Moving Away From Amazon

NotSpaghetti

I have had DuckDuckGo for many years now but confess I still regularly go back to Google.

I’ve used DuckDuckGo for years, too. Why do you go back to Google?

Barleyfields

It might make you feel better Jane, but it won’t make a haporth of difference to Amazon.

There’s no need to be patronising.

MaizieD I get different results in different places.
I sometimes use both.

Some of you seem to think that if you stop using Amazon you won't be able to shop online - which is nonsense. I recently bought Skechers trainers online from an independent shoe shop - speedy delivery, a hand written note thanking me for supporting a small business, and they were cheaper than Amazon.
Perhaps my actions won't affect Bezos but I don't want to live in a country where there are no small businesses remaining

Every day is a school day on GN. I have just installed DuckDuckGo and will try it out.

Eddiecat78 Yes! This! I don't shop on-line much but always try the small independents first. It can be done.

I use Amazon sparingly sometimes for obscure items that would mean trawling umpteen shops. I did sign up for Prime, during lockdown when it was a real asset as I imagine it is for people who have a disability or live in a remote area. I've never been on Twitter or any other social media platform, GN can be time wasting enough. I admonish myself for not having the moral fibre to not use Amazon given I hate the fact that they don't pay what they should in tax, or treat their workers, maybe a thing of the past, with enough basic decency. timed toilet breaks for example. It's not a pleasant world too close to how China operate imo. Talking of which I certainly wouldn't order anything from Shein or Temu. It's a Pandora's Box for sure and I can't see the lid going back on anytime soon. Governments collude in their enablement of allowing these corporations to flourish. It's the world we live in, a dubious progress with a multitude of downsides. It would take a tidal wave to change it.

Bezos is rich enough and I haven’t bought from Amazon for years there are plenty more businesses more deserving tham them.

TerriBull

I use Amazon sparingly sometimes for obscure items that would mean trawling umpteen shops. I did sign up for Prime, during lockdown when it was a real asset as I imagine it is for people who have a disability or live in a remote area. I've never been on Twitter or any other social media platform, GN can be time wasting enough. I admonish myself for not having the moral fibre to not use Amazon given I hate the fact that they don't pay what they should in tax, or treat their workers, maybe a thing of the past, with enough basic decency. timed toilet breaks for example. It's not a pleasant world too close to how China operate imo. Talking of which I certainly wouldn't order anything from Shein or Temu. It's a Pandora's Box for sure and I can't see the lid going back on anytime soon. Governments collude in their enablement of allowing these corporations to flourish. It's the world we live in, a dubious progress with a multitude of downsides. It would take a tidal wave to change it.

Chinese companies sending goods directly to US consumers have been stopped, The US allowed them in if the value was less than $800, a massive amount of tax was being avoided.

Similar tax avoidance is happening here VAT and customs duty are being dodged on a large scale.

We use Amazon.
Prime for TV.
Kindle for books
And for shopping, however many of the sellers on Amazon are small businesses within the U.K. shopping delivery charges are included in the Amazon fee.

It’s less time consuming for us to have one delivery a week from Amazon than trek into Town trawling around the different shops and getting everything back to the Park and Ride. It was handy when we needed a new step ladder.
It’s providing plenty of work for employees as well, it would be better if they paid the tax they should but that is down to our Government,
I’ve never use Instagram or Twitter, but I sometimes use Facebook.

I’m with merlotgran- Amazon made life easier for me last year when a fracture stopped me driving for four months. I know, it’s the evil empire but it certainly makes life easier. It’s also providing employment. I also know there are issues about terms and conditions - life throws challenges, we do our best

MaizieD

I haven't used Amazon for years. I can purchase anything I want on line from other retailers and get it delivered very quickly, often next day. I don't understand people's utter dependency on one retailer.

I'm weaning myself off twitter, especially as many of the people I followed have moved to bluesky, which, at the moment is altogether less toxic.

I have a facebook account which I don't access very often an rarely post on.

I do love Whatsapp, though 😢

To be fair Amazon isn’t just a retailer is it, it’s more than that, there are Amazon goods but many many more are other retailers.

David49

TerriBull

I use Amazon sparingly sometimes for obscure items that would mean trawling umpteen shops. I did sign up for Prime, during lockdown when it was a real asset as I imagine it is for people who have a disability or live in a remote area. I've never been on Twitter or any other social media platform, GN can be time wasting enough. I admonish myself for not having the moral fibre to not use Amazon given I hate the fact that they don't pay what they should in tax, or treat their workers, maybe a thing of the past, with enough basic decency. timed toilet breaks for example. It's not a pleasant world too close to how China operate imo. Talking of which I certainly wouldn't order anything from Shein or Temu. It's a Pandora's Box for sure and I can't see the lid going back on anytime soon. Governments collude in their enablement of allowing these corporations to flourish. It's the world we live in, a dubious progress with a multitude of downsides. It would take a tidal wave to change it.

Chinese companies sending goods directly to US consumers have been stopped, The US allowed them in if the value was less than $800, a massive amount of tax was being avoided.

Similar tax avoidance is happening here VAT and customs duty are being dodged on a large scale.

No, it’s been suspended. Most customers ordering from Temu etc. wouldn’t be spending more than $800 at a time, so won’t now see any difference if they want to carry on.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y7edy35pvo

I ordered of a supplier's website last week.
It was delivered by Amazon!

*"directly from" not "of"

I order quite often direct from the White Company, and it always comes via Yodel, not Amazon. I also sourced a walker toy from Amazon at Christmas, then ordered it direct from the UK company and it came by Royal Mail. I wonder if Amazon is used as a courier though by some companies because it’s cheaper than the alternatives? It would be interesting to know, because there doesn’t seem to be an obvious explanation.

My recent experience was of an independent company using Anazon as a courier, Casdon

It does look like avoiding them altogether is impossible in that case NotSpaghetti, which is annoying, because we don’t get to choose which carriers they use. I’m still going to do my orders via the independents though, every little helps.

eddiecat78

Some of you seem to think that if you stop using Amazon you won't be able to shop online - which is nonsense. I recently bought Skechers trainers online from an independent shoe shop - speedy delivery, a hand written note thanking me for supporting a small business, and they were cheaper than Amazon.
Perhaps my actions won't affect Bezos but I don't want to live in a country where there are no small businesses remaining

A great many small businesses use Amazon as a platform. They don’t necessarily have the resources to run their own online business.

Members of the family who work in publishing have said it is hugely damaging to an author not to have their book available on Amazon.

I wouldnt pay for delivery if I can get it free, which means I use ebay mostly
Amazon is my next choice, though.

I love the convenience and choice of Amazon, something you never got on the high street. Prices are good, everything in one place, extremely easy no quibble returns what's not to like? Another one here not cutting off her nose to spite her face. Amazon started off small and grew into what it is by a good business model giving people what they want. I would be lost if it disappeared.

TerriBull

Members of the family who work in publishing have said it is hugely damaging to an author not to have their book available on Amazon.

I do understand that, because Amazon has put itself into this 'go to' position. After all, it did start off selling books and CD/DVDs IIRC.

But if I want a particular book I will always look at all the online bookshops for it, and I usually find it. If it is only available on Amazon, I won't buy it (sorry, authors).

I'm finding the idea that there is only a choice of either Amazon or High Street shops quite puzzling. You can source just about anything on line without going near Amazon, but still seated in front of your computer (or scrolling on your phone).

Yes I agree, I try and buy books elsewhere if I can.

It’s true you can buy almost anything online without using Amazon. You have to have time to look.

I found some technical items I needed from one firm, for much less than they cost on Amazon . . . until they added P&P.

On the other hand, some chocolates I looked up came with free delivery from Amazon but cost the same price as the firm itself offered with P&P added.
è.g. £4.99+£3.99 P+P from the firm, or £8.99 with free delivery from Amazon.