How (and why) to Ramble on your goat sideways
04-27-2017, 09:15 PM
Boost Pope
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Meanwhile, the financial press keep having to write things like "Wal-Mart Stores on Thursday reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit and revenue, as sales in the U.S. market rose and the retailing giant kept a lid on costs. (...) The company issued second-quarter guidance for earnings per share of 95 cents to $1.08, versus estimates of 98 cents a share."
Not that all financial analysts thing that's actually a bad thing, of course. Some, like Jim Edwards, credit unprofitably as being a side-effect of Amazon's sustainable growth and eventual market domination: Analysts Wrong About Amazon Profit - Business Insider
There is certainly an age divide in e-commerce, no doubt. People of my parents' generation rarely, if ever, transact business of any kind in an on-line context. Unfortunately, newspapers are learning that old people get older, and eventually die.
By contrast, I don't see much of a socioeconomic divide in online shoppers, especially among those younger than, say, 30. Pretty much every living person in the US who is relevant to the retail industry has internet access in some form or another, and people who would have been considered completely technologically-illiterate 20 years ago (the pretty girls, the jocks, people who live in Arkansas / Alabama / Georgia, etc) now spend more time staring at their smartphones than at a breasts / genitals of members of whatever gender (or position across the gender-spectrum) they find nominally attractive.
Will physical retail stores ever go away? Doubtful. Or, at least I can't see how it would happen in an economically-viable sense. It costs Target or Jewel about the same to buy milk and socks in bulk as it does Amazon, but their cost-per-transaction is quite low as compared to an on-line retailer who has to shop everything, even if, like Amazon, they actually own the shipping company. Just look at how many online grocery / pet-food / etc delivery services have failed in the past ten years.
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04-28-2017, 12:43 AM
It happens.
I had that happen to me a few years ago coming back from Vegas after a few days out there for work helping teach some schools. I'm glad they brought us back to the gate after beginning to taxi since there had been a hydraulic failure.
A night in a hotel was much better than crashing into the Rockies trying to make the connecting flight in Denver.
I had that happen to me a few years ago coming back from Vegas after a few days out there for work helping teach some schools. I'm glad they brought us back to the gate after beginning to taxi since there had been a hydraulic failure.
A night in a hotel was much better than crashing into the Rockies trying to make the connecting flight in Denver.
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04-28-2017, 01:36 AM
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It is true that for many years Amazon was basically just breaking even, with a small profit or loss each year. This is not really the whole story though -- they actually make quite a lot in the way of profits from their existing businesses, but their goal is take those profits and reinvest them in the company, inventing new ways to improve their existing business as well as expanding into new businesses. They've been quite successful at this.
Profitability numbers are an important data point about a company, but they are only part of the story.
--Ian
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04-28-2017, 02:52 AM
... This is not really the whole story though -- they actually make quite a lot in the way of profits from their existing businesses, but their goal is take those profits and reinvest them in the company, inventing new ways to improve their existing business as well as expanding into new businesses. They've been quite successful at this.
...
It's all part of Bezos' philosophy.
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04-28-2017, 09:38 AM
WTF... a quote from mid 2015, bored and scanning old posts? I stand by my comment.
There's way more to it than if someone has a phone or not and uses it to shop. Access to credit is a big one. No credit no online shop at Amazon big guy. Also, the typical Walmart demographic isn't what drives the Amazon business model. Amazon Prime was a huge driver for Amazon revenue (not necessarily the fees but to drive in further revenue) over the past 18 months.
The Walmart shopper tends to be younger poorer or older/aging at least what I read. The Amazon shopper is tending to be more younger and/or more affluent
Abolutely, AMZN annual cash flow growth has been 42% avg over 4 years and 31% if you take out the phenomenal 2015. If you measure cash flow growth vs sales it's now into double digits which means as sales grow cash flow grows even better. Compare that to WMT.
AMZN Cash flow statement
WMT Cash flow statement
There's way more to it than if someone has a phone or not and uses it to shop. Access to credit is a big one. No credit no online shop at Amazon big guy. Also, the typical Walmart demographic isn't what drives the Amazon business model. Amazon Prime was a huge driver for Amazon revenue (not necessarily the fees but to drive in further revenue) over the past 18 months.
The Walmart shopper tends to be younger poorer or older/aging at least what I read. The Amazon shopper is tending to be more younger and/or more affluent
AMZN Cash flow statement
WMT Cash flow statement
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04-28-2017, 10:57 AM
Going back a few years, Amazon lost money in two of them: 2012 and 2014
They had a positive net income in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016.
People used to tell me the same thing, that Amazon is not and never has been profitable. Their source? "Everybody knows that." Well, the actual SEC filings tell a completely different story than social media and ignorant reporters.
They had a positive net income in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016.
People used to tell me the same thing, that Amazon is not and never has been profitable. Their source? "Everybody knows that." Well, the actual SEC filings tell a completely different story than social media and ignorant reporters.
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04-28-2017, 01:46 PM
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I have to agree with Joe on the "who shops where" thing.
I'm a single upper-middle class white guy. I shop at Whole Foods, Wal-Mart, Target, Amazon, and Ross and outlet stores. All depends on what I'm looking for (even though I'm morally opposed to Wal-Mart's business practices) I'm not going to go to a grocery store to pay 30-40% more for the LITERALLY the exact same item.
I'm a single upper-middle class white guy. I shop at Whole Foods, Wal-Mart, Target, Amazon, and Ross and outlet stores. All depends on what I'm looking for (even though I'm morally opposed to Wal-Mart's business practices) I'm not going to go to a grocery store to pay 30-40% more for the LITERALLY the exact same item.
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04-29-2017, 09:02 AM
Boost Pope
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Self driving cars have been in the news again, with regard to decision-making in an accident scenario.
Here's a game created by MIT where you can decide who lives and who dies: Moral Machine
Here's a game created by MIT where you can decide who lives and who dies: Moral Machine
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04-30-2017, 03:09 PM
Boost Pope
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I find the whole "sign the screen on the credit card machine" absurd.
To prove a point, for the past year or so, every time I have to sign one, I've been very clearly and legibly been writing "Arthur Dent" in the signature window. Nobody has ever caught or questioned this.
A few days ago, my primary card was declined at a supermarket. I call the credit card company the next morning, expecting that I'd been busted. Nope. They shut off my card because a piece of mail had been returned to them as "undeliverable."
Now, for starters, I really wish they'd stop sending me mail altogether. It's inconvenient, a security risk, and as we've seen, unreliable. I have communicated this desire to them many times, in writing (by mail), by telephone, and in person, asking that they please send all correspondence to my email address. Since 1999, I've had the same email address continuously, but have had a total of fifteen different mailing addresses, not counting the various extended-stay hotels at which I've resided for periods of up to four months, having temporarily forwarded my mail.
But no... They just keep mailing me ****.
To prove a point, for the past year or so, every time I have to sign one, I've been very clearly and legibly been writing "Arthur Dent" in the signature window. Nobody has ever caught or questioned this.
A few days ago, my primary card was declined at a supermarket. I call the credit card company the next morning, expecting that I'd been busted. Nope. They shut off my card because a piece of mail had been returned to them as "undeliverable."
Now, for starters, I really wish they'd stop sending me mail altogether. It's inconvenient, a security risk, and as we've seen, unreliable. I have communicated this desire to them many times, in writing (by mail), by telephone, and in person, asking that they please send all correspondence to my email address. Since 1999, I've had the same email address continuously, but have had a total of fifteen different mailing addresses, not counting the various extended-stay hotels at which I've resided for periods of up to four months, having temporarily forwarded my mail.
But no... They just keep mailing me ****.
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04-30-2017, 05:47 PM
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Lots of people seem to think the signature on a CC receipt or machine is a security device. It is not, it is merely you agreeing with the credit card company that you will abide by the credit card agreement.
--Ian
--Ian
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04-30-2017, 10:12 PM
Over the past 6 months, I have been playing a fun game with my credit card company. The game finally backfired on me today and led me through the most hilarious moment of my life. Most people would have been embarrassed, but me, I'm a little twisted, so I laughed all the way through it like an *** hole.
With any story, there is a setup process. Here is the setup to this story. About 6 months ago, I was making a purchase with my credit card and when I went to sign the electronic signature machine, it was broken. By broken, I mean that when I touched the pen to the machine, it went crazy and didn't look anything like my signature. It looked like a drunk 4 year old signed my name for me. It accepted the signature without any problems. So this really made me wonder what I could do to give my credit card company something to laugh about. I mean, they obviously don't review the signatures since they never called me or declined a purchase. For ****s sake, it could have been a stolen card.
I started out modest by signing with a line or an "X". Occasionally I would do last name first. After a couple of months, I became bolder. I wrote goofy ****, drew pictures, etc. Here's a list of some of my favorite signatures over the past few months:
I AM NOT KINGPIN
I STOLE THIS
**** OFF
**** YOU
WALMART SUCKS
CALL ME
CROTCHY CROTCHINGTON
MY ***** ITCH
911
I'M A CRIMINAL
THANKS FOR THE STUFF
Today I went the extra mile. When it came time to sign my name, a thought popped in my head. I should draw a picture. But what picture should I draw? I smirked as something completely juvenile came to me. This is a rough drawing of the signature that I provided:
Yes, I know, it's not my best artwork, but I didn't have the time to be elaborate with the drawing. I had to look like I was providing a signature. Right after I hit "OK", there was a pause. The register then said "COMPARE SIGNATURE ON SLIP TO CARD." One thought popped in my head: "OH *!" It then printed the receipt and there in black and white was my *ty drawing of **** and *****. The lady at the register didn't immediately look at it. She asked for the card. I handed her the card and she flipped it over. Then she brought up the receipt and she smirked, but then took a stern tone and said "These signatures don't match."
At this point I was in tears from trying to hold back my laughter. I tried to explain to her why I had done it, but it didn't matter. I probably didn't make sense as I laughed hysterically through the explanation. She then paged the manager and I erupted in laughter. The guy behind me in line got a glimpse of my signature on the receipt and began laughing. The manager comes up and the woman from the register begins whispering to him. I then hear a few words "he drew a *****..." as she holds up the receipt. The manager blurts out a short laugh and then controls it. He turns to me and I'm out of breath from laughing and I'm still giggling like a schoolgirl.
Manager: Sir, your signature...heh...umm...doesn't match the signature on your card. Kingpin: I know and there is a good reason for that. Manager: (quietly) You drew a ***** on my credit card machine. The guy behind me bursts into laughter. Kingpin: Yeah, I didn't think this would happen. I've been trying to see how far I could go with my signature before the credit card company did something about it. Manager: I guess you learned your lesson. Kingpin: Yeah, the credit card doesn't accept *****. The guy behind me now can't stop laughing. Manager: OK, I'm going to decline the signature and have you sign it again. Kingpin: Fair enough. Manager: This time, really sign it.
So I had to sign it again and they wouldn't let me keep my artwork. Those bastards. I had singlehandedly broken up the monotony of their daily routine and given them something that they will be talking about for years to come and they wouldn't let me keep it. They will tell their grandchildren about the guy that drew **** and ***** as his credit card signature.
So I have a plan now. I'm going to get a new credit card and sign the back with my **** and ***** drawing. Then I will consistently use that as the signature. That way, if I ever get caught in the same situation, the signatures will match. That will really **** with them.
With any story, there is a setup process. Here is the setup to this story. About 6 months ago, I was making a purchase with my credit card and when I went to sign the electronic signature machine, it was broken. By broken, I mean that when I touched the pen to the machine, it went crazy and didn't look anything like my signature. It looked like a drunk 4 year old signed my name for me. It accepted the signature without any problems. So this really made me wonder what I could do to give my credit card company something to laugh about. I mean, they obviously don't review the signatures since they never called me or declined a purchase. For ****s sake, it could have been a stolen card.
I started out modest by signing with a line or an "X". Occasionally I would do last name first. After a couple of months, I became bolder. I wrote goofy ****, drew pictures, etc. Here's a list of some of my favorite signatures over the past few months:
I AM NOT KINGPIN
I STOLE THIS
**** OFF
**** YOU
WALMART SUCKS
CALL ME
CROTCHY CROTCHINGTON
MY ***** ITCH
911
I'M A CRIMINAL
THANKS FOR THE STUFF
Today I went the extra mile. When it came time to sign my name, a thought popped in my head. I should draw a picture. But what picture should I draw? I smirked as something completely juvenile came to me. This is a rough drawing of the signature that I provided:
Yes, I know, it's not my best artwork, but I didn't have the time to be elaborate with the drawing. I had to look like I was providing a signature. Right after I hit "OK", there was a pause. The register then said "COMPARE SIGNATURE ON SLIP TO CARD." One thought popped in my head: "OH *!" It then printed the receipt and there in black and white was my *ty drawing of **** and *****. The lady at the register didn't immediately look at it. She asked for the card. I handed her the card and she flipped it over. Then she brought up the receipt and she smirked, but then took a stern tone and said "These signatures don't match."
At this point I was in tears from trying to hold back my laughter. I tried to explain to her why I had done it, but it didn't matter. I probably didn't make sense as I laughed hysterically through the explanation. She then paged the manager and I erupted in laughter. The guy behind me in line got a glimpse of my signature on the receipt and began laughing. The manager comes up and the woman from the register begins whispering to him. I then hear a few words "he drew a *****..." as she holds up the receipt. The manager blurts out a short laugh and then controls it. He turns to me and I'm out of breath from laughing and I'm still giggling like a schoolgirl.
Manager: Sir, your signature...heh...umm...doesn't match the signature on your card. Kingpin: I know and there is a good reason for that. Manager: (quietly) You drew a ***** on my credit card machine. The guy behind me bursts into laughter. Kingpin: Yeah, I didn't think this would happen. I've been trying to see how far I could go with my signature before the credit card company did something about it. Manager: I guess you learned your lesson. Kingpin: Yeah, the credit card doesn't accept *****. The guy behind me now can't stop laughing. Manager: OK, I'm going to decline the signature and have you sign it again. Kingpin: Fair enough. Manager: This time, really sign it.
So I had to sign it again and they wouldn't let me keep my artwork. Those bastards. I had singlehandedly broken up the monotony of their daily routine and given them something that they will be talking about for years to come and they wouldn't let me keep it. They will tell their grandchildren about the guy that drew **** and ***** as his credit card signature.
So I have a plan now. I'm going to get a new credit card and sign the back with my **** and ***** drawing. Then I will consistently use that as the signature. That way, if I ever get caught in the same situation, the signatures will match. That will really **** with them.
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05-01-2017, 11:13 AM
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So I purchased something expensive online. It ended up being defective, so seller issued return with prepaid USPS postage. Because the mail person at work is a mental midget, I decided to go to the local post office and drop off my package. Since it was prepaid, i was instructed to drop the item off at the Parcel Dropoff location on the side of the building. I walk in and there's a bunch of carts, each one labeled with the type of postage used on the package...priority, first class, etc. A lot of civilians coming in to drop off carts full of flat rate boxes, business mail, stuff like that. It was busy.
I felt odd leaving my large expensive package (in it's original packaging showing what it was) in a cart along with a bunch of other free christmas gifts.
I felt odd leaving my large expensive package (in it's original packaging showing what it was) in a cart along with a bunch of other free christmas gifts.
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05-01-2017, 11:43 AM
So I purchased something expensive online. It ended up being defective, so seller issued return with prepaid USPS postage. Because the mail person at work is a mental midget, I decided to go to the local post office and drop off my package. Since it was prepaid, i was instructed to drop the item off at the Parcel Dropoff location on the side of the building. I walk in and there's a bunch of carts, each one labeled with the type of postage used on the package...priority, first class, etc. A lot of civilians coming in to drop off carts full of flat rate boxes, business mail, stuff like that. It was busy.
I felt odd leaving my large expensive package (in it's original packaging showing what it was) in a cart along with a bunch of other free christmas gifts.
I felt odd leaving my large expensive package (in it's original packaging showing what it was) in a cart along with a bunch of other free christmas gifts.
.
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05-02-2017, 02:52 PM
So I purchased something expensive online. It ended up being defective, so seller issued return with prepaid USPS postage. Because the mail person at work is a mental midget, I decided to go to the local post office and drop off my package. Since it was prepaid, i was instructed to drop the item off at the Parcel Dropoff location on the side of the building. I walk in and there's a bunch of carts, each one labeled with the type of postage used on the package...priority, first class, etc. A lot of civilians coming in to drop off carts full of flat rate boxes, business mail, stuff like that. It was busy.
I felt odd leaving my large expensive package (in it's original packaging showing what it was) in a cart along with a bunch of other free christmas gifts.
I felt odd leaving my large expensive package (in it's original packaging showing what it was) in a cart along with a bunch of other free christmas gifts.
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