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.

@tentative3

I hope the people who want rock bottom prices realise what will happen once the monopoly gets to a certain point... also hope they're cool with the rest of us wanting rock bottom costs on everything, including the jobs they do. And that includes white collar jobs.

I don’t want rock bottom prices. I can only afford to buy at rock bottom prices. It’s not a choice.

I always, always check eBay first. I usually find what I want for less, with free shipping. I have had 100% awesome service and delivery, great communication and usually very fast delivery. I prefer to help the small seller, rather than make Bezos any richer.

I don't think the success of Amazon is entirely down to price now. That's how they started perhaps, but for many now it's about convenience.

With most things I buy, I don't necessarily want the cheapest, I certainly don't want cheap in terms of quality but I do want good service and that seems to be lacking from lots of small businesses. When I get good service I tell people and I go back but I'm not giving repeat business to people who are rude or unhelpful or think they deserve my business just because they're a small business.

What’s your actual point or are you just virtue signalling @tentative3
Catastrophizing a dystopian future because people are prudent with their money

I won't unless I really, really have to. I find Amazon expensive anyway.

Leannb Its not about the cheapest price. Its about the convenience

That's as may be for you, but a lot of people on the thread have said that price is the most important factor for them. If that's the case, then surely it's helpful to know that it's still worth a quick look at other online sellers: not a lot of extra effort, and the assurance of getting lower prices - what's not to like?

@Facelikearustytractor Genuine question, where is cheaper?

I hope the people who want rock bottom prices realise what will happen once the monopoly gets to a certain point... also hope they're cool with the rest of us wanting rock bottom costs on everything, including the jobs they do. And that includes white collar jobs. Do you not understand buying the cheapest product isn't a choice for so many people? Many of us do our supermarket shop with our phone calculator totting everything up praying we have enough for the basics. You sound blinded by your own privilege.

halo polishers always think & say things like it’s only Money, surely you can pay wee bit more for provenance/indy retailer
Not getting for a lot of folk Aldi,Lidl,Tesco are their range, and it suits

I’m desperately sad for small businesses
And yea i did use local shops such as handyman store and household ones
BUT , I’m a single mum working FT and I don’t have the time or will to trawl around shops
And I’m fed of of the demonisation of what’s a successful business model

And I’m Really sorry for your business and hope you can find a way to diversify and survive

It's really not just about price for many.
I ordered a blood pressure monitor in lloyds pharmacy instead of amazon. I don't even know why. Order accepted on 26th... Sent an email. Nothing heard back. I am cancelling it tomorrow and ordering in from amazon🤷🏻
I do otherwise support independents, services and unique goods. I have independent art, use independent restaurants and other services. Amazon (let's face it, JB just absolutely hit it right, imho he deserves the riches...) always dealt with any issues without a problem. IF, if, there were issues.

One of my friends (wedding cake decorator) diversified into selling cake admin books and stuff aimed at fellow cake decorators. These are sold on Amazon. It's given her much needed income over lockdown. Not everything on Amazon is giant, faceless corporations. She's just a one woman band trying to support her family that were employed in hospitality until Covid struck

halo polishers always think & say things like it’s only Money, surely you can pay wee bit more for provenance/indy retailer
Not getting for a lot of folk Aldi,Lidl,Tesco are their range, and it suits

Exactly, great idea in principle and one I agree with but not always possible.
Good for anyone who can always afford to pay high delivery charges/not be so fussed about the cost.
I do when I have any spare cash but it's not always that simple.

Hmmm. I pay Amazon prime. Gotta love amazon. Ebay is always nearly from china !!!

No don’t gotta love Amazon I use it at little as I possibly can

No I'm not virtue signalling and I'm not blinded by my own privilege, nice soundbite that it is. I understand some people have no option but to go for the cheapest available option and that's fine. But plenty of people on here are not in that position and are not limited by price but won't pay an extra pound or wait an extra day. And my point is that the money amazon makes is not going back into our economy. So sooner or later people are going to need to cut costs further, and those cuts can already be seen in salaries across a number of industries. Well, not just salaries but actual job numbers too.

And as for the monopoly, once amazon have cornered the market what incentive do they have to keep prices low? That's the issue with monopolies for whoever asked what my point was.

So to reiterate if you are genuinely in a position where every penny counts then not only do I understand but I hope things change for you. For everyone else, do you really need to save that 29p and do you really need it tomorrow?

There’s an interesting phenomenon on mumsnet where posters who are very keen on supporting a particular cause have complete empathy bypasses for posters who
reply explaining why they can’t get on board with what the OP is saying because they can’t afford to, or their circumstances don’t allow it. You rarely see someone coming back and saying oh I never thought of it from that point of view, yeah I can see why you don’t all think the same way as me.

And I think the previous poster who coined the phrase “blinded by your own privilege” absolutely nailed it.

@SentientAndCognisant

Ok so I recently bought where the crawdads sing amazon £5.99 NDD From bookshop it’s £8.36 and I don’t know the delivery cost Why would I pay £2.36 more?

Can I recommend Worldofbooks.com. They are fabulous and shipping is super fast.

I'll keep buying as long as they have what I need. I have prime so don't want to pay delivery elsewhere when I can get it next day for no extra cost. Any time I look at buying from smaller businesses I have to pay between £4 - £7 delivery on top depending on when I need it. It just doesn't make sense for me. Perhaps I'd be tempted if they offered free delivery without a minimum spend.

Couldn't agree more OP.

Ebay nowadays is very often better on price and service. Very safe for buyers and lots of sellers are running small businesses on there so good to support them.

I'm surprised so many people find amazon cheaper. I always compare and often wordery is cheaper for books, other companies even with postage on toys. Are you actually checking on the prices? I've seen thing for £10 -£15 for a toy on amazon. I don't use prime so I guess the instant delivery doesn't matter to me. Plus these other companies employ people, if they go down then are they all getting jobs at amazon ?

I accidentally bought an item supplied and furfilled through a third party recently on Amazon and the shipping was 2 weeks, then the item had a fault and amazon said I had to sort it out with the seller. They have a very long process to follow if there is an issue.

I buy also on eBay, which generally is ok but can be caught out on prices if you rush. Just bought a couple of gifts on Etsy and was pleased. One seller was amazing. I do also use John Lewis and Argos due to price. Argos have a couple of times down same day delivery for the standard delivery cost of 3.95 ( I think it was.)

This is my thinking also @maryberryslayers I can buy a lot from amazon and I have prime so free delivery, and with no rush options on some items can earn credit.
I do support local where I can- groceries mainly- but sometimes to buy the same things elsewhere it could be multiple shops with £3-10 delivery from each so it can add a considerable amount on top, more if the items themselves cost more. For example I bought some things the other day, around £120 in total, one item was £20 cheaper than I could find elsewhere (Black Friday offers) and the rest £1-5 less so around a £35 saving in all. Had I bought from other online stores it would have also added an additional £20 or so in delivery costs or many unnecessary trips out.

If more retailers offered cheaper or free delivery I would be happy to use them more often.

I have friends with small businesses so I also understand the effect it's had on them, although one with an Etsy store has seen a welcome increase in sales which is lovely to see.

@SentientAndCognisant

Ok so I recently bought where the crawdads sing amazon £5.99 NDD From bookshop it’s £8.36 and I don’t know the delivery cost Why would I pay £2.36 more?

Because you want your local bookshop on the high street near you to get £2.70.

If you don’t want them to, that’s cool. Have the cheaper price off Jeff’s place. But if you do want to support a local high street business but you also want a one-stop shopping experience online with little hassle, like you’d get with Amazon, and a bit of a discount off the RRP whilst doing that, then it’s an amazing alternative.

Postage is £2.75 2nd class, I think. They’re brand-new today in the UK so obviously no Prime-type special free delivery perks.

But if you’re lucky enough that price isn’t your main motivating factor in a book purchase, this is honestly a game-changer for online book retailer for small high-street indies. It could properly save some places and give them a fighting chance this Christmas season.

I buy most stuff from Amazon. It comes the next day and any problems are sorted promptly. I pay a one-off delivery charge yearly, then free delivery all year around.

I shop daily on amazon as I can’t leave the house. They are reliable and cheap . I won’t be stopping.