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Forums - Sales Discussion - Amazon U.S. February bestsellers and general Amazon-based discussion

JSG87 on 21 February 2018
SWORDF1SH said:

 

zorg1000 said:

Amazon is biased!!!!

 

JSG87 said:
Lmao this Amazon v npd chart really puts those "Amazon is biased towards Nintendo Switch" lines to rest.

 

pikashoe said:
According to some people everything is biased towards nintendo. Nintendo game gets good reviews, apparently critics are all biased. Nintendo console sells well on Amazon, apparently Amazon is biased towards nintendo. Some people seem incapable of giving nintendo any credit.

 

OTBWY said:

The Nintendo bonussssss

:P

Yeah it's bullshit and they only say that when it doesn't fit their bias.

 

jason1637 said:
I don't understand how Amazon is biased towards Nintendo. There were 3 times that the 3DS won NPD but lost Amazon. Ever since the Switch launch when it won Amazon it won NPD. So does that mean Americans are biased towards Nintendo?

 

zorg1000 said:

Amazon had Switch winning 8 months last year, NPD had it winning 7 of those 8 months so you are correct, no bias.

I'll repost this

October

Amazon:

PS4 - 71st
NSW - 7th 8th 9th
XB1 - -

NPD:

PS4 - 205k
NSW - 300k
XB1 - 130k

Note: 3 Switch consoles above the PS4 way up the charts. Even if the PS4 was at 10th, it should translate into a 3:1 ratio in favour of the Switch... it's not.

September

Amazon:

PS4 - 47th 65th 68th
NSW - 15th 32nd
XB1 - -

NPD:

PS4 - 305k
NSW - 308k
XB1 - 175k

Note: 2 Switch consoles way ahead of the PS4 and yet the month ended virtually in a tie

August

Amazon:

PS4 - 26th 60th
NSW - 13th 21st
XB1 - 52nd 93rd

NPD:

PS4 - 190k
NSW - 215k
XB1 - 116k

Note: Switch has 2 consoles above PS4 with one PS4 console ranking way down the charts at 60th but only translates into a 25k lead


July

Amazon:

PS4 - 4th 82nd
NSW - 7th 9th
XB1 - 6th 63rd

NPD:

PS4 - 217k
NSW - 222k
XB1 - -

PS4 had one console in the top 10 with one way way down the charts at 82nd. Switch had 2 in the top 10 but still ended in very close.


June

Amazon:

PS4 - 19th 30th 58th 98th
NSW - 22nd 55th
XB1 - -

NPD:

PS4 - 381k
NSW - 215k
XB1 - 153k

Note: Probably well represented this month


May

Amazon:

PS4 - 13th 72nd 92nd
NSW - 12th 17th
XB1 - 

NPD:

PS4 - 187k
NSW - 165k
XB1 - 109k

Note: Could be seen as a Switch win but PS4 takes it.

 

Of course these numbers can be interpreted in different ways but to me Amazon over-represents the Switch. It also seems that the offset of Switch sales leaning towards Amazon increase over the months.

 

To add

RolStoppable said: 
I know that the topic has been discussed a lot previously, but since there's a general lack of interesting threads this weekend, I want to throw in my two cents on Amazon's inaccuracy in late 2017.

Both of those months had major nationwide deals. November had a $199 PS4, December had a $189 Xbox One. Simply put, those were unique circumstances that led to unusual results regarding Amazon being a good indicator for hardware sales ranking in NPD. If those circumstances don't exist, it's highly probable that Amazon returns to being a good indicator, so all the talk about Amazon being Nintendo-biased is more hope than analysis.

Maybe it's hope for some but I really couldn't care less if Nintendo wins or Sony. I bought up data other than November and December that could indicate a Nintendo bias and I'm 99% sure if Nintendo and Sony were level pegging in the Amazon charts, Sony would come out on top. 

This has nothing to do with me "hoping" about anything but simply the impression I get.

What can cause this bias I believe is the demographic of each fanbase that purchase the consoles. I believe that Nintendo has the highest average age that buy their consoles and I believe that the higher the age range the higher the chance they buy online. 

But this obviously goes the other way. At GameStop I predict the bias would be towards Sony. 

 

also...

Comparing exclusive game rankings (The only chance I can get to compare individual formats between Amazon and NPD) over the last 4 months, Switch games often ranked higher than PS4 and XBO games on Amazon than NPD but the same never occurred with PS4 and XBO games.

also... 

On Amazon UK, comparing the top 10 game rankings with GFK charts over the last 4 weekly charts, Switch games ranked an average of 6 places higher, per game, on Amazon than GFK. PS4 ranked 2 places higher while XBO was pretty much spot on.

 

Now call me a hater if it makes you feel better, but I like the Switch. Check my comment history if it really matters to you. This isn't even trying to downplay Nintendo in any way. Why people need to get upset and leave snide comments instead of discussing is really depressing. It's like you have to all have the same opinions as long as it's Nintendo positive. Even this theory isn't anti-negative but people try to make out it is. People try and make out that you are saying the Amazon charts are useless even though I've probably contributed to these charts 99% more than most of the posters currently on here.

Edit:

I can provide the UK Amazon/GFK comparison if people are interested. It'll be a bitch to type out though

 

I clarified things myself and stated I thought when y'all were saying that Amazon was biased towards Nintendo I was reading things a different way. I get it now. What y'all meant was that perhaps more people purchase switch consoles, accessories and games online than in stores which I actually didn't understand ot as that before lol.



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SWORDF1SH on 21 February 2018
JSG87 said: 

I clarified things myself and stated I thought when y'all were saying that Amazon was biased towards Nintendo I was reading things a different way. I get it now. What y'all meant was that perhaps more people purchase switch consoles, accessories and games online than in stores which I actually didn't understand ot as that before lol.

Yeah you're cool. You are prepared to talk and discuss and even understand somebody's opinion even if you don't agree with it. I respect that. 



JSG87 on 21 February 2018
SWORDF1SH said:
JSG87 said: 

I clarified things myself and stated I thought when y'all were saying that Amazon was biased towards Nintendo I was reading things a different way. I get it now. What y'all meant was that perhaps more people purchase switch consoles, accessories and games online than in stores which I actually didn't understand ot as that before lol.

Yeah you're cool. You are prepared to talk and discuss and even understand somebody's opinion even if you don't agree with it. I respect that. 

 

Oh no I agree with your opinion. I'm just a dumbass that didn't get what you were saying aha



Insidb on 21 February 2018

 

JSG87 said:
SWORDF1SH said:

Yeah you're cool. You are prepared to talk and discuss and even understand somebody's opinion even if you don't agree with it. I respect that. 

 

Oh no I agree with your opinion. I'm just a dumbass that didn't get what you were saying aha

Whoa whoa whoa, let's not get ahead of ourselves and exclude the possibility that you're both dumbasses!



JSG87 on 21 February 2018
Insidb said:

 

JSG87 said:

 

Oh no I agree with your opinion. I'm just a dumbass that didn't get what you were saying aha

Whoa whoa whoa, let's not get ahead of ourselves and exclude the possibility that you're both dumbasses!

And you too right? 👌



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jason1637 on 21 February 2018
SWORDF1SH said:

 

zorg1000 said:

Amazon is biased!!!!

 

JSG87 said:
Lmao this Amazon v npd chart really puts those "Amazon is biased towards Nintendo Switch" lines to rest.

 

pikashoe said:
According to some people everything is biased towards nintendo. Nintendo game gets good reviews, apparently critics are all biased. Nintendo console sells well on Amazon, apparently Amazon is biased towards nintendo. Some people seem incapable of giving nintendo any credit.

 

OTBWY said:

The Nintendo bonussssss

:P

Yeah it's bullshit and they only say that when it doesn't fit their bias.

 

jason1637 said:
I don't understand how Amazon is biased towards Nintendo. There were 3 times that the 3DS won NPD but lost Amazon. Ever since the Switch launch when it won Amazon it won NPD. So does that mean Americans are biased towards Nintendo?

 

zorg1000 said:

Amazon had Switch winning 8 months last year, NPD had it winning 7 of those 8 months so you are correct, no bias.

I'll repost this

October

Amazon:

PS4 - 71st
NSW - 7th 8th 9th
XB1 - -

NPD:

PS4 - 205k
NSW - 300k
XB1 - 130k

Note: 3 Switch consoles above the PS4 way up the charts. Even if the PS4 was at 10th, it should translate into a 3:1 ratio in favour of the Switch... it's not.

September

Amazon:

PS4 - 47th 65th 68th
NSW - 15th 32nd
XB1 - -

NPD:

PS4 - 305k
NSW - 308k
XB1 - 175k

Note: 2 Switch consoles way ahead of the PS4 and yet the month ended virtually in a tie

August

Amazon:

PS4 - 26th 60th
NSW - 13th 21st
XB1 - 52nd 93rd

NPD:

PS4 - 190k
NSW - 215k
XB1 - 116k

Note: Switch has 2 consoles above PS4 with one PS4 console ranking way down the charts at 60th but only translates into a 25k lead


July

Amazon:

PS4 - 4th 82nd
NSW - 7th 9th
XB1 - 6th 63rd

NPD:

PS4 - 217k
NSW - 222k
XB1 - -

PS4 had one console in the top 10 with one way way down the charts at 82nd. Switch had 2 in the top 10 but still ended in very close.


June

Amazon:

PS4 - 19th 30th 58th 98th
NSW - 22nd 55th
XB1 - -

NPD:

PS4 - 381k
NSW - 215k
XB1 - 153k

Note: Probably well represented this month


May

Amazon:

PS4 - 13th 72nd 92nd
NSW - 12th 17th
XB1 - 

NPD:

PS4 - 187k
NSW - 165k
XB1 - 109k

Note: Could be seen as a Switch win but PS4 takes it.

 

Of course these numbers can be interpreted in different ways but to me Amazon over-represents the Switch. It also seems that the offset of Switch sales leaning towards Amazon increase over the months.

 

To add

RolStoppable said: 
I know that the topic has been discussed a lot previously, but since there's a general lack of interesting threads this weekend, I want to throw in my two cents on Amazon's inaccuracy in late 2017.

Both of those months had major nationwide deals. November had a $199 PS4, December had a $189 Xbox One. Simply put, those were unique circumstances that led to unusual results regarding Amazon being a good indicator for hardware sales ranking in NPD. If those circumstances don't exist, it's highly probable that Amazon returns to being a good indicator, so all the talk about Amazon being Nintendo-biased is more hope than analysis.

Maybe it's hope for some but I really couldn't care less if Nintendo wins or Sony. I bought up data other than November and December that could indicate a Nintendo bias and I'm 99% sure if Nintendo and Sony were level pegging in the Amazon charts, Sony would come out on top. 

This has nothing to do with me "hoping" about anything but simply the impression I get.

What can cause this bias I believe is the demographic of each fanbase that purchase the consoles. I believe that Nintendo has the highest average age that buy their consoles and I believe that the higher the age range the higher the chance they buy online. 

But this obviously goes the other way. At GameStop I predict the bias would be towards Sony. 

 

also...

Comparing exclusive game rankings (The only chance I can get to compare individual formats between Amazon and NPD) over the last 4 months, Switch games often ranked higher than PS4 and XBO games on Amazon than NPD but the same never occurred with PS4 and XBO games.

also... 

On Amazon UK, comparing the top 10 game rankings with GFK charts over the last 4 weekly charts, Switch games ranked an average of 6 places higher, per game, on Amazon than GFK. PS4 ranked 2 places higher while XBO was pretty much spot on.

 

Now call me a hater if it makes you feel better, but I like the Switch. Check my comment history if it really matters to you. This isn't even trying to downplay Nintendo in any way. Why people need to get upset and leave snide comments instead of discussing is really depressing. It's like you have to all have the same opinions as long as it's Nintendo positive. Even this theory isn't anti-negative but people try to make out it is. People try and make out that you are saying the Amazon charts are useless even though I've probably contributed to these charts 99% more than most of the posters currently on here.

Edit:

I can provide the UK Amazon/GFK comparison if people are interested. It'll be a bitch to type out though

That's not how Amazon is supposed to be used though. We just use it to determine who will sell better based on their rank and not by how much a console will sell more. We don't know the gap between 1 and 50 so we can't say that the 1 console will sell 100k more but it's safe to say the 1 console will sell more.



jason1637 on 21 February 2018
SWORDF1SH said:
SWORDF1SH said:
So are people ready to put the money where their mouth is. Based on Amazon chart rankings and only based on the rankings, how much will each console sell in the January NPD.

Amazon chart for January

Nintendo Switch (neon): #13
SNES Classic: #15
Nintendo Switch (grey): #17
PS4 Slim 1TB standalone: #34
XBO S Forza Horizon 3 Hot Wheels bundle: #52
PS4 Slim Battlefront II bundle: #53
PS4 Pro: #63
Xbox One X: #68
XBO S 500GB standalone: #85†

Nobody????

http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=234568&page=1



Insidb on 21 February 2018
JSG87 said:
Insidb said:

 

Whoa whoa whoa, let's not get ahead of ourselves and exclude the possibility that you're both dumbasses!

And you too right? 👌

MOM, stop using alt accounts!



nemo37 on 21 February 2018
SWORDF1SH said:
SWORDF1SH said:
So are people ready to put the money where their mouth is. Based on Amazon chart rankings and only based on the rankings, how much will each console sell in the January NPD.

Amazon chart for January

Nintendo Switch (neon): #13
SNES Classic: #15
Nintendo Switch (grey): #17
PS4 Slim 1TB standalone: #34
XBO S Forza Horizon 3 Hot Wheels bundle: #52
PS4 Slim Battlefront II bundle: #53
PS4 Pro: #63
Xbox One X: #68
XBO S 500GB standalone: #85†

Nobody????

The problem with what you are asking, and btw this is not only limited to your post as I have seen others try to do the same, is that Amazon rankings by nature are ordinal data. Ordinal data gives us the order of how each SKU is doing but it does not give us distances.Thus, we cannot predict exact sales numbers based on it. Beyond that we also do not know how much the sales would be if we combine the various SKUs together, again because we lack exact unit numbers.



nemo37 on 21 February 2018

Based on what others have said Amazon has served as a fairly reliable predictor for NPD, but it has had failures explained by certain shortcomings which is why I think it is also useful to look at data from GameStop and BestBuy. These shortcomings came into particular view in November and December. These are several factors that I think impact Amazon's predictability in a given month:

1. Retail exclusive bundles and offers: this is one that I think impacts Xbox One the most, because I have seen several bundles and offers available on Best Buy and Microsoft's own store front that are not offered by Amazon. This was particularly true during the holidays when Amazon did not offer the Xbox One Madden bundle nor did they offer the ability to choose your own games. This put Xbox One in third-place on Amazon in December, while it on NPD it came in second place. Looking into February, I think Amazon is once again underestimating Xbox One, because once again there are discounted bundles that are available at other retailers but not Amazon. I think this also, to a lesser degree, holds true for PS4 because Gamestop have several limited edition bundles that are not available on Amazon. Ultimately, buyers will buy from the retailer that has the best deals, and if Amazon does not have the best deal for a particular console then its predictability for that system falls. Right now it has not effected Switch too much because Switch has two SKUs and the retail exclusive bundles (Splatoon 2 Switch bundle is the only one I can think that is not available on Amazon) do not really offer discounts. Once Nintendo starts selling retailer exclusive discount bundles (like they did with 3DS as it progressively went through its lifespan), then I believe we will see a similar effect on Switch.

2. Stock discrepancies. Again this is fairly self-explanatory. If Amazon is having stock issues while other retailers have stock, then it is likely that people that might have purchased a system would go to another retailer. In early February PS4 started having such issues on Amazon while the base model was available on other retailers. So we may be missing chunks of data from PS4 during that period for Amazon (the same occurred with Switch in early January).

I think the best course is to look at console ranking performance from multiple retailers at once (I often follow Amazon, BestBuy, and EB Games) to get a decent picture of how each console is doing with regards to ranking position compared to other systems.