Not Boycotting Jeff Bezo's companies entirely, just putting more work into looking for better options...(A long rant)

[Grumpy Old Woman]

I confess I was an Amazon junky - it has been so easy to order something and get it delivered. But my enthusiasm about Amazon has been changing after numerous bad deliveries, impossible customer service, and Bezos' current political support for Trump. The last two 'editiorials' I've read on the Washington Post praising destroying the East Wing and supporting that Argentinian have made my stomach hurt.

In the past year problems with Amazon have included delayed deliveries, a box of baking soda apparently damaged inside of a combined shipment (that was a mess), acrylic paint shipped in a flimsy envelope that opened and squirted paint inside the package (that was a bigger mess), a t-shirt whose design disappeared in the first wash, and two DVDs that were not playable.

Customer service is relatively non-existent. They don't seem to want to know that products were defective. I've gone to write reviews and found that the companies are no longer selling on Amazon, but suspiciously there is a new company selling the same or an almost identical product. I even went so far as to write a letter to Amazon but the letter was returned unopened with a note to contact customer service. Apparently they don't trust me, and I am starting to not trust them, either.

Sure, Amazon has lenient return policies, but my nearest return location is miles away, and I'm thinking if I have to make a trip anyway, why not go to a brick-and-mortar store? More seriously, do I want to support a business that is supporting Trump and his policies?

Finding my way out of the box:

When I needed more paint I started to research my options. Turns out the nearest store selling my product is a 'Christian Nationalist' company that supports Trump. I found a store farther away which appears to be apolitical and even has a DEI program.

Groceries are a more frequent purchase - but I can walk to a small local mom-and-pop grocery and a weekly farmer's market, and I can get public transportation to a larger grocery store that I trust.

I'll still order some things from Amazon, but I've marked my calendar for the day my current subscription ends. I've set my Washington Post subscription to end when that subscription ends. I'll continue to look for alternate sources for things, and I've found websites that tell you what political contributions and political actions different companies have made.

These are the businesses important to me that the internet says Bezos owns

Amazon
Washington Post (Alexi Petri, Ann Telnaes, and Jennifer Rubin are only a few of the excellent writers who have left).
Whole Foods
Audible
IMDb
MGM
Abe Books (no, not Abe books!)
Woot
Goodreads
Invests in Airbnb
Nextdoor
Business Insider

I've also started focusing on other news sources than mainstream medium. I read and (support when I can) sites like the Bulwark, Contrarian, TPM, DU, Guardian, etc....I'm also going to try to ask myself "do I need this?" for non-essential purchases and use any discretionary income for things like contributing to the local Food Bank.

Anyway, writing mainly for myself to try to hold myself to keeping my promise to cure my Amazon and mainstream medium addiction.

Wish me luck

[alwaysinasnit]

1. Good luck!

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Ditto on quality and shipping problems.

Haven't used Amazon in about 7 years. Can't find a bargain there, but sometimes they're the only supplier, or have a competitive price advantage that cannot be beat.

I'm much preferring in-store buying or ordering online for in-store delivery. That way I see the product, they don't make off with my money (that's happened too, it wasn't Amazon).

Most things I seek can be found at store or on eBay. Amazon does have competitors.

[Scrivener7]

3. It's not easy. I was an Amazon junkie too. I've been working on it for a long time, and

haven't bought anything from them for a while. The only thing I haven't been able to find elsewhere is my orthotics, which I buy once a year. I'm still working on finding another source though.

I had no idea Business Insider was a Bezos company! Thanks for the info.

I'm using a lot of Etsy and Ebay. I go to the mall now and then, which I hadn't done in decades. To be completely honest, I don't always find everything I need, but I'm buying clothing that actually fits now because I try it on, rather than just hoping it will fit and thinking it's "good enough" when I get it. And I don't impulse buy anymore, so I'm happier with the things I do buy.

Most companies let you buy directly from them, so it won't be at your house in 2 days, but it will get there.

You said you won't be completely avoiding Amazon. Remember, though, that you don't have to belong to Amazon Prime for the free shipping. If you have $35 worth of goods, the shipping is free without a Prime membership.

You can do this, and it's really worthwhile for all the reasons you listed. I wish you every success in it!!

[drmeow]

4. I've started using Amazon

to identify products and do comparison shopping and then going elsewhere to buy whenever I can! They encouraged people to do that to local stores, seems fair to do it back to them.

[legallyblondeNYC]

5. Buy local or small business.

Yes, it's gonna cost a little more -- upfront.
But it's gonna cost less in the long run when you consider the unaccounted for costs, right?

[DBoon]

6. I try to buy books directly from the publisher

if that isn't possible, I will go to Powell's in Portland Oregon or if all else fals to Barnes and Nobel

[Intractable]

7. I bring my Amazon returns to the local UPS store. Much closer than one of their own drop-offs.

[eilen]

9. Returns

Yes, I just returned a dress I had ordered for a wedding last weekend. Staples was an option when I applied for the return about 5 days prior. It was quick and easy.

[Intractable]

10. The ease of returns is one of the reasons I keep Amazon prime.

It seems that whenever I order something from a small-scale retail site, I have problems! Any problem I have ever had with Amazon was easily remedied by customer service.

I'm sure people have lots of legitimate complaints about Am's products and services. My biggest complaint is that it makes Bezos richer. Am prime also provides a very good video service.

They keep pestering me by email to sign up for their tele-medical services. I say no to that one.

[eilen]

8. You can do it!

I also was a big Amazon customer. We have a few of those Alexa devices (all unplugged and stored away), subscribe and save items, the Amazon Unlimited, Washington Post etc. etc. I did pull the plug last Spring but then ended up resigning to Prime month to month for the Prime Video streaming ... then got sucked back in for a few months. Yesterday I cancelled it again. My husband asked me this evening if I pulled the plug and I said yes... then he told me that one of his favorite Prime series was going to start back up. It is one of those that releases an episode weekly so I told him in a few months, after it is finished, we can sign up again for one month and binge it. Also, I discovered that many of their Amazon Originals are released on DVD.

I find deleting the app from your phone and removing the credit card information can slow your roll as far as ordering. You can build a cart and then give yourself time to think about it. Return a week later and see if you still want the items. I ended up ending my subscribe and save and located the original company websites and ordered from them.

As an alternative to the ebooks/books/dvds etc. I have decided to use the library. If there is a book I absolutely want to buy... I try used (Better World Books) or local source (used at thrift stores or local used book stores) or just buy from a local bookstore. My library has ebooks I can borrow via Libby and Hoopla. I live in NYS but about 5 hours from NYC. But because I am a NYS resident and pay state income taxes, I also have access to the NYC Library digital collection. It is just a matter of renewing it when required. I chose The Brooklyn Library as my "home" library in their network. Also, there are local state universities where I can access their collections.

I have decided to jump on the No Buy Train this Christmas season. I will just send money and the recipient can choose what they want for themselves.

[Intractable]

11. Don't be coy.

>> one of his favorite Prime series was going to start back up.

What show??? Do tell.