> The main reason for asking is that if large percentages of Amazon's growth can be attributed to a rise in consumer debt, then wouldn't Amazon be disproportionally damaged by another recession and/or some sort of debt bubble burst?
I don't think so, and I think I'm a prototypical example of why.
> I know plenty of people who are in serious debt (primarily student and credit card) and still blow tons of money on Amazon.
I "blew" tons of money on Amazon while I had student debt. I bought batteries, phone cases, specialty food items (not even luxury -- in fact, kinda the opposite. Just hard to find.), music, pens, paper, lots of books (especially textbooks), pet supplies, clothes, etc.
I would've bought all that stuff anyways. Life doesn't stop just because you're in debt. You still need to eat, sleep, feed yourself, talk to people, and take an occasional mental break with a movie or book.
Amazon isn't fueling new spending among consumers. It's largely off-setting spending that would happen anyways. I barely ever visit Target and literally haven't stepped food in a Walmart in maybe half a decade. Pre-Amazon, I'd be in one of the two at least once a week.
I went to Target last week and remembered why I buy everything on Amazon. The experience is terrible and, in many cases, you end up paying more at brick and mortar even after shipping!
I don't think so, and I think I'm a prototypical example of why.
> I know plenty of people who are in serious debt (primarily student and credit card) and still blow tons of money on Amazon.
I "blew" tons of money on Amazon while I had student debt. I bought batteries, phone cases, specialty food items (not even luxury -- in fact, kinda the opposite. Just hard to find.), music, pens, paper, lots of books (especially textbooks), pet supplies, clothes, etc.
I would've bought all that stuff anyways. Life doesn't stop just because you're in debt. You still need to eat, sleep, feed yourself, talk to people, and take an occasional mental break with a movie or book.
Amazon isn't fueling new spending among consumers. It's largely off-setting spending that would happen anyways. I barely ever visit Target and literally haven't stepped food in a Walmart in maybe half a decade. Pre-Amazon, I'd be in one of the two at least once a week.
I went to Target last week and remembered why I buy everything on Amazon. The experience is terrible and, in many cases, you end up paying more at brick and mortar even after shipping!