Interesting read. Amazon recently was issued a patent for anti-âshowroomingâ methods, which could be all the more relevant given its recently expanded physical retail presence with the Whole Foods acquisition.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/...m_term=.2051eecb64e1
âAmazonâs patent describes a system that can identify a customerâs Internet traffic and sense when the smartphone user is trying to access a competitorâs website. When that happens, Amazon may take one of several actions. It may block access to the competitorâs site, preventing customers from viewing comparable products from rivals. It might redirect the customer to Amazonâs own site or to other, Amazon-approved sites. It might notify an Amazon salesperson to approach the customer. Or it might send the customerâs smartphone a text message, coupon or other information designed to lure the person back into Amazonâs orbit.â
It seems to me that this is probably a defensive patent, in that Amazon wants to be able to prevent competitors from using this technology, because when consumers âshowroomâ, they often end up ultimately buying online from Amazon. However, who knows what evil lurks in the heart of BezosâŚ
https://www.washingtonpost.com/...m_term=.2051eecb64e1
âAmazonâs patent describes a system that can identify a customerâs Internet traffic and sense when the smartphone user is trying to access a competitorâs website. When that happens, Amazon may take one of several actions. It may block access to the competitorâs site, preventing customers from viewing comparable products from rivals. It might redirect the customer to Amazonâs own site or to other, Amazon-approved sites. It might notify an Amazon salesperson to approach the customer. Or it might send the customerâs smartphone a text message, coupon or other information designed to lure the person back into Amazonâs orbit.â
It seems to me that this is probably a defensive patent, in that Amazon wants to be able to prevent competitors from using this technology, because when consumers âshowroomâ, they often end up ultimately buying online from Amazon. However, who knows what evil lurks in the heart of BezosâŚ