Should we feel guilty about using Amazon?

[Tierne]

I order about once a week, I've read the arguments for and against. I just feel like a lazy cow!

YABU = Dont feel guilty
YANBU = Feel guilty

Got to say if there was a war on the government could totally get Amazon to handle all the supplies and logistics!

@TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination
Really thinking about it my guilt has to do with the delivery guy and how he must see me 🤔

Unless you buy from some super outlets (and pay the price for that) then every business has pro's and con's. They are all in it to make money, and where they can they will cut corners, be that taxes or terms of employment. I don't like some of the practices at Amazon (although my friends husband works for them and actually speaks very highly of their employment terms if you want to work hard), but there are others I despise even more. If I boycotted everyone out to make a profit, I'd never buy anything. And starve to death as well.

I use amazon loads, I run a small business and many of our supplies are cheaper from amazon, plus the quick delivery is a bonus. The packaging can be ott but at least it's recyclable most of the time

2 years ago amidst Covid, Amazon suspended my account , and for almost a whole year I didn’t retrieve it, and just shopped elsewhere , Eventually I got my account back but Im not using it that often, I found that other places I’m shopping at are just as good , so didn’t switch back to Amazon, and delivery is always on time .

I use to have this with Next deliveries especially at sale time when they would send it out in dribs and drabs and I would get a daily visit from the Hermes delivery woman, at least with Amazon the delivery person varies

Most of the stuff I buy seems to be from small businesses using Amazon as a marketplace, so no guilt at all here

I don’t feel guilty for using Amazon - if the government wanted to fix the tax loop holes they could. I don’t blame companies for using current laws in their favour, I’m sure a lot of individuals would if they could.

It has what I want/need, their prices are reasonable, I can see if something is actually in stock and how long it will take to arrive, I can read reviews and FAQs, I can buy from small businesses if I wish, my order will be shipped to the locker round the corner so I can collect it when it’s convenient, and I pay a flat rate that comes bundled with other benefits such as a streaming service. Works for me.

I think once a week is a bit much - my DH is like this, he orders literally everything off there. I order something off there maybe once every other month or so, if that. Not because I buy less but because I use other websites and real shops 😄

I think the tax loop hole must benefit the government in some way shape or form or they would have fixed it by now

I don't buy from Amazon because I don't like supporting a company that treats it's employees so terribly.

Was going to buy some games from the high street the other day (think Game), checked the website for prices. Found them on Amazon for half the price.

I'm not willing to put myself out of pocket when I gave Prime and it saves me money on the items.

Sorry, my household needs to come first these days.

The delivery guy is getting paid so not issue as long as he is happy to do it. Taxes are another matter but that is for the governments to sort out.

Ebay is cheaper and its easier to start a small business with them. I use morrisons prime delivery when im really ill with my mental health. I find amazon stuff really exspensive. Argos for example is a lot cheaper.

Some diy, household and garden stuff you can pretty much only get on Amazon and eBay

I avoid shopping with/via Amazon, my primary issues are workers' rights/treatment and taxation. I have used them on very rare occasions when something was genuinely needed and impossible to find elsewhere, but I do as much as I can to avoid them.

I haven't used Amazon for almost 2 years now. Still alive. I get odd things from ebay.
Amazon rips retailers off even more than ebay plus their environmental credentials are rubbish.

I don’t feel guilty at all. I love the easy order and the fact I can get it the next day. It has literally been a lifesaver at times

I bought this knife from an independent business instead of Amazon. It was more expensive but I wanted to be supportive. Then they had some ID procedure which I did and since then I’ve had several emails chasing me
to do this procedure I’ve done. So more expensive, useless systems, more admin. Also having to pay postage. Back to Amazon I go.

I don’t order from Amazon very often but when I do I feel guilty. I’ve read enough about the poor treatment of their warehouse and delivery staff to know there’s a problem.

I don’t feel guilt, I’ve used it for years, what I will say is it’s not what it used to be.

I used to run a small business and sell on Amazon. Just as I would sell on Etsy and EBay, one isn't necessarily better or worse than the other (although as a seller the Amazon platform was not user friendly)

I avoid where possible, I think it makes it too easy to buy unnecessary stuff. I would try and find second hand instead

Unfortunately this won't be just limited to Amazon warehouses and delivery staff, the treatment will be no better in other warehouses and delivery drivers that other companies use.

This is not correct, Amazon are extremely restrictive towards even things like toilet breaks.

my situation is unusual, but Amazon provides a lifeline for people like me who have difficulty with physical shops. They also stock many of the esoteric products I need that other retailers won’t bother with because they are too niche.

there are a few local businesses that provide good click and collect curbside services and I give them as much of my business as I can because I want to encourage those services. If more businesses offered them, I would shop at Amazon less often.