IMO it's not really reasonable to blame the consumer for the shitification of Amazon. The only things that could have stopped this would have been more rigorous regulatory action against Amazon's mergers and anticompetitive practices years ago.
Successful businesses tend towards monopoly and once they're close to that position it's almost impossible for individual consumers to do anything about it.
Yesterday, a user asked how I stopped using Amazon. I don't have the heart to tell him, you just stop.
Honestly though, is there a site to find other places you can buy that's not from amazon? Maybe ebay, alibaba, AliExpress? Those options aren't as reliable and still have iffy ethical practices.
Be a local shop owner.
Have "opportunistic" prices.
Always try talking people into buying shit they don't need.
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"Customer support" = Its your fault, no refunds, go fuck yourself.
Why is Amazon taking over?
My anxiety ridden ass loves Amazon. My house is in a private enough area that I've never had a package stolen, but I live near a distribution center, so I can often get same-day delivery.
It started taking 5 days for deliveries during COVID so I cancelled prime and just get $35 free shipping.
I did exactly the same. It's fine if they can no longer ship in 2 days, but then lower the cost of Prime or something. It's no longer worth it, and tbh I'm going to spend a lot less money on Amazon since I won't order until I have enough for free shipping.
This is also what I do. Not very difficult to hit the free shipping. I put stuff in my cart then save for later.
Scamazon prime started looking like a bad deal to me well before COVID. When they were not meeting 2 day delivery and not compensating for it I was done with prime. I don't care much about video or music or whatever other shit comes with prime...it is all about the shipping.
How much is Prime now? And is what you get really worth that much?
Or alternatively, I live in the woods and it’s 60 min round trip to anywhere and there were never local stores near me to begin with, and between kids, jobs, chores, and house projects it’s just too damn convenient not to pull out a phone and have something come the next day- not like I’d have time on a week night to go out and buy it anyway, and then I get all the way to the store and they dont have what I’m looking for.
I detest Amazon practices, but I don’t have a real alternative that doesn’t just shift all the burden to me. I could “make a stand” but it doesn’t solve any of my problems and adds quite a few.
People want what Amazon provides, and I’d happily give my money to another company without shitty practices if one were available- but there in lies the problem. It’s a near total monopoly.
how do i get in on the retail smash and grab mobs on the news lately? where are they selling? do they deliver
never in my life had a package stolen, where is this happening? I hear about it constantly but in all my homes in many areas and being incredibly lazy about getting them from the porch...???
Online shopping used to mean lower prices and a bit of a wait.
Nowadays it's: more expensive because of shipping, delivery not doing their job or even stealing your shit, which leads to you having to pick it up at a place further from your house than the store that sells it.
Over here they are supposed to deliver it to you in person but half the time (if not more) they'll just leave a "you weren't home note" even though you took the day off and then drop it off at a pickup point.
Downside is that i can't stop online shopping because the stores never carry what i need.
Depends on what I need tbh. Comics? Got three locals, and if they're out of whatever back issue I need than mycomicshop, then ebay, then amazon if they are the only ones with it in stock. Books? Local bookstores or direct from publishers, then same pattern with the comics if need be. Records? Local shops or discogs. But electronics or general "life" shit, my "locals" are best buy and walmart, fuck them too I might as well order from amazon at that point.
I don't know about everywhere, but in many places the last point is kinda irrelevant since the Amazon lockers exist. I think there is one at most QuikTrips, even.
The last point is that the one of the advantages of shopping from home disappears, since you still need to get to either P.O. Box or Amazon box or whatever. You could as well go to the store to begin with.
Functionally it's the same thing though. From my own experience they are less common than PO boxes but that depends on the neighborhood.
Sucks that every book I order comes without padding and arrives super damaged.
Fuck Amazon
It doesn't even come to my door anymore I have to drive to the locker on the other side of my complex and god help you if you don't have your phone