Amazon will ban sales of Apple TV & Google Chromecast

[satam55]

"
Amazon will ban sales of Apple TV and Google Chromecast

Chris Welch October 1, 2015 01:47 pm



Amazon plans to discontinue sales of Apple TV and Google Chromecast, two enormously popular streaming devices that compete with the company's own Fire TV and Fire TV stick. Bloomberg Business first reported on an Amazon memo dispatched to all merchants on the e-commerce site, warning that both products will disappear on October 29th. New listings for either device are no longer permitted. "Roku, Xbox, PlayStation, and Fire TV are excellent choices," the company said in a statement.

Amazon's reasoning, which is sure to come under a firestorm of criticism, is that it wants to sell living room devices that are fully compatible and optimized for its Amazon Prime Video service. "Over the last three years, Prime Video has become an important part of Prime," Amazon told vendors in an email. "It’s important that the streaming media players we sell interact well with Prime Video in order to avoid customer confusion."

Apple TV and Chromecast users are not presently able to purchase movies and TV shows directly from Amazon's digital store. Amazon has long refused to hand over a percentage of content sales to Apple (iOS) or Google (Android), which would allow convenient in-app purchases on both platforms. (For example, on iOS, Amazon's video app will only show you movies you've already purchased or rented plus content that can be streamed for free as part of Amazon's Prime service.) An Amazon Video app for Apple TV has also yet to materialize.

The move may harm Google's living room ambitions more than Apple's; Chromecast has steadily been a top seller in the electronics category since its debut — and Google just announced a brand new model. Consumers will still be able to purchase it from the Google Store, Best Buy, and other third-party retailers. Apple too is preparing to release an updated version of the Apple TV box later this month through its own store and via a slew of authorized retailers.

Amazon will ban sales of Apple TV and Google Chromecast

"

[huskerbear]

Amazon doesn't have Vudu on their device.... It's all pretty ridiculous imo, Vudu, itunes, google play and Amazon should be on every device and let the consumer choose the one they like best, make the storefronts compete instead of trying to lock you in..

[Jett Rink]

The more I read about these articles, the farther I recoil away from Amazon. If Amazon folded today, I honestly think most of us would just shrug our shoulders and move on the the next thing.

[Scarface32]

Does it even matter?

You can buy an Apple TV from the Apple Store
http://www.apple.com/shop/buy-appletv/appletv

You can buy a Chromecast from the Google Store
https://store.google.com/product/chromecast_2015

Amazon not selling them won't hurt sales. I doubt many people buy these two devices on Amazon anyway.

[satam55]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

Does it even matter?

You can buy an Apple TV from the Apple Store
http://www.apple.com/shop/buy-appletv/appletv

You can buy a Chromecast from the Google Store
https://store.google.com/product/chromecast_2015

Amazon not selling them won't hurt sales. I doubt many people buy these two devices on Amazon anyway.

Are you serious? Amazon is the MOST popular online retailer. Of course it matters.

[cdooley]

I have a Chromecast and it works very well. The fact that I can't watch Amazon video on my TV without buying another device of some sort translates into the fact that I almost never use Amazon video. Sorry Amazon, you lose this one.

[TheDean]

I don't buy these types of things from Amazon so it makes no difference to me. But Amazon has been on a downward spiral for over a year now in my eyes. First they up to $35 for free shipping, then make exclusive prices for Prime members, then they drop free 2 day shipping and now this. 2015 has seen me use Amazon at an all time low. Getting tired of this. If i had Prime, i would drop it.

Oh yeah and making Blu-ray.com remove the price tracker.

[Race Bannon]

Originally Posted by cdooley

I have a Chromecast and it works very well. The fact that I can't watch Amazon video on my TV without buying another device of some sort translates into the fact that I almost never use Amazon video. Sorry Amazon, you lose this one.

That's because Google cripples it. Amazon video works great on Tivo, Roku, PS4, Xbox. Apple and Google are actively crippling Amazon video because they have a competing service and hoping to corner the market on video streaming.

Amazon was one of the first to break the hold iTunes had on digital music -- and Amazon was the first to DRM-free. Now everybody is DRM free on music.

I say let the giants fight each other and we win.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by TheDean

I don't buy these types of things from Amazon so it makes no difference to me. But Amazon has been on a downward spiral for over a year now in my eyes. First they up to $35 for free shipping, then make exclusive prices for Prime members, then they drop free 2 day shipping and now this. 2015 has seen me use Amazon at an all time low. Getting tired of this. If i had Prime, i would drop it.

I have Prime but it's more and more tedious to get free shipping or some items that weren't add-on items are now so it's pointless to buy off them unless you are purchasing something else. We now have tax here with them as well, so that benefit is also gone. I have prime for another 3 months but I may cancel it before it renews as I've only bought off there a dozen or so times this year, versus 100+ last year. Even my office supplies have became cheaper on other markets.

I did in fact buy two chromecasts off Amazon last year. No tax and got them for $15.

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by satam55

Are you serious? Amazon is the MOST popular online retailer. Of course it matters.

Let's see, which is better:

I buy an Apple TV from the Apple Store. It ships within 24 hours for free. 2-3 days after ordering, it's in my hands. The shipper is FedEx.

I buy an Apple TV from Amazon. If I don't have Prime, it ships in about 2 weeks unless I want to pay an arm and a leg for 1-day shipping. Takes around another 2 weeks to arrive. The shipper is USPS.

Yet I'm the crazy one? Get real!

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by satam55

Are you serious? Amazon is the MOST popular online retailer. Of course it matters.

If people want an Apple TV, there are plenty of places to buy one. I highly doubt there'll be a noticable drop in sales.

[satam55]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

Let's see, which is better:

I buy an Apple TV from the Apple Store. It ships within 24 hours for free. 2-3 days after ordering, it's in my hands. The shipper is FedEx.

I buy an Apple TV from Amazon. If I don't have Prime, it ships in about 2 weeks unless I want to pay an arm and a leg for 1-day shipping. Takes around another 2 weeks to arrive. The shipper is USPS.

Yet I'm the crazy one? Get real!

Well I guess you've never bought anything from Amazon.com or just exaggerating ridiculously to make your nonsense point, because everything I ever bought from Amazon has always shipped & been delivered in a timely matter.

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by satam55

Well I guess you've never bought anything from Amazon.com or just exaggerating ridiculously to make your nonsense point, because everything I ever bought from Amazon has always shipped & been delivered in a timely matter.

Do you have Prime, or paid for shipping? I'm referring to the non-Prime, free shipping option. Plus I did say "around 2 weeks" which means it could be more or less than that. Also, I bought enough stuff on Amazon that I KNOW I'm not exaggerating. Stop being an Amazon fanboy and open your eyes to the truth that sometimes, for certain items, it's faster not using Amazon.

[squatting hen]

Amazon is no doubt very popular and I would imagine many people have purchased the apple TV and chromecast from them. Of course Amazon isn't the fastest. I could go right now to a local store and get what I want. Amazon is very convenient though. I am a prime member, so I do get free two day shipping, but according to (I know...) Amazon, 44% of Amazon shoppers are prime members. I just added the Apple TV to my cart at Amazon and it shows I can get it delivered today for free. Again, I am a prime member. Free, standard shipping for anyone shows it will be delivered by October 8th.

If someone wants a Chromecast or an Apple TV they will get one. If I was selling a product though, I would want it available on Amazon.

[bfett9]

Regardless of the fact that you can buy these devices elsewhere the point is, Amazon is a huge retailer, so much so that some who shop online, only purchase from them (older or less informed consumers of course). These are the people who are not going to even realize that apple and google have store fronts.

These are the people who they will lose sales from. Will it be huge I don't know, but I do think that the hit will be somewhat significant, I just can't say how much.

Regardless of that fact I get why Amazon is doing it, and their competitor will absolutely take a hit, and at the same time neither Google nor Apple have the Fire Sticks in their store so there is no reason for them to carry their competitor either.

[Greyman]

If you were hoping Amazon would join Ultraviolet, this is not a good sign.

[Andysol]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

Amazon not selling them won't hurt sales. I doubt many people buy these two devices on Amazon anyway.

I agree with your first statement- I disagree with your second.

I would wager tens of thousands of units (likely way more) were sold through Amazon- I don't have numbers to back it up- but as the largest web retailer in the world, I'd bet they sold quite a few.

Now, if whoever previously bought from Amazon wants an Apple TV or Google stick, they're still going to buy them. They are just going to have to go through a different site now to get it. All it does is hurt Amazon's sales numbers.

[whiteberry]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

Does it even matter?

You can buy an Apple TV from the Apple Store
http://www.apple.com/shop/buy-appletv/appletv

You can buy a Chromecast from the Google Store
https://store.google.com/product/chromecast_2015

Amazon not selling them won't hurt sales. I doubt many people buy these two devices on Amazon anyway.

I agree. Amazon stopped selling iPads (they can only be bought from 3rd parties) and it is still the most popular tablet.

[whiteberry]

Originally Posted by Race Bannon

Apple and Google are actively crippling Amazon video because they have a competing service and hoping to corner the market on video streaming.

Apple isn't crippling anything. The Amazon video app has been available for some time now on IOS and recently gained the ability to watch Amazon Prime Instant Video offline. Amazon was the one crippling the app because they kept that feature exclusive to the Amazon Fire tablet until recently.

[Scarface32]

I shop on Amazon a lot, but when it comes to Apple products I always shop at Apple.com. The free 24-hour shipment is great, the product really is in my hands within 2-3 days after ordering. The only exception is if it's a new launch product and shipments get sent out directly from China, then it takes longer. But anything that's not a new launch product, like if I ordered an iPad Air 2, that will more than likely ship locally and be on my doorstep in a couple of days. Also, I can reserve a product and pick it up at the store the same day. That's another reason to buy your Apple TV with them.