Amazon's Shipping Genius

Great idea.

Some other converted businesses include
turning old theaters and mansions into hotels
Turning old schools and factories into 'haunted houses' Halloween time.
..anything that is made into a museum sort of falls I to that category, as well

Originally Posted by Ankesh

I was just reading this.

Amazon is testing a new shipping idea. Instead of shipping the goods to your home - where you may or may not be present when the postman delivers - they will ship the products to your nearest 7-11. 7-11 will install special delivery lockers in their stores.

Once amazon has done the delivery, they will send you a code.

You go to the 7-11 with your code. The code opens the locker and you can retrieve your products.

Not sure how well this idea will work. (There maybe a legal concern too - where amazon does not want to own property in many states because of sales tax issues - and these lockers may be considered amazon property.)

But the idea itself is ingenious. Because Amazon is thinking of how to convert one of its biggest expenses - shipping the products - into a revenue stream. 7-11 will pay them a fee for doing the delivery there because it means more traffic to their stores!

Can you think of any such stories where an expense has been converted into a revenue stream?

Another story I can think of:
Hershey's factories converted into tourist destinations.
Any more?