An Amazon-free Christmas

[Bakeittothelimit]

Over lockdown Amazon has become the go to site for purchasing stuff for us. We were talking this week about how Amazon is destroying our high street so we are trying a one year of zero Amazon purchases challenge in our family.

Can anyone here give me a list of different sites that are great for gifts etc. Preferably small online businesses. Thanks.

I’d like to try this too. Unfortunately I don’t think there is a short cut... I think it’s a case of googling. And this year hoping the small independents have gone online. And accepting you’ll have to pay a bit more. I absolutely love Christmas shopping in my nearest big city. But I won’t be going this yea as we are in a top 10 city for covid19 and I just don’t fancy it with the children etc.

I’m going to really try and avoid amazon. But I suspect I’ll end up spending in the region of £50 in p&p With lots of smaller businesses, which would have been included In prime if I bought on amazon... It’s an issue for sure.

I find things from Amazon are often poor quality despite reviews, which makes me think many reviews are fake!

I've switched to

Waterstones for books
Argos and John Lewis and Smyth's for toys
Museum online shops for quirky gifts eg Natural History Museum/V&A

I also think for kids stockings it's worth going to charity shops. Buying less new 'stuff' is so much better for the planet.

I think it depends on what you want to buy.

I've ordered some gifts from forbidden planet, artbox for my daughter.

There's a Facebook group called craft, craft and more craft. Where its all people selling their items they've made, some lovely bits available, ive found a few shops ive saved that way to go back and buy gifts from.

For me personally as much as I hate using amazon so much, I dont drive so if I can order my cat food, toiletries and other items it means less trips into shops and less risk, so I will continue to do so. Also being on a tight budget if I can buy something considerably cheaper on amazon I will choose that over a physical shop. I do try and buy locally or in shops if I can but sometimes money or being able to get it home without a car prevents me doing that!

Op I'm on my phone here so can't link but there's another thread in this topic about independent shops online which might be useful.

@getrid I often get most of my dds gifts from charity shops however in my area many are closed and those that are open don't seem to have much in them. Car boots were also a favourite of mine for picking up bits but didn't get to go to any this year.

Toysforapound is a good website for stocking fillers - I avoid the general tat, there's often some branded items on there - I got funko mini figures, lol stationary, my little pony figures from there in the past.

Also kukubird is a lovely company - they do lots of funky print leggings, lots of offers too (there's 2 for £5 on selected leggings right now)

For stockings this year im going down the useful route or things I would usually buy but nicer or fun versions eg bath bombs, new stationary, notebooks. Favourite treats I dont normally let them have - fizzy drinks, favourite crisps/cereal.

Punydukes do some fun harry potter and other themed gifts.

Mrs snowballs gets great reviews for Bath bombs.

Etsy
Not on the high street.
Search for local makers who may have gone online.

I've ordered loads of things from small businesses via Etsy this year. I'm really impressed with everything.

Maybe see if your local independents have websites you can order from.

There are lots of independent shops that sell through amazon.

I find I'm using Amazon far less than previous years.
Prime delivery is much slower than it used to be so there's not the element of convenience, I've had bad experiences with products being fake or reconditioned, I've switched Alexa off because they've stopped the ability to request music. I'm considering stopping my membership although the kids use the fire stick.

Personally I like amazon but it's the best for everything but is very handy for day to day items as well. Each to there own though I just find it very handy.

Everyone finds it handy. That's kind of the whole point- that's why it gets such a huge percentage of the market share, and that's what some people are trying to avoid. It's not about niche small shops necessarily, it's about perfectly normal shops that sell the normal stuff that Amazon sells.

Use Amazon for a starting point. Do some research on particular items (look at 3-star reviews for the best idea of how a product functions), and then buy from the manufacturer’s website so you won’t get fakes.

Sometimes you can get better offers on their own websites and I’ve had some luck emailing them with Amazon sells your product for XX can you match that?

Amazon has independent sellers as well as themselves. Prime means most things arrive next day.

We have nothing in the local town bar a few clothes shops and they have an online presence anyway. For many, using Amazon isn’t taking away from elsewhere.

High p&p costs from some firms puts me off.

For the sake of a few quid buy local for at least British. Not on the high street John Lewis m and s Waterstones. Our high st looks so depressing with the store closures that even the charity shops are vacating too

Can I just comment on the fact that it's not just Amazon selling on Amazon?

I've seen a lot of comments like this on social media and on here about how people are going to boycott Amazon, and it honestly scares me.

The reason for this is that I am an Amazon seller.

Me and my partner started up a small business selling products two years ago, which went well. Thanks to covid, demand dropped, there were no markets/car boots/fairs or whatever for us to sell our goods on, and people were dubious about buying on Marketplace because of the contact required to exchange goods, so we decided to give Amazon a go.

It has worked very well for us indeed, to the extent that even when things are back to normal, we will almost certainly keep some stock with Amazon.

Amazon do take a fee from us for selling there, but honestly, it's saved our business.

We've just sent in our Christmassy stock, and it scares me that so many people are being so vocal about not shopping on Amazon, because that could potentially mean that our little business goes under.

When you're buying anything, you have the option of viewing all available offers on that listing. If you just click to buy, often it will have you buying directly from Amazon, but if you look at other offers you will see lots of other smaller sellers (including ourselves), many of whom actually sell for cheaper than Amazon themselves anyway. Plus, if you search for things like personalised Christmas gifts you'll find lots of listings from small businesses with their own unique products who are just using Amazon as a platform.

We're members of a few small business communities online, and many, many of those have had to turn to the likes of Amazon and other online platforms to adapt to the changing times.

So, in fact, rather than killing small businesses by shopping on Amazon, you could be helping lots of small businesses and sole traders by simply double checking exactly who you're buying from :).

I’ve just discovered www.hive.co.uk/ for books, dvds & small gifts etc. You can select a local indie bookshop to receive a % of the money which seems good and 2nd class postage is free with no minimum spend.

I’ve been totally Amazon free for 3 years. Even if you buy from small sellers on there Amazon are taking a profit on that and not paying fair tax on it.
I get my books from Blackwells online or eBay for second hand. I’ve got really good presents from Etsy, Lisa Angel, Rex London, Wild & Wolf, Oxfam website (new stuff, not the charity shop bit) plus the usual M&S, John Lewis, Cath Kidston. I got some specialist booze from the Whiskey Exchange - they do more than whiskey. Some of these I discovered through the bargain threads so worth keeping an eye on there

LindaEvan

I wouldn’t worry too much, most people will still happily shop on Amazon, especially with sudden shop closures due to COVID, etc

I've been boycotting Amazon for a few months now as well. So far this year I've got books from waterstones, a few things from argos, lots off etsy, and lots from a nice shop called "Bird Kids" (www.birdkids.co.uk). I often look up things on amazon to see options and reviews and then source it elsewhere. Lots of stuff can be bought directly from the manufacturer or publisher. I buy a lot of stuff from a website called Babipur as well but that's mostly just good for younger children. I've got a few things second hand off ebay as well, Christmas jumpers and pyjamas which are sold as used but actually new with tags. And thins like duplo and knex which are so robust that they're as good as new despite being second hand. I've joined some B/S/T groups on Facebook as well and bought one thing on there, but you have to be a bit more cautious obviously.

@UsedUpUsername

LindaEvan

I wouldn’t worry too much, most people will still happily shop on Amazon, especially with sudden shop closures due to COVID, etc

I agree. Most people I know use Amazon. It’s great customer service, convenient, huge range and free delivery. They employ a huge number of people as well as providing a place for small businesses to run. By using them, thousands have jobs.

Another go at making the link clicky:

www.birdkids.co.uk

Etsy is my go to for gifts now and my scented candles.

I get books online from the hive. They give an amount to a local Bookshop of your choice with no extra cost to you.

I bought a cat ornament my daughter fell in love with from a local market stall.

My daughter likes bath bombs so that will be Lush (although I don't agree with everything they do) or maybe Superdrug. They do a nice set.

This household will be amazon free.

LindaEllen can you not sell on Etsy? 🤔

I do understand the argument about small businesses using Amazon and recognise that it's exposure for them they might not otherwise get. For me I would still prefer to go directly to the business and bypass amazon because the issue is not only with what it sells but how it conducts business. Employees are treated badly and the tax issue affects all of us - the poster who said they are not taking away from anyone by using Amazon is wrong, we are all missing out on tax money from them.