About this video

• Video Title: The Shady Truth about Amazon Basics
• Channel: Mrwhosetheboss
• Speakers: [None specified in transcript]
• Duration: 13:44

Overview

This video investigates Amazon's "Basics" product line, questioning whether Amazon uses its platform data and influence to unfairly promote its own products over potentially better or cheaper alternatives from other sellers. The presenter examines several product categories, comparing Amazon Basics items with competing products and analyzing Amazon's search result placement, product promotion, and pricing strategies.

Key takeaways

• Search Result Manipulation: Amazon Basics products often appear at the top of search results, even when better-reviewed or cheaper alternatives exist, suggesting a prioritization of their own brand.
• Product Copying: Amazon has been accused of directly copying successful products from other sellers, sometimes even replicating names, and offering them at lower prices as Amazon Basics items.
• Cost Advantage: Amazon Basics benefits from not having to pay seller fees on its own platform, allowing it to undercut third-party sellers.
• Data Exploitation: Amazon allegedly uses sales data from its marketplace to identify popular products and then create its own versions, a practice that has drawn regulatory scrutiny.
• Revenue Diversification: While Amazon Basics products may not generate significant direct profit, they contribute to Amazon's overall ecosystem by driving Prime subscriptions and encouraging the use of other Amazon services.

The video mentions a few specific examples of Amazon Basics products appearing to copy other brands:

• Microphones: The presenter compares an Amazon Basics microphone to another, noting that while both sound good, the cheaper Amazon Basics option lacks features like a pop filter, adjustable stand, and RGB lighting found on a comparable, more expensive microphone.
• Gaming Monitors: An ASUS monitor, with significantly more reviews and a lower sale price, is compared to an Amazon Basics monitor. The ASUS monitor is described as having a heavier-duty stand and better screen quality.
• Everyday Sling Bag: The video highlights a situation where Amazon released an "Amazon Basics everyday sling" that was visually similar to a "Peak Design" everyday sling. The presenter notes that Amazon's version used cheaper materials and lacked the premium features of the original.
• Micro SD Cards: An Amazon Basics 128GB Micro SD card is presented as a less favorable option compared to a SanDisk card with more storage, faster speed, and an adapter, for only $2 more.
• USBC Cable: The presenter compares an Amazon Basics USBC cable to an Anker cable, finding the Amazon Basics cable to feel "plasticky" and less durable than the woven Anker cable.
• AA Batteries: The video mentions that Amazon Basics batteries were placed in front of established brands like Duracell and Energizer in search results.
• Laptop Stand: The presenter mentions "Rain Design" having a bestselling laptop stand that was almost identically copied by Amazon.
• Shoes: The brand "206 Collective" for shoes, owned by Amazon, is mentioned as being accused of copying the design of "Allbirds Woolrunners" and selling them at a much lower price.