Moving Away From Amazon

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Thankyou for this Allira- no more Waterstones for me.

I use my local library a lot...

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?

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

M0nica

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

That’s quite funny really.

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

Rosie51

M0nica

But the small business will have its own website and a google search will bring them up as will ebay, or etsy.

No need to use Amazon.

But I only become aware of some of these small businesses because I've browsed Amazon........

Which ir precisely why they sign up with Amazon.

Of course, Amazon won't be doing this out of the kindness of its heart. The businesses will be paying a charge. Whether the increased business they get from being associated with Amazon is worth the cost I don't know.

But, from an ethical point of view, people who order from the small business via Amazon are still handing money to a Trump supporting billionaire via the charge.

Which is entirely up to them, of course..

If the small businesses do have websites, which isn’t a given, they may not be able to afford to pay to feature prominently on an internet search so may never be found were it not for their presence on the Amazon platform.

M0nica

But the small business will have its own website and a google search will bring them up as will ebay, or etsy.

No need to use Amazon.

Which may well end up being more expensive than buying from Amazon (it does happen, I've checked before buying various things).

M0nica

But the small business will have its own website and a google search will bring them up as will ebay, or etsy.

No need to use Amazon.

But I only become aware of some of these small businesses because I've browsed Amazon........

M0nica

But the small business will have its own website and a google search will bring them up as will ebay, or etsy.

No need to use Amazon.

So the question there would be, Why do they use Amazon?

But the small business will have its own website and a google search will bring them up as will ebay, or etsy.

No need to use Amazon.

I have noticed that Amazon do seem to promote small businesses, often see this:

Small Business
This product is from a small business brand. Support small. Learn moreThis product is from a small business brand. Support small

Signal app is an alternative to whatsapp and supposedly more secure

When I was doing a web design course, in the 1990’s one of the questions on the course was,
“Do you think on-line shopping will catch on?”
At the time, we agreed probably not for clothes or food, and people would still like to be hands-on for furniture and shoes.

I still don’t buy furniture, perfume or new make up or decorating material without seeing it first but there are so few shops to choose from.

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

The big out-of-town shopping centres and malls sounded the death knell for High Street shops and small branches of chains.

Amazon didn't arrive here until the late 1990s/early 2000s and filled the gap left by these closures as an alternative to shopping locally.

Now High Streets are full of coffee shops, eating establishments and charity shops. Occasionally small independent shops will open but don't last long because the rents and business rates are so high it's difficult to make a profit.