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.

Is it just Amazon you object to OP or do you check the account of every business or self employed person to check what tax they pay and if they take advantage of having a HQ elsewhere etc.

[quote ouchmyfeet]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[/quote]
I was just going to post about this.

It's been quite sad seeing all the posts on insta and fb from local businesses near me who are just trying to get by, and now having to shut down again, and trying to find a way through.
I fear with Amazon they will end up being the only, or pretty much only, seller and then will hike up their prices as we'll have no where else to go. It's probably unfounded, it's just my worry.

YABU - lots of small businesses sell on Amazon same as ebay. Also why should I pay more for the same product?

I really hope people wake up to the prospect of more responsible shopping

Paying more for things that I can get cheaper off Amazon isn’t ‘responsible shopping’, it’s really bloody irresponsible from a personal finance perspective.

Sorry about your PP’s hardships, but I love Amazon and will happily continue to use it.
I have little money and they are often the cheapest and offer free delivery.
They have provided a lot of jobs around here...what happens when they get made redundant?

I don't know. Amazon are a pretty big employer in this area and they've succeeded by identifying what people want and doing it well.

I don't think any business deserves custom just because they're small, they need to provide something people want, in a way they want it, at a price they're happy to pay.

I have found some new (to me) local businesses that have been outstanding during this time and I am telling people and sharing their details all over the place, but they have provided a product I want at a fair price with excellent service alongside. Many small businesses don't do that.

@longtompot - there’s lots of competition on Amazon as they have different sellers with the same product and they will tell you the cheaper ones.

DH worked for a succession of small businesses when he left the Army and was treated appallingly by all of them, in a way I have never experienced in a 35 year career with large organisations. Small often isn't better, in many ways I'd rather support large employers.

I actively chose amazon on price and next day delivery, it’s an informed choice
I’m not sleepwalking to irresponsible shopping. I’m cognisant of Amazon and it’s practices ,and the corporate tax.
I do not need educated about my retail choices

And basic economics is most people won’t pay more when they can pay less, unless there is a compelling USP. Price and value are two different constructs

Amazon is my first port of call for purchases. Easy and straightforward, competitive pricing with a decent returns system. I have an Amazon credit card and I use receipt scanning apps that give me gift vouchers to use there, it's free money.
I like eBay too but it can often be hit and miss.

I'm sorry OP but Amazon are So convenient.
The obvious reason is the next day deliveries are great. They've got it right.
As a business, you need to be able to compete with this because this is the way of the world now rightly or wrongly.

I can't afford the independent business version 90% of the time

@GintyMarlow2

Another point: Jeff B. is so rich anyway that a few people boycotting Amazon won't make the slightest difference to him.

Nope, but it would make the world of difference to the small business owner(s) that get your business instead

I can afford to buy at an independent shop but why would I pay more when amazon is cheaper

Lots of sheshe boutiques and shops were I live, selling candles,this works sleep spray, scarves, etc that I can buy cheaper on amazon

So I buy amazon

Also, if Amazon's business took a downturn, that would cost jobs too.

Ok yes I agree to an extent but my issue is this

For the last few big purchases I have wanted to make I have tried to go to the high street but it’s almost impossible firstly to find items in stock and secondly take them home with me

For example I wanted some small side tables - I was told 6 weeks for delivery. I wanted a chest of drawers and eventually found the one I wanted, went to the shop and they were out of stock, looked online and it said available, tried to order but they weren’t available for local delivery and collection options were in a store over 200 miles away.

Amazon is reliable. This is huge when you don’t have much time for shopping and looking around. When you don’t want to wait 6 weeks (or can’t, say for a cot or essential home item).

The high street doesn’t carry stock because of the storage costs, thus meaning you can’t usually walk away with the item or even arrange a delivery within a week. Hence why so many people choose just to go to amazon.
When the high street can match reliability then I’ll use it, whilst I have to wait 6 weeks for a tray on legs I will turn to the more reliable option

In terms of small business then of course I would buy from them if it was easy and efficient. Honestly efficiency means more to me than cost and I’d happily pay a bit more for being able to order and receive my goods within a few days. I don’t want to wait 7 days delivery sorry.

1stV45

I agree with you - small companies often expect their employees to go above and beyond because it’s a small company, they demand loyalty and hard work to the point that people feel they can’t have time off because they are sick, or have any flexi arrangements etc. And if there profit margins are tight then the job is always going to feel unsecure.

I have a small “cottage industry” business which has always been nothing more than a side hustle, I’ve been putting a lot of time and effort into it for the last few months as I don’t actually have a job at the moment, but I am realistic in that it will only ever make me pin money, I am not money - oriented enough to try and run my own business.

Sometimes I think we get too caught up in our “what ifs...” yes working for yourself is a lovely dream, but can you actually make enough money to live on without compromising your own integrity?

Sorry OP I think your post smacks off “support small business because it suits me”

Haven't read the whole thread but...

[whispers: sometimes books from booksellers featured in 'also available from these sellers' are actually cheaper than Amazon's own price, if you buy them direct from the bookseller's site]

As for the areas where Amazon provide a lot of local employment, you do realise that your local authority probably paid £000s in infrastructure projects to get Amazon to come to the area?

Sorry OP I think your post smacks off “support small business because it suits me”
⬆️*@ApplePlumPieThis* post pretty much nails it

Op you’re a for profit business you aren’t operating altruistically

As for the areas where Amazon provide a lot of local employment, you do realise that your local authority probably paid £000s in infrastructure projects to get Amazon to come to the area?

Genuinely don’t see the problem with this ? Everywhere near where I live is crying out for infrastructure projects ! (Oh and yes Amazon is a huge employer near to me)

I agree with looking around and agree with shopping local. BUT it not just the Amazon man you are helping to get rich ... it’s the person / business who is selling the goods via Amazon. The delivery driver who earns from your order, and the packers in the warehouse have a job.
Whilst I agree it doesn’t seem right the rich just get richer... but they do provide jobs for others along the way ...

If this pandemic has shown us anything, it's that whilst I wish to support small businesses like the ops, I myself are surviving on Universal credit and many of my friends /family have had their income reduced / relying on foodbanks - we'll probably do what we need to for our own survival ,when all is said and done.

If you are in a position to think about the long term effects of the loss of the high Street etc then great but many ,many of us just can't at the moment 😕.

@diplodocusinermine

Noitjustwontdo, the tea supplier will still have to cover the delivery costs, and a percentage of the price of the tea will go to Amazon too.

FWIW, you don't have to cover postage costs selling on Amazon. If you ship, you get a postage credit. If you used Fulfilled by Amazon (where we ship our goods to be stored and distributed from their warehouse - the option I choose) you get Prime delivery included in your fee, which is quite reasonable when you consider the service you're getting.

As for the areas where Amazon provide a lot of local employment, you do realise that your local authority probably paid £000s in infrastructure projects to get Amazon to come to the area?

So the local authority invested in the infrastructure that allows thousands of local people to be employed... sounds like a good use of funds to me.

I agree. It's ridiculous a man can make so much money and not give back the community. He barely pay taxes because it gets a little complicated how to tax online shopping