Amazon destroying millions of unsold products

[xsquared]

I saw this story on my Yahoo feed but there's more information on ITV News link.

ITV News

I'm astonished how a billion pound company can just do this to save money. I guess it's decisions like this is why they are so profitable!

They could redistribute them to schools, hospitals, charities, shelters, prisons etc...

I think I will use Amazon even less in future. There was a thread a while back for alternatives to shopping at Amazon, I shall find it and post the link here in a bit...

It was bad enough hearing from a friend how the company he worked for just skipped stiluff they got as a result of repossessions. But this is even worse, perfectly good products sent to landfill. Shocking.

That's appalling. Okay that's it. I have a few bits coming tomorrow and then I shall vote with my ffet. I know I should have done it a long time ago really but I got lazy. Fuck Amazon though, this is the last straw.

Link to alternatives to Amazon as promised.

Alternatives to Amazon

Personally, I use the following:
Hive for new books
Etsy for quirky, unusual presents
Music Magpie for second hand DVDs and CDs
Independent art shops for things like colouring pencils and specialist stationary

They did actually "re distribute" to charity a few years back.... most of the goods were either useless (think wheelbarrow wheels EU plugs on electric goods) or fake.

What the hell?! and they do it just to clear warehouses?
I wonder if any other companies do this?

@FictionalCharacter

What the hell?! and they do it just to clear warehouses? I wonder if any other companies do this?

Supermarkets

@plodalong12 Food items from supermarkets can be easily donated to shelters.

This cafe uses leftover stock from supermarkets for sandwiches, cakes, scones, breakfast etc where you pay as you feel; host international cuisine evenings; and have offers like £5 bags/hampers during seasonal events to shift stock quickly.

There should be more places like that.

@FictionalCharacter

What the hell?! and they do it just to clear warehouses? I wonder if any other companies do this?

I know that designer brands destroy end of the line stock to maintain the exclusivity of the brand name.

I saw this - can't believe that they don't donate to charity. So much good stuff. OK, bin the components (like wheelbarrow legs!) but donate the rest.

@xsquared
Food items from supermarkets can be easily donated to shelters.

I know they can. But they don't. (This may have changed in the last few years for all I know, but they didn't used to). It all got thrown away. Even staff at the end of the shift couldn't take it.

Online clothing stores often throw away perfectly good brand new returned items because its cheaper than getting them back on sale. And so many people buy multiple items or sizes with the intention of returning. This is the tip of the iceberg I reckon.

Since the increase in exposure on food waste from supermarkets a few years ago, I believe they are probably doing better than they were before and with initiatives like the Re-F-use cafe above, there is more effort to reduce the waste.

With food, there is a shelf life and some waste is inevitable but there is no excuse at throwing out fully functioning, new in the box laptops, TVs etc.

I watched the news report last night, it made me feel physically sick. OP thank you for the tips on using alternatives to Amazon, I already use Hive for books they are great,

Most of it won't be "Amazon" though. A huge amount of what Amazon sell is actually sold by third parties under their "fulfilment" system. Amazon are merely handling the goods on behalf of thousands of small businesses. It's the small businesses who don't want it back, mostly returns from shoppers, due to the costs of postage back to them, Amazon handling fees, and then, of course, having to check, repack, etc before trying to sell it again. Amazon warehouses don't check/repack items that are returned to them. Hence why it's cheaper for the stock just to be binned. It's not right, but that's how it is. Especially electrical goods - if they're returned, they can't just be resold again without being properly checked over, and even charities don't always accept electrical goods. I think the main problem is how easy it's become to buy things on line and then just send them back and get refunded.

So pissed off with Amazon with everything I heard about them

I

It would be interesting to see a breakdown of the involvement of small businesses in this Badbadbunny.

I've heard before about the usefulness of Amazon for small businesses, though it seems at times that it's becoming a system of businesses with many issues.

I've been avoiding amazon for a couple of years now, but have sometimes been tempted by a bargain. No more though. This really is the last straw. What a shitty business model. Exploitation on every level and no regard for the planet. Also on the supermarket food waste question, check out Fareshare - they do a great job of collecting supermarket food that would be heading for landfill even when still in date (for various reasons) and they distribute it to groups all over the UK so it gets to the people who need it. We get a box every week for £3 full of random stuff that is always worth way more than the £3 we spend. Couldn't have managed without it over the last year to be honest!

Fast fashion outlets destroy clothes as well. Its bonkers. We will look back on this era and think we were mad.

It's very common in business. I used to work for Game Station, a chain of used videogame stores, and they regularly did this. It's only making headlines because it's Amazon.

Horrendous. Separate issue but I’ve heard the conditions in their warehouses are awful as well and they put their staff under extreme pressure for pittance wages. I will be avoiding in the future.

@BadLad

It's very common in business. I used to work for Game Station, a chain of used videogame stores, and they regularly did this. It's only making headlines because it's Amazon.

I am aware that Amazon isn't the only one, but common in business does not make it okay.

No wonder the planet is fucked. Mass production, transporting then mass dumping of goods.

I am aware that Amazon isn't the only one, but common in business does not make it okay.

OK. From your OP, specially "I guess it's decisions like this is why they are so profitable!" it didn't seem as though you realised that.

And they can't just redistribute the stuff, for a number of reasons. For starters many of the items don't actually belong to Amazon.

It doesn't make it OK at all, but every retail outlet I've ever worked in has done similar (clothing, grocery and DIY).
Unfortunately it's not as simple as being so outraged by Amazon you're going to take your custom elsewhere, as it happens everywhere.

I actually work for a charity that receives this stock for free weekly from Amazon. We get 20 large boxes of this stock sent to our one shop each and every week. Its mainly kids toys, phone cases and poundland type stock. Dont let these reports fool you into thinking it's all hairdryers and tvs being binned week in week out, that's nonsense but makes a good headline. Admittedly it is stuff mainly stuff that on mass people just don't want, but it does make the charity an awful lot of money each week so it's not entirely bad.