Welcome to RepricerExpress’ weekly round-up of the top five stories from the world of Amazon and ecommerce.
Amazon Echo comes to Marriott hotel: BBC News reports that Amazon’s digital assistant Alexa will be installed in some US Marriott-owned hotels, following a partnership between the two firms. Its functions will include ordering room service, housekeeping and providing concierge advice, the firm said. The Wynn Resorts chain in Las Vegas installed the Amazon Echo in around 5,000 hotel suites in 2016. Marriott is reported to have considered both Alexa and Apple’s Siri. A spokesperson told the Financial Times the deal with Amazon was not exclusive. Continue reading…
A tech goof might have just leaked the date for Amazon Prime Day: Lauren Thomas at CNBC reports that this year’s Amazon Prime Day is reportedly scheduled to start around midday July 16 and continue through the following day. The unannounced date was accidentally published on a banner of Amazon’s U.K. website this week, according to TechRadar. Amazon didn’t immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment nor confirm the date to TechRadar. Continue reading…
Amazon flexes its muscles and Seattle backs down on a business tax: CNBC reports that Amazon baulked and Seattle is backing down. City leaders said they plan to repeal a tax on large companies such as Amazon and Starbucks as they face mounting pressure from businesses, an about-face just a month after unanimously approving the measure to help pay for efforts to combat a growing homelessness crisis. The quick surrender showed the power of Amazon to help rally opposition and aggressively push back on taxes at all levels of government, even in its affluent home city where the income gap is ever widening and lower-income workers are being priced out of housing. It has resulted in one of the highest homelessness rates in the U.S. Continue reading…
Amazon sells Australians a way to beat geoblock with Prime: Byron Kaye at Reuters reports that Amazon.com Inc began offering its paid subscription service in Australia on Tuesday, wooing premium users with a way around the geoblock on its offshore websites that has drawn criticism in the world’s 12th-biggest economy. The start of Amazon Prime, which involves charging a monthly fee for free delivery, streaming content and other benefits, follows a timetable the world’s biggest retailer laid out soon after opening for business in Australia in December. Continue reading…
Ecommerce in Belgium will be worth €11.84 billion in 2018: Ecommerce News reports that the B2C ecommerce turnover of Belgium is still increasing, with a 12 per cent year-on-year growth rate this year. This would mean ecommerce in Belgium will be worth 11.84 billion euros at the end of this year. Last year, 53 per cent of Belgian population can be described as an online shopper. Their average spending grew to 1,700 euros during that year, but it’s predicted it will decrease to 1,686 euros this year. Continue reading…
Bonus: Seller’s Guide to Amazon Product Reviews
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