Watch Out! Amazon Is Coming To Get You!

December 4, 2013

With the recent news that Amazon is considering using Drones to deliver purchases to customers, it’s worth considering what effect Amazon has had on the American retail market. While getting your orders delivered by Drones is seriously cool (Will they be able to come down the chimney at Christmas?) there has certainly been a downside to Amazon’s market dominance.


One estimate of the “Amazon Effect” is that the company has created 5,000 warehouse jobs while eliminating 50,000 retail jobs. There’s no doubt that Amazon has created an excellent online customer experience and they continue to redefine and develop new online shopping experiences, but they’re leaving a trail in retail corpses in their wake.


Borders Bookstore disappeared a few years back and Barnes and Noble may only have a temporary respite, with more likely to follow.


The true test of Amazon may come only if there is a customer backlash against the company. There is a simmering of discontent in some areas as to how the company treats its hourly workers. Walmart gets a lot of bad press for this (food drives for their own workers, for example!). Drones or not, the continual drive to keep down prices (and hence wages) may prove to be Amazon’s Achilles heel!

Common Zebra Scanner Problems and Why Third-Party Repair Support Matters

By Tony Alcock • May 26, 2026
Zebra scanners, mobile computers, and printers play a key role in retail, logistics, warehousing, transportation, and fulfillment operations. From scanning inventory and tracking shipments to printing labels and supporting real-time workflows, Zebra devices help to keep daily operations moving. But even rugged Zebra hardware is not immune to wear and tear. Broken screens, failed scan engines, Wi-Fi issues, damaged triggers, and cracked casings can quickly slow teams down. For companies operating across multiple locations, failed scanners can create more than a minor inconvenience. It can delay orders, disrupt workflows, and increase pressure on already busy IT teams. That is why having a reliable third-party repair partner is so important. Mercom helps organizations repair, maintain, and extend the life of their Zebra hardware, keeping devices in service longer and reducing the need for costly replacements.

Mercom Helps You Master IT Lifecycle Management

April 9, 2026
Discover how Mercom helps businesses master IT lifecycle management with repair, asset tracking, deployment, and refurbished solutions that reduce downtime and control costs.
Green graphic:

How to Effectively Manage IT Fleets Across Retail Chains

February 26, 2026
Learn how to manage IT fleets across retail chains, reduce downtime, control costs, and improve uptime with centralized repair and lifecycle support.
Show More