AIBU to please ask you not to plough even more money into Amazon over this lockdown?

[schitter]

I know, it's cheap and easy.
I know you probably need to find the lowest price you can.
I know it being delivered straight to your door is win win on non essential trips out.

But pleeeasssssse let's not make the richest man in the world any richer than he is already if you have any other option.
Even shopping online with the big high street retailers is better than lining JBs pockets.
Look at those little individual eBay shops that'll no doubt have exactly what you're looking for and you only have to wait a couple of days extra, it's not the end of the world.

Please look around you, please look what else is available.
Lots of your local shops have diversified into offering home delivery because their livelihoods depend on it.

My livelihood depends on it! My little business did 3% (yes, three percent) of its usual sales in April. I permanently laid off 4 staff and haven't made a penny personally since.
I feel sick at the thought.

Couldn't agree more

Totally agree with you.

Is eBay the best solution for those little things like hoover bags that I end up getting from Amazon?

What business are you in OP?

I agree - it's becoming increasingly difficult to start an independent business, even before Covid. People who once would have had a little shop end up working for someone else.

I have a small business and sell on Amazon as do many other small businesses. It is a trading platform like all other websites. I also sell on other platforms such as Etsy and ebay. If I didn't have sales through these websites I wouldn't survive.

As above, a lot of small businesses trade through Amazon. A friend of mine has an Amazon T shirt business. So think again.

Isn’t amazon a platform for small businesses?

sorry but I will still use it.

We really need to stop voting for people who don’t tax amazon...

Sorry about your business OP. I wonder if Mumsnet could do a “Christmas market” for seasoned MNers’ businesses?????

I never use Amazon except for kindle books. I don’t use eBay either, though

There's a great thread running on the Christmas board where posters have recommended independent online businesses:

Independent online shops www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/4034228-Independent-online-shops

I buy through etsy & NOTS often for (personalised) gifts but amazon really is better in terms of essentials, next or same day delivery. It's very appealing!

What about the thousands of people amazon employ? They are one of the biggest employers in my area...

I always support small businesses but it's not black and white

I will continue to use Amazon:

1. It provides a lot of employment round here, from drivers to pickers. That employment wasn't available before, lower-skilled flexible-hours jobs weren't hanging from trees.

1. Small businesses can sell on Amazon just as they can on Ebay.

I'm sorry to hear about your business OP.

Amazon is a platform for small businesses too. I have a friend who does wines and wine gifts. They'd die on their arse in the high street.

Someone has set up a website - I think It’s bookshop.org - that supports independent book shops.
I found some nice online chocolatiers, jewellers and artists selling gifts and things during the last lockdown. I keep thinking someone should set up a website of independent shops that offer online delivery (not homemade stuff like Etsy, or all the Chinese crap on eBay, but like a good high street but online).

A huge amount of what is sold on Amazon IS sold by small independent businesses, often using the "fulfilled by Amazon" system where the small business sends their stock to the Amazon warehouse who then pack and despatch as sales are made. It's a platform that lots of small businesses use. Very little of the things they sell are actually their own stock these days.

My goal for Christmas is not to use amazon for anything and preferably use local companies.
One of my problems is planning ahead so I don’t get stuck Looking for next day delivery.

One of my DCs said they need something for college tomorrow. My first instinct is amazon or Tesco neither of which need anymore of my money.

I've never understood this "boycott Amazon" thing - for two reasons.

1 - lots of small businesses trade on Amazon.
2 - and what about all the employees who work for Amazon? They'll be the first to lose their jobs if Amazon make redundancies - are their jobs not just as important as other people's?

Amazon is quick and easy, and provides employment for thousands of people. I'll be continuing to use it.

@Covidasaurus

We really need to stop voting for people who don’t tax amazon...

Sorry about your business OP. I wonder if Mumsnet could do a “Christmas market” for seasoned MNers’ businesses?????

VAT is paid on Amazon sales. PAYE/NIC is paid on their staff wages. The businesses selling through Amazon will be paying tax on their profits.

Lots of small businesses trade on Amazon, as PP have said.

I'm really sorry to hear your business is struggling though!

I use a variety of suppliers I also have Amazon Prime and where Amaxon can offer the best price and a slick quick delivery I use them

Amazon has been a lifeline for my family, I have prime so not paying for delivery anywhere else. Reliable and I've done all my Christmas shopping with them and it's all ready to wrap. I have never had bad service from them

I agree, and am trying very hard not to use Amazon at all these days.