Moving Away From Amazon

I have always tried to avoid using Amazon as I don’t like the concept.
I have never used Facebook or Twitter (X- what a silly name) and have no intention of ever doing so.

I use Amazon frequently and I have a Kindle which bumps up the number of purchases. Sometime I go direct to the seller/manufacturer via Amazon. I do the majority of my shopping online and couldn't imagine life with the means.
I have a Facebook account which I use every day, posting photos, commenting and playing a word game. I use Instagram but far less frequently. I did have Twitter account: I used it for contacting businesses if I had a problem and posting pics from my Blipfoto account. However, when Twitter became X, my account was closed (By them not me) and I haven't bothered with it since.

Amazon employ 1000s if not 100s of 1000s of people in the UK. Plus they get supplies from other companies in the UK. By refusing g to use them yiu are putting people's jobs at risk in your own country.

Jane112, thank you for putting up this thread.
Amazon is proven to be an exploitative employer. It has also been instrumental in impoverishing our high streets. It should be paying far more taxes to fund the public services on which we all rely.

I have never used Amazon. If I need to order something online, I email or ring up the company concerned. It isn't so difficult or time-consuming, and there is something personal about the transaction.

WhatsApp I do use all the time and I would find it hard not to have that available.

I couldn't care less who Bezos is linked with, I shall carry on using Amazon.

Luckygirl3

Amazon are successful because they are extraordinarily good at what they do and a godsend to people with poor mobility living rurally. I use them and subscribe to Prime.
I do not think we can really know all the background aspects of any online shop we use, and that is the nature of the internet.
Individual shops and outlets of all sizes have found bigger markets via amazon and small businesses have been given the opportunity to thrive. Delivery drivers have jobs.
Swings and roundabouts as with everything in life.

Amazon Prime is a godsend when living rurally.

If the shops actually stocked the items we would like to buy, then I would happily buy everything locally. How many times do you look online for an item to buy locally, and it is to purchase online only, or home delivery only. If I want something quickly, there are a few store chains who stock everything you can think of, but unfortunately the majority of products are made in China. Now that is something I would really want to avoid.

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

Luckygirl3

Amazon are successful because they are extraordinarily good at what they do and a godsend to people with poor mobility living rurally. I use them and subscribe to Prime.
I do not think we can really know all the background aspects of any online shop we use, and that is the nature of the internet.
Individual shops and outlets of all sizes have found bigger markets via amazon and small businesses have been given the opportunity to thrive. Delivery drivers have jobs.
Swings and roundabouts as with everything in life.

Well said.
I have no intention of cutting off my nose to spite my face.
Bezos may not be one of my favourite people but then most entrepreneurs are not in business simply to serve the public and become philanthropists either. I would like them to treat their workforce better if what we hear is true.

However, the whole concept is clever, well run, generally efficient and has helped many small British businesses survive, particularly during the lockdowns we had during the pandemic.

Yesterday we went to actual shops but one where we shopped is American owned.

Luckygirl3

Amazon are successful because they are extraordinarily good at what they do and a godsend to people with poor mobility living rurally. I use them and subscribe to Prime.
I do not think we can really know all the background aspects of any online shop we use, and that is the nature of the internet.
Individual shops and outlets of all sizes have found bigger markets via amazon and small businesses have been given the opportunity to thrive. Delivery drivers have jobs.
Swings and roundabouts as with everything in life.

This!

I use Amazon as shopping these days whether in our local town or on a retail park.. doesn’t give me choice… nor do assistants seem to have any product information. I find Amazon reliable and prices are good, returns if needed are efficiently dealt with.

That's what's needed sometimes.
If I can wait, then I use ebay, because its usually free delivery, but for fast delivery, Amazon is virtually always the cheapest and best option.

My son has just been sacked as a delivery driver for Amazon after three weeks.

This is the reason I don't use them- they are a dreadful employer and hire and fire at will messing up people's lives all the time.

I told him not to take on the job but he didn't listen... but hey ho they are fast and cheap at getting people stuff to the doors.

Amazon are successful because they are extraordinarily good at what they do and a godsend to people with poor mobility living rurally. I use them and subscribe to Prime.
I do not think we can really know all the background aspects of any online shop we use, and that is the nature of the internet.
Individual shops and outlets of all sizes have found bigger markets via amazon and small businesses have been given the opportunity to thrive. Delivery drivers have jobs.
Swings and roundabouts as with everything in life.

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.

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

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).

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

*"directly from" not "of"