Cancelling Amazon

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.

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.

Sorry Casdon X post

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.

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

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.

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%

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 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.

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

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.