Moving Away From Amazon

Luckygirl3

In this globally connected world ethical shopping is virtually impossible.

Ideally we would all trot down to our local high street and buy from small retailers. But that is no longer how the world works. Even the small retailers offer goods that have been imparted from countries with poor worker protection. And the local high street has so few small retailers, but is awash with chain outlets. There is no way it is possible to investigate the provenance of items bought on the high street, unless you look at every label or quiz the shop assistants. Many well known high street chains import their garments etc.

And this all assumes that there IS a local high street to start with - so many have become dominated by food outlets and charity shops.

And a further assumption is that we can all get to that high street and find somewhere to park. I live rurally and have limitations to my mobility so it is all problematical.

I do mainly shop online, not always amazon, because it makes perfect sense. I do my Tesco shop online - I could not lift stuff into the car - and buy bulk toilet paper/tissues/kitchen towel etc. online from recycled sources. Online you can usually find the provenance of items you are buying and make a choice with that in mind.

I am guessing that I would probably not approve of the actions, morals and tax avoidance ploys of most big companies from whom we have to buy - the local chain of production is now broken and there is nothing we can do about it.

Some meat and milk (neither of which I consume) can be bought from local farms, and I use a farm shop for some items - but they are very expensive indeed.

We are living a different world now - I don't necessarily like it but I have to go with the flow to some extent.

Good post Luckygirl13

JackyB

Well, if you go into a shop and buy something you have it in your hands right away, so next day delivery is only second best really.

I can order during the evening (when shops are shut) and have it delivered by lunchtime next day (even on a Sunday). Saves me the hassle, the parking fee, the petrol.

JackyB

Well, if you go into a shop and buy something you have it in your hands right away, so next day delivery is only second best really.

I'd rather not have to go to a shop to purchase 5kg of mealworms and 5 of peanuts! Which is what I get via Amazon, from a supplier. The supplier is named on Amazon. It's a win win for everyone.

Well, if you go into a shop and buy something you have it in your hands right away, so next day delivery is only second best really.

In the UK, approximately, five billion parcels are delivered every year. 96 million every week, 14 million every day, 600,000 every hour, 10,000 every minute and 160 every second.

Over on another thread. people are lamenting the demise of the High Street. I’m not sure you can have it both ways.

Amazon provide a cheap service. Prime £95 a year for next day delivery (and some TV shows and films). It nowhere near covers the cost if you use it a lot. One small parcel with Royal Mail costs £3.25 to send and the sender is paying for the packaging.

Yes, of course, it provides a service especially to those with impaired mobility or without reasonable access to traditional shopping facilities but the question I have is this. Why the emphasis on next day delivery? Is anything that vital that consumers cannot wait a day or two for delivery were they to buy from an independent retailer?

We have been sucked into Amazon as we have been sucked into Zuckerberg and Musk apps by the adrenaline rush of immediacy.

Over the last couple of years, I have been enjoying “slow stitching” aka hand stitching. It’s very calming and meditative. Perhaps we need a slow shopping movement.

My mobility has worsened so much that I can no longer hop on a bus like I used to and anyway the shops and items I want and need have depleted. I have Amazon Prime and what I need usually comes through or to the door next day. Well done if you wish to make a principled stand but I have no intention of joining you.

I’m sad to see that Google have decided to no longer include Black History month, Women’s History month, Holocaust Remembrance Day etc on its online calendar in another nod to the new dictator.

The name Gulf of Mexico first appeared on a map in 1550. Trump’s ordered change does not apply in an international context. So far, MapQuest have not joined in this madness.

Time to change from Google, owned by Sergey Brin, another friend of Trump.
Google Maps immediately changed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on one man's say-so.

I realise that we are not aware of the ethics of many of the things we purchase. But in the case of Amazon we are fully aware of the support of its owner for a corrupt regime.

I just mentioned it because the thread has morphed into something more appropriate to Chat than to News and Politics.

Not being thread police, just noting it. Do chat away...

In this globally connected world ethical shopping is virtually impossible.

Ideally we would all trot down to our local high street and buy from small retailers. But that is no longer how the world works. Even the small retailers offer goods that have been imparted from countries with poor worker protection. And the local high street has so few small retailers, but is awash with chain outlets. There is no way it is possible to investigate the provenance of items bought on the high street, unless you look at every label or quiz the shop assistants. Many well known high street chains import their garments etc.

And this all assumes that there IS a local high street to start with - so many have become dominated by food outlets and charity shops.

And a further assumption is that we can all get to that high street and find somewhere to park. I live rurally and have limitations to my mobility so it is all problematical.

I do mainly shop online, not always amazon, because it makes perfect sense. I do my Tesco shop online - I could not lift stuff into the car - and buy bulk toilet paper/tissues/kitchen towel etc. online from recycled sources. Online you can usually find the provenance of items you are buying and make a choice with that in mind.

I am guessing that I would probably not approve of the actions, morals and tax avoidance ploys of most big companies from whom we have to buy - the local chain of production is now broken and there is nothing we can do about it.

Some meat and milk (neither of which I consume) can be bought from local farms, and I use a farm shop for some items - but they are very expensive indeed.

We are living a different world now - I don't necessarily like it but I have to go with the flow to some extent.

We seem to have drifted from the message of the OP that she is cutting ties with Amazon because of the association of its billionaire founder with the corrupt president of the US. 🤔

M0nica

It is just as easy to buy the same stuff from other sites as it is to buy from Amazon and delivery is as good.

I cannot understand why people want to pay extra to a pointless intermediary. Any one selling through amazon has an off amazon shop as well, usually cheaper.

That's not always the case. I do check other sites and find that it is often cheaper to get it through Amazon, and as I have Prime, I usually get free next day delivery, which many other sites either don't offer, or charge extra for. Cost and convenience is what matters to me, so I do shop around and I will use other sites if they come out top in those respects, but I have no qualms whatsoever about using Amazon if it suits me.

If you opt out of Amazon Prime. Then yes they are a go between, but often for small businesses, you don’t have to buy the cheapest (often Chinese) goods.

The aboe is a non-sequitor. Lots of goods sold by Amazon are made in China and plenty of goods NOT sold by Amazon are made elsewhere.

If you want to shop ethically, and I do, you are best not being limited to what Amazon offers.

Oopsadaisy1
Amazon free next day delivery needs Prime. We get free delivery on many things without that, but it’s not guaranteed next day.

SilverBrook thank you! I've been a member of Audible for over 10 years, Mr Rosie a few years less and we'd never noticed the annual deals. Given that he is always buying extra credits (the 3 for £18) this is a much better way. He's just signed up for the 24 credits a year, no doubt I'll follow soon as I often buy books for him with any of my unused monthly credits.

M0nica

It is just as easy to buy the same stuff from other sites as it is to buy from Amazon and delivery is as good.

I cannot understand why people want to pay extra to a pointless intermediary. Any one selling through amazon has an off amazon shop as well, usually cheaper.

Amazon ‘free postage’ is part of Amazon Prime, which gives you the Prime Television package and free books, their free post is often next day delivery.
If you opt out of Amazon Prime. Then yes they are a go between, but often for small businesses, you don’t have to buy the cheapest (often Chinese) goods.

M0nica

It is just as easy to buy the same stuff from other sites as it is to buy from Amazon and delivery is as good.

I cannot understand why people want to pay extra to a pointless intermediary. Any one selling through amazon has an off amazon shop as well, usually cheaper.

Yes and usually charging P&P.
I wanted a gift for my DGS. I googled it and found a supplier not on Amazon, and about the same price as Amazon. I got to the check out to find that I would owe £3.99 P&P.
If that’s not a problem, then it’s OK, but that increased the price of the gift by around half so it was a problem for me.

I use of worldofbooks quite a lot, I also use Amazon as they are cheap, quick and reliable.

You say you’re paying extra with Amazon MOnica but previously that you would buy from Waterstones even if they are more expensive? So it’s the principal not the price?
I buy books from WorldOfBooks second hand.

It is just as easy to buy the same stuff from other sites as it is to buy from Amazon and delivery is as good.

I cannot understand why people want to pay extra to a pointless intermediary. Any one selling through amazon has an off amazon shop as well, usually cheaper.

Norah

ViceVersa

It would never occur to me NOT to use Amazon to buy stuff!

Same. We're quite rural, Amazon is a godsend.

Yes, so are we. I do try to buy from independent local shops where and when I can, but getting to them isn't always possible or practical.

ViceVersa

It would never occur to me NOT to use Amazon to buy stuff!

Same. We're quite rural, Amazon is a godsend.

Audible (mentioned by OP) is a bit tricker though. I joined in 1999 so nine years before Amazon bought the company. It seems to run independently with its own CEO, not from within the Amazon stable.

I have an annual subscription for £109.99 which gives me 24 credits year so each book costs around £4.50 and I can keep it forever. I have a library of over a 1000 audio books. I do not have my account linked to Amazon.

To my knowledge, there is no comparable service.

While public libraries do supply a good range of audio books through apps such as Borrowbook, that has nowhere near the range of books, especially new releases, that Audible has, plus its licensing restrictions means there is often a long wait for a particular title.

Audible also has member offers through its Plus Catalogue - lots of free books and exclusive content.

Nowadays, the paper and audio versions of new books tend to be released simultaneously and, as I like to listen to new releases, especially nominees for book awards, Audible is an invaluable service.

However I feel about Amazon, which I do use from time to time but not excessively so (although it was invaluable during the pandemic) I would not give up my Audible membership.

Allira

MaizieD

Allira

M0nica

It would never occur to me to use Amazon to buy stuff. It is an intermediary that offers nothing in return except a higher price to cover the comission the business involved has to pay them.

I prefer ebay or just googling direct, you can always check a company you do not recognise on Trustpilot.

I have only ever bought books from Amazon and stopped that years ago. I now buy books from Waterstones. However I always check every book on Amazon because it lets you look inside the book. When I have done that I buy from Waterstones, regardless of whether Amazon is cheaper.

I'm trying to think where my nearest Waterstones is

It's all very well for those with easy access to shops.

Your nearest Waterstones is at your fingertips on line. As are other bookshops.

Has Amazon fried people’s brains?

Do Amazon users seriously think that the only choice is between purchasing on line from them or going to a real life physical shop?

Do Amazon users seriously think that the only choice is between purchasing on line from them or going to a real life physical shop?

No. Other shops available online as well as in those out-of-town shopping centres which also killed the High Street.

Your nearest Waterstones is at your fingertips on line. As are other bookshops.
Waterstones is owned by a US Investment firm, Elliott Investment Managenent.

You saying that you were trying to think where your nearest Waterstones is implied that there was no alternative to Amazon apart from a physical bookshop.

I apologise for misinterpreting you. Though there have been several posts on this thread which appear to say it's either Amazon or the High Street.

Incidentally, there's another portal for independent bookshops on line. Hive Books. I've used them in the past.

I am disabled and cannot get out so rely on Amazon for so many things, the next day delivery is brilliant too. I also rely on audible for my books. I cannot see me stopping anytime soon. Also Amazon has such a fantastic range of products.