When you say "we eventually pay for that loss" it sounds like something bad is going to happen. But I don't see it.

The outcome was good for Amazon. By playing hardball they absorbed a growing threat to one of their spaces.

The outcome was good for Quidsi. Maybe their dream was to grow into a successful independent online retailer, but getting a good chunk of a billion dollars instead is a pretty decent second place.

You shareholders might be in a position to complain, seeing Amazon throwing cash and diapers out the door, but I see no tears.

That leaves just us, online retail customers, as potential victims. But many customers already benefitted from Amazon's scorched-earth price war. We are already ahead. I don't see how Amazon or anyone else can make us "eventually pay." Amazon didn't get to be a juggernaut by making customers pay more.

What if Amazon gobbles up Wal-Mart and Costco and Target and the rest (a big quidsi indeed) -- so they can finally raise prices and profits? All we need is a couple of guys and a goofy Latin d.b.a. name to rescue us.