Moving Away From Amazon

M0nica

Do what I do with books. Look them up on Amazon and then find their site off Amazon.

That’s quite funny really.

I look up books on amazon and then order them from my local library.
It makes sense.

Mollygo

M0nica

Do what I do with books. Look them up on Amazon and then find their site off Amazon.

That’s quite funny really.

But avoid Waterstones because it's owned by an American investment company.

I'm not sure what their site means - does it mean independent booksellers? The publishers?

Thankyou for this Allira- no more Waterstones for me.

I use my local library a lot...

keepingquiet

Thankyou for this Allira- no more Waterstones for me.

I use my local library a lot...

I used to, in fact I was using libraries from when I could first remember until not long ago.

Unfortunately many libraries are shut or open for limited hours due to cuts then I suppose Covid meant people got out of the habit of using local libraries.

It's a pity Gransnet doesn't still run the book competitions which I think were in collaboration with publishing companies.

I am a regular library user and order most books to keep or for presents from World of Books, theirs are second hand.

We are lucky enough to have an independent bookshop. They can get most books by next day and it’s an afternoon’s entertainment to visit the shop.
I’ve never been happy with Amazon and seldom used them. As well as their dodgy ethics and practices they charge more for delivery than other sources.

Do you have Libby ? That is where I get online books. All free and when you’ve read them you send them back.

Jaxjacky

I am a regular library user and order most books to keep or for presents from World of Books, theirs are second hand.

I like to visit second hand book shops when we are away. I have often sold books to World of Books and to our local second hand bookshop too. They don’t mind whether I bought them from Amazon or Waterstones or not.

Allira

Mollygo

M0nica

Do what I do with books. Look them up on Amazon and then find their site off Amazon.

That’s quite funny really.

But avoid Waterstones because it's owned by an American investment company.

I'm not sure what their site means - does it mean independent booksellers? The publishers?

Sorry I meant Waterstone's site. Despite the US ownership Waterstones is a British registered company and pays all appropriate taxes in the UK.

It's tricky. When I was young I used to boycott anything from South Africa. What I remember is largely asking questions about apples and not banking with Barclays, but there was more to it. I also checked things for CFCs before buying them, and was a pain to shop assistants as I refused to take paper bags (there was no recycling then and the bags got thrown away) but life was very different. There was no Internet, I was healthy and could spend all day shopping if I wanted to, and mail order meant 'allowing up to 28 days for delivery' or using catalogues like Freemans.

Now I have less time in many ways, shops are thinner on the ground (and yes, I am partly to blame for that, although my spending power is not enough to pose a threat to the economy) and I have mobility problems so shopping online is so much better for me.

I don't think that keeping people in jobs is a realistic excuse - it reminds me of films where people in Dixie say 'but what will the slaves do if we set them free?' (ie rationalising to find ways to maintain the status quo). In my case it is selfish, if I'm honest. But it also gives me more independence than I'd have if I had to ask Mr D to shop for me, or give me a lift when I wanted to shop. I have breathing issues which mean I can't carry much, and walking very far takes forever as I have to stop to get my breath every few minutes. Online shopping means I can still shop for groceries, make decisions about out-of-stock items, buy what I like, and have it delivered the next day. the same applies to shopping on Amazon and other online outlets. A copout? Maybe, or even probably. But I matter too, and if I didn't buy online there would be no noticeable dent in anyone's profits. I do use Amazon, and I wish I didn't. I even have NOW TV, which is a branch of Sky, so pays Murdoch. The trouble is that all the big companies have rotters at the top, so what's Mrs Average to do?

Having said that, I bought a dog bed for my son (well, for his puppy ) ten days ago, and it still hasn't arrived. The website suggests that the company is based in the UK (Leeds, to be precise) but following the tracking suggests that it's come from China. Definitely abroad, as there are stops for customs. Had I known, I would have looked to see if Amazon had one (it's an anxiety bed, so marginally less common than an average one) but I wanted to 'buy local', so didn't. More fool me. As I said at the start, it's tricky.

Well, as I ay, check the firm and the goods out on Amazon and when you order leave the middle man out.and go straight to the vendor's own site

Whatever I think of Amazon, I'll not be stopping using it. It is efficient and the next day delivery is a boon. It isn't always the cheapest option but it's dependable. I started using it years ago, with no thought for wider ramifications and it has become part of my life I suppose - always there when I need it.
Being more aware now, though, I would never use Temu. I see that company as a symbol of China's quiet determination to conquer the western world - every bit as dangerous to us all as Putin, Trump, Bezos, Musk et al - and not to be encouraged.

I don't use Temu etc, but Amazon is useful.

Well, as I ay, check the firm and the goods out on Amazon and when you order leave the middle man out.and go straight to the vendor's own site
Was that to me? Why would I check out a supposedly Leeds-based firm on Amazon? I did go to what I thought was the vendor's main site, for goodness' sake. How was I supposed to know that it was shipping from China?