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Shoe Fetish
Zappos maps shoe sales, with shoe pictures, online in real time. Check it out. For some reason, I think this is awesome but I couldn't tell you why.
Hat top to Flowing Data.
Posted by Alex Tabarrok on April 9, 2009 at 12:56 PM | Permalink
Comments
The intervals are way too regular (~5 seconds-ish), so this couldn't be "real time" in an actual sense unless there is actually a bottleneck process that prevents completion of more than one order per 5 seconds. But it is still cool.
Posted by: mk at Apr 9, 2009 1:15:42 PM
What's also scary is they give pretty exact longitude and latitudes
-74.6614
40.2242
Posted by: rowright at Apr 9, 2009 1:53:47 PM
I was most surprised by the choices being made...perhaps ugly
shoes are on sale today?
Posted by: Jill at Apr 9, 2009 2:19:31 PM
It is not clear to me that these are actual sales or just offers.
Posted by: dale at Apr 9, 2009 2:51:01 PM
I so wish Amazon did something like this with book sales.
Posted by: JP at Apr 9, 2009 2:55:34 PM
I've seen as long as 15 second intervals and few as 5. Maybe 5 seconds is simply the frequency with which the real time site itself updates, and not any limitations on the transaction process. It should be easy to verify this is you check back at say 4am EST.
Posted by: Shaun at Apr 9, 2009 4:05:54 PM
The location is probably taken from the zip code only and not the whole address.
Posted by: Joen at Apr 9, 2009 5:30:13 PM
Well then...this should blow your mind: http://now.sprint.com/nownetwork/?id12=UHP_Masthead_040909_NowNetwork_GPS
Posted by: Bill at Apr 9, 2009 7:57:19 PM
Zappos uses autonomous robots to move stock in their warehouse:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdd6sQ8Cbe0
It is awesome living in the future.
Posted by: Kevin at Apr 9, 2009 9:54:06 PM
Two questions:
1) How can you buy a shoe without trying it on? Shoe size is only an approximate indicator of fit.
2) Why has Zappos not been crushed by the Amazon juggernaut?
Posted by: anonymous at Apr 10, 2009 1:09:52 AM
I'd guess it's a way to induce you to buy a shoe and see if it turns up.
Posted by: rhhardin at Apr 10, 2009 4:53:38 AM
This is interesting:
http://www.bustachange.com/zappos-pays-new-hires-1000-to-quit/
Posted by: bob at Apr 10, 2009 8:34:54 AM
Kevin -- Thanks for the link to the robot video. That is awesome!
Posted by: JP at Apr 10, 2009 3:24:19 PM
>>1) How can you buy a shoe without trying it on? Shoe size is only an approximate indicator of fit.
Zappos pays for shipping both ways. So you can order the shoes, try them on and return them if you don't like them. No questions asked. In addition, the reviews on the site a actually very useful. Better than honest review that you'll get from a shoe salesman. The shoe salesman is not going to be able to tell you long term durability or that certain shoes sizes run wide.
>> 2) Why has Zappos not been crushed by the Amazon juggernaut?
Amazon did move into this market. They created the site www.endless.com
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Sometimes you have to import flour before you can consume bread. Just saying.
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