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Bill Miller, the chief investment officer at Legg Mason…

“Bill Miller, the chief investment officer at Legg Mason Capital Management and a major Amazon shareholder, asked Bezos at the time about the profitability prospects for AWS. Bezos predicted they would be good over the long term but said that he didn’t want to repeat “Steve Jobs’s mistake” of…” quote by Brad Stone
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““Bill Miller, the chief investment officer at Legg Mason Capital Management and a major Amazon shareholder, asked Bezos at the time about the profitability prospects for AWS. Bezos predicted they would be good over the long term but said that he didn’t want to repeat “Steve Jobs’s mistake” of pricing the iPhone in a way that was so fantastically profitable that the smartphone market became a magnet for competition.””

Brad Stone

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Bezos avoided pricing Amazon services too high to prevent competitors from entering, learning from past tech pricing errors.

In simple terms: He set modest prices to keep competition out.

Key Takeaway

Price wisely to sustain market advantage.

Themes

strategy competition pricing

Mood

analytical cautious

Type

business strategic

When to use this quote

  • startup growth
  • product launch
  • industry analysis

Key Concepts

market dynamics long‑term planning

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance profitability with market protection?
  • What risks arise from underpricing?
A Different Perspective

Low prices may reduce short‑term profits and strain resources.

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