Zappos: Still Best of the Net?

I hate change. Know that I teach my business and operations students about the importance of change, how they have to embrace change, and that change is good for organizations, and people. But that doesn’t mean I have to like change. I don’t.

So I am worried about the latest change on the web: Amazon has bought Zappos. They are both long time web merchants for me. While I am not a fan of some of Amazon’s verticals they do an outstanding job in fulfillment, the most important aspect of a consumer (and industrial, I guess) site. I am a great fan of Zappos, including their next day fulfillment and free returns. I think their prices are aggressive as well. In fact, I bought a pair of shoes and a jacket this week and they were just great.

Amazon is supposedly going to keep Zappos separate. I just wonder how long this is going to last. Two of my favorite personal supply chain providers are now one. And I am not very happy about it.