stop Amazon’s Fire TV streaming devices being able to use YouTube from the start of 2018. The search giant has also blocked a workaround that Amazon introduced to restore YouTube access to a screen-based version of its smart speaker. Experts say the steps mark an escalation of a business row in which consumers have been caught up in the fallout. Amazon had previously stopped selling several of Google’s hardware products. Continue reading…
Amazon’s arrival set to shake up Australia’s retail sector: BBC News reports that Amazon has made its long-awaited entry into Australia, in a move that could have ramifications for the country’s A$300bn (£171bn) retail sector. Online shopping makes up a relatively small – but growing – proportion of retail sales in Australia. Geography, poor infrastructure and firms slow to adapt to ecommerce have held the sector back. Australia’s retail industry association said Amazon would help local firms by providing a new sales platform. Continue reading…
Amazon launches its subscription-based Prime service in Singapore: Fortune reports that Amazon has launched its subscription-based Prime service in Singapore that provides access to fast shipping, streaming and gaming, intensifying competition with incumbent rival Alibaba-backed Lazada in Southeast Asia. In July, the ecommerce giant made its biggest push into Southeast Asia by launching a free two-hour delivery service in the city-state, marking its first head-on battle with Chinese rival Alibaba. Continue reading…
When will you stop shipping for Christmas 2017? Dan Wilson at Tamebay reports with Christmas Day landing on a Monday this year, the last guaranteed delivery dates by shipping firms will be slightly earlier than usual. Royal Mail, for instance, is offering a last first class date of 21st December. One possible winner will be Amazon by extension marketplace sellers utilising Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA). Doubtless, the Amazon machine will keep on whirring until the last possible moment and in Prime Now areas Christmas Eve deliveries will keep on going, very possibly, into the evening. Continue reading…
Amazon cancels pharma license application in Maine: Meg Tirrell at CNBC reports that Amazon appears to have cancelled a pharmaceutical wholesaler application in the state of Maine raising further questions about the tech giant’s plans to enter the pharmacy space. The news that Amazon had acquired wholesale pharmacy licenses in multiple states, first reported in October, heightened already intense speculation that the company planned to compete in prescription drugs. But experts soon pointed out that the licenses didn’t enable Amazon to distribute prescription medicines. Continue reading…
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