Zappos Bought by Amazon

July 23, 2009 01:20 PM | Comments (0) | Posted in shoes, endless, amazon, zappos, retail industry

What: One of our favorite online retailers - Zappos.com - has just been purchased for more than 800 mil (mostly in stock) by Amazon.com. Apparently, the company will still operate independently.

What They Say:

“Zappos is a customer-focused company,” said Jeff Bezos, founder and chief executive officer of Amazon. “We see great opportunities for both companies to learn from each other and create even better experiences for our customers.”

What We Say: Interesting. We’re not sure what this means for us - we adore Zappos’ huge and diverse collection of apparel; it’s not all about the shoes! But we love Amazon’s shoe site,Endless.com,  selection of clearance priced shoes. So we’re hoping not all that much changes for us! Perhaps the inventory will grow on both the sites? Word on the street is that Zappos is pretty darned hesitant to give up any ounce of control, and we think that’s probably true - which is good news for all its fans.

Your thoughts?

 

 

TalkMarket.com: Amazon with Video

March 28, 2009 07:00 AM | Comments (0) | Posted in site review, price comparison site, amazon, talk market

Talk Market is a super fun online catalog that showcases a weird variety of products, like $15 garden tools and $5.95 chocolate covered potato chips. The categories are very random and include inventions, boutique fashion, unique jewelry, original music, and baby gifts. Then there are a few subcategories you can dig into, including “for the home” and “problem solvers.”

So, okay, what’s so different about this site? It’s got video! Talk Market is basically a simpler, smaller version of Amazon with a little injection of YouTube. Quite literally, really. That’s because the video you watch has been self-submitted by wholesalers, musicians, and miscellaneous individuals. Apparently, you can even submit a video yourself - whether or not your infomercial will get accepted is another thing.

We think Talk Market is instantly captivating and it’s a blast to browse, but we’re not sure it’s something we’d visit every day. After all, we’re budget-conscious and most of the products featured here are not all that necessary and seem a tad bit overpriced… like $79 rock-shaped music boxes. If you’ve got some cash to unload and you’re feeling open-minded, check out the newest products in the boutique fashion category every now and then.

But make no joke - this is no “deal a day” kinda site, or thorough marketplace for that matter. It’s just an Internet version of the home shopping network, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. One thing we do appreciate is that TalkMarket.com provides a good platform for up-and-comers, giving them a much-needed edge in their industry.

Uncle Sam is Coming for Online Shoppers…

January 21, 2009 01:00 PM | Comments (0) | Posted in online shopping, walmart, coupons, jcpenney, amazon

Online shopping may not be carefree (read: sales tax free) for much longer. State governments are eyeballing bargain hunters, like you and me, who skip out on a sales tax by purchasing shoes, handbags, dresses, jeans, bracelets, and nearly everything else, on the Internet. Shoppers should report taxes on these items to the government – but few do.

According to Forrester Research, “online sales were expected to make up about 8 percent of all retail sales in 2008.” State economies are desperate to tap into these riches. New York and Amazon.com have been scuffling over the issue for several months.

Almost half of all US states, and retailers like JC Penney’s and Wal-Mart, have joined efforts to simplify the system of collecting sales taxes online.

For now, most of us can avoid the sales tax by avoiding brick-and-mortar retailers and shopping for clothes and accessories on Amazon, Overstock, and eBay. Already, the online sales tax is being rolled out in New York and a handful of other states,  though, so the honeymoon is over for some. 

In the future, will you be forced to report that adorable Banana Republic scarf to the IRS? Will you have to pay a little more for it online?

How to Shop Endless.com

January 15, 2009 05:00 PM | Comments (3) | Posted in free shipping, endless, faryl robin, amazon, free returns, 80 percent off, Endless

If you ask any fashionista where their shopping weaknesses lie, you’ll probably get one of two answers—shoes, or handbags. Or both. Those two areas are also where, we’d argue, that are worth spending a little more on, in the name of investment. You can save a bunch by dressing head to ankle in Target, Forever21, Gap and up the style factor infinitely by pairing your bargain duds with a really great pair of shoes and/or handbag.

Another reason to spend more on shoes and handbags? No matter how much your weight fluctuates, these items will always fit. Okay, so now that your ready to make an investment, we’d suggest checking out Endless.com for quality namebrand and designer shoes and handbags. And there’s a way to do it that’s the most cost- and time-effective for busy budget shoppers like yourself. Our tips:

Endless has REAL Sales. Endless, unlike Zappos, has major sales on designer shoes—we’re talking up to 80% off. Kathryn once purchased a pair of Faryl Robin pumps for $37.00, down from $245.00 and a pair of Franco Sarto red peep toe pumps for $35, down from $95.

Take Advantage of Free Shipping (Overnight!) and Free Returns. Always. This right here is reason number one to check out Endless.com —free shipping and free returns, every day. Let’s face it, the biggest drawback of shopping online is not being able to inspect the actual item (and also that whole impulsive shopping thing, but we digress). So with free shipping and free returns you’re not risking losing more cash on all those mailing fees. Plus free overnight shipping means minimal time spent stalking the mail carrier.

Know That It’s Not About Cheap, It’s About Value. While there are many worth sales on Endless.com , their general inventory is often still not cheap—but it’s frequently less expensive than other sources for the same goods, like Zappos, particularly the designer stuff, so if you are looking for an investment piece (a classic leather clutch, a pair of brown leather boots you’ll wear for years to come) keep that in mind as you peruse the pricetags.

Always Always Always Click on the Clearance First. This seems like a no-brainer, but even the best shopper is sometimes hypnotised by those fancy “new arrivals” (read: full price) on the front page. If you exercise some willpower and go straight to clearance however, you’ll find plenty there to satisfy, say, your handbag craving—like today, when we clicked and found this Rafe Magedalena Tall Tote (in dee-licious snake-embossed leather), regularly $695, on clearance for $356.90. Okay, breathe—remember, we said it’s about value, not about cheap.

Sign Up for the Email Newsletter. We know, we know, nobody really needs more newsletters clogging up the inbox, however, if you’re serious about your shoe and handbag shopping (and we are) you’ll look at it as a money-saving tool—if you know you’re going to want to pick up those Betseyville Pumps at some point, might as well get the notice that they’re on sale now so you can take advantage of the savings. And if you don’t see anything you like it, it’s really not that hard to click the little delete button.

Find Hard to Fit Sizes. If you happen to be a size 12 EE, your typical shoe selection is probably limited to orthopedic-looking lace-ups or those square-heeled pumps your grandmother is always rocking. Except at Endless. where they offer sizes 4-20, and widths 4A-4E. While we’re not actually a 12EE, we did go ahead and check out the offerings, and came up with, well, some orthopedic looking shoes but also some fab little black ankle boots, leopard trim flats, and some rhinestone-accented evening sandals. Not bad at all.