Amazon is doing capitalism wrong

[TitanTiger 22,006]

As a consumer, I love Amazon, but this kind of environment isn't how you should do the free market:

http://gawker.com/working-at-amazon-is-a-soul-crushing-experience-1573522379

[TheBlueVue 177]

As a consumer, I love Amazon, but this kind of environment isn't how you should do the free market:

http://gawker.com/wo...ence-1573522379

I have a nephew that interviewed with Amazon and was actually offered the job he was interviewing for but he didn't take it. When I asked him why he went in another direction he essentially made the exact observation. Obviously, like you, I love Amazon and naively believed that working there would have to be a great gig. He said that every single person he spoke face to face(3 or 4)during the interviewing process looked like they under enormous duress and hadn't slept in a week. He simply felt they were already burned out and too young for that. Having an MBA from Emory makes him a very desirable hire and he had no trouble finding a better fit for him but, I was a little surprised by his experience.

[homersapien 12,684]

I find this article surprising. The average 14 months turnover is incredible. It's relatively expensive to hire and train new employees. Perhaps a negative feedback spiral is at play.

Anyone with an MBA would be wise to be skeptical. IMO, it's far better to work for a company that contributes high value (via their products or services) than a "commodity" business focused on high volume/low margins, regardless of your compensation.

But you are right. As a customer they have a compelling model. It's far easier and cheaper to source items you need from them than to track them down in "brick and mortar" stores. And the more particular - or obscure - the item the more sense it makes.

The lack of sales tax is also a loophole which probably shouldn't exist. I don't expect that to last.

[autigeremt 7,460]

I find this article surprising. The average 14 months turnover is incredible. It's relatively expensive to hire and train new employees. Perhaps a negative feedback spiral is at play.

Anyone with an MBA would be wise to be skeptical. IMO, it's far better to work for a company that contributes high value (via their products or services) than a "commodity" business focused on high volume/low margins, regardless of your compensation.

But you are right. As a customer they have a compelling model. It's far easier and cheaper to source items you need from them than to track them down in "brick and mortar" stores. And the more particular - or obscure - the item the more sense it makes.

The lack of sales tax is also a loophole which probably shouldn't exist. I don't expect that to last.

Mark it down, Homer...I agree with you. OMG!

[channonc 466]

I urge everyone to read all of the articles Gawker has had on amazon all week. They are all fascinating with very similar themes. It's such a shame that some companies choose to treat their employees like this.

[autigeremt 7,460]

I urge everyone to read all of the articles Gawker has had on amazon all week. They are all fascinating with very similar themes. It's such a shame that some companies choose to treat their employees like this.

It is but if the economy were in better shape people could use the power of the market place to force change or take the company down because of their poor treatment of their employees. We need a more diverse industrial economy and get away from this service heavy based economy we are in right now.

[homersapien 12,684]

I find this article surprising. The average 14 months turnover is incredible. It's relatively expensive to hire and train new employees. Perhaps a negative feedback spiral is at play.

Anyone with an MBA would be wise to be skeptical. IMO, it's far better to work for a company that contributes high value (via their products or services) than a "commodity" business focused on high volume/low margins, regardless of your compensation.

But you are right. As a customer they have a compelling model. It's far easier and cheaper to source items you need from them than to track them down in "brick and mortar" stores. And the more particular - or obscure - the item the more sense it makes.

The lack of sales tax is also a loophole which probably shouldn't exist. I don't expect that to last.

Mark it down, Homer...I agree with you. OMG!

Oh I am sure we agree about a lot of things. I like to play devil's advocate.

[icanthearyou 4,468]

I find this article surprising. The average 14 months turnover is incredible. It's relatively expensive to hire and train new employees. Perhaps a negative feedback spiral is at play.

Anyone with an MBA would be wise to be skeptical. IMO, it's far better to work for a company that contributes high value (via their products or services) than a "commodity" business focused on high volume/low margins, regardless of your compensation.

But you are right. As a customer they have a compelling model. It's far easier and cheaper to source items you need from them than to track them down in "brick and mortar" stores. And the more particular - or obscure - the item the more sense it makes.

The lack of sales tax is also a loophole which probably shouldn't exist. I don't expect that to last.

Mark it down, Homer...I agree with you. OMG!

Oh I am sure we agree about a lot of things. I like to play devil's advocate.

The only thing about you that sometimes irks me.

Now that you and EMT agree on something, I believe he is correct. Something cataclysmic is about to happen. Then end is near. The sky IS falling. Well, that's one argument that has been settled today. At least in my mind. I sort of knew EMT was right all along.