To think Amazon is overrated?

[SugarCanes]

I keep getting Amazon vouchers for Xmas and birthdays. And to be honest, I can never find anything I want so I end up spending it on presents for other people.

I don't buy DVDs - I have streaming services so no need. I don't buy music either and never have the time to read these days.

As for toiletries and household things etc, it's often more expensive on Amazon that it is in the supermarket or shops. I have bought some clothing bits in the past and it was always awful quality.

I don't understand the fuss?

I understand wanting to avoid them, but not, not being able to find anything you want, they sell everything!

Please support your local independent bookshop over Amazon

I tried last week. It was SOOOOO much more expensive for two new books. I wouldn't have minded if it had been just a couple of quid, or even five - but this was over eight pounds. I will try again - I won't just default to Amazon - but that made me realise why Amazon is cornering the market.

I think it's best to save your vouchers and buy something from there that you want. Rather than browse Amazon.

Failing that, using said vouchers for gifts for other people sounds like not a bad idea.

I buy off Amazon. I've never had "knock off" or otherwise dodgy items unlike via eBay who really need to up their game on such things as it's slipping.

They do sell a lot but increasingly sales are via third party sellers who I really cannot blame for taking advantage of Amazon's amazing logistics network.

If you're on Prime, then they are usually extremely competitive and to be honest unless the price difference is substantial, I'd pay it because it's going to arrive the next day whereas most other places it takes a week or longer.

As for tax, they pay what is due. It's really that simple. If politicians started treating the public purse like they would their own they'd soon sort things out.

But you can literally but ^anything^

It’s not like it just sells books/cds etc. It sells anything and everything so unless you never buy anything - yes YABU.

I buy a lot, and try to use the businesses that sell via Amazon and have no issue with them

@safariboot

The thing is Amazon isn't just a retailer any more, it's a "marketplace". Just about anyone can sell on the site and Amazon do very little checks.

Personally I use Amazon as a last resort. I buy there only if I can't find somewhere else that's trustworthy and competitively priced.

Oh my god, that's very very untrue. The number of hoops you have to jump through is unreal, then if you get a certain number (small!) of negative reviews you get your account checked.

Please do your research before spouting such crap.

It's taken us a long time to get up and running on Amazon and I hate these Amazon hate threads because all that does is damage businesses like mine who have worked really bloody hard to find a new way to trade during this shitty year.

As for toiletries and household things etc, it's often more expensive on Amazon that it is in the supermarket or shops

Except when you have Amazon vouchers. Then it's free on Amazon isn't it?

Amazon sells almost anything you can think of. How can you not find anything??

God I buy everything from Amazon I live 110 miles from the closest shopping/city. With Amazon I get next day delivery. I've tried this year to buy stuff from different shops and had nothing but hassle. At least with Amazon I know they deliver with royal mail and they're depot is in my village. Whereas everyone else used Hermes etc and that depot is 110 miles away.

This month alone I've bought stuff for DIY, doing up my house, paper bags to dry mushrooms in, PS4 game, a book about gardening and so on.

*their

We have Amazon Prime and buy loads on Amazon. Household stuff, pet supplies, stationery, toys. I also subscribe to kindle unlimited. I can’t imagine not being able to find something to buy on there. Amazon fresh is great.
It seems fashionable to hate Amazon but personally o love it. It makes life easier for me. They should pay a bit more tax, but thats a whole other thread. 😬

They have their charms fast delivery most products but overall if I can find it local it is usually cheaper. I've spent a lot of Amazon since 2012 sadly with the new regulations I won't be buying anymore after January.
They should expand with decent clothing their clothing range is very poor and over priced.

*pn

OP have you been on Amazon in the last 5 years? It's not just DVDs and books anymore.

Lately some items have stated that I can get items by ‘tomorrow’ or otherwise in a short time frame. So I order, and when the confirmation email comes, the arrival date is later than stated. Drove me mad so I’ve stopped using Amazon more or less.

100% of this years Xmas presents have come from Amazon, I’d be here all day listing the diverse items I’ve bought as gifts this year.

Over the year I’ve also bought large white goods, a bed, garden furniture, gardening tools, clothing and electronics - some from marketplace sellers who use Amazon as a platform.

The returns/customer service policy is excellent as well. One item that was delivered very late, meaning I had to purchase elsewhere and one that was stolen off the doorstep. Both refunded without a problem.

I also like the delivery speed of some items - on Friday evening I ordered something that DD needs on Monday. It arrived at about 4pm Sat. Same experience a couple of weeks ago when our fish tank filter packed in on Saturday night - the replacement was with us on Sunday afternoon.

I’m really surprised that you can’t find the things you want OP.

@buttery81

But I do like it for books

Please support your local independent bookshop over Amazon.

Independent book shops use Amazon. I'm a student, I buy all my coursebooks from them.

I'd do the same in my local independent but they only stock fiction, mostly for children.

I love Amazon.
I buy from independent sellers on there all the time. I wouldn’t buy from them directly as worry how genuine the company was or if they have terrible customer service.

I'm really surprised you can’t find anything you want! Is there just too much choice you just give up looking as it gets to be too much?

I buy a good 90% of my purchases from there. You can buy anything, delivery is lightning fast and the customer service is excellent.

Birkenstocks

It's a life saver for some people. You can get every thing you could possibly want from it and stay at home too!

There's a reason Jeff Bezos is the richest man in the world.

Things I have bought from Amazon this year:

Live succulents
Hay
A bird bath
Vitamins
A washing machine
Countless books and films

I have health problems which means I can go for weeks at a time without leaving the house. Amazon makes those times much easier!

I can't imagine being unable to find anything to spend a voucher on. Sure, if you are literally browsing then it would be overwhelming but try searching for a few things that you know you want/like/need and it will most likely be there!

Things I've bought in the past couple of months:

Handmade Christmas cards (yes, there are small/independent businesses on there as well)
Heat holders socks
Acrylic paint pens
Recipe book
Vitamin D spray
2021 desk calender
Chai latte powder
Computer mouse
A kettle
Light bulbs
Sketchbook

All arrives within a day or two!

And the delivery people are uniformly polite!

We'd all have been stuffed without Amazon and it's staff over the last year. So thank you to all of them. Ridiculous OP.