My TouchPad Today: Bezos & Hastings - The Dirty Duo of Internet Business

Yes, my friends, Jeff Bezos of Amazon and Reed Hastings of Netflix/Quickster/Whatever are the Dirty Duo of Internet business.

Hastings has been on my "bad" list for a long time. His recent pricing and company split shenanigans were only real-life confirmation of what my built-in BS detector told me when I first saw him on Charlie Rose's program several years ago. (I suspect that in real life he sets off BS detectors at a distance of five miles!)

On the other hand, I've been a Bezos admirer until recently... namely yesterday when Bezos/Amazon announced their new Kindles, and finally decided to make good on the HP firesale pricing of the TouchPad for all purchasers. Ya coulda knocked me over with a feather!

Its painfully obvious what both of these business gurus did will, in the long run, be beneficial to their customers, employees and shareholders, but its equally clear that its a lousy way to treat your customers and employees in the here and now.

Hastings and Netflix did the right thing by spinning off the DVD-by-mail business, but failed miserably at managing their customers through the changes... hence the uproar at Greed Hastings's arrogance. And I'm sure that its been much more painful for Netflix's employees than if a proper change management plan -- or any plan -- had been used with their customers.

Bezos/Amazon's TP price rebate decision was a great move business-wise because it put cash into tablet customer's hands on the same day that it announced the modestly priced Kindle Fire and the other new Kindle models. Brilliant... but by holding out for a month, your customer-facing employees took an undeserved beating on your behalf. Your customers and their money were held hostage for pure, naked greed on your part.

Somehow, Jeff, your proclamation yesterday about the type of company you and Amazon have chosen to be set off BS detectors around the world.

Mr. Bezos, have you met your new roomie Mr. Hastings?

Which of you is taking the top bunk?




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My TouchPad Today: QVC "Made it Right". Who's Next?

Now that QVC has "made it right" by rebating $100+  to TouchPad early adopters, will any of the other large retailers step up and do the same thing for their customers?

Obviously, QVC and other retailers are under no obligation to make a rebate like this, but it does make some sense to do it on a couple of fronts. 

It is...

• probably cheaper in the long run to be out in front of the purchasers who will be asking for rebates and/or making returns.
• a goodwill gesture which will pay dividends to them at a later date.

Beyond those reasons, I'm just happy because it brings some additional public attention to HP's shabby handling of the the whole TouchPad affair over the past couple of months.

This certainly isn't a bad thing.

Kudos to QVC.

Hey, Jeff Bezos, will Amazon step up and also "make it right" for TouchPad early adopters?