Comments on: What You Can Learn From Zappos.

By: Dataceptionist [from Oz]

Dataceptionist [from Oz] — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 23:38:39 +0000

Never heard of this Zappo’s before, my rock is an pretty pink granite thanks.
Will have to check it out.
I’ve never heard of such a strange employment practice before!
It WOULD create a buzz within potential employees, I’d be interested in getting a job there. If they’re that confident you’re going to love it, it would be like a guarantee you’re going to love coming to work, and who doesn’t want that?

By: Julie O'Malley

Julie O'Malley — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:22:21 +0000

Funny you should mention Zappo’s. I found that site a couple years ago and was blown away. It gives the impression that every shoe on earth is available, and you can see them all (top, bottom, side, front, and back view in every color) if you have the time. Or, you can narrow it down to women’s aqua dress sandals with a mid-height heel in a C width, and see just a few options.

Their prices are no bargain, but they make it so easy to rationalize that with their Free shipping! and Free Returns!

Whether their personnel practices stand the test of time is one thing, but they can definitely teach us all about giving customers what they want and making it super-easy to buy from you.

By: wwds

wwds — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:17:26 +0000

Dave, perfectly said! Your definition of a company’s culture is spot on. Don’t be surprised if I use that line in a future post…I promise to try to remember where I picked it up, too. No promises…half-zeimers here at times…

By: Dave Opton

Dave Opton — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:01:07 +0000

Nice to know that I have helped contribute to making someone else count their coin in billions

That said and while I think there is much to learn from Zappos’ model, for sure, the questions you raise merit more than passing thought as well.

It reminds me of the line I think I saw in a Peanuts strip at some point: “Happiness is different things for different people.”

I have no idea what Tony might or might not do for the shipping clerk or even the burned out customer service person but my hope and expectation would be that there are other things going on there that deliver the message that Zappos cares and values what everyone contributes to the well deserved success that the company enjoys.

As I think we all know, a company’s culture is really an accumulation of words and actions that deliver and reinforce what the relationship is between our employer and ourselves.

By: Zappos.com Entry-Level Jobs | One Day, One Job

Zappos.com Entry-Level Jobs | One Day, One Job — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:21:53 +0000

[...] recruited people to take their first week’s salary plus a cool $1,000 and run (hat tip to What Would Dad Say although it seems like he got a few things wrong judging from the Harvard Business Review article [...]