[anoncow]

An absolute win strategy for the one who employs it (Amazon, countries). It appears to be a lose-lose srategy for everyone else. Is there anyway that Molycorp could have won? Better technology? Is there anything that companies selling stuff on Amazon can do to prevent Amazon Basics from killing them tomorrow?

[WJW]

For Molycorp: seek to become nationalized either de jure or de facto (by lobbying for massive subsidies or import tariffs). A private enterprise will have a very difficult time against a nation state with effectively unlimited cash and manpower.

For the SmallCo vs Amazon example: either superior branding&marketing or protection via patents. If you try to differentiate through pricing, Amazon can sell at a loss for too long for you to survive.

But tbh in either case it is like a third world dictator asking "how can I win" when the US is already invading. You can't, the best option now is to cut losses and retreat so you at least stay alive.

[mensetmanusman]

You know, I would support a law that requires everything on Amazon basic to be entirely vertically integrated in the country that it is being sold in. For example, consumer batteries, where everything is mined and manufactured in the specific country.

Because, if it is on Amazon basic, there is no new intellectual property protecting it, so it should be a commodity that is completely optimized. Companies need to move on and make better things, protect them with IP, and then Amazon can’t just copy it and make it a basic object.

[anoncow]

For the small fry then, the answer is IP.