Amazon has shuttered its “cable store,” where it resold bundles of cable, internet and telephone services.
The store launched last March under a partnership with Comcast and expanded to include Frontier Communications in November. Using it, customers could view and compare plans from each provider and leave reviews, like on any other product Amazon sells. It also offered dedicated customer service to packages bought through the site.
Under the partnership, internet service providers could get more exposure and take advantage of Amazon’s user-friendly site, while the e-commerce giant received an undisclosed referral fee.
“Amazon is not only the biggest online retailer and a place where millions of our customers shop every day, but it’s also a brand that’s unrivaled when it comes to customer service,” said Charlie Herrin, Comcast’s vice president of customer service, in a statement last March. “Amazon’s new marketplace provides an immersive online destination to showcase our terrific suite of products including Xfinity X1.”
Problems arose, however, when no other internet service providers agreed to join the cable store. Amazon reportedly held talks with Charter Communications about partnering, and Cox Communications said they “remain open” to the platform, but neither deal ever materialized.
Amazon hasn’t given any details on why it shut down the store, but DSLReports notes that the company’s customer review system might not have reflected well on internet service providers. Customers used the reviews to complain about fees, outages and more.
“If I could give it zero stars I would,” one review read.
When asked about the closure, an Amazon spokesman simply told DSLReports, “Amazon is constantly testing and launching new offerings to innovate on behalf of customers.”
The news of the closure was first reported by Phillip Swann of TVPredictions.com.
