Manufacturers Should Sell Directly To Cutomers Online

[Hobby]

Amazon is taking over the sells from in store purchasing. Amazon buys the products or has agreement to market the product.  So why don't manufacturers sell their products online and cut out the distributors and middle man which would lower the product price.

[HighStepper]

Are you asking why manufactures don't use the the Amazon platform to sell their products? Or are you asking why don't manufactures bypass Amazon and sell direcectly to consumers via their own website?

[Valida]

Are you asking why manufactures don't use the the Amazon platform to sell their products? Or are you asking why don't manufactures bypass Amazon and sell direcectly to consumers via their own website?

Doesn't matter which question.  "Should" is the problem with the assertion.  That imperative needs to be unpacked as to morals and financials and practicalities and whose interest is being asserted, before reasonable discussion can follow. 

[Hobby]

Doesn't matter which question.  "Should" is the problem with the assertion.  That imperative needs to be unpacked as to morals and financials and practicalities and whose interest is being asserted, before reasonable discussion can follow.

WTF is this?


Stores are closing every where.  I think manufacturers should sell online directly to customers and bypass Amazon and others to cut costs the buyer pays to the middle man...

[bats]

Stores are closing every where.  I think manufacturers should sell online directly to customers and bypass Amazon and others to cut costs the buyer pays to the middle man...

It's impractical because there will always be manufacturers who use Amazon's massive distribution and logistics systems to undercut any manufacturers who try to sell and ship all by themselves. For most companies, it's a non-starter.

[Valida]

WTF is this?


Stores are closing every where.  I think manufacturers should sell online directly to customers and bypass Amazon and others to cut costs the buyer pays to the middle man...

Yup.  You think that.  But what is the basis for that "should" that you assert?  Is it moral, or practical, or financial?  Who would benefit, besides you?  

If there is practical and financial benefit, somebody will get rich by doing what you say, and others will follow.  Otherwise, why? 

[Romanticlover]

Some manufacturers do such as Tesla but most don't because Amazon and Walmart have the infrastructure in place(warehouses  that are setup as fulfillment centers), small manufacturers with a small workforce can let the third party FC handle all the storage and shipping.

[Romanticlover]

Time for a history lesson...

Sears Roebuck started off as a mail order catalog in 1893, there weren't department stores back then and people could order things from the catalog and have it delivered to them. Department stores didn't take off until the 1920's and the shopping malls didn't show up until after WWII.

[Hobby]

Time for a history lesson...

Sears Roebuck started off as a mail order catalog in 1893, there weren't department stores back then and people could order things from the catalog and have it delivered to them. Department stores didn't take off until the 1920's and the shopping malls didn't show up until after WWII.

All of that has changed.  Shopping has changed dramatically from having to go to the store to shop at home.  In the past it would take days or even weeks of waiting for a catalog purchase to arrive. Now you can buy it today and arrives at your door step tomorrow.  I think perhaps the rapid delivery is what AMAZON Capitalize on.

[Romanticlover]

I was just pointing out that shopping has come full circle. First it was delivered to you then we drove to buy things at a store and now we are back to it being delivered. I also remember when it took '6 to 8 weeks' to be delivered(they also charged shipping and handling), UPS and Fedex were game changers in the 80's when you could get your package in 1 week. Amazon has a fleet of planes and big rig trucks not to mention warehouses all over the world, people expect things to be delivered within two days now.

The reason it took so long before the 80's was the USPS was the only game in town, they were slow as molasses.

[Hobby]

I just think if we could buy direct from the manufacturer of the product we would pay wholesale price and save a bundle.

[Zep]

Direct from a manufacturer is usually cheaper.  It's just that you need to go to the manufacturer's location to buy or pay for shipping. Plus the manufacturer has to market his product, develop a sales department, advertise. Somehow, you need to find out the manufacturer exists.

Much easier to just pump out product and let a major consolidator such as Amazon, Costco, Walmart, Target, Ebay, HomeDepot, Lowes,  all do what they are good at.

[Valida]

I just think if we could buy direct from the manufacturer of the product we would pay wholesale price and save a bundle.

Wholesale price is for wholesale quantities.  Easy to get that price if you buy full cases of groceries, or full pallets of toys, or full rolls of carpet, or whatever, then store all that in your own home or rented space until you use it all.  

Is that what you think we "should" be doing? 

Do you do that?

Why not?

[Fathernature69]

Direct from a manufacturer is usually cheaper.

Maybe:  if wineries are any indication, my favorite bottle costs $20 more at the winery than buying at Total Wine.

[Valida]

Direct from a manufacturer is usually cheaper.  ...

Cheaper per unit, yes.  Buy your gasoline direct from the refinery and get a great price per gallon.

But the price per fill-up, per purchase, will be large.  You will have to fill up a tank truck, not just your Prius tank!  And you'll have to transport it across country yourself, too.  And store it.  And have the licenses and permits to transport and store a flammable and hazardous liquid in those large quantities.  

But around here we're told we "should" do this.  What could go wrong?