Internet connected listening devices in your home fail to make money

They are good devices but I don't see how Amazon expected to make money off of them if they don't make money on the hardware. Did they really expect people to say " Hey Alexa Order some Dog Food" And we would accept Alexas choice? They would probably turn up with some Chinese branded dog food toy.
 
Last edited:
sanaxe1 said:
They are good devices but I don't see how Amazon expected to make money off of them if they don't make money on the hardware. Did they really expect people to say " Hey Alexa Order some Dog Food" And we would accept Alexas choice? They would probably turn up with some Chinese branded dog food toy.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly. These are one time purchases, not an *aaS or subscription based model. Once people have purchased them for most rooms in their homes, that's it, they're not going to keep buying multiple devices.

Seems rather shortsighted of Amazon if they were expecting a massive revenue stream from these devices. I'm sure some people will have signed up to Amazon music for it, but otherwise it's a bit of an inferior service compared to Spotify, which I would bet most of it's userbase will be using over prime music.
 
I don't have any listening devices in my home so only thing I can add to this is to say to search youtube for 'alexa whisper fart' :cry:
 
I wanted Alexa to work but I end up repeating myself too often and get frustrated with it.
Since using Home Assistant and motion sensors for my lights, I now barely use them. The timer function on kitchen show is handy though
 
platinum87 said:
Its not a colossal failure, the goal of amazon is to increase its free cash flow in the future.

To do so you need people using their services, and so, you have online shopping, video, music, books, smart devices, now you have robot vacuums, and who knows what else.
Click to expand...

Saying you're doing it for cash flow would be online delivery from supermarkets. I have large doubts doing that is profitable but it could be accepted as keeping market share by making sure you're as accessible as the competition and by being a loss leader since the only way you get to use it is by ordering a bunch of actually profitable product.

But smart speakers are not hard wired to make money for Amazon. It doesn't invade your privacy with radio style adverts or data harvesting due to the law so it's a cheap "smart" tool to the public and a bottomless pit to Amazon.

There's no pressure to use any services that Amazon could skim a fee from.
 
I have a couple of Google's and one Alexa. All purchased for free on those weird little deals that used to come about. We only use it for Spotify and radio. One in the garage and one in the kitchen. Amazon one is just gathering dust.

People try reinventing the wheel when it is quicker to switch on a light with a switch than to say it out loud. :P

Same with ordering stuff. It is so quick and easy to just get my phone out of my pocket and order stuff than wasting my breath trying to communicate with a speaker.
 
I do not care if they fail to make money as long as they do as I ask, which they all do and do well.

Alexa, end this thread.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom