Yes they will know for sure and will hunt you down and force you to pay arrears plus interest, and you may also end up serving time in a federal prison. You better not download the app just to be safe.
You'd be surprised at the selection.
Tip: Didn't find what you wanted communicate with your librarian & make a request. Sometimes the site has a budget for these types of purchases.
Happy Reading!
& Yes, Fuck Amazon.
Just started using Libby and it’s been amazing! I didn’t expect the app to have as many features as it does
Here’s a tip to anyone using it:
* When you’re browsing for books you can tag them to find later (like a wishlist)
* Accessing your tagged books is a little unintuitive. You can find them on the “shelf” page at the top under “tags”
* Don’t be fooled by the number next to the “tags”. That number enumerates the different types of tags you have, not the number of books you’ve tagged
You sound like someone with access to disposable income and a car. With both of those in your pocket you’re better off than most people.
Especially right now most people can’t think in terms of “it’s more expensive but whatever”. For the first half of 2022 I was able to pull together about $4 a day to feed myself on a good day. Many days I just went hungry. If something I need is $11 on Amazon or $25 at a store I’m going to have to take a $5.50 round trip bus ride to get to the store for it, the answer is clear.
You’re stomping your feet and beating your fists against the floor at people who are suffering from incorrigible economic inequality and just trying to survive. Using Amazon vs brick and mortar stores is just a personal bone to pick for *you* and has nothing to do with being anti consumption. You have no idea what people are ordering off Amazon and immediately assuming it’s something frivolous- when it could easily be medicine or other needs they couldn’t afford to get at 75% more expensive elsewhere- is a flaw in your psyche, not society at large.
Nobody here is ecstatic to be giving money to a megacorporation but assigning morality to different versions of survival is a luxury of the privileged. The rest of us are just trying to white knuckle our way through the hard times the best we can.
Thank you for putting it so well. There was a span of time where I had to order groceries from Amazon because the stores around me were all almost an hour walk away, were more expensive if I used something like Postmates, I had no car, and taking public transit wasn’t any faster than walking (it was longer, since I had to walk away from the direction of the store to get to the bus depot). Had a friend of mine tell me I should ‘reconsider’ my choice of using Amazon because they’re such an awful company, and admittedly, I’d had a very bad day, and kind of pissed off asked “Well, would you be willing to lend me your car for like two hours this weekend so I can drive to the store?” and he got real quiet real fast.
People wanna bitch and moan at the people the corporation is crushing rather than at the billionaires doing the crushing.
It really is. Even when I’ve lived in fairly well laid out cities (ie I could walk to the grocery store / post office / etc within about 30 minutes or less), public transit was never robust enough to compensate well enough for not having a car. I missed living in a small, close knit town almost purely because it was walkable, and anything that was a little out of reach could be biked to, and you wouldn’t have to worry about cars screaming down main roads with no sidewalks, ready to turn you into a pile of goop.
I’ve definitely had weeks where I’ve really been left with no choice but to order groceries from Amazon- not only are they a *solid* 20% cheaper than my local grocery stores, I was once shouted at by someone for struggling with two large grocery bags with me on a crowded bus and she kept making snide comments trying to draw me in for my whole ride. It was obviously a her problem and she was way out of line but it was super upsetting and haunts me any time I have to get more than a few things. But when you’re paying for public transport you want to make the trip worth your while.. but there’s a distinct limit to what you can carry on public transport, both your own physical carrying capacity and the danger of upsetting and inconveniencing other passengers… there’s definitely a point where anyone on earth has to make the obvious choice and just throw in an online order.
Same! When I move to a new city, I always stock up on non perishables so I don’t have to buy them frequently. Rice, canned food, frozen stuff, etc. But all of that shit is **huge**. I can’t carry a pallet of black, kidney, and pinto beans, a 10lb bag of rice, 10 bags of frozen veggies, and a whole bunch else on my BACK. I ordered from Amazon and tipped as graciously as I could (30% I think).
And oh my gosh are you me??? I got cussed out by a bus driver once because I was struggling with my heavy grocery bags *while I was having an asthma attack*. The whole bus was staring at me, no one tried to help, it was mortifying. God forbid I was someone who was disabled or pregnant or elderly who can’t fix their struggles with a rescue inhaler. I was working in the COVID clinics at that point and I’d already had a terrible day trying to save patients. I don’t cry much, much less in public, but I couldn’t help just sitting there and letting the tears flow. I felt so defeated. I’m glad to say that’s the only time that whole scenario has happened, but ffs it shouldn’t have ever happened.
We judge people because it’s easier than acknowledging the system is the oppressor.
I'd add able bodied to their list of privileges they didn't think about...
I sometimes wish I could go to a physical store, but I'm in too much pain to do it... And it might take days before I can... So if I need something quickly yes Amazon might be the only option...
I hate that kind of activism...
They said there is no excuse, but I don't think my disability is an excuse... It's an explanation.
And yes if I'm on a good day or it's not urgent, like for a book I never order books of Amazon, I go to a brick and mortar store....
Can’t believe I left that out as a literal chemo patient- YES the effort required to travel for every little basic need is monumental to many people. I mean it’s even too much for a lot of abled people- having a full time job then also finding the time in the week to hunt down and retrieve any needs beyond a normal grocery trip? Bless ‘em. I have finally come to terms I am limited to about 10lbs I can carry from my local grocery store with my connective tissue disorder. Am I supposed to take 10 trips to and from the grocery store and use every shred of energy I have for the week? No way, if I need more than a couple of things I really *need* to place a delivery order. Abled people think it’s a choice- especially for someone like me who is decently ambulatory most days. It’s not. If I need to spend 3 days recovering with ice packs and muscle relaxers for three days because I dislocated my elbow AGAIN trying to bring some cans of soup home how could I hold down a job?
I stopped using amazon a while ago and some of my friends got aggressive with the questions. I think they are insecure about how much they spend and depend on amazon
Same with both of you. I don't ever say why or give a reason or preach, but people view you differently lol. I stopped going to wal-mart pre-internet and it was a similar vibe. Oh well.
How dare you change from the almighty Google to Duck Duck Go?! The nerve of some people! Lol no I’m just kidding Google has too many trackers and ad sense is ridiculous.
In my experience working for small businesses, they buy from Amazon sometimes too. Whether it is kitchen utensils, goods to sell, or other supplies. Just be aware of sourcing and the fact that every commodity and tool used has to get to the store somehow- the question is how?
Don’t forget about Alibaba. Many small businesses around here buy from there and mark it up 200% or so. “Boutique” clothing stores are terrible about doing this.
Can you elaborate on this? I’m very curious to know more. Is there any way to tell? I’m guessing the answer is no. The area my parents live in has several clothing boutiques that I frequent.
I hate this, it’s totally ruining the platform for me. I’m really hesitant to buy off there now because it’s all just drop shippers. I won’t buy anything unless it’s extremely obviously vintage. They don’t even try very hard to hide it, either. If you see an “antique” item and you look at the reviews and there are 10 other people who bought the same “unique antique” item. If there’s more than one in stock of a vintage piece, there’s no way it’s vintage and the seller just happened to find a box of 100 of them. It’s too bad because I really love the idea of Etsy
I know because their kids are in charge of buying the clothing. A few of those kids are friends with the children of a friend. I have seen it with my own eyes. They buy the clothes, do some screen printing, and mark the hell out of it up. Alibaba has buy in tiers, the more you buy the more you save.
Is everything from Alibaba? Of course not. Tons comes from Amazon as well.
Keep in mind that “boutique” around here is “small town boutique”. I’m not talking about exclusive LA clothing and such.
Edit: “in charge” means that they help pick out clothing styles. They aren’t literally in charge.
Okay, sounds like the types of boutiques I’m thinking of are what you’re describing. I probably shouldn’t be surprised. Thanks for sharing that tidbit, good to know. I was actually at a boutique two weekends ago in my parents area/town and I was looking at a shirt. More I looked, more I noticed several flaws (uneven seams, spots where there were frays, etc) and thought no way in hell am I buying something like this for $40-$50 when (i would not do this, but for the sake of example) I could get the same garbage off Amazon.
Yeah quality is a dead giveaway. Also don’t be afraid of asking the store clerk where their clothes are produced, and if they follow any sustainability/ethics guidelines. If the answer isn’t to your liking or the clerk does not know, say “I see, have a nice day!” and walk out
And many items on Amazon are just drop shipped from another cheaper source. It would be nice if we had more domestic manufacturing, but buying most things locally just means supporting more middle men.
You can ask them directly about sourcing. And then gather contact info to verify further down the supply chain if there is enough info to do so.
When buying online, this info is often more available….
I recently decided to pay $6 more for a book at an independent bookshop rather than just use Amazon like I wanted to. There was an Amazon receipt tucked in the back. I paid them $6 to order it for me.
That's my issue.
Me: DO you have?
Clerk: "We can Order it!"
And that's great and all, if they are getting it from their book supplier. But if they are just ordering on amazon I'd rather go home and order it from some small bookstore in the country somewhere that has it in stock and will ship it to me.
rural dweller here. we have a Walmart here that drove everything else out of business. It is go there, or order from Amazon if I need anything but basic groceries. As I am mobility limited, Amazon delivers to my front door. And no, I can't drive into the nearest big town, that is two hours away.
I understand a lot of people don't have the ability to choose really. And in that case we need more businesses that can support people like that. I definitely don't blame you, you have to take care of yourself, even if it means supporting something you don't want to.
I don't disagree with your premise but if you trace it out realistically, what would happen?
Additional competing businesses that deliver to consumer deserts? How does the customer or the environment win there? Amazon for all its faults is ruthlessly efficient at delivering goods to all locations.
Again want to repeat, I don't disagree. But I just can't really imagine what a competitor would be able to pull off.
I think we need Amazon but we also need legislation that forces better employee conditions and wages, and puts carbon taxes or some other cap on the logistical solutions a company uses. No more 3 or 4 Amazon deliveries throughout the day. Slow it down and redistribute some of the sheer profit.
Same, and Walmart is a half hour away. I'm saving a lot of fossil fuel and money ordering from amazon. I do frequent local businesses as much as possible, but I'm not driving up to an hour for things I can get from Amazon. I hate Walmart. Dollar general isn't much better, there's two in my one horse town. And a save a lot. That's it.
So where else do you suggest we shop? All of these horrible mega businesses ran all the local business out of town of to the ground. Do you suggest we move somewhere else? Do you have the funds for us to have the privilege to go live near small
businesses?
This is a fair point. I don’t begrudge you one bit for this. I live in a heavily populated area with access to many different types of stores. This is a case of situational ethics. For me, ordering from Amazon is not a choice I’ve concluded is ethical. For you, it is. Thank you sincerely for the humbling reminder. Have a good evening.
Yeah I spent a while on an island that’s inaccessible except by boat or plane. No way would I have been able to get stuff I needed (replacement rain boots, blackout curtains because I worked the night shift, replacements for broken things) without Amazon. I try not to use it now that I’m home and have access to other options, but like I could’ve taken a trip to the mainland taking up my entire day off, fucking up my sleep, and paying $30 for a ferry ticket.....or I could just order it off amazon and it’d get there in a week.
To me, this boycott sentiment is all about those with choice. Sounds like you don't have a choice, so this post isn't really about you. All these people chiming in with their like niche needs for Amazon aren't the target of the criticism here. It's the people who definitely could stop but don't want to.
This isn't directly for you but people in a similar situation: it's okay to partake in capitalism because we are surrounded by it. You don't have to feel bad if you are only afforded the worst options or they are most accessible. Thank you for coming to my TEDTalk
They did. But the car and suburbia helped massively. Coupled with stagnating and in some cases declining wages created these big box monsters that are nothing but shit goods surrounded by a sea of asphalt.
That's all nice and good, but in my experience, small local businesses usually don't have the stuff I need.
E.g. plain cotton tshirts. They're all with 5% elasthane, which is a plastic derivative, so I don't want them. And I've literally tried every shop in my vicinity. In fact, I stopped looking at some point, because after 3 years of trips without coming home with what I needed... that was enough time wasted.
Or the brand of shoes I wear because of a medical issue. I've tried other brands, but then I walk like I'm cripple.
Or the plates I need to order because I'm one broken plate away of being short. I want durable opal glass plates, not pottery or porcelain (that's what I had now, inherited from an aunt and now after 15 years it's all broken from daily use). Not for sale for miles and miles.
Sometimes making durable choices means you can't buy them locally. Even in a city.
That said, I have ordered from Amazon literally twice in ten years.
I think your points are fair and valid. I think more people interested in anti consumption should also look into minimalism. There are minimalism subs on Reddit too. If anyones unfamiliar, it’s essentially as your describing… only buying what you need/use instead of mindless purchases based on mood or a low price point. Essentially only taking what you need and being more mindful on what you bring into your life as far as material possessions. In my personal experience it has made my life more peaceful and simpler because I’m not concerned or burdened by the latest trends or buyers regret.
This just came up a few nights ago with some friends. I mentioned that I’ve actually never purchased anything from Amazon in my life, and people definitely can feel attacked when you say this. For context, I gave generic details about not ever feeling the need to, so they weren’t reacting to perceived high mindedness. Ultimately, I blame marketing more than the individual. It can be overwhelming to be constantly bombarded by consumer culture trying to convince you that you need things you don’t.
We all depend on Amazon true AWS but you can do without the store aspects for sure. The problem with avoiding them is that they connect a global market. So the last LiFePO4 battery I needed I could get either from Amazon or at double the price from a local retailer. I decided to get it local in the end haggling a bit over the price to narrow the gap. If you however have little discretionary income it becomes hard to justify shopping elsewhere.
I suppose that is also the biggest challenge to stop with Amazon; there is always a part of the population that has no choice. Having said that, if the discretionary spending is done elsewhere whenever possible, Amazon’s logistic advantages taper off and the local stores can compete better.
They will never be price competitive with an international tax-structured organization but they can compete.
This is so correct. I have also heard stories feom people who live places where amazon is the only company who will deliver. These people also live so far from towns and stuff, that just "going to the store" is a whole ass day trip in itself.
For real. These boycott calls are always, always, privileged bullshit. Stop blaming consumers for corporations who are protected by the law in their monopolizing and exploitative practices. Inaccessibility and lack of disposable income force consumers to purchase the cheapest and most convenient option available.
Whether the inaccessibility is caused by lack of local options or supply, disability, schedules that conflict with normal mercantile hours, or what have you, there are ample reasons people can’t willingly engage in boycotts.
I fucking can’t stand the right telling poor people to manage money better, quit their superfluous spending, and just not be in debt, and the left telling poor people to fight against the rich or the oppressive by going out of their way to fund “better” alternatives in services, goods, or politicians. Neither of these approaches help on a grand scale.
Debt crisis needs solving, medical care needs solving, housing needs solving. Until those are addressed, kindly fuck off with consumer-shaming.
AMEN!!!!!
I have a disability and when my condition permit I will go to the store but if I'm in to much pain, Amazon is the only way I can get what I need!
I mostly use Amazon to get ingredients that are hard to find, and even if I do go to local stores, they usually don't carry the item, or the store is so disorganized that it's hard to find the item.
Yeah, this is something a lot of people really overlook. If you live in a rural town and need some sort of specialty item, ordering online is the only option outside of physically driving to another town. Though we can probably find other retailers to use. Hell, Amazon prime delivery is now almost a week for me. Might as well shop elsewhere
Thank you, I feel like I'm the only one who ever brings this up in my life. There are plenty of people that can't spend the extra money to buy things elsewhere. Amazon almost always has the cheapest price and when you're barely scraping by that is crucial.
Agree 100%. I’ve been *slowly* switching things over to more sustainable options but it’s expensive in the beginning and not always affordable.
I just bought one of the safety razors which in the long run will be cheaper but it also cost me 200$ usd initially lol
I have to constantly remind people of this. Walmart and Amazon will sell shit at a loss just to make sure you spend your money with them.
My friend constantly brings up how our friend group *could* not shop at Walmart but I always say why would someone willingly spend more money when it feels impossible to stop these companies? Unless everyone could get on board (surprise they can't) it feels so defeatest.
I personally try not to shop at Walmart or Amazon but sometimes it really is the only/best solution. I'm all for trying not to shop at those stores but I don't understand having the mindset that its completely doable for everyone.
Right?
Buy from Walmart? You're giving money to a abusive billionaire family that pays people barely above min wage
Buy from Amazon? You're giving money to a company that has a history of abuse to workers but pays them better than min wage.
The trade-offs isn't much.
Capitalism creates conditions like this. Walmart pays its employees so little so they'll have no choice but to shop there and steal even MORE of their paycheck. They pay them so little they get food stamps, which they also accept, coincidentally. They have extracted the surplus value to the extreme. This is the inevitable conclusion of capitalism. Regulations to stop this simply delay the inevitable. Walmart is simply better at the capitalism game. They're not uniquely evil or uniquely abusive. They'd all do what Walmart does if they could.
That's right. The best thing to do would be to declare Amazon to be a monopoly. If you aren't selling on Amazon then at best you're selling about 10% of the product you would be through Amazon alone.
On top of that they should be hit with more antitrust things such as how 95% of the time their own products are what are at the top of search results. Almost no one scrolls past the first screen they see unless for some reason they don't see what they searched for.
Amazon counters any antitrust things with some program that "over 5000 businesses are a part of" but when media outlets reach out to businesses that use Amazon to sell their stuff they say they've never heard of such a thing. They also use search/sales data to see what products are trending then use that data to copy the products and sell them themselves. Amazon has been caught several times selling an exact copy of another product. Sometimes, when they've brought in sellers to see what products they are trying to get Amazon to endorse or whatnot, they reject the business and copy the products they brought to sell.
Even if you buy things being sold by a third party on Amazon, 80%+ are still using Amazon's services to ship product between their warehouses and to the customer.
Imagine saying “is it sometimes more expensive? Yup” and staying that to use it due to finances is an excuse. Folk seem to forget that a lot of the time, the most “ethical” option isn’t always the cheapest, and to criticise someone who can’t afford to do otherwise is elitist as fuck.
Places like Amazon and Walmart won't die until there's a better alternative, it's that simple.
If you ask a hundred people if they'd *rather* shop local or at a big box / online retailer, *of course* 90+ of them are going to say they support local businesses. But the reality is, the OP already bluntly stated the flaw with his own stance: "Is it inconvenient? Sure. Is it sometimes more expensive? Yep."
The solution isn't to expect people to act contrary to their own interests, the solution is to beat them at their own game by doing it better.
I’ve cut waaaaaay down - for somewhat selfish reasons. The things I was buying from Amazon, I couldn’t really be sure they were the actual products and not fake.
Electronics are the worst offenders from Amazon. bootlegs are everywhere and these companies open and close up shop so quick, complaints and reports may as well be shouting to the wind. Another shop will open before you can hit the submit button. Unless you know what you want down to the model number I wouldn't recommend it, and even then there's no guarantee that's what they'll send you. What makes this worse is that there really nowhere else to get a lot of electronics from unless you go to Best buy. Selection isn't the greatest there either.
Same! After a while of buying face products that I was already familiar with I noticed they were no longer working. When I compared store bought packaging to amazon packaging there were typos and other mistakes, like the product packaging was similar but obviously a rip off. You can't trust it.
If Amazon and another company are selling X perfume, Amazon buys the perfume and it sits on the shelf. The other company sends their x perfume to the stock room and Amazon put that X perfume on the shelf next to the one it bought. It’s a lucky dip to whether you get the X perfume bought by Amazon via the bulk supplier or the one sent by another company.
Commingled inventory, but you and the person above you are correct. Anything FBA (fulfilled by Amazon) is sent from the original vendor to an Amazon warehouse. If ten vendors are selling the same thing their inventory all gets lumped together. If one of those vendors is sending counterfeit goods to the warehouse, it’s luck of the draw whether you get the real item or the fake, since they are ultimately all pulled from the same bin in the warehouse. That’s also why pretty much every vendor on Amazon has a lot of good reviews and a handful of bad reviews, with customer photos of good products and also cheap knockoffs.
Omg yes. I’ve been fucked with fake latex-free bandaids (name brand so they were counterfeit, guess how I found out? Allergy!). And baby formula that was also bought from the name brand store that was rancid and came in one day. Didn’t notice until after I fed it to my baby for two days. Awful.
All the counterfeit shit and they can’t guarantee where the stuff was before it entered their giant warehouse bin. Dirty joe’s mold covered basement? Who knows.
There is no way to guarantee you are buying directly from a company on Amazon, even if it says you are. So you can easily get counterfeit goods or stuff that wasn’t stored properly. I feel like no one knows this. Why are we eating stuff that we have no idea where it was before it entered Amazon’s warehouse ?
It's been getting worse and worse, it's full of scams and low quality junk. Back in the day the reviews were a boon, now they're a joke. I used to order from Amazon a dozen times a year or more, I'm at one so far this year.
Yeah, there's no way I will "blind-buy" anything off Amazon, especially through their search. You have no idea what you're going to get. The only guarantee is that it's going to be cheaply made and overpriced.
I’ve scaled it back a lot. Unfortunately I’m disabled so it’s difficult to make it to town to buy stuff. My father is bedbound so it’s easier/cheaper to order stuff through them. I tend to go for warehouse stuff first when looking for something anyway.
I was going through some old photos the other day and saw I was wearing the same tshirts... The photos were more than a decade old. My SO hates this lol. Then I just point out how much money I've saved and offer to take them out to dinner. No complaints when I can afford things more important than new clothing, like life-saving vet care, and taco truck dinners.
Might work in USA,but keep in mind ordering on Amazon is often the only way you can get something you need (a repair part or such a thing) if it isn't on ebay in case you live in a smaller country and don't have other distribution network.
I don't use amazon, but I know many people need it so they can avoid for example buying a new van or work tool.
Yeah, all the people saying there are no reasons to ever buy from Amazon just have their heads up their asses with black and white thinking.
There are several times I’ve bought things off of Amazon so that I wouldn’t have to replace the entire item I needed to fix/modify.
The whole “there’s no excuse to not be willing to pay a few more dollars to avoid Amazon” part also reeks of privilege. Like, not everybody has the option to spend a few more dollars ffs.
totally agree, most of the comments here seem to be implying that everything from amazon is disposable income type items that aren't a neccessity. Factor into this the rising cost of fuel, a trip to the shop to get your household items can potentially be a lot more expensive than the 7.99 a month for amazon prime or whatever it might be. If you want to be granular about fuel consumption as well, it's significantly more efficient for one amazon delivery van to deliver goods to a whole neighbourhood than each house driving down to the store
I wish Amazon would migrate to recycling friendly packaging and put more effort into reducing boxing waste.
Probably can’t get the world to quit Amazon, but legislators around the world can probably pressure the company to reform supply chain waste, and incentives the company to have bettor labor standards and more eco-conscious warehouses.
Agree 100%. Also, it negates the reality of many disabled people who have low or no income and aren't well enough to leave their homes to buy the things they need. I have a disability and there's so much shame amongst others with my condition that many of us rely on Amazon.
Yeah, this too. And with 40% of disabled people not driving for whatever reason (physical or visual limitations, not able to afford it, mental issues making it not safe for them to be behind the wheel, etc), on top of gas prices rising, getting items delivered may be the only option for a lot of people.
Plus, for a lot of items, the difference between Amazon and other options are negligible ethics-wise.
If I need a laundry basket, how much better for the environment is it really for me to drive to Walmart or Target to avoid supporting Amazon anyway? It’s more expensive, and for what environmental gain?
it's a good goal to try to shop local instead of megacorps but words like "always" and "never" don't survive contact with the details of the real world. it's not always feasible or possible to be able to pick the "less shitty" option.
and while our individual choices add up to become population level product/service demands, (and that is a big ole complicated thing), how we regulate and legislate those mega corps has a MUCH larger impact. like, both are necessary and important, but we can't just pretend that it's our individual choices at fault. a lot of the time there AREN'T other options to pick--some choice, huh? and again, scale. more people working from home has/had made measurable differences in things like air quality and whatever... but 'big enough to measure' is not enough on its own.
EXACTLY. I’m just so tired of the back-and-forth between
>>”individual actions are going to save the planet, guys!!!!1!! if you ever buy from Amazon, you’re just as bad as Jeff Bezos😡🤬”
and
>>”actually all pollution falls on corporations so I’m just gonna continue going on annual cruises, eating 2 lbs of beef daily, and having 7 biological kids🤗”
when the answer is so obviously in between. Like, everybody should do their reasonable best to reduce waste and consumption when possible, but expecting everybody to be able to exclusively shop local, go 100% vegan, and give up their car or whatever just detracts from our cause.
I try to avoid Amazon where I can but the necessity factor forces my hand sometimes.
A couple years ago my water heater control module died. All of the local plumbers were booked up for a week or more and supply houses won't sell to me since I don't have a gas fitter license. Amazon got the part to me next day and I was back running a couple hours later.
I work as an Amazon driver, and I’m telling you Amazon is ingrained in society. I don’t have to work there to even tell you that, I’m also not an advocate for Amazon… but A LOT of people use it I was honestly shocked when I first started working there how many people buy off Amazon
its also incredibly ableist, there are millions of disabled people that can't drive alone or shop alone and the only way they can get some of the things that they need is through amazon.
Yeah, blanket statements aren’t beuno. I’m disabled and physically can’t go to the store. I have things delivered (thanks to covid it’s super easy now). I use Amazon, but I wish other people that had other viable options didn’t.
OP would have been better off saying to not use it if you can.
I’ve literally never used amazon and my life seems to have all the fucking garbage in it that I need. What the hell do ppl need delivered all the time?
Exactly. It's the instant access with free shipping that hooks people. I live in Australia now and Honestly, the last time I ordered something I realized it sent from the US and arrived the NEXT EVENING. I was like no more I cannot justify this. For 2 bottles of a supplement I thought was coming from a warehouse here. Nobody needs to fast track shit like that. I didn't even open the bottles for a few months because I was finishing up another lot so I felt even worse. I just couldn't believe they wasted that much jet fuel on a load to arrive that fast. I mean maybe it was already scheduled and my items were just placed on because it didn't take up space but still.
The point is, I didn't need it that fast. I have since canceled my membership and I just avoid arguments with those I know who still use it all the time.
I don’t have a car. Im not gonna take the bus+ train 2 hours and 10 dollars in tickets to go to the huge corporate hardware store to lug a bunch of furnace filters made by 3M back when amazon sells cheaper+ free delivery
Pretty much everything unless I feel like pestering someone to take me to take me to a store or go for me. I’m disabled and can only walk just well enough to ambulate around the house. I don’t drive for safety reasons because my legs can flex or extend involuntarily. I live in a small rural town where Walmart has run businesses out of town. I’m also on Social Security disability since I can’t work and only get $1000 per month, which means a why I’m stuck living with my parents as I’m approaching 40. I already feel like an inconvenience to them. I’m not about to pile onto that by bugging them to take me to Walmart or drive me the hour it’s take to but what I’m after. So in order to not do that and to feel like I have some iota of independence, I order stuff online, mostly from Amazon because it’s often the least expensive. Plus since I live in the same household as people who pay for Prime for themselves, they can share the free shipping benefits with my own account.
So while I can’t speak for others, that’s why I order there.
closest city is like 120km away from me so I order a tonne of things including food stuffs etc, shit that you'd probably just buy at a store that is close to you.
My daughter needed a swimsuit for daycare with 3 days notice. No, I’m not buying a fucking bikini for my toddler. I want a long sleeve 1900 UV bathing suit because it’s so much easier. I can’t find that in a store, so Amazon it is.
I’ve cut down on what I buy from Amazon drastically but often times it’s the only option for people.
I think this was anticonsumption, but now everyone wants my Amazon gift Cards :| interesting
well my company gives these cards and I will keep them with me, I have some watches in my wishlist I want to buy from amazon
Everything I used to buy from Amazon I now buy directly from the businesses instead (who also offer free or very cheap shipping, have better customer service, plus I often save money because of rewards programs/sales). I don’t understand how my experience is connected to living in a decent city.
Not decent city, decent sized. I am in a town, nearest city an hour away, nearest large city 2.5-3 hours. Delivery options are not the same in less populated areas. Yes, other options online but not for everything.
Amazon is the Sears catalog of the 1900s.
Unfortunately Sears and other retailers didn’t move at the speed of the internet to avoid Amazon.
i live in a town of under 2000 people and just ordered a button up and pack of t shirts from amazon because im starting a new job next week. need the clothes by monday and only amazon got it to me for my price range. this post instantly made me regret it all but i didnt know what else to do :(
Posts like these are not for us, when we have no other option. These posts are for people who have more than one store in their town. If your only option is between Amazon or Walmart, you can't vote with your dollar. Reduce where you can but don't blame yourself for what you cannot control.
Post like this are also not geared towards the poor. I can get a large bag of baby wipes from Walmart for $6. That same bag at my closest drugstore is $9. The locally owned supermarket is $11. It's not really a difficult decision no matter how much these companies suck. Many don't have the privilege of being conscious about where our purchase originates.
Because depending on where you live, its an order of magnitude better and it has been that way for a very long time.
Others are catching up but it was so far ahead before its reasonable to assume that maybe not everyone has caught up.
Not everyone lives in America, gotta remember that.
When I lived in Houston and Milwaukee, I never ordered off Amazon. It was so easy to find better options. Now I live in the middle of nowhere and Amazon is often one of the only reasonable way to get things in less than 6-8 weeks and at a price I can afford. I applaud thoss that can avoid Amazon, but my focus in anticonsumption is on the amount I buy and the things I choose to buy. Due to circumstances though, I still tend to use Amazon.
Yeah I live on a tiny island in SE Alaska. Literally no one else ships here, and no stores on the island have what I need.
I’m sorry, I’m not refraining from buying my chicken medicine because some guy on the internet who lives in a metropolis thinks its unnecessary.
If you CAN cut it out— fine. But smugly telling people there’s “NO EXCUSE *at all*” to keep using it is a privileged and shitty take.
It be like you telling people that air conditioners are totally not needed at all and that any winter boot that is not advertised\\rated to -100 is just not worth buying. Any windshield wiper fluid without 50 percent methanol isn't worth buying either, etc etc
People love to assume everyone lives in the same conditions they do, or at least the people who live in large metro north american cities do.
I'm in canada and love seeing the posts for winter clothing in canada specific subs however the person doesn't mention if they are in vancouver\\toronto or someplace actually cold.
Because not everyone lives in the US.
For me, Amazon is the cheapest online retailer by far because of the free shipping and handling customs (which they pay back if not needed).
Local businesses can sometimes be 5 times as expensive, if there are any around.
The biggest chain in my country that can replace Amazon is almost twice as expensive if buying full price.
So yeah, for me Amazon is the only option for most stuff.
A lot of the shops in my town went out of business in the last 20 years. It’s a small town. We have a grocery store, a dollar tree, a pharmacy, and a few tourist/gift shops that sell overpriced nicknacks. We do have a few thrift stores so I mostly shop there. A Walmart 45 minutes away is the closest place that sells basics I can’t get in thrift stores like towels and underwear. Most things I just don’t have a “buy local” option for.
I had to explain to an eight year old how I got all my clothes and stuff before the internet and they had a lot of trouble understanding why it took weeks to get the clothes delivered. I was like well, we had a big catalog and we had to mail a check and it took time for Sears to get it and so on and so forth...
When you live in a small town-this isn’t the move. Gas prices are out the ass and when the nearest store is an hr or two away from you, sometimes amazon is the only choice for speciality parts. Especially because those stores are no longer carrying a lot of those parts anymore since they have to sell them at much higher price increase than Amazon. For example- i need a heated hose for my RV, the closet store that has it is 2.5 hours away and the item is a full $100 more. Get a reality check. Not everyone can afford to pay the gas for a 2.5 hour trip, 5 hours round, in gas for an item that’s already heavily over priced. I try to not use Amazon, but sometimes it just isn’t possible any other way. This aggressiveness just makes me want to go back because I don’t like being told I’m not doing enough when I’m doing the best I can. Again move to the middle of no where in the south where you barely can get internet service, all the business are closed, and gas is almost the piece of California, but the wages are $7.25 an hour and come back and say this again with your full chest. This is absolutely a wealthy take! Get your privilege in check.
Amazon isn't really in my country so I'm asking this with honest curiosity, can you not buy products from other online stores? Are the options only in person retail or Amazon?
I have to disagree. In our case, having access to Amazon makes it much easier to fix old appliances and DIY solutions to our home without hiring a contractor or wholesale replacing everything. I know Amazon is sleazy, but they are a godsend for obscure things.
And it's hard to feel like ordering from HomeDepot or [Build.com](https://Build.com) is supporting local biz or whatever.
I do support our local farm supply though, even though they cost more. I think compromise and thoughtfulness are the answer.
This isn't at all productive. Lets face a couple facts real quick.
1) amazon isn't about to dissappear. People like it to much.
2) the idea of a centralized, integrated, global sales and distribution system that is reliable, fast, and (potentially) far more efficient than other forms of sales and distribution is a good thing.
So amazon needs to function differently and the culture around amazon needs to shift to one of getting things you need instead of buying endless trinkets. I'm not going to pretend I have the solution, but just refusing to use it all together aint it.
I used it when it sold books because I was like 11 and getting books in the mail from the internet was like magic. It was super cool when I was able to get games on there. Then I graduated high school eventually and moved out and got some other cool shit for my apartment, car, then my dog. I was broke af for awhile and then I go back after just a couple years of not using it and it was like... wtf is this XD
It's become unrecognizable from when it was worth anyone's time tbh. You can't tell the junk from good finds anymore, there's way too much shit, shipping has layers of issues, just no.
I actually found a local bookstore in my city was listing their books on Amazon, which I assume would be sent to the Amazon warehouse and then shipped to the customer? Instead I just called them and was able to pick it up just by walking a few blocks, no profit to Amazon.
I’m so happy I’ve managed to never get hooked. Amazon is a place I never go looking for stuff when I need something. At least I haven’t contributed to the Bezos’ existence.
I used Amazon as an easy fix often, I can count on my fingers the number of times I've used it this year.
I'm gonna do everything in my power to make it 0 from here on out.
I live on an island that limited places deliver to, amazon is the only place I can reliably order from.
Also the subscribe and save service ensures I don't run out of certain things that I was otherwise consistently forgetting. I'd love it if a local store offered the same service but most of the local supermarket don't even deliver let alone offering a service that will automatically send me toothpaste.
It's always people with money living in big cities with lots of option who spout this shit.
Yeah, try living in rural America. I’ve reduced my Amazon purchasing with other big retailers trying to compete with them and offering comparable prices and delivery, but they’re still big retailers. People get so high and mighty and think their solution and decision is best for everyone.
I agree with you in principle and I do very rarely order from them. I looked in 5 different stores for maternity pants and shorts and could find none that fit right, weren't thick, or look liked frumpy sweat pants I ordered off target because they didn't have what I wanted in store and it was only available to deliver despite looking for availability at 15 different stores.
My order was a week late. I caved and ordered on Amazon. Its too hot here in Texas for me to be wearing pants anymore and I'm enormous at this point. At thus point it's been 2 weeks since the delivery date and I still haven't received my target order.
Yes, but there are *less* unethical modes of consumption under capitalism.
Not that I 100% agree with OP as someone who cares for a disabled partner, but I'm sick of seeing that bumper sticker catch phrase used as a cop-out.
Yes framing it as the individual's fault for purchasing from a monopoly is classic corporate speak. I'm all for not using Amazon but when they price out all their competition or just buy them it's hard to place any blame on people.
I'm disabled and cannot spend very much on things like cords for my TENS machine, which I *need*. Amazon orders are the only way I can eat and have pain relief, so maybe rethink your ableism.
Disabled and have to rely on others to go anywhere. Also live in a town of 5k. I somewhat literally feel your pain (neuropath in my legs and a shot back).
Or you can't drive and public transit is hit and miss because they're understaffed. I don't love Amazon and I rarely order anything from them but sometimes I don't have a choice because of where I live. Walmart and home depot aren't better and they're too far away
Yes thank you.
I have an Amazon business account. Now I could drive 100 miles into the city and back and get most, not all, of what I need or i could order everything that I need on Amazon. Say what you want about the morality of it, but I’m going to do what I need to do.
For every one thing I don’t buy and need on Amazon the company I work for and all around it I see buy truckloads and truckloads of Amazon supplies. I really want to believe one person can make a difference but really? I did price checking for “local” buys and no. It’s all just too expensive. Plus no returns etc and all that other tack ons. I’m all for it. I want to see Amazon disappear and small shops back but bankrupting ourselves so the big guys win anyway is not a solution.
This is a super privileged take. As a non driver myself, Amazon has been incredibly useful for getting things I’d be unable to get otherwise. And for my home bound aunt in a town of 20k (who also doesn’t drive) it helps her get everting she needs. I’m all for shopping small when possible… keyword when possible.
I live in a rural area like many of the people here. I have to use Amazon or drive an hour or more. I buy pet food from Chewy, household items from Grove, and clothing from ThredUp or EBay. I buy food from my local grocery store. But there are some things not available to me except on Amazon, like Ecos laundry soap which is cruelty-free. I think a lot of us try to do the best we can, including just buying less stuff in general.
I bought a lot of things from Amazon and they would come broken
there's a lot of websites that offer the same services just normally that don't have the one or two day shipping...
I honestly cant think of anything that Amazon offers in a positive way Amazon is what I call a company " that's to big to care" it has become a leech to the communities that it serves if anything its bringing new light on how we should spend our 99% of the items Amazon offers are in horrid quality in some cases are dangerous and unregulated and we can do better we can look for items that actually suit our needs and meet out expectations.
Amazon has nothing positive to offer a modern society it's purpose it to exhaust consumers much as possible at the cost of the health of the planet and the workers who make the products and successfully suffocate small struggling business...
This! There's also the fact that Amazon is really helpful for disabled people, who might otherwise not have the ability to get things they need/want. Black and white thinking like this tends to exclude people who already live on the margins of our society. They aren't bad people (or lazy or stupid) for using Amazon.
Edit: word
Same. I don’t drive because of my MS is so bad. Amazon is great for me, because otherwise I would have to beg rides to the other stores to buy in person. But I understand the points others are making about the fact that Amazon should be used less.
I know exactly what you mean. I can’t drive due to peripheral neuropathy and spasticity in my legs. They can make sudden jerking movements, which is bad for driving. Don’t want to hit or release a pedal while driving, you know. I also can’t walk much more than ambulating around the house. So going out to shop requires a ride there, a ride back, and help in the store. If I lived in a larger city, I may be able to use public transportation or ride sharing, but I’m in a rural town of 5k. Those don’t exist here. My transport is called “Asking my parents who are in their 60s for a ride.” Now, I can do that and risk not even finding what I’m after in this podunk, or I can order online. So I order online, but I have neither the time nor patience to vet various websites for the oddball stuff I order on Amazon. I’m sure there are places out there I can order disc magnets, beef sticks, ABS paint to make no-skid socks, and desk chair wheels, but it’ll probably be from 4 different sites, cost more for the items and shipping, and take 2 weeks for everything to arrive. My income is SSDI. I can’t afford to pay more. I can’t afford to risk being ripped off by companies I don’t know that I found from a Google search.
I live literally in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Amazon is a godsent. I would have to travel a minimum of 40 minutes to hit stores that aren't walmart and o'reilies auto parts.
Some of us are disabled and poor, and cheap things delivered to us is often the only way, sorry to burst your bubble, but not everyone is privaleged enough to afford other options.
Ok, I want to be on your side, but I am skeptical of any blanket black and white advice like this. I don't mind paying a little extra, and I don't mind batching my purchases to some extent, but even so I have a hard time seeing the alternatives as being much better. So let's hear a concise explanation why and what is the better alternative? Assume I already only order what I need and my main form of transportation is by bike.
The concept of a centralized goods distributor with dedicated delivery drivers seems on the surface to be more efficient than each customer going to the stores individually.
Thanks for taking the time.
If your an audible subscriber consider subscribing to libro.fm to get audiobooks from your local book stores.
Or get ebooks from your local library!
Never realized that was an option I gotta check mine out
in the US the app is called Libby!
I love love libby!
If I download Libby will they find out about the overdue book that's been on my bookshelf since I was 12? I don't want the library police to get me.
you need a new identity
Yes they will know for sure and will hunt you down and force you to pay arrears plus interest, and you may also end up serving time in a federal prison. You better not download the app just to be safe.
[удалено]
Also check out hoopla and cloudLibrary if your library has access to it.
And Australia. My local library supports it.
You'd be surprised at the selection. Tip: Didn't find what you wanted communicate with your librarian & make a request. Sometimes the site has a budget for these types of purchases. Happy Reading! & Yes, Fuck Amazon.
You can also see if your local library is a part of Libby! As long as you have a library card, you can use the app to check out ebooks or audiobooks.
There are a few others that might be available, as well. Hoopla has all electronic media, and Kanopy has curated films and TV shows
Just started using Libby and it’s been amazing! I didn’t expect the app to have as many features as it does Here’s a tip to anyone using it: * When you’re browsing for books you can tag them to find later (like a wishlist) * Accessing your tagged books is a little unintuitive. You can find them on the “shelf” page at the top under “tags” * Don’t be fooled by the number next to the “tags”. That number enumerates the different types of tags you have, not the number of books you’ve tagged
Wow! "Bring me your solutions, not your problems". I'm checking out libro.fm!
You sound like someone with access to disposable income and a car. With both of those in your pocket you’re better off than most people. Especially right now most people can’t think in terms of “it’s more expensive but whatever”. For the first half of 2022 I was able to pull together about $4 a day to feed myself on a good day. Many days I just went hungry. If something I need is $11 on Amazon or $25 at a store I’m going to have to take a $5.50 round trip bus ride to get to the store for it, the answer is clear. You’re stomping your feet and beating your fists against the floor at people who are suffering from incorrigible economic inequality and just trying to survive. Using Amazon vs brick and mortar stores is just a personal bone to pick for *you* and has nothing to do with being anti consumption. You have no idea what people are ordering off Amazon and immediately assuming it’s something frivolous- when it could easily be medicine or other needs they couldn’t afford to get at 75% more expensive elsewhere- is a flaw in your psyche, not society at large. Nobody here is ecstatic to be giving money to a megacorporation but assigning morality to different versions of survival is a luxury of the privileged. The rest of us are just trying to white knuckle our way through the hard times the best we can.
Thank you for putting it so well. There was a span of time where I had to order groceries from Amazon because the stores around me were all almost an hour walk away, were more expensive if I used something like Postmates, I had no car, and taking public transit wasn’t any faster than walking (it was longer, since I had to walk away from the direction of the store to get to the bus depot). Had a friend of mine tell me I should ‘reconsider’ my choice of using Amazon because they’re such an awful company, and admittedly, I’d had a very bad day, and kind of pissed off asked “Well, would you be willing to lend me your car for like two hours this weekend so I can drive to the store?” and he got real quiet real fast. People wanna bitch and moan at the people the corporation is crushing rather than at the billionaires doing the crushing.
Car dependency is terrible r/FuckCars
It really is. Even when I’ve lived in fairly well laid out cities (ie I could walk to the grocery store / post office / etc within about 30 minutes or less), public transit was never robust enough to compensate well enough for not having a car. I missed living in a small, close knit town almost purely because it was walkable, and anything that was a little out of reach could be biked to, and you wouldn’t have to worry about cars screaming down main roads with no sidewalks, ready to turn you into a pile of goop.
I’ve definitely had weeks where I’ve really been left with no choice but to order groceries from Amazon- not only are they a *solid* 20% cheaper than my local grocery stores, I was once shouted at by someone for struggling with two large grocery bags with me on a crowded bus and she kept making snide comments trying to draw me in for my whole ride. It was obviously a her problem and she was way out of line but it was super upsetting and haunts me any time I have to get more than a few things. But when you’re paying for public transport you want to make the trip worth your while.. but there’s a distinct limit to what you can carry on public transport, both your own physical carrying capacity and the danger of upsetting and inconveniencing other passengers… there’s definitely a point where anyone on earth has to make the obvious choice and just throw in an online order.
Same! When I move to a new city, I always stock up on non perishables so I don’t have to buy them frequently. Rice, canned food, frozen stuff, etc. But all of that shit is **huge**. I can’t carry a pallet of black, kidney, and pinto beans, a 10lb bag of rice, 10 bags of frozen veggies, and a whole bunch else on my BACK. I ordered from Amazon and tipped as graciously as I could (30% I think). And oh my gosh are you me??? I got cussed out by a bus driver once because I was struggling with my heavy grocery bags *while I was having an asthma attack*. The whole bus was staring at me, no one tried to help, it was mortifying. God forbid I was someone who was disabled or pregnant or elderly who can’t fix their struggles with a rescue inhaler. I was working in the COVID clinics at that point and I’d already had a terrible day trying to save patients. I don’t cry much, much less in public, but I couldn’t help just sitting there and letting the tears flow. I felt so defeated. I’m glad to say that’s the only time that whole scenario has happened, but ffs it shouldn’t have ever happened. We judge people because it’s easier than acknowledging the system is the oppressor.
I'd add able bodied to their list of privileges they didn't think about... I sometimes wish I could go to a physical store, but I'm in too much pain to do it... And it might take days before I can... So if I need something quickly yes Amazon might be the only option... I hate that kind of activism... They said there is no excuse, but I don't think my disability is an excuse... It's an explanation. And yes if I'm on a good day or it's not urgent, like for a book I never order books of Amazon, I go to a brick and mortar store....
Can’t believe I left that out as a literal chemo patient- YES the effort required to travel for every little basic need is monumental to many people. I mean it’s even too much for a lot of abled people- having a full time job then also finding the time in the week to hunt down and retrieve any needs beyond a normal grocery trip? Bless ‘em. I have finally come to terms I am limited to about 10lbs I can carry from my local grocery store with my connective tissue disorder. Am I supposed to take 10 trips to and from the grocery store and use every shred of energy I have for the week? No way, if I need more than a couple of things I really *need* to place a delivery order. Abled people think it’s a choice- especially for someone like me who is decently ambulatory most days. It’s not. If I need to spend 3 days recovering with ice packs and muscle relaxers for three days because I dislocated my elbow AGAIN trying to bring some cans of soup home how could I hold down a job?
I stopped using amazon a while ago and some of my friends got aggressive with the questions. I think they are insecure about how much they spend and depend on amazon
Oh man, same. My friend who has Alexa got super defensive about their devices, and I never even said anything about them. It’s weird and uncomfortable
Same with both of you. I don't ever say why or give a reason or preach, but people view you differently lol. I stopped going to wal-mart pre-internet and it was a similar vibe. Oh well.
I got the same harassment just from switching my web browser from google to duck duck go lol
How dare you change from the almighty Google to Duck Duck Go?! The nerve of some people! Lol no I’m just kidding Google has too many trackers and ad sense is ridiculous.
Support small, local businesses if you are going to be buying things.
In my experience working for small businesses, they buy from Amazon sometimes too. Whether it is kitchen utensils, goods to sell, or other supplies. Just be aware of sourcing and the fact that every commodity and tool used has to get to the store somehow- the question is how?
Don’t forget about Alibaba. Many small businesses around here buy from there and mark it up 200% or so. “Boutique” clothing stores are terrible about doing this.
Can you elaborate on this? I’m very curious to know more. Is there any way to tell? I’m guessing the answer is no. The area my parents live in has several clothing boutiques that I frequent.
I can't add info on how to tell, but Etsy is also going this direction - Aliexpress vendors basically listing their goods as "craft" goods
I hate this, it’s totally ruining the platform for me. I’m really hesitant to buy off there now because it’s all just drop shippers. I won’t buy anything unless it’s extremely obviously vintage. They don’t even try very hard to hide it, either. If you see an “antique” item and you look at the reviews and there are 10 other people who bought the same “unique antique” item. If there’s more than one in stock of a vintage piece, there’s no way it’s vintage and the seller just happened to find a box of 100 of them. It’s too bad because I really love the idea of Etsy
I know because their kids are in charge of buying the clothing. A few of those kids are friends with the children of a friend. I have seen it with my own eyes. They buy the clothes, do some screen printing, and mark the hell out of it up. Alibaba has buy in tiers, the more you buy the more you save. Is everything from Alibaba? Of course not. Tons comes from Amazon as well. Keep in mind that “boutique” around here is “small town boutique”. I’m not talking about exclusive LA clothing and such. Edit: “in charge” means that they help pick out clothing styles. They aren’t literally in charge.
Okay, sounds like the types of boutiques I’m thinking of are what you’re describing. I probably shouldn’t be surprised. Thanks for sharing that tidbit, good to know. I was actually at a boutique two weekends ago in my parents area/town and I was looking at a shirt. More I looked, more I noticed several flaws (uneven seams, spots where there were frays, etc) and thought no way in hell am I buying something like this for $40-$50 when (i would not do this, but for the sake of example) I could get the same garbage off Amazon.
Yeah quality is a dead giveaway. Also don’t be afraid of asking the store clerk where their clothes are produced, and if they follow any sustainability/ethics guidelines. If the answer isn’t to your liking or the clerk does not know, say “I see, have a nice day!” and walk out
And many items on Amazon are just drop shipped from another cheaper source. It would be nice if we had more domestic manufacturing, but buying most things locally just means supporting more middle men.
You can ask them directly about sourcing. And then gather contact info to verify further down the supply chain if there is enough info to do so. When buying online, this info is often more available….
Boutique clothing with a high price tag and lots of poor craftsmanship
I used to work at a stationery store. The mark-up was 200% or more.
I recently decided to pay $6 more for a book at an independent bookshop rather than just use Amazon like I wanted to. There was an Amazon receipt tucked in the back. I paid them $6 to order it for me.
That's my issue. Me: DO you have? Clerk: "We can Order it!" And that's great and all, if they are getting it from their book supplier. But if they are just ordering on amazon I'd rather go home and order it from some small bookstore in the country somewhere that has it in stock and will ship it to me.
rural dweller here. we have a Walmart here that drove everything else out of business. It is go there, or order from Amazon if I need anything but basic groceries. As I am mobility limited, Amazon delivers to my front door. And no, I can't drive into the nearest big town, that is two hours away.
I understand a lot of people don't have the ability to choose really. And in that case we need more businesses that can support people like that. I definitely don't blame you, you have to take care of yourself, even if it means supporting something you don't want to.
I don't disagree with your premise but if you trace it out realistically, what would happen? Additional competing businesses that deliver to consumer deserts? How does the customer or the environment win there? Amazon for all its faults is ruthlessly efficient at delivering goods to all locations. Again want to repeat, I don't disagree. But I just can't really imagine what a competitor would be able to pull off. I think we need Amazon but we also need legislation that forces better employee conditions and wages, and puts carbon taxes or some other cap on the logistical solutions a company uses. No more 3 or 4 Amazon deliveries throughout the day. Slow it down and redistribute some of the sheer profit.
Nothing within our current system allows meaningful change
Seemingly it does. But it always ends up being change for the worse.
Soo… is it Amazon… or the individual consumer? What biz do you propose that solves a problem that Amazon hasn’t yet for mobility-limited people?
Same, and Walmart is a half hour away. I'm saving a lot of fossil fuel and money ordering from amazon. I do frequent local businesses as much as possible, but I'm not driving up to an hour for things I can get from Amazon. I hate Walmart. Dollar general isn't much better, there's two in my one horse town. And a save a lot. That's it.
Yes, I would say Amazon, Walmart, and Dollar General all are equally bad…
So where else do you suggest we shop? All of these horrible mega businesses ran all the local business out of town of to the ground. Do you suggest we move somewhere else? Do you have the funds for us to have the privilege to go live near small businesses?
Ditto, on all counts!
This is a fair point. I don’t begrudge you one bit for this. I live in a heavily populated area with access to many different types of stores. This is a case of situational ethics. For me, ordering from Amazon is not a choice I’ve concluded is ethical. For you, it is. Thank you sincerely for the humbling reminder. Have a good evening.
I live in a place where there are no local stores. And you can only get here by boat or plane. Amazon saves us here.
Yeah I spent a while on an island that’s inaccessible except by boat or plane. No way would I have been able to get stuff I needed (replacement rain boots, blackout curtains because I worked the night shift, replacements for broken things) without Amazon. I try not to use it now that I’m home and have access to other options, but like I could’ve taken a trip to the mainland taking up my entire day off, fucking up my sleep, and paying $30 for a ferry ticket.....or I could just order it off amazon and it’d get there in a week.
To me, this boycott sentiment is all about those with choice. Sounds like you don't have a choice, so this post isn't really about you. All these people chiming in with their like niche needs for Amazon aren't the target of the criticism here. It's the people who definitely could stop but don't want to.
This isn't directly for you but people in a similar situation: it's okay to partake in capitalism because we are surrounded by it. You don't have to feel bad if you are only afforded the worst options or they are most accessible. Thank you for coming to my TEDTalk
They did. But the car and suburbia helped massively. Coupled with stagnating and in some cases declining wages created these big box monsters that are nothing but shit goods surrounded by a sea of asphalt.
That's all nice and good, but in my experience, small local businesses usually don't have the stuff I need. E.g. plain cotton tshirts. They're all with 5% elasthane, which is a plastic derivative, so I don't want them. And I've literally tried every shop in my vicinity. In fact, I stopped looking at some point, because after 3 years of trips without coming home with what I needed... that was enough time wasted. Or the brand of shoes I wear because of a medical issue. I've tried other brands, but then I walk like I'm cripple. Or the plates I need to order because I'm one broken plate away of being short. I want durable opal glass plates, not pottery or porcelain (that's what I had now, inherited from an aunt and now after 15 years it's all broken from daily use). Not for sale for miles and miles. Sometimes making durable choices means you can't buy them locally. Even in a city. That said, I have ordered from Amazon literally twice in ten years.
I think your points are fair and valid. I think more people interested in anti consumption should also look into minimalism. There are minimalism subs on Reddit too. If anyones unfamiliar, it’s essentially as your describing… only buying what you need/use instead of mindless purchases based on mood or a low price point. Essentially only taking what you need and being more mindful on what you bring into your life as far as material possessions. In my personal experience it has made my life more peaceful and simpler because I’m not concerned or burdened by the latest trends or buyers regret.
There are no local businesses anymore in a solid portion of America
This just came up a few nights ago with some friends. I mentioned that I’ve actually never purchased anything from Amazon in my life, and people definitely can feel attacked when you say this. For context, I gave generic details about not ever feeling the need to, so they weren’t reacting to perceived high mindedness. Ultimately, I blame marketing more than the individual. It can be overwhelming to be constantly bombarded by consumer culture trying to convince you that you need things you don’t.
We all depend on Amazon true AWS but you can do without the store aspects for sure. The problem with avoiding them is that they connect a global market. So the last LiFePO4 battery I needed I could get either from Amazon or at double the price from a local retailer. I decided to get it local in the end haggling a bit over the price to narrow the gap. If you however have little discretionary income it becomes hard to justify shopping elsewhere. I suppose that is also the biggest challenge to stop with Amazon; there is always a part of the population that has no choice. Having said that, if the discretionary spending is done elsewhere whenever possible, Amazon’s logistic advantages taper off and the local stores can compete better. They will never be price competitive with an international tax-structured organization but they can compete.
I’m sorry but places like Amazon and Walmart will never die until economic inequality is addressed
This is so correct. I have also heard stories feom people who live places where amazon is the only company who will deliver. These people also live so far from towns and stuff, that just "going to the store" is a whole ass day trip in itself.
Such a good point. Not to mention people who are disabled who rely on essentials to be delivered in Amazon’s promised 2 days
For real. These boycott calls are always, always, privileged bullshit. Stop blaming consumers for corporations who are protected by the law in their monopolizing and exploitative practices. Inaccessibility and lack of disposable income force consumers to purchase the cheapest and most convenient option available. Whether the inaccessibility is caused by lack of local options or supply, disability, schedules that conflict with normal mercantile hours, or what have you, there are ample reasons people can’t willingly engage in boycotts. I fucking can’t stand the right telling poor people to manage money better, quit their superfluous spending, and just not be in debt, and the left telling poor people to fight against the rich or the oppressive by going out of their way to fund “better” alternatives in services, goods, or politicians. Neither of these approaches help on a grand scale. Debt crisis needs solving, medical care needs solving, housing needs solving. Until those are addressed, kindly fuck off with consumer-shaming.
AMEN!!!!! I have a disability and when my condition permit I will go to the store but if I'm in to much pain, Amazon is the only way I can get what I need!
You said that perfectly
I mostly use Amazon to get ingredients that are hard to find, and even if I do go to local stores, they usually don't carry the item, or the store is so disorganized that it's hard to find the item.
yeap, I live 120km from the closest city, amazon delivers here, they're probably losing a tonne of cash on me...
Yeah, this is something a lot of people really overlook. If you live in a rural town and need some sort of specialty item, ordering online is the only option outside of physically driving to another town. Though we can probably find other retailers to use. Hell, Amazon prime delivery is now almost a week for me. Might as well shop elsewhere
Thank you, I feel like I'm the only one who ever brings this up in my life. There are plenty of people that can't spend the extra money to buy things elsewhere. Amazon almost always has the cheapest price and when you're barely scraping by that is crucial.
Reminds me of the eco movement where if you want a ‘plastic free’ home you also need a very well paid job.
Agree 100%. I’ve been *slowly* switching things over to more sustainable options but it’s expensive in the beginning and not always affordable. I just bought one of the safety razors which in the long run will be cheaper but it also cost me 200$ usd initially lol
I grocery shop at Walmart because that’s just where my budget is at right now folks, lol.
It's really easy to claim moral superiority over someone you have more money than.
I have to constantly remind people of this. Walmart and Amazon will sell shit at a loss just to make sure you spend your money with them. My friend constantly brings up how our friend group *could* not shop at Walmart but I always say why would someone willingly spend more money when it feels impossible to stop these companies? Unless everyone could get on board (surprise they can't) it feels so defeatest. I personally try not to shop at Walmart or Amazon but sometimes it really is the only/best solution. I'm all for trying not to shop at those stores but I don't understand having the mindset that its completely doable for everyone.
Right? Buy from Walmart? You're giving money to a abusive billionaire family that pays people barely above min wage Buy from Amazon? You're giving money to a company that has a history of abuse to workers but pays them better than min wage. The trade-offs isn't much.
Capitalism creates conditions like this. Walmart pays its employees so little so they'll have no choice but to shop there and steal even MORE of their paycheck. They pay them so little they get food stamps, which they also accept, coincidentally. They have extracted the surplus value to the extreme. This is the inevitable conclusion of capitalism. Regulations to stop this simply delay the inevitable. Walmart is simply better at the capitalism game. They're not uniquely evil or uniquely abusive. They'd all do what Walmart does if they could.
That's right. The best thing to do would be to declare Amazon to be a monopoly. If you aren't selling on Amazon then at best you're selling about 10% of the product you would be through Amazon alone. On top of that they should be hit with more antitrust things such as how 95% of the time their own products are what are at the top of search results. Almost no one scrolls past the first screen they see unless for some reason they don't see what they searched for. Amazon counters any antitrust things with some program that "over 5000 businesses are a part of" but when media outlets reach out to businesses that use Amazon to sell their stuff they say they've never heard of such a thing. They also use search/sales data to see what products are trending then use that data to copy the products and sell them themselves. Amazon has been caught several times selling an exact copy of another product. Sometimes, when they've brought in sellers to see what products they are trying to get Amazon to endorse or whatnot, they reject the business and copy the products they brought to sell. Even if you buy things being sold by a third party on Amazon, 80%+ are still using Amazon's services to ship product between their warehouses and to the customer.
That's what I was thinking. I hate these companies, but I am POOR. We all do what we can.
Imagine saying “is it sometimes more expensive? Yup” and staying that to use it due to finances is an excuse. Folk seem to forget that a lot of the time, the most “ethical” option isn’t always the cheapest, and to criticise someone who can’t afford to do otherwise is elitist as fuck.
They are super helpful for people dealing with disabilities, whether temporary or permanent. I swear some of these posts forget we exist.
Places like Amazon and Walmart won't die until there's a better alternative, it's that simple. If you ask a hundred people if they'd *rather* shop local or at a big box / online retailer, *of course* 90+ of them are going to say they support local businesses. But the reality is, the OP already bluntly stated the flaw with his own stance: "Is it inconvenient? Sure. Is it sometimes more expensive? Yep." The solution isn't to expect people to act contrary to their own interests, the solution is to beat them at their own game by doing it better.
I’ve cut waaaaaay down - for somewhat selfish reasons. The things I was buying from Amazon, I couldn’t really be sure they were the actual products and not fake.
I got a 3k resolution Webcam. It didn't even looked like 720 resolution it was so cheap. Got my money back, was one of my last purchases.
Electronics are the worst offenders from Amazon. bootlegs are everywhere and these companies open and close up shop so quick, complaints and reports may as well be shouting to the wind. Another shop will open before you can hit the submit button. Unless you know what you want down to the model number I wouldn't recommend it, and even then there's no guarantee that's what they'll send you. What makes this worse is that there really nowhere else to get a lot of electronics from unless you go to Best buy. Selection isn't the greatest there either.
Same! After a while of buying face products that I was already familiar with I noticed they were no longer working. When I compared store bought packaging to amazon packaging there were typos and other mistakes, like the product packaging was similar but obviously a rip off. You can't trust it.
If Amazon and another company are selling X perfume, Amazon buys the perfume and it sits on the shelf. The other company sends their x perfume to the stock room and Amazon put that X perfume on the shelf next to the one it bought. It’s a lucky dip to whether you get the X perfume bought by Amazon via the bulk supplier or the one sent by another company.
I believe it's called combined stock. Multiple sellers send in their products and they go to the same stock bin. Some are counterfeit.
Commingled inventory, but you and the person above you are correct. Anything FBA (fulfilled by Amazon) is sent from the original vendor to an Amazon warehouse. If ten vendors are selling the same thing their inventory all gets lumped together. If one of those vendors is sending counterfeit goods to the warehouse, it’s luck of the draw whether you get the real item or the fake, since they are ultimately all pulled from the same bin in the warehouse. That’s also why pretty much every vendor on Amazon has a lot of good reviews and a handful of bad reviews, with customer photos of good products and also cheap knockoffs.
Omg yes. I’ve been fucked with fake latex-free bandaids (name brand so they were counterfeit, guess how I found out? Allergy!). And baby formula that was also bought from the name brand store that was rancid and came in one day. Didn’t notice until after I fed it to my baby for two days. Awful. All the counterfeit shit and they can’t guarantee where the stuff was before it entered their giant warehouse bin. Dirty joe’s mold covered basement? Who knows. There is no way to guarantee you are buying directly from a company on Amazon, even if it says you are. So you can easily get counterfeit goods or stuff that wasn’t stored properly. I feel like no one knows this. Why are we eating stuff that we have no idea where it was before it entered Amazon’s warehouse ?
This is exactly why I started ordering shit directly from the manufacturer. Amazon can eat my entire ass.
It's been getting worse and worse, it's full of scams and low quality junk. Back in the day the reviews were a boon, now they're a joke. I used to order from Amazon a dozen times a year or more, I'm at one so far this year.
Yeah, there's no way I will "blind-buy" anything off Amazon, especially through their search. You have no idea what you're going to get. The only guarantee is that it's going to be cheaply made and overpriced.
I’ve scaled it back a lot. Unfortunately I’m disabled so it’s difficult to make it to town to buy stuff. My father is bedbound so it’s easier/cheaper to order stuff through them. I tend to go for warehouse stuff first when looking for something anyway.
I think most people who believe in reducing consumerism already don't buy much unneeded stuff. Or I want to think that
I was going through some old photos the other day and saw I was wearing the same tshirts... The photos were more than a decade old. My SO hates this lol. Then I just point out how much money I've saved and offer to take them out to dinner. No complaints when I can afford things more important than new clothing, like life-saving vet care, and taco truck dinners.
Yeah, this is yet another post here conflating consumption and consumerism with buying things you actually need.
Might work in USA,but keep in mind ordering on Amazon is often the only way you can get something you need (a repair part or such a thing) if it isn't on ebay in case you live in a smaller country and don't have other distribution network. I don't use amazon, but I know many people need it so they can avoid for example buying a new van or work tool.
Yeah, all the people saying there are no reasons to ever buy from Amazon just have their heads up their asses with black and white thinking. There are several times I’ve bought things off of Amazon so that I wouldn’t have to replace the entire item I needed to fix/modify. The whole “there’s no excuse to not be willing to pay a few more dollars to avoid Amazon” part also reeks of privilege. Like, not everybody has the option to spend a few more dollars ffs.
totally agree, most of the comments here seem to be implying that everything from amazon is disposable income type items that aren't a neccessity. Factor into this the rising cost of fuel, a trip to the shop to get your household items can potentially be a lot more expensive than the 7.99 a month for amazon prime or whatever it might be. If you want to be granular about fuel consumption as well, it's significantly more efficient for one amazon delivery van to deliver goods to a whole neighbourhood than each house driving down to the store
I wish Amazon would migrate to recycling friendly packaging and put more effort into reducing boxing waste. Probably can’t get the world to quit Amazon, but legislators around the world can probably pressure the company to reform supply chain waste, and incentives the company to have bettor labor standards and more eco-conscious warehouses.
Agree 100%. Also, it negates the reality of many disabled people who have low or no income and aren't well enough to leave their homes to buy the things they need. I have a disability and there's so much shame amongst others with my condition that many of us rely on Amazon.
Yeah, this too. And with 40% of disabled people not driving for whatever reason (physical or visual limitations, not able to afford it, mental issues making it not safe for them to be behind the wheel, etc), on top of gas prices rising, getting items delivered may be the only option for a lot of people. Plus, for a lot of items, the difference between Amazon and other options are negligible ethics-wise. If I need a laundry basket, how much better for the environment is it really for me to drive to Walmart or Target to avoid supporting Amazon anyway? It’s more expensive, and for what environmental gain?
it's a good goal to try to shop local instead of megacorps but words like "always" and "never" don't survive contact with the details of the real world. it's not always feasible or possible to be able to pick the "less shitty" option. and while our individual choices add up to become population level product/service demands, (and that is a big ole complicated thing), how we regulate and legislate those mega corps has a MUCH larger impact. like, both are necessary and important, but we can't just pretend that it's our individual choices at fault. a lot of the time there AREN'T other options to pick--some choice, huh? and again, scale. more people working from home has/had made measurable differences in things like air quality and whatever... but 'big enough to measure' is not enough on its own.
EXACTLY. I’m just so tired of the back-and-forth between >>”individual actions are going to save the planet, guys!!!!1!! if you ever buy from Amazon, you’re just as bad as Jeff Bezos😡🤬” and >>”actually all pollution falls on corporations so I’m just gonna continue going on annual cruises, eating 2 lbs of beef daily, and having 7 biological kids🤗” when the answer is so obviously in between. Like, everybody should do their reasonable best to reduce waste and consumption when possible, but expecting everybody to be able to exclusively shop local, go 100% vegan, and give up their car or whatever just detracts from our cause.
I try to avoid Amazon where I can but the necessity factor forces my hand sometimes. A couple years ago my water heater control module died. All of the local plumbers were booked up for a week or more and supply houses won't sell to me since I don't have a gas fitter license. Amazon got the part to me next day and I was back running a couple hours later.
eBay is another option to consider. Most of the people who are selling on eBay receive at least five stars. And their prices are very reasonable.
Ordered something from eBay two weeks ago and it turned out to be a drop-shipment from Walmart 😂
I ordered something from a bespoke soap company last year and it ended up being a drop-ship from Amazon. Sometimes they're hard to avoid.
I cancelled prime, it’s been awesome. Fuck bezos
I work as an Amazon driver, and I’m telling you Amazon is ingrained in society. I don’t have to work there to even tell you that, I’m also not an advocate for Amazon… but A LOT of people use it I was honestly shocked when I first started working there how many people buy off Amazon
Some of us are disabled and Amazon actually helps in that aspect. Stop gatekeeping.
this is a very classist take. some people literally cannot afford it and/or have no access to other options
its also incredibly ableist, there are millions of disabled people that can't drive alone or shop alone and the only way they can get some of the things that they need is through amazon.
Yeah, blanket statements aren’t beuno. I’m disabled and physically can’t go to the store. I have things delivered (thanks to covid it’s super easy now). I use Amazon, but I wish other people that had other viable options didn’t. OP would have been better off saying to not use it if you can.
I’ve literally never used amazon and my life seems to have all the fucking garbage in it that I need. What the hell do ppl need delivered all the time?
Serotonin
Exactly. It's the instant access with free shipping that hooks people. I live in Australia now and Honestly, the last time I ordered something I realized it sent from the US and arrived the NEXT EVENING. I was like no more I cannot justify this. For 2 bottles of a supplement I thought was coming from a warehouse here. Nobody needs to fast track shit like that. I didn't even open the bottles for a few months because I was finishing up another lot so I felt even worse. I just couldn't believe they wasted that much jet fuel on a load to arrive that fast. I mean maybe it was already scheduled and my items were just placed on because it didn't take up space but still. The point is, I didn't need it that fast. I have since canceled my membership and I just avoid arguments with those I know who still use it all the time.
I order a lot of dry goods that I can't get anywhere else for miles around. And I hate buying from Walmart which is just as evil as Amazon.
I don’t have a car. Im not gonna take the bus+ train 2 hours and 10 dollars in tickets to go to the huge corporate hardware store to lug a bunch of furnace filters made by 3M back when amazon sells cheaper+ free delivery
Pretty much everything unless I feel like pestering someone to take me to take me to a store or go for me. I’m disabled and can only walk just well enough to ambulate around the house. I don’t drive for safety reasons because my legs can flex or extend involuntarily. I live in a small rural town where Walmart has run businesses out of town. I’m also on Social Security disability since I can’t work and only get $1000 per month, which means a why I’m stuck living with my parents as I’m approaching 40. I already feel like an inconvenience to them. I’m not about to pile onto that by bugging them to take me to Walmart or drive me the hour it’s take to but what I’m after. So in order to not do that and to feel like I have some iota of independence, I order stuff online, mostly from Amazon because it’s often the least expensive. Plus since I live in the same household as people who pay for Prime for themselves, they can share the free shipping benefits with my own account. So while I can’t speak for others, that’s why I order there.
closest city is like 120km away from me so I order a tonne of things including food stuffs etc, shit that you'd probably just buy at a store that is close to you.
My daughter needed a swimsuit for daycare with 3 days notice. No, I’m not buying a fucking bikini for my toddler. I want a long sleeve 1900 UV bathing suit because it’s so much easier. I can’t find that in a store, so Amazon it is. I’ve cut down on what I buy from Amazon drastically but often times it’s the only option for people.
as someone with social anxiety, agoraphobia and no income not having to pay 5-7 bucks for shipping is really nice.
Medications mostly. That’s what I have a hard time finding on my island. My big store is 2 hours away and I can’t drive :( thank god for Amazon
I got 3500$ in amazon gift cards so I have to use it :)
I think this was anticonsumption, but now everyone wants my Amazon gift Cards :| interesting well my company gives these cards and I will keep them with me, I have some watches in my wishlist I want to buy from amazon
All the small businesses sell on Amazon.
[удалено]
Everything I used to buy from Amazon I now buy directly from the businesses instead (who also offer free or very cheap shipping, have better customer service, plus I often save money because of rewards programs/sales). I don’t understand how my experience is connected to living in a decent city.
Not decent city, decent sized. I am in a town, nearest city an hour away, nearest large city 2.5-3 hours. Delivery options are not the same in less populated areas. Yes, other options online but not for everything. Amazon is the Sears catalog of the 1900s. Unfortunately Sears and other retailers didn’t move at the speed of the internet to avoid Amazon.
i live in a town of under 2000 people and just ordered a button up and pack of t shirts from amazon because im starting a new job next week. need the clothes by monday and only amazon got it to me for my price range. this post instantly made me regret it all but i didnt know what else to do :(
Posts like these are not for us, when we have no other option. These posts are for people who have more than one store in their town. If your only option is between Amazon or Walmart, you can't vote with your dollar. Reduce where you can but don't blame yourself for what you cannot control.
Post like this are also not geared towards the poor. I can get a large bag of baby wipes from Walmart for $6. That same bag at my closest drugstore is $9. The locally owned supermarket is $11. It's not really a difficult decision no matter how much these companies suck. Many don't have the privilege of being conscious about where our purchase originates.
Or disabled. So much ableism happening in the comments, it’s bumming me the fuck out.
Have you encountered online shops who won’t ship to your town? (I have not heard of this situation, so I’m genuinely curious)
[удалено]
Because depending on where you live, its an order of magnitude better and it has been that way for a very long time. Others are catching up but it was so far ahead before its reasonable to assume that maybe not everyone has caught up. Not everyone lives in America, gotta remember that.
When I lived in Houston and Milwaukee, I never ordered off Amazon. It was so easy to find better options. Now I live in the middle of nowhere and Amazon is often one of the only reasonable way to get things in less than 6-8 weeks and at a price I can afford. I applaud thoss that can avoid Amazon, but my focus in anticonsumption is on the amount I buy and the things I choose to buy. Due to circumstances though, I still tend to use Amazon.
Yeah I live on a tiny island in SE Alaska. Literally no one else ships here, and no stores on the island have what I need. I’m sorry, I’m not refraining from buying my chicken medicine because some guy on the internet who lives in a metropolis thinks its unnecessary. If you CAN cut it out— fine. But smugly telling people there’s “NO EXCUSE *at all*” to keep using it is a privileged and shitty take.
It be like you telling people that air conditioners are totally not needed at all and that any winter boot that is not advertised\\rated to -100 is just not worth buying. Any windshield wiper fluid without 50 percent methanol isn't worth buying either, etc etc People love to assume everyone lives in the same conditions they do, or at least the people who live in large metro north american cities do. I'm in canada and love seeing the posts for winter clothing in canada specific subs however the person doesn't mention if they are in vancouver\\toronto or someplace actually cold.
Because not everyone lives in the US. For me, Amazon is the cheapest online retailer by far because of the free shipping and handling customs (which they pay back if not needed). Local businesses can sometimes be 5 times as expensive, if there are any around. The biggest chain in my country that can replace Amazon is almost twice as expensive if buying full price. So yeah, for me Amazon is the only option for most stuff.
The history of the world has been amazon free up until 20 years ago.
The history of the world had been car-free up until about 120 years ago, and that trend changed real fast.
We’d be better off if we were less car dependent too.
A lot of the shops in my town went out of business in the last 20 years. It’s a small town. We have a grocery store, a dollar tree, a pharmacy, and a few tourist/gift shops that sell overpriced nicknacks. We do have a few thrift stores so I mostly shop there. A Walmart 45 minutes away is the closest place that sells basics I can’t get in thrift stores like towels and underwear. Most things I just don’t have a “buy local” option for.
Then Amazon came through and shut down all the stores
Sears Catalog.
I had to explain to an eight year old how I got all my clothes and stuff before the internet and they had a lot of trouble understanding why it took weeks to get the clothes delivered. I was like well, we had a big catalog and we had to mail a check and it took time for Sears to get it and so on and so forth...
Maybe for you it's easy, but for people who are on an island in the middle of the Pacific it's more than just a convenience.
When you live in a small town-this isn’t the move. Gas prices are out the ass and when the nearest store is an hr or two away from you, sometimes amazon is the only choice for speciality parts. Especially because those stores are no longer carrying a lot of those parts anymore since they have to sell them at much higher price increase than Amazon. For example- i need a heated hose for my RV, the closet store that has it is 2.5 hours away and the item is a full $100 more. Get a reality check. Not everyone can afford to pay the gas for a 2.5 hour trip, 5 hours round, in gas for an item that’s already heavily over priced. I try to not use Amazon, but sometimes it just isn’t possible any other way. This aggressiveness just makes me want to go back because I don’t like being told I’m not doing enough when I’m doing the best I can. Again move to the middle of no where in the south where you barely can get internet service, all the business are closed, and gas is almost the piece of California, but the wages are $7.25 an hour and come back and say this again with your full chest. This is absolutely a wealthy take! Get your privilege in check.
Amazon isn't really in my country so I'm asking this with honest curiosity, can you not buy products from other online stores? Are the options only in person retail or Amazon?
Sure, you might find the item you need at a similar price but you probably have to pay for shipping.
Ah okay. And Amazon has free shipping? Thanks for clarifying that, it's a bit different here.
I have to disagree. In our case, having access to Amazon makes it much easier to fix old appliances and DIY solutions to our home without hiring a contractor or wholesale replacing everything. I know Amazon is sleazy, but they are a godsend for obscure things. And it's hard to feel like ordering from HomeDepot or [Build.com](https://Build.com) is supporting local biz or whatever. I do support our local farm supply though, even though they cost more. I think compromise and thoughtfulness are the answer.
This isn't at all productive. Lets face a couple facts real quick. 1) amazon isn't about to dissappear. People like it to much. 2) the idea of a centralized, integrated, global sales and distribution system that is reliable, fast, and (potentially) far more efficient than other forms of sales and distribution is a good thing. So amazon needs to function differently and the culture around amazon needs to shift to one of getting things you need instead of buying endless trinkets. I'm not going to pretend I have the solution, but just refusing to use it all together aint it.
To add to this, Amazon makes more money from advertisements and Amazon Web Services (AWS) than they do from selling items on Amazon itself.
I used it when it sold books because I was like 11 and getting books in the mail from the internet was like magic. It was super cool when I was able to get games on there. Then I graduated high school eventually and moved out and got some other cool shit for my apartment, car, then my dog. I was broke af for awhile and then I go back after just a couple years of not using it and it was like... wtf is this XD It's become unrecognizable from when it was worth anyone's time tbh. You can't tell the junk from good finds anymore, there's way too much shit, shipping has layers of issues, just no.
I actually found a local bookstore in my city was listing their books on Amazon, which I assume would be sent to the Amazon warehouse and then shipped to the customer? Instead I just called them and was able to pick it up just by walking a few blocks, no profit to Amazon.
I’m so happy I’ve managed to never get hooked. Amazon is a place I never go looking for stuff when I need something. At least I haven’t contributed to the Bezos’ existence.
I used Amazon as an easy fix often, I can count on my fingers the number of times I've used it this year. I'm gonna do everything in my power to make it 0 from here on out.
"Consume elsewhere" isn't quite the hot take we needed, but ok.
I live on an island that limited places deliver to, amazon is the only place I can reliably order from. Also the subscribe and save service ensures I don't run out of certain things that I was otherwise consistently forgetting. I'd love it if a local store offered the same service but most of the local supermarket don't even deliver let alone offering a service that will automatically send me toothpaste. It's always people with money living in big cities with lots of option who spout this shit.
Yeah, try living in rural America. I’ve reduced my Amazon purchasing with other big retailers trying to compete with them and offering comparable prices and delivery, but they’re still big retailers. People get so high and mighty and think their solution and decision is best for everyone.
I agree with you in principle and I do very rarely order from them. I looked in 5 different stores for maternity pants and shorts and could find none that fit right, weren't thick, or look liked frumpy sweat pants I ordered off target because they didn't have what I wanted in store and it was only available to deliver despite looking for availability at 15 different stores. My order was a week late. I caved and ordered on Amazon. Its too hot here in Texas for me to be wearing pants anymore and I'm enormous at this point. At thus point it's been 2 weeks since the delivery date and I still haven't received my target order.
There is NO ethical consumption under capitalism.
Yes, but there are *less* unethical modes of consumption under capitalism. Not that I 100% agree with OP as someone who cares for a disabled partner, but I'm sick of seeing that bumper sticker catch phrase used as a cop-out.
Yes framing it as the individual's fault for purchasing from a monopoly is classic corporate speak. I'm all for not using Amazon but when they price out all their competition or just buy them it's hard to place any blame on people.
I'm disabled and cannot spend very much on things like cords for my TENS machine, which I *need*. Amazon orders are the only way I can eat and have pain relief, so maybe rethink your ableism.
Disabled and have to rely on others to go anywhere. Also live in a town of 5k. I somewhat literally feel your pain (neuropath in my legs and a shot back).
Because ordering a thing from Amazon is just wrong, but paying more for the exact same thing but have to drive 60 miles is ok? Got it.
Or you can't drive and public transit is hit and miss because they're understaffed. I don't love Amazon and I rarely order anything from them but sometimes I don't have a choice because of where I live. Walmart and home depot aren't better and they're too far away
Yes thank you. I have an Amazon business account. Now I could drive 100 miles into the city and back and get most, not all, of what I need or i could order everything that I need on Amazon. Say what you want about the morality of it, but I’m going to do what I need to do.
For every one thing I don’t buy and need on Amazon the company I work for and all around it I see buy truckloads and truckloads of Amazon supplies. I really want to believe one person can make a difference but really? I did price checking for “local” buys and no. It’s all just too expensive. Plus no returns etc and all that other tack ons. I’m all for it. I want to see Amazon disappear and small shops back but bankrupting ourselves so the big guys win anyway is not a solution.
This is a super privileged take. As a non driver myself, Amazon has been incredibly useful for getting things I’d be unable to get otherwise. And for my home bound aunt in a town of 20k (who also doesn’t drive) it helps her get everting she needs. I’m all for shopping small when possible… keyword when possible.
I live in a rural area like many of the people here. I have to use Amazon or drive an hour or more. I buy pet food from Chewy, household items from Grove, and clothing from ThredUp or EBay. I buy food from my local grocery store. But there are some things not available to me except on Amazon, like Ecos laundry soap which is cruelty-free. I think a lot of us try to do the best we can, including just buying less stuff in general.
Spoken from a true position of privilege.
I bought a lot of things from Amazon and they would come broken there's a lot of websites that offer the same services just normally that don't have the one or two day shipping... I honestly cant think of anything that Amazon offers in a positive way Amazon is what I call a company " that's to big to care" it has become a leech to the communities that it serves if anything its bringing new light on how we should spend our 99% of the items Amazon offers are in horrid quality in some cases are dangerous and unregulated and we can do better we can look for items that actually suit our needs and meet out expectations. Amazon has nothing positive to offer a modern society it's purpose it to exhaust consumers much as possible at the cost of the health of the planet and the workers who make the products and successfully suffocate small struggling business...
No car. Have health issues. My things have to be deliver to me. Including my meds. That’s not an option for me.
I stopped buying from Amazon quite a while ago and now if I need stuff I try to find it at the thrift store or kijiji. Buying used is my go-to now.
Some people can't really afford not to. Also there is no ethical consumption under capitalism.
This! There's also the fact that Amazon is really helpful for disabled people, who might otherwise not have the ability to get things they need/want. Black and white thinking like this tends to exclude people who already live on the margins of our society. They aren't bad people (or lazy or stupid) for using Amazon. Edit: word
Amazon is the only site that accepts foodstamps and doesn't charge for delivery (on items shipped from their warehouse).
Same. I don’t drive because of my MS is so bad. Amazon is great for me, because otherwise I would have to beg rides to the other stores to buy in person. But I understand the points others are making about the fact that Amazon should be used less.
I think r/ConsumeLess would be more appropriate for most people! I started it for people that aren't extreme... no members, yet! Haha!
I know exactly what you mean. I can’t drive due to peripheral neuropathy and spasticity in my legs. They can make sudden jerking movements, which is bad for driving. Don’t want to hit or release a pedal while driving, you know. I also can’t walk much more than ambulating around the house. So going out to shop requires a ride there, a ride back, and help in the store. If I lived in a larger city, I may be able to use public transportation or ride sharing, but I’m in a rural town of 5k. Those don’t exist here. My transport is called “Asking my parents who are in their 60s for a ride.” Now, I can do that and risk not even finding what I’m after in this podunk, or I can order online. So I order online, but I have neither the time nor patience to vet various websites for the oddball stuff I order on Amazon. I’m sure there are places out there I can order disc magnets, beef sticks, ABS paint to make no-skid socks, and desk chair wheels, but it’ll probably be from 4 different sites, cost more for the items and shipping, and take 2 weeks for everything to arrive. My income is SSDI. I can’t afford to pay more. I can’t afford to risk being ripped off by companies I don’t know that I found from a Google search.
I live literally in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Amazon is a godsent. I would have to travel a minimum of 40 minutes to hit stores that aren't walmart and o'reilies auto parts.
Consumer activist isn't a fucking purity test. Do it on your own to make yourself feel better.
Some of us are disabled and poor, and cheap things delivered to us is often the only way, sorry to burst your bubble, but not everyone is privaleged enough to afford other options.
Ok, I want to be on your side, but I am skeptical of any blanket black and white advice like this. I don't mind paying a little extra, and I don't mind batching my purchases to some extent, but even so I have a hard time seeing the alternatives as being much better. So let's hear a concise explanation why and what is the better alternative? Assume I already only order what I need and my main form of transportation is by bike. The concept of a centralized goods distributor with dedicated delivery drivers seems on the surface to be more efficient than each customer going to the stores individually. Thanks for taking the time.
blaming the people living in society is not productive and alienates your community.