“Amazon.com Inc., aiming to bolster its brick-and-mortar operations, has discussed acquiring some RadioShack Corp. locations after the electronics chain files for bankruptcy, two people with knowledge of the matter said,” Katie Benner, Jodi Xu Klein, and Lauren Coleman-Lochner report for Bloomberg.
“Amazon has considered using the RadioShack stores as showcases for the Seattle-based company’s hardware, as well as potential pickup and drop-off centers for online customers, said one of the people, who asked not to be named because the deliberations are private,” Benner, Klein, and Coleman-Lochner report. “The possible move, discussed as part of RadioShack’s looming trip to bankruptcy court, would represent Amazon’s biggest push into traditional retail. Amazon joins other potential bidders, including Sprint Corp. and the investment group behind Brookstone, in evaluating RadioShack stores, people familiar with the situation said. RadioShack has more than 4,000 U.S. locations and is moving toward a deal to sell a portion and close the rest, according to some of the people. Sprint has discussed buying 1,300 to 2,000, they said.”
“Retail locations would put Amazon on more of an even footing with Apple Inc., which has hundreds of stores in choice shopping districts,” Benner, Klein, and Coleman-Lochner report. “While Amazon’s Kindle has been a breakthrough success, some of its other devices haven’t connected with consumers. Its Fire smartphone didn’t sell well and contributed to a $170 million inventory writedown in the third quarter of last year.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: “Amazon’s Kindle has been a breakthrough success?” The fact is, Amazon doesn’t release Kindle sales figures. However, we do have this:
Amazon Kindle tablet shipments crater, down 70% in holiday quarter – February 2, 2015
Amazon is not a tech firm. It’s a warehouse with a website. Attempting to peddle badged plastic fake iPads and pretend iPhones to the unwitting does not a tech firm make.
Related articles:
Moribund RadioShack prepares to pull plug; NYSE suspends trading – February 3, 2015
After Fire Phone sales flop, Amazon looks to become official vendor of Apple iPhone 6/Plus, source says – October 29, 2014
Amazon posts worst loss in over decade; stock plummets – October 24, 2014
Bezos’ Misfire Phone: Amazon cuts price of Fire Phone flop to 99 cents – September 8, 2014
Bezo’s Misfire Phone: Amazon has only moved 35,000 Fire phones, data suggests – August 26, 2014
Bezos’ Misfire: Fire Phone flops like a dying fish – August 11, 2014
Amazon’s Misfire phone could be 2014’s most epic flop – August 6, 2014
Amazon’s Misfire Phone: Why the Fire Phone will fail – July 30, 2014
Wall Street’s patience with Amazon’s losses wears thin – July 29, 2014
Amazon shares tank after wider-than-expected $126 million loss – July 25, 2014
The Wall Street Journal reviews Amazon Fire Phone: A gimmicky mess – July 25, 2014
Gizmodo reviews Amazon’s Fire Phone: Don’t buy it – July 23, 2014
Amazon accused of bullying smaller UK publishers – June 26, 2014
Why you shouldn’t buy Amazon’s Fire Phone – June 22, 2014
Amazon’s Misfire Phone: How Jeff Bezos failed – June 19, 2014
Amazon’s Fire Phone might be the biggest privacy invasion ever – June 19, 2014
Amazon launches shopping machine masquerading as a phone – June 18, 2014
Amazon Fire Phone’s Firefly feature: Apple’s iPhone already has it – June 18, 2014
Bezos bamboozling bozo.
How profiable is Amazon?
A: It’s Not.
They will be a damn sight less profitable if it opens bricks and mortar shops that’s for sure.
FYI, you’re right in general, but they did just profit $215M last quarter…
Pick up and drop off locations.. That would come in handy.
Send in the drones (sung to the tune of “Send in the clowns”).
So, I would have a place to return my defective Amazon items?
That would be cool.
(to be fare, most of the Amazon items I get are not defective)
So convenient to return items to a former Radio Shack location in a mall near you!
So not a smart move.
If Amazon wants to create drop off and pickup centers, plus Kindle demo tables, it would be in their best interest to stay out of the mall. Their best chance at foot traffic are close to neighborhoods, where Radio Shack sits close to anchor stores like Safeway or Kroger’s.
2c
feels like a desperation move. Bezos is running out of ways to shave expenses and keep his meager margin. Going full 180 degrees to return to a brick-and-mortar sales model does not capitalize on the efficiencies of the regional distribution centers and the steamroller tactics to crush the small local business owner. Let’s see how Wall Street votes and how this play works in the long run.
Interesting video that mentions that Amazon will need to get into brick and mortar locations.
The Four Horsemen: Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google
If the availability of the physical site can significantly offset the costs of shipping packages to multiple locations in the service area and serve as a store/returns site it may actually be feasible. The pickup could be as simple as installing automated storage units so no staff need be present for you to get your package.
There’s a point there! As stated above, send in the drones!
But what that has to do with buying the mildewed old raisin known as RadioShack, beats me! Just rent some cheap local space and skip the Tandy turds.
Hey Amazon! Buy ALL the RadioShack shops! PLEASE! You’re so good at wasting money on crap, don’t stop now. 😛
Bozos thinks that’s where the puck is going