Amazon’s new Price Check app really changes the playing field for local retailers and therefore your brand marketing.
The idea is that a consumer in a store, using their smartphone, scans the bar code of a product they are interested in buying. Amazon then provides a description of the product and an easy way for the consumer to order from Amazon, right from their phone.
The poor local retailer pays for retail space, heating, lighting and sales people, then at the last step before the sale, Amazon jumps in and offers a lower price (because their overhead is less and they have a tax advantage in most states).
Here’s how Amazon describes the app on their site:
“Scan a barcode, snap a picture of an item, or type or say an item name to check prices instantly on millions of Amazon.com products and buy it directly from the app on-the-go. With Price Check by Amazon, you can use your Android phone to instantly compare prices with Amazon.com and its millions of online merchants. All prices are in U.S. dollars and search the Amazon U.S. catalog. Compatible with Android devices with auto-focus cameras and Android 2.1 or greater. Price Check by Amazon provides access to Amazon.com product descriptions and customer reviews to guide you in making informed purchase decisions. When you find a low price while using the app, simply log into your Amazon account to complete a secure purchase. Price Check by Amazon supports 1-Click check-out and Prime memberships.”
By the way, if you have an Amazon Prime Account shipping is free.
There is already a lot of complaints coming from retail groups and others.
This could change everything, again. Stay tuned.