Cancelling Amazon

I have been doing the same, since Trump won his second election.
I used to buy most of my books from Amazon, but now I have found Kenny's of Galway, Ireland, just as good. ( & no, I have no connection with them and do not live there.)

Kenny's exports to over 120 countries and I imagine are best value for EU residents like me, but I am sure the UK and Australia have equivalents.
Everything else, I am sourcing within Europe now.

I was trying to think of everyday American items we can stop buying. Any ideas?

I like it. Fairphone as a replacement for iPhone when it goes bump.
I’ll have to do more looking at labels but no Oreo’s, Cola (I don’t buy anyway), alcohol and dump Amazon Prime. I’d also like to dump Netflix but DH has started watching The Crown. We did watch Adolescence.

Here are the most impactful strategies according to a Facebook search I did.

1. Focus on High-Impact Sectors

Some industries are heavily dominated by American companies, so avoiding them would send a stronger economic signal:
• Technology: Avoid major US tech giants (e.g., Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, Tesla).
• Fast Food & Beverages: Opt for European alternatives instead of McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Starbucks.
• Entertainment & Media: Reduce subscriptions to US streaming platforms (e.g., Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime) in favor of European ones.
• Clothing & Retail: Choose European or local brands over Nike, Levi’s, or Gap.

2. Redirect Purchases to Local or European Alternatives

Instead of just avoiding American companies, shift spending to European or local businesses:
• Cars: Choose European brands (Volkswagen, Renault, BMW, Volvo) over Tesla and Ford.
• Food & Drinks: Opt for local soft drinks and food chains instead of US imports.
• Electronics: While harder to replace entirely, European brands like Fairphone (smartphones) or Nokia (networking) can be alternatives.

3. Banking & Financial Services
• Avoid American financial services like Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and opt for European alternatives such as Revolut or TransferWise.
• Shift investments away from US-dominated stock markets and funds.

4. Reduce Dependency on the US Dollar
• Support European payment networks instead of relying on US-backed financial infrastructure.
• Buy products priced in Euros or GBP instead of USD to weaken dollar dominance.

5. Travel & Tourism
• Boycott travel to the US, avoiding American airlines and tourist destinations.
• Choose European-based airlines (Lufthansa, Air France) over American ones.

6. Promote EU Regulations Against US Tech Monopolies
• Support stronger antitrust laws and EU regulations that restrict US Big Tech dominance in the European market.

7. Spread Awareness & Collective Action
• Use social media and grassroots activism to educate people on alternative choices.
• Encourage European businesses and policymakers to prioritize economic independence from the US.

I have read that Canadians are hitting the US tourist industry hard - people have cancelled holidays and rebooking for Mexico and the Caribbean and Canadians crossing the land border to the US has dropped by 45%

There's a Buy British facebook page, it's probably not the only one.

www.facebook.com/groups/1580344648802291

Though I think a page which tells you what companies and products are US owned or made would be helpful. After all, not everything we buy can be sourced from British companies, and we do have our other trade partners to consider.

I suppose googling would help, too.

mums,i
Heinz, Johnson&Johnson, Apple, Nike, Colgate, Cadburys, Proctor&Gamble, Microsoft - anyone giving up their PC? The list goes on.
Amazon are the easy target

Yes, I’m on that group MaizieD, I have been swapping one additional item for a British/European made product each time I go shopping. So many foodstuffs are made by USA owned companies, so it’s a bit of a minefield. There is a good search facility on the Facebook group, which helps.

Sorry Casdon X post

The problem is that Amazon employs British people and sells British goods too, including books by British authors.

I still use Amazon for convenience because I can't get to the shops easily but I'm careful what I purchase.

I use amazon a lot. I hold my hands up to that.

I live in the middle of nowhere - really. Virtually nil public transport - a bus once a week. No shop.

I am pretty unfit - sometimes my heart problems mean I cannot drive. I have a blue badge; I walk with a stick.

Getting to and then round shops is a big problem.

So I shop online. I use amazon because they do what they say on the tin - they are efficient and provide a good service. I do look at who isa selling the product and often it is a British seller.

I make no apology for doing this - I have no choice really, other than to become dependent on others.

Cold, I live in a town in Ontario that borders the US. We cross a bridge to go to the states. This bridge is usually packed with cross border shoppers.We noticed yesterday while driving near the bridge it was completely empty of cars.

I use Amazon quite a bit. There is a huge distribution centre near here which employs a lot of people so I won't stop using it.

We have the Amazon channel on our TV and get free deliverys because we have Prime.

I will try to be more careful about what I buy but will not give up the convenience of having it. And, actually, avoiding buying from China is harder

I can’t think of anything we buy here from the USA. It is all Chinese stuff now. Temu overtook Amazon a while back. American cars have more or less disappeared except for Teslas but sales of these have plummeted because there are more and more alternatives. Even Costco stocks Australian wines and not American wines now and that is an American company. I bet China is rubbing its hands in glee.

I must admit I don’t follow the logic of using Amazon because they employ British people, as buying the goods from another company protects a UK business and increases the number of jobs there instead. I often search for what I want on Amazon, and then order it direct from a company.

It would bee really difficult to avoid US and Chinese goods. I do try not to buy from China, but the marketing of so many products makes them sound as though they are made locally and sourced from the UK.

I've mentioned the anxiety bed I bought for my son's puppy. That sounded as it was made and shipped from Leeds, but no, it was from China. More recently I bought a Genion Space lamp for the study, and again, the ads show British users and there was nothing in the buying process that suggested it was coming from China, but when the tracking email arrived it showed that this was the case.

To avoid Apple, Microsoft, Google and Amazon would require a huge shift in lifestyle for most people (me included, as I use all of them every day), and if you add in Netflix and other huge American brands it seems impossible. Maybe if our government put a tariff of 20% on all of those things we would find alternatives, but there would be outrage. Maybe they should reduce VAT on British-made goods as a carrot rather than stick approach?

be, not bee 🐝

Doodledog

It would bee really difficult to avoid US and Chinese goods. I do try not to buy from China, but the marketing of so many products makes them sound as though they are made locally and sourced from the UK.

I've mentioned the anxiety bed I bought for my son's puppy. That sounded as it was made and shipped from Leeds, but no, it was from China. More recently I bought a Genion Space lamp for the study, and again, the ads show British users and there was nothing in the buying process that suggested it was coming from China, but when the tracking email arrived it showed that this was the case.

To avoid Apple, Microsoft, Google and Amazon would require a huge shift in lifestyle for most people (me included, as I use all of them every day), and if you add in Netflix and other huge American brands it seems impossible. Maybe if our government put a tariff of 20% on all of those things we would find alternatives, but there would be outrage. Maybe they should reduce VAT on British-made goods as a carrot rather than stick approach?

It is difficult, I’m trying hard - since I started I’ve switched and compromised on lots of things. I do feel better for having done it though, as it’s the only influence I can have. Technology is the one area where it’s extremely difficult to avoid US ownership.

Casdon

Here are the most impactful strategies according to a Facebook search I did.

1. Focus on High-Impact Sectors

Some industries are heavily dominated by American companies, so avoiding them would send a stronger economic signal:
• Technology: Avoid major US tech giants (e.g., Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, Tesla).
• Fast Food & Beverages: Opt for European alternatives instead of McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Starbucks.
• Entertainment & Media: Reduce subscriptions to US streaming platforms (e.g., Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime) in favor of European ones.
• Clothing & Retail: Choose European or local brands over Nike, Levi’s, or Gap.

2. Redirect Purchases to Local or European Alternatives

Instead of just avoiding American companies, shift spending to European or local businesses:
• Cars: Choose European brands (Volkswagen, Renault, BMW, Volvo) over Tesla and Ford.
• Food & Drinks: Opt for local soft drinks and food chains instead of US imports.
• Electronics: While harder to replace entirely, European brands like Fairphone (smartphones) or Nokia (networking) can be alternatives.

3. Banking & Financial Services
• Avoid American financial services like Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and opt for European alternatives such as Revolut or TransferWise.
• Shift investments away from US-dominated stock markets and funds.

4. Reduce Dependency on the US Dollar
• Support European payment networks instead of relying on US-backed financial infrastructure.
• Buy products priced in Euros or GBP instead of USD to weaken dollar dominance.

5. Travel & Tourism
• Boycott travel to the US, avoiding American airlines and tourist destinations.
• Choose European-based airlines (Lufthansa, Air France) over American ones.

6. Promote EU Regulations Against US Tech Monopolies
• Support stronger antitrust laws and EU regulations that restrict US Big Tech dominance in the European market.

7. Spread Awareness & Collective Action
• Use social media and grassroots activism to educate people on alternative choices.
• Encourage European businesses and policymakers to prioritize economic independence from the US.

Oh yes, we can all do that. How many will be really bothered, they love their Iphones and Ipads, not me, never had them, samsung for me, but most will carry on regardless.
The UK has its own price rises, thanks to Reeves, businesses are passing on their NI rises to their customers, no choice have they, unless they close, lay off workers, According to The Telegraph nearly 3000 companies have shut down this year, after a record 40 billion in tax rise. So they are both as bad as each other, cut from the same cloth.

I don’t follow your logic though Freya5, because if more of us bought more goods from UK owned and companies that manufacture in the UK, that would make businesses here more profitable. For me it’s a no brainer, even when it’s more effort - what others do is up to them, I can only make my personal stand.

Casdon

I must admit I don’t follow the logic of using Amazon because they employ British people, as buying the goods from another company protects a UK business and increases the number of jobs there instead. I often search for what I want on Amazon, and then order it direct from a company.

If I want a couple of balls of yarn to complete a project I'd be paying £3.99 postage. Ditto buying from other companies.

Buying the goods from that same company and other British companies via Amazon at zero postage seems fairly logical to me.

Freya5

Casdon

Here are the most impactful strategies according to a Facebook search I did.

1. Focus on High-Impact Sectors

Some industries are heavily dominated by American companies, so avoiding them would send a stronger economic signal:
• Technology: Avoid major US tech giants (e.g., Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, Tesla).
• Fast Food & Beverages: Opt for European alternatives instead of McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Starbucks.
• Entertainment & Media: Reduce subscriptions to US streaming platforms (e.g., Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime) in favor of European ones.
• Clothing & Retail: Choose European or local brands over Nike, Levi’s, or Gap.

2. Redirect Purchases to Local or European Alternatives

Instead of just avoiding American companies, shift spending to European or local businesses:
• Cars: Choose European brands (Volkswagen, Renault, BMW, Volvo) over Tesla and Ford.
• Food & Drinks: Opt for local soft drinks and food chains instead of US imports.
• Electronics: While harder to replace entirely, European brands like Fairphone (smartphones) or Nokia (networking) can be alternatives.

3. Banking & Financial Services
• Avoid American financial services like Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and opt for European alternatives such as Revolut or TransferWise.
• Shift investments away from US-dominated stock markets and funds.

4. Reduce Dependency on the US Dollar
• Support European payment networks instead of relying on US-backed financial infrastructure.
• Buy products priced in Euros or GBP instead of USD to weaken dollar dominance.

5. Travel & Tourism
• Boycott travel to the US, avoiding American airlines and tourist destinations.
• Choose European-based airlines (Lufthansa, Air France) over American ones.

6. Promote EU Regulations Against US Tech Monopolies
• Support stronger antitrust laws and EU regulations that restrict US Big Tech dominance in the European market.

7. Spread Awareness & Collective Action
• Use social media and grassroots activism to educate people on alternative choices.
• Encourage European businesses and policymakers to prioritize economic independence from the US.

Oh yes, we can all do that. How many will be really bothered, they love their Iphones and Ipads, not me, never had them, samsung for me, but most will carry on regardless.
The UK has its own price rises, thanks to Reeves, businesses are passing on their NI rises to their customers, no choice have they, unless they close, lay off workers, According to The Telegraph nearly 3000 companies have shut down this year, after a record 40 billion in tax rise. So they are both as bad as each other, cut from the same cloth.

I'm looking through the list and there is not a lot of those products and services I use.

In fact, so many businesses are global now that you could tie yourself in knots trying to decide what to avoid apart from the most obvious. .
Nost people tend to use a debit or credit card provided by our bank or building society, which is Visa or Mastercard, with the guarantees offered, rather than a credit card from a little-known company.

Allira

Casdon

I must admit I don’t follow the logic of using Amazon because they employ British people, as buying the goods from another company protects a UK business and increases the number of jobs there instead. I often search for what I want on Amazon, and then order it direct from a company.

If I want a couple of balls of yarn to complete a project I'd be paying £3.99 postage. Ditto buying from other companies.

Buying the goods from that same company and other British companies via Amazon at zero postage seems fairly logical to me.

I know it’s easy, convenient and cheap to buy from Amazon, particularly if it’s small items you want, that has been their winning formula. It’s the same as people using Temu and the like. I’m just making a personal stand, as are lots of other people, and I’m prepared to pay a bit more and have a bit more inconvenience to buy British or European, I do realise that most people won’t do the same.

I want to do my small part, as much as I am able. Thank you for the list, Casdon.
Freya, this thread is not about the shortcomings of the British government.