Must stop ordering from Amazon

[isitsnowingyet]

Anyone else?

I know it's the month before xmas but I've been ordering stuff like a steam cleaner; a cross-stitch thing for me to do in the next lockdown; a coffee mug (possibly good as a gift, but I would quite like it as well); etc etc you're getting the picture. I've also ordered numerous gifts as well...

Need to stop now though, before it gets out of hand

I still shop from Amazon but have been trying to avoid buying super cheap imported knock off stuff and support small UK/European businesses where I can find them.

Nearly all their lightning deals are absolute rubbish and completely meaningless as the prices go up and down across the year (camelcamelcamel is great for checking this) and I've not been impressed with their Black Friday offers.

I do have Prime and a firestick so will probably not quit altogether, but still to branded stuff like Lego when it's on offer.

NB I've had 2 Amazon parcels turn up this morning and 2 on the way later, so clearly I am still clicking on Buy Now far too often!

@Springersrock and @PersonaNonGarter.

Having been advised by a post on MN I’ve used a gift tracking app for the first time this year. It has made a big difference helping to keep track not only of what I’ve already ordered and where from but also of how much I’ve spent on each person trying to keep it equal. Handy for noting potential gift ideas too. Also it is password protected from prying eyes.

I’m using one called Santa’s bag - not sure if there are better ones.

@optimisticpessimist01 but sadly that doesn’t help my local area where we don’t have an Amazon distribution centre just dying shops :(

I can’t feel bad at the moment about ordering from Amazon when they’re so bloody efficient.
I run a very small business and suddenly had a lot of orders for two products which don’t fit in the boxes I usually use. All of our usual suppliers have been completely out of stock of almost everything I need for weeks and take almost a week to process anything they do have in stock so they’re pretty useless.
I ordered some additional boxes (very cheaply without the additional £5 P&P our usual suppliers charge) from Amazon yesterday morning and they were here less than 24 hours later. I can’t fault them to be honest

JoeWicksSurvivor

But you may well have a number of small suppliers near you that earn their living through Amazon.
The changing nature of the high street is a double edged sword.
Cities are too crowded, too much traffic, too retail heavy.

Amazon has enabled my fledgling business to take off, working from home, dovetailing it into family life and caring for children.
My neighbours don;t even know I sell on Amazon- they do see me taking a lot of parcels to the post office.

You literally have no idea what goes on behind closed doors. Amazon allows thousands of ( mostly invisible) small businesses to thrive and prosper- prabably employing far more staff than Amazon employ directly.

Amazon recently did a promotion for small UK businesses. I purchased some lovely stuff for Christmas presents, and now have those business's in my 'wish list' so when I want to reorder I can. I try and avoid cheap imports and go for UK small businesses where possible. I also buy through their smile page which benefits a local charity. I do use our local indie bookshop though, as I'd hate to lose it.
As with most things in life it's about balance.

I sell print on demand t shirts and notebooks on Amazon. Designing them has kept me busy during lockdown and the income is very handy too. Their warehouse and delivery service keeps lots of local people employed. Yes, their owner needs to learn what philanthropy means and they need to pay more taxes, but they don't have the monopoly on that.

I came here to sympathise, except now I've decided I need a steam cleaner

It is so easy just to go online and order from Amazon. I love the fact that I can buy almost all presents in one place, it arrives within a day or two and I can then wrap as I go. Job done.

Why would I leave home to visit the high Street (pre covid) that is bleak, depressing and often a stressful experience when I can buy from Amazon.