Do you buy books via Amazon?

[MsAmerica]

I was curious because on top of the various bad aspects of Amazon economically, there was just a lengthy expose in the New York Times as a reminder of how badly they reportedly treat their employees.

[antimatter]

That's why their books are so cheap. Amazon also bought www.abebooks.co.uk/
printed books are available in libraries and other book shops

I can imagine not using Amazon for buying books and other stuff but they also own Audible!
My current commute is so long I go through 1 book a week on an average (around 15-20 hours of listening depending on working from home) - I can't imagine being able to afford buying them at a full price! I have big dilema but listening to books keeps me sane.

I wouldn't mind paying the same amount to local library so they use my money to purchase audio books. I don't listen to them for the second time anyway.
I am not sure if libraries in England can take on Audible, There's OneClick Audio app available but most books are either crime or lighter read. I like listening to novels and hardly any of those I bought in the last 18 months are available in libraries (I also checked CD's in catalogues as I don't mind renting them - locally prices are up to £3).

[suzannefollowmyvan]

I buy used books from amazon sellers, also re sell many of my own books on there

[cdtaylornats]

Part of the problem is the abysmal level of employee protection in the US. My goddaughter works for Amazon in HR and tells me the article does not represent Amazon in the UK.

[Takver]

I've been trying to avoid them for a while, and order new books from our local bookshop or sometimes from Guardian books (I read the paper online for free, so it seems fair to support them in other ways).

Haven't found a good replacement for Abebooks though - other online 2nd hand sites don't have half as good a range.

[antimatter]

the article does not represent Amazon in the UK

Sorry, but I never believe that HR comments are genuine. They represent their employer and as such would never badmouth them (I would imagine they could be dismissed).

www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/18/amazon-regime-making-british-staff-physically-and-mentally-ill-says-union

and 3 years ago:

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/11/25/amazon-staff-investigation_n_4335894.html

[MsAmerica]

Okay, then I'll post a link to the New York Times article. It's long, but interesting.


“You walk out of a conference room and you’ll see a grown man covering his face,” he said. “Nearly every person I worked with, I saw cry at their desk.”

www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/technology/inside-amazon-wrestling-big-ideas-in-a-bruising-workplace.html?_r=0