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.

The problem for me, and many others, is that these teensy little eBay sellers can (and have from my personal experience) take up to 5 working days to post an item, which then can take another week or 2. Big companies like Amazon are at least reliable.

I avoid amazon - there's not much I need by the next day. I search for the maker of the product and use their website where possible.

I've been absolutely flat out buying from Amazon, and this has really got me thinking about how unfair it is to small business owners.

Why?
Amazon provides a fantastic platform for small businesses.

LindaEllen, that was a great post! I wholeheartedly support what you have said. Good on you and your partner for being so enterprising too. We need more people like you.

I buy nearly everything except food from Amazon and ebay and am told Amazon Fresh is excellent. I have all my Christmas presents ready to be wrapped.

I agree with the OP and that is why I wanted the four week restrictions to be introduced tonight and not on Thursday, so there was more time in December for high street shopping.

Amazon is part of our economic death spiral. I understand that people are strapped for cash. But shopping with Amazon is bad for Britain's economy and for public services.

@speakout

unmarkedbythat you can search by area on ebay- go to advanced search- top right of home page, you can select by postcode- so say all sellers within a 2/10/15/50 mile radius of your home.

If this works for me I will genuinely feel love for you :)

@jessstan1

LindaEllen, that was a great post! I wholeheartedly support what you have said. Good on you and your partner for being so enterprising too. We need more people like you.

I buy nearly everything except food from Amazon and ebay and am told Amazon Fresh is excellent. I have all my Christmas presents ready to be wrapped.

Thank you so much for such a supportive comment. We've kind of needed to be enterprising, I went into the first lockdown with the attitude of this is NOT going to beat us, so we had to try things we wouldn't have done otherwise.

We ran two businesses between us before this, the other (which was originally mine) has pretty much gone as it's dropped to zero demand so we're keeping our fingers crossed this one works!!

I've never actually tried Amazon Fresh, but living literally next to a Morrisons I guess there's no excuse really haha.

I shop almost totally online as I’m always short of time and even before Covid didn’t enjoy any type of shopping. Anywhere which sells online and delivers to me will get my money.

@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.

Do you sell the product(s) cheaper than Amazon, deliver as quick as Amazon?

If not, what is the attraction to use your business and not Amazon?

Sorry, it’s quick and fast I’m using it.

In case that sounded flippant - I understand about being strapped because a) we were eligible for FSM a few years ago and b) my DH has had no work since the first lockdown. I didnt mean to sound as if I have read about money worries in a book!

Unless amazon is drastically cheaper in which case I need to look after my own pockets first, I won't be using amazon for my Christmas shopping. I'll aim for my local town (small market town so not a massive variety) or online high street shops. Hopefullly if they get enough online revenue there will be jobs left for people to go back to when the stores open.

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

But shopping with Amazon is bad for Britain's economy

Why?

I sell on Amazon, I pay tax, I buy a lot of supplies for my business from local suppliers.
Why is that bad?

I'll keep using it. Small businesses sell on Amazon. It has a lot of outlets for past season/slight seconds which would otherwise go unsold or be destroyed. It's keeping my local couriers in business as well as ~3 hubs which service my region, with all of their staff.
Etsy is ok but I'm not keen on some aspects of it. eBay is an absolute shitshow and has never caused me anything but trouble as a buyer (or a seller for that matter).

5 of my family work for Amazon in an area with high unemployment since the shipyards closed (the Clyde), it employs many young folk, I’ll continue buying as much as possible from them.

I use Amazon for the sort of things I'd pick up in the non-food aisles of the supermarket, also random crap I can't get anywhere else.

So the only businesses I'm not neglecting in favour of Amazon are the likes of Tesco.

I live 20 odd miles away from the nearest supermarket. I'm not driving a 40 mile round trip just to buy glitter glue sticks, chalk pens, a massive bulk tub of conditioner, and light bulbs when I can get them delivered to my door next day for less

I support my local village shops and local niche businesses on a weekly, if not daily, business

In principle I agree with you. In reality I can order from my nice cosy sofa and buy things cheaper than the shops and have it delivered to my house for no extra charge.
So Amazon I shop.

1 robotised giant Amazon store was once thousands of small shops - how can that be improving employment.
It's only providing an outlet for small businesses because either the previous shops had to close as people bought online or because of covid. One day there will be only Amazon - and if you don't follow their rules you'll be stuffed.

Nah...Ill sticnok to Amazon. The people working at Amazon need to keep their jobs too. Besides I don't trust sellers on ebay etc

Do you sell the product(s) cheaper than Amazon, deliver as quick as Amazon?

If not, what is the attraction to use your business and not Amazon?

They pay taxes which fund UK public services?
They treat their staff well?
Their staff wages go back into your local economy?
They're not evil

I avoid buying online as much as possible. I only buy from Amazon if it's something I really need and I can't buy it in a real shop.
I don't really understand the economics but I like walking into a shop, finding the thing I need, paying for it (preferably in cash) and walking out with it.

My local independent bookshop also sells through Amazon. I just have to go in via a link on their website.

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

Well yes, but it diverts business from local shops. People can shop where they like, Amazon is usually cheaper and convenient, I am in a fortunate position I can shop locally and help to try and keep family owned shops open, because I enjoy being able to go into a physical shop. That's not the case/want for everyone, so Amazon is a great alternative, but for those who want to and can, it's good to try and support smaller businesses imo.