Trying to avoid using the AIBU thread!

I ordered something from eBay the other week - it was the only place I could find what was wanted. Unfortunately, I had so much trouble that it put me off using that site again. The goods did arrive intact and as described but over a week later than they should have done.

Am well aware many small independent shops are closing but A* is not the only online shop.
Am well aware of that too.

In fact, many retailers sell through A****n too. Although some of them give mixed reviews, it does enable them to reach more potential customers.

I do try not to use A but they are not alone in the over packing department. Last week I received a back order from a trade company that I deal with. One tiny box of well packaged electrolysis needles in a box almost large enough for a foot spa!
A little off thread-
I have often contacted the company selling wares on A directly. As long as I don’t tell them where I found them they seem happy to supply me.
I used one company who used both sites, they seemed reluctant to deal with me separately but did ask me to use e-bay rather than A.

Am well aware many small independent shops are closing but A*** is not the only online shop.

M&S I presume?

What's the sparks place ?

Yes, of course it is - despite the fact that I, and many people I know, supported local shops, they are closing down one by one. Or in fact, more than one at a time.

....and is that not a worry?

Unfortunately, even though we may have misgivings, it is sometimes the only option.

I think some people consider Amazon anathema because of its shoddy Tax position and its very poor employment record.

What's wrong with Amazon? Have I missed something?
I order from them sometimes.

I find stabbing the air bags immensely satisfying, Elegran!

I ordered curtains from that Sparks place. They came wrapped in air sacs! As well as being wrapped around cardboard and plastic bag wrapped. One pair to a box??
The other place that uses miles of brown paper, is the Watery place ! that is a huge tourist destination. Mind you, that is good for parcel wrap, and C*******s paper, adorned with ribbon and bows.

Some of the air-filled packaging is marked as 4 or 2 for recycling, in which case I stab it and put it in for recycling with plastic bags at Tesco. We never take carrier bags (never did) but there is still polythene wrapping from magazines and bags from cheese or meat. I understand that if you try to put a finger through the plastic and it stretches to start with, rather than tearing straight away, it can be recycled.

I buy almost everything from Amazon, can’t get out to shop, have no one to shop for me unless I pay £20, ordered a hot water bottle yesterday £9, if I asked a shopper to get me one from town - £29.

Packaging is a pain when ordering on line from Amazon. I do use them though as sometimes it is the only way to get what you need quickly.

We keep the boxes and the packaging sometimes.

They are very useful for sending off items you sell on E Bay or to family far away at Xmas or for Birthdays.

Someof the packaging make excellent insulation for use in the greenhouse over the winter months, I use bubble wrap around pots and use the 'airbags' to build a little wall along the back of the racking it helps to stop the cold coming in and harming plants stored over winter.

I suspect that they have cut down on the variety of packaging they use and now only use a few sizes of box, so they have to fill the gaps with the air sacs and polystyrene pebbles.

If you stab the air sacs they take up less space in the bin, or let a child stamp on them, great fun.

I wonder whether those polystyrene bubbles are any use for insulation?

If one orders on-line, one gets packaging!
There’s a very simple way to stop it.

Ordering from the comfort of home, having it delivered to your door ... all within 24hrs if desired.... FFS! How dare companies not pack in accordance with one’s whims!

I hate buying anything from The Company Named After A Very Long River but, having spent weeks trying to track down the replacement kettle I needed, and failed, I had to order from the afore mentioned company. I cannot fault the speed and efficiency of despatch. But the HUGE cardboard box that it arrived in, which had hundreds of polystyrene pebbles packed around the cardboard box that the kettle was already in, took an awful lot of disposing of. There was absolutely no need for all that protective packaging, it's just a waste of resources.

I order from Amzon too ,I'm 20 miles from the nearest big town and I dont drive .Its much simpler to order online and even get it delivered to my MIL or my daughter .I know all the reasons I shouldn't use them BUT I've boycotted umpteen companies for one thing or another over the years and it makes not a bit of difference they still prosper and I merely go without !

I order regularly from Amazon, and nothing and nobody will talk me out of it. Sorry if it upsets people.

So is it safe now to come out of the closet and admit to ordering from AMAZON
Because, not many months ago this was a hanging offence

Huge box arrived for OH, after much carry on unwrapping a small battery appeared!

I ordered a throw from the same company, cardboard box, those huge bubble things , plastic and ribbon .