Moving Away From Amazon

I threw a real strop with Amazon about 20 years ago. I used to send vouchers to my friends children in the US, I needed to a have a US account to do so. They must have changed access rights as I couldn't use the American account and the UK account wouldn't let me send them to the US. After much toing and froing I gave up and sent a joint present to the whole family. Customer services was extremely rude and unhelpful and I have never used Amazon since. Not my favourite company!

petra

DeeAitch56

Rockgran are you saying Amazon doesn’t take Pay-Pal! Because I frequently pay them using PayPal

You don’t have a PayPal payment option on Amazon but you can pay with a PayPal debit card or PayPal business debit Mastercard.

Or you could boycott PayPal too, that's one of Musk's companies (or was) and its other founder is one of Trumps backers, too.

Well done you. I'm gradually doing the same. Consumer power is almost all we have left but it does work.

The only social media site I’m on is Gransnet. I don’t feel I’m missing out. I use Amazon very occasionally. I live in a city, so can access some shops, so no need to shop online very often.

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.

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

Or those who are not worried about the extra cost of P&P or the cost of bus fare to the nearest shops or the cost of fuel and parking if they’re driving there.
I do look at other sources, but it would be better to focus on getting the tax due.

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?

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.

I buy from Waterstones online and they post my books to me just as Amazon would.

I don't bother with Amazon now except to print at home vouchers if asked for them for birthdays.
I have found some lovely items on Etsy. Small, independent businesses which I prefer to support.
I have only had 1 issue with a seller but Etsy stepped in and settled it within a day.

If you want to support your local bookshop and support independent in general, you might consider buying through bookshop.org.

How it works here:

uk-support.bookshop.org/en/support/home

uk.bookshop.org/pages/about

As more and more people buy their books online, we wanted to create an easy, convenient way for you to get your books and support independent bookshops at the same time. If you want to choose a specific bookshop to support, choose them from our map and they’ll receive 30% of the cover price (or almost all of the profit) on your orders for a year. Otherwise, 10% of the cover price of your order will contribute to an earnings pool that will be evenly distributed among participating independent bookshops each month. Either way, your order is sent straight to your address, and all in-stock items arrive in 2-3 days.

I have no financial interest in the business - just a customer.

We have an excellent local bookshop.
No need to use Waterstones which is owned by a US investment group!

Best to do some homework methinks.

Despite having a new kindle (my third in 16 years) which I use on holidays and under the covers at night so as not to disturb DH I love a physical book and a proper bookshop.

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

Probably no more than anybody seriously thinks that what you just posted is true.

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.

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.

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.

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.

ViceVersa

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.