to give up on Amazon Prime

[whiterabbitsweets]

Don't get me wrong. Amazon customer service is excellent so I've no complaints there.

However, it's clear that they've boomed during the covid-19 pandemic whilst smaller businesses have suffered really badly.

These are the same small businesses that can't avoid tax on the scale that Amazon do. As a result, come payback time Amazon will continue to pay the bare minimum while any remaining SME's will likely face increases to help reduce the deficit.

Irrespective of opinions on tax avoidance I think we'd all be better off if business was done with smaller suppliers/shops. I may end up paying a bit more and waiting an extra day or so for delivery but my money will go to real people.

One thing that's come from this year has been the need to support local businesses, which I'm trying to do more of. Amazon just seems like an obvious company to drop completely.

Have you tried to buy something from argos lately? Impossible

Clicked too early.

Most products I looked for were available at the store 30 miles away. None of our 6 close by had it. Wtf. Large city too!

I walked through town yesterday to try and get some Christmas presents sorted. Honestly the prices for absolute tat or poorly made crap was astounding, and I didn't spend want to spend even a penny just so that I could say I shopped local. If smaller businesses do supply things people want/need at a reasonable and fair price then fair enough, but that's not always the reality. There's an independent bookshop here, even pre covid it was run down and had absolutely no appeal where you would see the benefit of going there over shopping online; no atmosphere, no staff knowledge so you could ask for recommendations, and no treasure trove of books you hadn't heard of but would give a chance and buy as you'd seen them beautifully displayed. I honestly don't see why people should feel guilty for buying a book at half the price on Amazon, rather than paying the RRP in a shop that offers zero above and beyond the transaction itself. I do agree in the ethos, but the reality that all small businesses are virtuous beacons and worthy of our money is a bit weird.

But it's catch 22 - local shops and businesses can't stock the products if people don't buy them.

Doesn't it matter to you that the UK's tax revenue is impacted directly by the way companies operate?

I keep seeing this argument, but how exactly is Amazon avoiding tax? No one is very clear on this point

I am a small business, currently relying solely on Amazon FBA and Prime shipping to keep our business afloat until (if ever!) things get back to normal.

Please, please, please, please, please don't give up on us.

I try to use independent businesses where I can, but am currently ordering lots of Xmas presents online and most parcels I’m waiting almost a week after the delivery date they have given me, and the one parcel I got from Amazon was delivered the next day, on time when it said it was.

Many self employed people do what they can to lower their tax bills, wouldn’t you if you could?

I hate these support local posts. How many people do you think Amazon, Tesco, The Range etc employ. Thousands and thousands of people have an income because of these companies. I don't feel any more need to support Jane and her independent shop, or a peter on Etsy than I do Sally on the tills and a Tesco or Jon who delivers my (numerous) Amazon packages.

I keep seeing this argument, but how exactly is Amazon avoiding tax? No one is very clear on this point

They are not really. That's why

I also would like to avoid giving even more money to the richest man in the world!

I hate them at the moment as they always tell me things and get delivered the next day and then change the delivery so it takes at least two days.they've been honest in the first place about how long it would take I wouldn't mind. The most annoying thing is I can actually see their warehouse from my bedroom!

I really really try to support small business but yesterday we got take away from a new wee cafe trying to support it, it wasn't cheap and it was rotten. I don't get to do this often so was really disappointed, you know what your getting with McDonald's. Shame.

I love amazon, prime, music, audio book, videos, alexa etc. Just placed yet another order. They reply quick if any issues, I'm on day 5 of waiting to hear back from an etsy order I received damaged. Puts me off.

@MangoFeverDream

Doesn't it matter to you that the UK's tax revenue is impacted directly by the way companies operate?

I keep seeing this argument, but how exactly is Amazon avoiding tax? No one is very clear on this point

It's not so much that Amazon is avoiding tax more that the tax system was not setup to take into account massive corporations like this we need to find ways to make the tech giants pay their fair share

@Yohoheaveho

I also would like to avoid giving even more money to the richest man in the world!

Imho he deserves the money. He came up with a service everyone uses in one way or another🤷🏻 People really should stop pretending that if they were in his position they wouldn't keep the money😂

I didn't use Amazon for a year. It was great.

While there are independent sellers on there, lots of times they are in China or the top item is from an Amazon warehouse (not fulfilled by Amazon, which is third party).

Etsy is great for buying directly from independents. I buy a lot of presents from there.

I’ve recently subscribed to Prime after being impressed with the 30 day trial. I like the tv. I like the quick free delivery. I like the free Morrison’s delivery. I wouldn’t be going to any small independent businesses instead, I’d just not be buying the stuff I’ve bought at all.

Don’t quite know what my point is, but there you have it.

He does not deserve the money, he did not single-handedly invent and create the internet he just got lucky, skimming the profits off of the work of everyone else
Non one deserves that much money, no one is a million x more clever or hard-working than the rest of us
It is also socially destructive to have such vast inequalities
Stop pretending that they are in his position they wouldn't keep the money
Of course I get that, we would all be selfish and greedy if we could, that's why we have civilization laws etc to stop us acting on our worst impulses for the good of society as a whole

@MangoFeverDream

Doesn't it matter to you that the UK's tax revenue is impacted directly by the way companies operate?

I keep seeing this argument, but how exactly is Amazon avoiding tax? No one is very clear on this point

www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-why-does-amazon-pay-so-little-tax

Google is your friend.

Sure it's all 'legal' but doesn't really help the UK when we're heading into the worst recession ever and leaving the EU.

Keeping our money in the UK just seems a more sensible and beneficial thing to do but as I've already mentioned, it's difficult when we often look for the cheapest option. But it's a false economy.

The sentiment may be nice, but I agree with others that it's too simplistic. But all businesses are in it for profit and what they make out of it. Small isn't necessarily any more beautiful. Small businesses may also be the worst employers, cut corners on safety, and are no less likely to "fiddle the books" if they think they can get away with it.

I'm not being sanctimonious about it but it's well known that Amazon's tax contributions are minimal, they treat sellers terribly and are a bad employer. I guess Amazon is an easy one due to the sheer diversity of what they sell.

Amazon’s taxes are legal. Do you have any evidence for your other ridiculous claims about poor treatment and a bad employer? Something substantial, not anecdotal 🙄

@emilyfrost

I'm not being sanctimonious about it but it's well known that Amazon's tax contributions are minimal, they treat sellers terribly and are a bad employer. I guess Amazon is an easy one due to the sheer diversity of what they sell.

Amazon’s taxes are legal. Do you have any evidence for your other ridiculous claims about poor treatment and a bad employer? Something substantial, not anecdotal 🙄

www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/feb/05/amazon-workers-protest-unsafe-grueling-conditions-warehouse There are numerous other articles like this

Yohoheaveho That’s in America. We’re in the UK.

“I would rather go back to a state correctional facility and work for 18 cents an hour than do that job,” Lacewell said. “I’m sure Mr Bezos couldn’t do a full shift at that place as an undercover boss.”
Other Amazon workers at the New York City warehouse were reluctant to speak on the record for fear of retaliation, but also reported unaddressed safety concerns and frequent worker injuries.
“I’ve been out of work twice in the past year due to knee pain,” said an Amazon order picker. They explained their second injury was a result of their manager ignoring medical restrictions from surgery on his right foot.
Another order picker said they are constantly dealing with chronic lower back pain and knee pain due to the job.
“I take Tylenol or Aleve two to three times a week,” the worker said. “Almost every night when I wake up, I have really bad, sharp, needle-like lower back pain. I’ve had to use my paid time off a lot just to recover or work half days.”
An Amazon associate who transferred to the New York City warehouse to help train the new workers said they transferred to a different warehouse because their safety concerns and suggestions were repeatedly ignored by upper level managers.
“It has terrible safety for powered industrial truck (PIT) operators and pedestrian traffic, which is why I left,” said the worker.
“I reported several violations to safety there – only to get brushed off and pushed aside.”