How to avoid buying stuff online from Amazon - a list of alternative retailers

[Hollis]

My main problem with boycotting Amazon is that nobody else does e-readers as well as them.

I've experienced just how shite they are first-hand as a customer, when they effectively tried to nick £100 of gift vouchers when my account was hacked. Their "customer service" was deliberatley Kafkaesque, and I was stuck in an endless cycle of empty promises and referrals upwards, until, purely through attrition after about 30-40 calls and 3 months later, one operative decided to just refund the things.. Abysmal.

 

[Big Bertha]

So do I. That's why I run free Brixton websites that are used and appreciated by many, many local businesses.

That’s great, cheers

 

[BristolEcho]

Yes but as others have said, if they less utter shites then better to use them no?
I boycott/avoid/don't give money to asda as they are owned by wallmart and shit on workers rights and union busters
Also Wilko due to their prison labour
People often say well tesco are just as bad when I say boycott asda, but are they? are they union busters? do their parent company sell guns? If someone can show they are as bad i'll boycott tesco too.
Boycotts can and have worked.

Also about giving the money to someone else, a smaller local independent business where possible
I needed a lead this week and would have got it now if ordered from amazon but haven't and hope it might be here by end of the week.
Think the only time I have ordered from amazon was for a wedding wishlist thing a long long time ago

I answered in more detail in my next post. That was posted at 4am half asleep.

Tesco were the first company I boycotted. They are utter trash with the way they attacked local business. That's how it comes down to personal feelings isn't it? I used to be all over boycotts, but it's ineffective. I choose not to do certain things for example like eat meat. I then realised that I could never do that perfectly either.

I was all over only buying local and organic food etc. For what though really? I still do shop local when I can, but I don't feel it's much of an action and I certainly don't blame anyone who doesn't. It was utterly stupid buying organic when I barely had any money.

The reason why I'm more outspoken about boycotts these days is that lots of people use them as a reason to make others feel guilty and it becomes a bit of a circle jerk. Not so much here but elsewhere. I just don't have any time for it. Sure boycott it, but come up with more constructive ways than simply making people feel guilty or bad. Particularly if you're promoting alternatives that cost more.

 

[BristolEcho]

AO we're absolutely shit by the way. They miss-installed our dishwasher which I didn't have a problem with as it happens, but I had to fight them tooth and nail for a refund on the installation and they openly lied. I got it back but I expect they've managed to Rip loads of people off.

 

[campanula]

If I want to buy a plant, a book, some wool (pretty much the only stuff I buy online), then I look for a nursery, bookshop or woolshop. Why would you use Amazon? I know that one of the seed sellers I use, advertises on Amazon...but the packets are 70p more. Plus, if you have to send something back, where do you send it? I just can't see any advantage for getting something off Amazon. True, it always seems to come up first on search engines but...you know, why pay for a third party and a cunt at that...or am I missing something vital. I have never bought anything off Amazon so this, indeed, may be the case.

 

[Spymaster]

... why pay for a third party and a cunt at that...or am I missing something vital. I have never bought anything off Amazon so this, indeed, may be the case.

Yes, you are missing a fair bit, tbh.

Amazon is very often the cheapest option. Aside from that, if you are a Prime member (about £70 per year) you get free next day delivery (same day on some items), free returns and pretty much instant refunds, access to Amazon Prime Video which has more content than Netflix, unlimited free online photo storage, same day grocery delivery via Prime Now, free access to tens of thousands of ebooks via Prime Reading and millions of songs via Amazon Music.

It really is very good value.

An interesting thread here about them.

 

[Saul Goodman]

You are missing a fair bit, tbh.

Amazon is very often the cheapest option. Aside from that, if you are a Prime member (about £70 per year) you get free next day delivery (same day on some items), free returns and pretty much instant refunds, access to Amazon Prime Video which has more content than Netflix, unlimited free online photo storage, free access to tens of thousands of ebooks via Prime Reading and millions of songs via Amazon Music.

It really is very good value.

An interesting thread here about them.

It really is a no-brainer for me. I can either buy it off Amazon or pay twice the price for it locally.
Then there's Prime. I rarely buy into any membership stuff but Prime allowed me to buy something which they would only deliver to Ireland if you were a Prime member, which is the reason I originally signed up. It was worth a year's Prime membership just for one item. Now it pays for itself (for me) on free deliveries alone.
There are also Prime only deals and discounts, and 'early access' on a lot of stuff, like Black Friday deals, and given the fact that Prime membership is cheaper than Netflix, it's probably worth paying for it for Prime Video alone, if you're into considering a streaming service, although I think Netflix has the edge on Prime Video, as far as good content is concerned, but Prime is getting much better.
I know I'm depriving local businesses of my coinage, but it's my coinage, and I point blank refuse to pay twice the price for something just to keep a local business owner in nice houses and cars. I'd rather add to Bezos' billions than a local business' millions, if I'm getting the same item for half the price.

 

[Marty1]

Shouldn't the agency should be paying you holiday pay?

No, because drivers are classed as self-employed.

Yes, you are missing a fair bit, tbh.

Amazon is very often the cheapest option. Aside from that, if you are a Prime member (about £70 per year) you get free next day delivery (same day on some items), free returns and pretty much instant refunds, access to Amazon Prime Video which has more content than Netflix, unlimited free online photo storage, same day grocery delivery via Prime Now, free access to tens of thousands of ebooks via Prime Reading and millions of songs via Amazon Music.

It really is very good value.

An interesting thread here about them.

And cunts like me delivering it all up to 9pm 7 days a week.

 

[Spymaster]

And cunts like me delivering it all up to 9pm 7 days a week.

Do you do Prime Now as well or do they have seperate drivers?

 

[campanula]

Yes, you are missing a fair bit, tbh.

Amazon is very often the cheapest option. Aside from that, if you are a Prime member (about £70 per year) you get free next day delivery (same day on some items), free returns and pretty much instant refunds, access to Amazon Prime Video which has more content than Netflix, unlimited free online photo storage, same day grocery delivery via Prime Now, free access to tens of thousands of ebooks via Prime Reading and millions of songs via Amazon Music.

Well, it did seem quite good value, Spy, so I had to wonder why I hadn't used it (given my cheapskate nature), but a swift look at my Paypal accounts and it became clear why I wasn't making the most of (almost) free postage. Despite the apparently enormous range of stuff sold through Amazon, none of it was exactly what I was looking for. I don't want ANY 4ply sockwool, I want a very specific brand (Jamieson's of Shetland) in a specific colour (out of the 204 choices). Or, I want a very particular plant which is only listed in the RHS plantfinder in 2 nurseries. Or, I am looking for a cheap and functional laptop...which can be found on many sites...with Amazon not coming up at anything like the cheapest.
Now D-i-L is an avid Amazon shopper but I think she is of the generation which really does not do window-shopping, leisure shopping or any of that (not that I do either but). And I think she buys a lot of stuff which is listed by Amazon. And, she watches stuff on a screen (which I don't do either). So, while I can see how people are tempted despite obvious unethical and exploitative practices, it isn't a dilemma I would have to wrestle with.

 

[Spymaster]

Well, it did seem quite good value, Spy, so I had to wonder why I hadn't used it (given my cheapskate nature), but a swift look at my Paypal accounts and it became clear why I wasn't making the most of (almost) free postage. Despite the apparently enormous range of stuff sold through Amazon, none of it was exactly what I was looking for. I don't want ANY 4ply sockwool, I want a very specific brand (Jamieson's of Shetland) in a specific colour (out of the 204 choices). Or, I want a very particular plant which is only listed in the RHS plantfinder in 2 nurseries. Or, I am looking for a cheap and functional laptop...which can be found on many sites...with Amazon not coming up at anything like the cheapest.
Now D-i-L is an avid Amazon shopper but I think she is of the generation which really does not do window-shopping, leisure shopping or any of that (not that I do either but). And I think she buys a lot of stuff which is listed by Amazon. And, she watches stuff on a screen (which I don't do either). So, while I can see how people are tempted despite obvious unethical and exploitative practices, it isn't a dilemma I would have to wrestle with.

Well clearly it's not going to be for everyone. Nothing is. If your online purchases are limited to knitting gear, you don't stream video content, store photos online, or stream music or books, then quite probably it's not for you. I actually find it saves me money on free delivery alone and the rest is all bonus. It's incredible value.

 

[wayward bob]

i ask for etsy vouchers for any present-giving occasion. if i can buy local-ish on there (for e.g. vs ebay) i will. the offerings tend towards the fripperies end of the scale, in a general sense, and there's definitely a price premium. but it's still my first call for basic materials or small-business-artist/gift stuff.

i got moss on etsy and i highly recommend it for those occasions where you really could do with some moss

 

[Marty1]

Do you do Prime Now as well or do they have seperate drivers?

Just Prime, think Prime Now is limited to just groceries from Morrisons by Flex up here.

 

[Marty1]

Spymaster does it concern you any that Amazon are running away with online retail at an eye watering speed whilst trampling on workers?

 

[Saul Goodman]

i ask for etsy vouchers for any present-giving occasion. if i can buy local-ish on there (for e.g. vs ebay) i will. the offerings tend towards the fripperies end of the scale, in a general sense, and there's definitely a price premium. but it's still my first call for basic materials or small-business-artist/gift stuff.

i got moss on etsy and i highly recommend it for those occasions where you really could do with some moss

No disrespect intended, so please don't be offended, but gift vouchers are the worst present anyone could possibly give. The receiver may not (usually won't) want anything from the place you bought the vouchers from. Just because you buy stuff from there, doesn't mean there's something there for everyone.
Please, can we ban gift vouchers?

 

[wayward bob]

am not offended. i buy and sell on etsy. i specifically ask for the vouchers because i know i'll find a way to spend them. lots of small producers sell on etsy do you not saul?

eta: i clubbed together my christmas vouchers to commission a bowl from a woodworker. something absolutely on the strictly-unnecessary list, but something that makes me happy and gives someone local-ish a decent price for their skilled/specialised work. what's not to love?

 

[Marty1]

am not offended. i buy and sell on etsy. i specifically ask for the vouchers because i know i'll find a way to spend them. lots of small producers sell on etsy do you not saul?

My cousin has a business on Etsy - she make bespoke craft goods for weddings and parties - some of the things she makes are amazing.

 

[Saul Goodman]

am not offended. i buy and sell on etsy. i specifically ask for the vouchers because i know i'll find a way to spend them. lots of small producers sell on etsy do you not saul?

To be 100% honest, I've only heard of it. I haven't had time to peruse it, and didn't even know it was a place for individuals to sell their wares (until now?). But I will have a look into it.
My reasoning lies with my own experience of gift vouchers. When I've received them, I find myself looking for hours to find something to buy that I would never have bought for myself, if it hadn't been for vouchers.
I'm guilty of it myself, but since my sister said "FFS, would you not just send the money. I have no use for 3D printer filament"...

 

[wayward bob]

for people who were specifically hoping to stick it to the man i figured a large marketplace of independent sellers might be somewhere to start

oh man i love that passive aggressive smiley

 

[Sprocket.]

AO we're absolutely shit by the way. They miss-installed our dishwasher which I didn't have a problem with as it happens, but I had to fight them tooth and nail for a refund on the installation and they openly lied. I got it back but I expect they've managed to Rip loads of people off.

We have no experience of installation problems with AO because all our items have been plug and use.
But thanks for the heads up, I no longer have the suppleness to install a dishwasher.

 

[wayward bob]

To be 100% honest, I've only heard of it. I haven't had time to peruse it, and didn't even know it was a place for individuals to sell their wares (until now?). But I will have a look into it.

take a look

i only thought of you cos when we went on our once-in-forever trip to sweden the dude ran a forge alongside the accommodation, as you do and i got into admiring his smithery and recommending etsy that he'd not heard of (in return he commissioned a book from me that he never paid the deposit on ) maybe now tourism's fucked he wants some books made?

 

[Saul Goodman]

take a look

i only thought of you cos when we went on our once-in-forever trip to sweden the dude ran a forge alongside the accommodation, as you do and i got into admiring his smithery and recommending etsy that he'd not heard of (in return he commissioned a book from me that he never paid the deposit on ) maybe now tourisms fucked he wants some books made?

I must do that. I tried to sell one of my knives recently on ebay, but it seems you can no longer sell knives on ebay, because someone might use it to stab someone, rather than take a knife from their kitchen

 

[wayward bob]

if you're not invested in etsy it could well be worth your time

/unemployed artist

but! unemployed artist who got most of my sales via etsy when i had sales

 

[Saul Goodman]

for people who were specifically hoping to stick it to the man i figured a large marketplace of independent sellers might be somewhere to start

oh man i love that passive aggressive smiley

I set one up, many moons ago. It was a 100% free version of ebay. I SEO'd the fuck out of it, and got it above ebay on Google for all of their search terms... and nobody used it, because it wasn't ebay.

 

[wayward bob]

there are all kinds of local networking teams and ad promotions that form a bedrock of referrals tbh. my best sales evah was a physical event organised by local etsy sellers, they had their booths/location/marketing to perfection. equally i get random orders out of space just cos literally no-one ever made that combination of (say) paper and (say) fabric anywhere else ever or ever will again cos it's a ballache

 

[Marty1]

for people who were specifically hoping to stick it to the man i figured a large marketplace of independent sellers might be somewhere to start

oh man i love that passive aggressive smiley

Thats kind of what Amazon already is - think they only sell 3% of their own stock on Amazon - the rest is thru independent sellers using FBA (fulfilled by Amazon) - seller has their goods warehoused with Amazon who pack and ship it and take a 15% cut of the sale price.

 

[wayward bob]

my mum makes my brothers living by second handing books for him on amazon

 

[wayward bob]

obvs etsy take a cut, but it's nothing like the 30% commission (received) you face supplying retailers.

 

[Saul Goodman]

my mum makes my brothers living by second handing books for him on amazon

That's how Bezos started.
And so the cycle continues

 

[wayward bob]

well either my brother will stop thinking of "important" things to say and/or my mum will die of the covid.

either way i don't see a sustainable business model...