Interesting article, really enjoyed the read. It makes complete sense, the first place I go to buy something isn't google, only after do I use google to search for a better deal if i'm unhappy with the price.

Actually, I pretty much fit that profile. If I want to buy something the first place I usually look is Amazon. Maybe E-bay if it is something I can't find on Amazon.

Yep - the title (of the article) was provocative - but very informative nonetheless!

Google's biggest threat.... Great article and is true.

Google's next move...getting into online retail...just like Amazon and Walmart.

They will copy-cat it for sure.

Good post. Interesting article. Thanks.

Totally true. That's one place they havent gotten into 100%, good post.

This is probably true to an extent, but Google users can count on something that direct-Amazon-searchers can't: impartial reviews, and more importantly, review aggregation, from professional critics and and review aggregators.

Think sites like toptenreviews and rottentomatoes.

These reviews are actually real, whereas the vast majority of reviews on Amazon are 100% bought, paid for and FAKE.

Same here, I always love to buy from Amazon and I search on their site, too (not on Google) for most small items. Just a few minutes ago I found some nice results from an Amazon search for "pink scrubs." However, for some items I do go for more info first. Things like books, I often go to book review sites/blogs/forums for opinions before buying.

Google should partner with walmart and make a huge online store..

That was real interesting. Thanks for the article.

really a great article and it is completely true. After rebuilding my operating system a month ago (due to some unforeseen stupid old problems), I finally added a quick link to Amazon in Firefox because I kept going to search products there. With an Amazon prime account there really is no other place like it.

That's me too. I skip Google altogether if I know it's something I can get or want from Amazon. Why bother with the middle man?

Very interesting article. And more than just Google is afraid of Amazon, I'm sure.

The article didn't even mention Amazon's aggressive affiliate program that funnels the traffic of thousands of blogs, videos, ebooks, mailing lists, etc. to their site.

Even if someone were to search Google - all links lead to Amazon.

The article also failed to mention, as part of the Amazon affiliate model, many shoppers search Google for reviews after they have already checked out the product on Amazon. They are looking for more info or 'impartial' reviews or confirming that Amazon is, in fact, the lowest price. Exactly the traffic Amazon blogs (esp niche blogs) target.

Someone knows what they want, checked it out on Amazon and now they are sitting with credit card in hand looking for someone 'impartial' to say, "Yes, go ahead it's a good buy and Amazon is the best place to get it".

Mahlon

[DELETED]

I'm glad the title clarified they were talking about the "online search engine" Google.

Without the words "online" and "search engine" people may have been confused what Google the article was talking about.

It's kinda like when people say "3am in the morning."

Good article, tho.

All I know is in the real world money = power/control and apple has more money than google and amazon combined.

So a bunch of people are now searching on Amazon, great. But what type of hold does Amazon have over google? Google has more money to invest, more people employeed by them, so google can do w/e the hell they want imo. Also, google has ties way farther up the financial food chain than Amazon does. Google is now striking deals with sony, universal, abc & nbc and they have plans to dominate amazon in other ways.

I just don't see Amazon as having any real potential to compete against a monster like google. To think they do is to severely underestimate googles abilities imo.

What that article fails to see is the flip side of that 20% Amazon traffic. Google has 20% of Amazon traffic by the ba$$s.

Also watch what happens when Amazon runs out of places to hide from state sales tax collections, that instantly levels the playing field online & offline.

Amazon is big, but they don't have a clue about search compared to Google.

I always bypass the obviously fake review sites vying for ranking in Giigle and simply go straight to the source -- Amazon
And I do use it as a buyer's search engine (if I'm buying, obviously).

Google is just a medium to find things i hope after this article Google will think about planning a place like Amazon or eBay.