Hey guys.
So I got this email from Alibaba a week or so ago:
I don't really import anything, but have always done research by posting on Alibaba to get a feel for different costs.
I also stay up late, so thought "Screw it. I'll sign up for the interview, and if I don't like it, I'll just quit." I signed up, and forgot about the interview until an hour ago.
And then I got a call on Skype. I felt bad since I forgot about the interview, and thought "Huh, there's other things I rather do, but let's start this interview. I'll just tell her about my friend's business, not give away too many key details, and see where this goes. After all, I am the jerk that offered to be interviewed."
And then she started asking questions.
Very specific questions.
And so I started telling her. And within a few minutes I wondered: "Where are the Alibaba related questions?"
And then I started thinking some more.
And I remembered my friend talking about the future of Amazon. How Amazon is already sourcing products itself and cutting out the middleman. How in the future, Amazon will own the markets.
An that's when it hit me!
"Why the F*ck are they offering $150 for 'market research', and not asking any questions about how I find suppliers? Isn't that what Alibaba does?"
So I flat out asked ...
"Hey, sorry if this sounds weird ... but why are you asking me these questions? Are you trying to take Amazon's model of cutting out the middleman and steal my business? Are you interviewing me so that you can take what's mine?"
And then the call went quiet. Dead F*cking quiet.
And then I came here.
So I got this email from Alibaba a week or so ago:
Dear {My Name},
This is Xenia from Alibaba User Research Team. I am glad to tell you that there is a user research project available in the following weeks and we are inviting you to shape the project together with us.
In this project, we hope you can conduct an interview with us, letting us know how you normally do business with suppliers and your feedback on Alibaba.com. It will last for about 1.5 hours. As a token of appreciation of your time, you will receive a US $150 Amazon gift card after the interview.
This is Xenia from Alibaba User Research Team. I am glad to tell you that there is a user research project available in the following weeks and we are inviting you to shape the project together with us.
In this project, we hope you can conduct an interview with us, letting us know how you normally do business with suppliers and your feedback on Alibaba.com. It will last for about 1.5 hours. As a token of appreciation of your time, you will receive a US $150 Amazon gift card after the interview.
I don't really import anything, but have always done research by posting on Alibaba to get a feel for different costs.
I also stay up late, so thought "Screw it. I'll sign up for the interview, and if I don't like it, I'll just quit." I signed up, and forgot about the interview until an hour ago.
And then I got a call on Skype. I felt bad since I forgot about the interview, and thought "Huh, there's other things I rather do, but let's start this interview. I'll just tell her about my friend's business, not give away too many key details, and see where this goes. After all, I am the jerk that offered to be interviewed."
And then she started asking questions.
Very specific questions.
- What do you import exactly?
- What's your company name?
- What's the website?
- Can I look it up?
- Tell me who you sell to.
- Tell me how you get your customers.
- Do you have a physical location?
And so I started telling her. And within a few minutes I wondered: "Where are the Alibaba related questions?"
And then I started thinking some more.
And I remembered my friend talking about the future of Amazon. How Amazon is already sourcing products itself and cutting out the middleman. How in the future, Amazon will own the markets.
An that's when it hit me!
"Why the F*ck are they offering $150 for 'market research', and not asking any questions about how I find suppliers? Isn't that what Alibaba does?"
So I flat out asked ...
"Hey, sorry if this sounds weird ... but why are you asking me these questions? Are you trying to take Amazon's model of cutting out the middleman and steal my business? Are you interviewing me so that you can take what's mine?"
And then the call went quiet. Dead F*cking quiet.
And then I came here.
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