Is Amazon's sales too successful?

Is Amazon's 'Black Friday' sale too successful?

'Black Friday' is a day in the US, after Thanksgiving, where shops cuts prices dramatically, resulting in huge crowds, stampedes and outbursts of sale-related savagery. How has Amazon's attempt to bring it to the UK panned out? (Yes, it started on a Monday.)

Not brilliantly seems to be the answer. Thankfully there's no violence, but there might be a few gnashed teeth. Perhaps one reason is that items are put up for sale at different times throughout the day; if you want a discounted item, you have to go and see if it's available to buy yet. What's more, the Amazon site is freezing and things are selling out incredibly quickly, leaving people frustrated and assuming the sale is a gyp, with very few of each discounted item available. (I don't believe that's true.)

This sounds like a great way to get Amazon attention, but not a particularly good way to please customers. It's just my assumption, but for every person that gets a deal, I imagine there'd be several more that didn't and had an annoying experience. Have you used sales to drive business? How did you manage customer expectation and make sure that people felt they were treated fairly?

Comments

Tim
(26 November 2010)

I guess it is like any sale in any highstreet retailer, Oxford Street springs to mind. There is a limited stock and it's first come first served. If you queue up, you get in first. In the online world, you have to rely on your computer and connection.

Andrew
(26 November 2010)

The Amazon Black Friday sale has done nothing but get my blood pressure up. I think its actually done more harm than good. There was a saga of users adding things to basket even if they didn't want them, as a game! Also, the products are going so stupidly quick, it makes you not want to bother with anything. It's up to Amazon to make it work, otherwise you lose customers, IU have come very close recently to staying away, which is not what the company were aiming for. It's not a good example for other companies, but then again, a lot of other companies do the same thing, but a lot better!

Inksmith
(26 November 2010)

I agree Andrew. O Tim's point, the success of a sale should, ideally, take into account the spread of connections out there.

Gem
(29 November 2010)

Although the deals did seem very good on Amazon Black Friday and you could have picked up some bargains I avoid on;ine sales like this like the plague as they stress me out! No point getting a bargain if it means a nervous breakdown to boot!

Caz
(18 February 2011)

Just like any sale, the early bird catches te worm. Good publicity for Amazon!!!

patriciaenola
(04 April 2011)

At university and loving it - the oldest student in class - I have to take care of my cash and I love an Amazon sale - darn !! at least I do not suffer injury - as at "normal" high Street sales I like Euroffice for my "serious stuff" best stationery - pens etc etc but Amazon for the fun of a sale without the hassle - yes Tim yes Caz - treat it like a game

patriciaenola
(04 April 2011)

Mary
(24 June 2011)

Amazon sales are the same as high street. first come first serve. I was one of the lucky ones and got a £100 printer for £30.00 yippee !!!!!!!!!!

Neptune
(24 October 2011)

it's like any other day

EAG
(06 December 2011)

A sale's a sale, whether stressing at your pc or fighting in store, both stressful, but that's the price you pay, in blood pressure, rather thatn £'s, and it depends on how desperate you are for the item..?

EAG
(07 December 2011)

Kitikat
(20 December 2011)

It is worth doing as saved a few pennies on xmas pressies.

Kikatek
(29 December 2011)

I think it's good coz it's always nice to save a little. Like what Tesco said, every little helps. It's great to be able to buy online as you don't have to fight with others on the sales madness and the long queues.

Nico
(08 March 2012)

Amazon's Black Friday (and in general) does well because it offers a range of goods that are cheap and their customers services are really good. So why knock it? Like most people, I am on a low wage and thus I cannot afford to have principles and therefore I buy what is the cheapest.

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