I noted yesterday in my comments about Amazon's proposed acquisition of iRobot that it is the company's use of subscription services that may appeal most to Amazon:
It underlines something really important - and, to competitors, concerning - about Amazon's approach - not just starting or acquiring innovative businesses, but then engineering them in a way that takes customers out of the market in the future.
One MNB reader wrote:
Subscription and replenishment are near-in opportunities for Amazon with iRobot. But think of the data generated. Amazon will know the size and layout of your house, and could analyze things like what kind of furniture, electronics, or other gadgets would fit, for marketing purposes. Let’s hope they don’t combine this with their Blink system, as they’d be able to see everything in your house!
Another MNB reader had a more dire assessment:
This is what metastatic cancer does!
Regarding CVS's ability to get into the primary healthcare business, one MNB reader wrote:
Staff the stores. Stock the shelves. Then talk to me about healthy and happy !!
Agreed.
And finally, on another and really important subject, one MNB reader wrote:
In the Key Lime pie vs. Strawberry Shortcake, I have to vote for the strawberries. The best strawberry milkshake I’ve had came from a little place somewhere in “strawberry-land” on the backroads between Ft. Meyers and Tampa. Also, although the best Key Lime pie is better than the best Strawberry Shortcake, I’ve had many disappointing key lime pies, and far fewer disappointing strawberry shortcakes.
We'll have to agree to disagree on this.
