Amazon Basic Info

What is Amazon?

You must have heard of Amazon, which is a multinational technology company based in Seattle, Washington, in the United States. 

The company was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos and has since grown to become one of the largest and most valuable companies in the world. It began as an online bookstore but quickly diversified to sell a wide variety of consumer goods and digital media as well as its own electronic devices, such as the Kindle e-reader and the Echo smart speaker. 

The company is primarily known for its online retail platform, which offers a wide range of products, including books, electronics, clothing, and more. It specializes in e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. 

Amazon is one of the world's largest online retailers and one of the most valuable companies globally.

The company operates through three primary business segments: North America, International, and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The North America segment incorporates retail sales of customer products and memberships through North America-centered sites, for example, www.amazon.com and www.amazon.ca. The international segment incorporates retail sales of customer products and memberships through internationally focused websites. The AWS segment includes global sales of compute, storage, databases, and other AWS service offerings for start-ups, enterprises, government agencies, and academic institutions.

Amazon also owns and operates a number of subsidiaries, including Whole Foods Market, an American supermarket chain that specializes in selling organic and specialty foods, and Twitch, a live streaming platform for gamers and other creators. The company has also invested in various other companies, such as Deliveroo, a British online food delivery company, and Ring, a smart doorbell and home security company.

What services does Amazon provide? 

Amazon is a multinational tech company and is one of the most popular and widely used companies that offers a wide range of products and services. Some of the main services that Amazon provides include:

• Amazon Prime: This is a subscription service offered by Amazon that provides customers with free, fast shipping on millions of items, as well as access to streaming of movies, TV shows, and music. It also includes other benefits such as early access to lightning deals, unlimited photo storage, and access to a rotating selection of e-books and magazines.

• Amazon Web Services (AWS): This is a collection of remote computing services that make up a cloud computing platform. These services are offered by Amazon and can be used to build and run a wide variety of applications and services. Some examples of AWS services include Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) for running virtual machines, Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) for object storage, and Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) for running databases.

• Amazon Music: This is a music streaming service that provides access to millions of songs and albums. Users can stream music on-demand, create playlists, and download songs for offline listening.

• Amazon Video: This is a video streaming service that offers a wide selection of movies and TV shows, including original content like the award-winning show "Transparent" and "Mozart in the Jungle." On-demand streaming and downloading for offline viewing of videos are both options available to users.

• Amazon Fresh: This is a grocery delivery service that allows customers to shop for groceries online and have them delivered to their homes. The service offers a wide selection of fresh produce, meat, dairy, and other groceries.

• Amazon Kindle: This is an e-reader device and app that allows users to read e-books, newspapers, and magazines. The device uses electronic ink to display text, which simulates the look of printed pages and reduces eye strain.

• Amazon Echo: This is a line of smart speakers developed by Amazon, featuring an AI assistant named Alexa. These devices can be used to play music, set alarms, control smart home devices, and answer questions.

Know More About Alexa

• Amazon Advertising: The Amazon Advertising Platform empowers brands and sellers to advertise their products and services on the Amazon website and other sites across the web. This platform allows advertisers to reach millions of customers across the globe, increase sales, and also track their performance.

• Amazon Business: This is a marketplace that offers businesses of all sizes a way to purchase products and services at volume discounts. It allows businesses to manage their purchases, track their spending, and also gives access to analytics and reporting tools.

• Amazon Logistics: This is a delivery service that provides businesses and individuals with flexible, cost-effective, and reliable delivery options. With Amazon Logistics, businesses can track their shipments in real-time and also get access to delivery options such as same-day, one-day, two-day, and standard shipping.

What is Amazon's Privacy Policy?

Amazon's privacy policy outlines the company's commitment to protecting the privacy of its customers. The policy explains how Amazon collects, uses, and shares personal information, as well as the choices customers have regarding their data.

• Collection Of Information: Amazon collects personal information when customers use its products and services, such as when they create an account, make a purchase, or use Amazon's website or mobile app. This information can include a person's name, address, phone number, email address, and payment information. Amazon also collects information about customers' use of its products and services, including browsing and search histories, purchase histories, and device information.

• Use Of Information: Amazon uses this information to personalize the customer experience, improve its products and services, and conduct research and development. Amazon also uses this information to communicate with customers, such as by sending promotional emails or displaying personalized ads.

• Sharing Information With Third Parties: Amazon shares personal information with third parties, such as partners and vendors, for a variety of purposes, including to fulfil orders, provide customer service, and for marketing and advertising. Amazon also shares personal information as required by law or in response to legal process.

Customers have certain choices regarding the personal information Amazon collects and uses, such as the ability to opt out of receiving promotional emails or to control the types of ads they see. Customers can also access, update, and delete their personal information by logging into their Amazon accounts.

It's important to note that this is a summary of Amazon's privacy policy, and customers should review the full policy to understand Amazon's practices and their rights in relation to the company.

Amazon app:

The Amazon app is a mobile application developed by Amazon.com, one of the world's largest e-commerce companies. The app allows users to access a wide range of products and services offered by Amazon, including shopping for physical and digital goods, streaming media content, and managing their Amazon account.

The app is available for both iOS and Android devices and can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play. The Amazon app provides a convenient and easy way for users to shop on the go, access their account information, track their orders, and manage their subscriptions.

Users can browse and search for products, read reviews, and make purchases using the app. They can also access the Amazon Prime service, which offers free two-day shipping, streaming of movies, TV shows, and music, and access to the Kindle Owners' Lending Library. The app also allows users to scan barcodes, QR codes, and other product information to get more information about an item and compare prices across local and online retailers.

Additionally, the app offers features such as the ability to create a wishlist, save items for later, or track price drops on products. Users can also use the app to manage their Prime membership, view their order history, track packages, and contact customer service.

The Amazon app also allows its users to access their Alexa voice assistant and interact with their smart home devices through the app. The app also includes features like Amazon Pay, which allows customers to make payments using the saved credit or debit card details on the app.

Why has Amazon been criticized?

Amazon has been criticized for a number of reasons, including its treatment of employees, its impact on small businesses, and its business practices.

One of the main criticisms of Amazon has been its treatment of employees. The company has been accused of poor working conditions in its warehouses, including long hours, high temperatures, and inadequate safety measures. Amazon has also been criticized for its use of temporary and contract workers, who may not receive the same benefits and protections as full-time employees.

Another criticism of Amazon is its impact on small businesses. Amazon's dominance in the retail industry has led to concerns that it is squeezing out small and independent retailers, who are unable to compete with the company's low prices and vast selection. Additionally, Amazon's control of the e-commerce market has led to concerns about the company's ability to influence prices and product selection.

Amazon's business practices have also been the subject of criticism. The company has been accused of using its market power to negotiate favourable terms with suppliers and to push out competitors. Some critics have also raised concerns about Amazon's impact on local communities, arguing that the company's growth has led to rising housing costs and increased traffic congestion.

Additionally, Amazon's data collection and privacy practices have been criticized. Some experts and advocacy groups have raised concerns that the company collects too much data on its customers and that it uses this data to influence and manipulate consumer behavior. They also point out that Amazon has not been transparent enough about how it uses the data it collects, which has led to concerns about how it's being used and who has access to it.

It's also worth noting that Amazon's actions and practices have been subject to investigation and legal action in some cases.