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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAmazon has a patent to keep you from comparison shopping while youre in its stores
Washington Post:As grocery shoppers work to digest Amazons massive acquisition of Whole Foods for $13.7 billion, the digital storefront recently scored a victory that aims to reinforce the companys growing investments in brick-and-mortar retail.
Amazon was awarded a patent May 30 that could help it choke off a common issue faced by many physical stores: Customers use of smartphones to compare prices even as they walk around a shop. The phenomenon, often known as mobile window shopping, has contributed to a worrisome decline for traditional retailers.
But Amazon now has the technology to prevent that type of behavior when customers enter any of its physical stores and log onto the WiFi networks there. Titled Physical Store Online Shopping Control, Amazons patent describes a system that can identify a customers Internet traffic and sense when the smartphone user is trying to access a competitors website. (Amazon chief executive Jeffrey P. Bezos is also the owner of The Washington Post.)
When that happens, Amazon may take one of several actions. It may block access to the competitors site, preventing customers from viewing comparable products from rivals. It might redirect the customer to Amazons own site or to other, Amazon-approved sites. It might notify an Amazon salesperson to approach the customer. Or it might send the customers smartphone a text message, coupon or other information designed to lure the person back into Amazons orbit.
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I wonder if they have a patent to stop you from walking out.
herding cats
(19,549 posts)Problem solved.
Egnever
(21,506 posts)Several stores I visit offer free WiFi that ends up being completely useless. My fix every time is to turn off WiFi and see my mobile connection.
My guess is despite the conspiracy theory what they are actually trying to do is advertise directly to you when you are on their WiFi.
Bradical79
(4,490 posts)Depending on how many custoners go through their stores, even getting something like 5% of comparison shoppers to purchase from Amazon who weren't going to might translate to millions of dollars.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)You stop reading right there LOL
dalton99a
(81,065 posts)Orrex
(63,084 posts)But they spell it "pätënt."
dalton99a
(81,065 posts)Initech
(99,912 posts)All they're doing is just aggravating the "consumer" at this point. What do they need all our information for? Why are they doing this crap? It's just to make us more annoyed.
GoneRonin
(25 posts)This seems like a patent that is filed to prevent others/other stores from putting something like this in place....
hlthe2b
(101,714 posts)msongs
(67,193 posts)Lee-Lee
(6,324 posts)Pretty simple to evade.
And I don't really have a problem with a company who is giving you free wifi not wanting you to use that to buy from their competitors. That would be like meeting the salesman from the Ford dealer at the Toyota dealership and using their waiting room and drinking their coffee while sealing a deal.
Cal Carpenter
(4,959 posts)to check Amazon prices.
Worktodo
(288 posts)This means that Amazon can sue any retailer that blocks access to Amazon's site.
From what little I know it should have been rejected for being obvious and not novel. Web filters have existed forever for objectionable content. This is just applying the same concept to a different content type.
dembotoz
(16,737 posts)if you are at whole foods you are paying too much....there you go....no internet needed
ananda
(28,782 posts)My hate for Amazon knows no bounds ever since
they started using Pantry for Prime members.
Now it's even stronger, if that's possible!
crazycatlady
(4,492 posts)I don't know how many times I've been in stores only to find an item cheaper on Amazon (sometimes not the same exact item, and sometimes it is substantially cheaper).