LongAAPL

Garmin's Future Is Just Too Cloudy

Garmin makes great products and has tried very hard to provide the best databases to go with it. However, their map updates are the weak point in a market where consumers expect current accurate information. How many times will a consumer follow Garmin instructions to a closed business, different business or empty lot before they no longer rely on them. The answer is once or maybe twice but not three times. As a long time Garmin user, I no longer rely on it to find where I want to go, but still use it for navigation. I don't know of any way to tell Garmin when I find an error in their database.

Garmin would be better off working with Apple and Google to:

1. Bring Garmin to the iPhone.
2. Bring Google to the Garmin products.
3. Form a new paradigm in GPS positioning products that provides accurate and current information via live search and updates with ratings from other users.

Consumers have gotten over the amazing idea of navigating by GPS and now expect more from mobil devices. Can Garmin deliver?

Amazon: King of the Retailers - Barron's

Right on! Right On!!
Excellent and timely analysis. Leftfield is worth reading.


On Mar 28 05:56 PM Leftfield wrote:

> Amazon has done an amazing job since a near-death experience at the
> dot-com boom. There they had made the mistake of financing via bonds
> rather than issuing stock and they were really on the hook.
>
> Great execution and decisions since. I have the misfortune of doing
> lots of my business on Ebay and they wish they could somehow copy
> Amazon. So, they have eradicated countless small sellers and thereby
> lost buyers as many do both, favoring large purveyors of Chinese
> dreck.
>
> Jeff Bezos is the founder of Amazon. He deserves the rewards he
> gets. Ed Donohoe (Ebay) is a typical MBA manager milking a company
> for hoped-for short-term gains for himself. Arrogantly pursuing
> stupid policies with his unwise use of power. Calling small sellers,
> "noise."
>
> Ebay is going the opposite direction of Amazon because Donohoe didn't
> recognize Ebay's unique model and strengths. He is doing damage
> to the company and many others livlihoods until a compliant board
> wakes up. Small sellers could be raising needed cash selling to
> strapped buyers needing to save.
>
> This illustrates what's gone wrong with American business. You can't
> justify paying obscene compensation to management that is just hired
> hands. They, unlike a founder who has his all invested, are just
> playing with other people's money.
>
> The results in the entire economy are now evident: Obscenely paid
> management takes risks and plays games with OPM to satisfy its greed
> and eventually gain enough power to bring everything down.