Reply to: Why I've gone off Amazon

[DealorNoDeal]

We can't grumble too much, we use these services and that has killed the High St.

Haven't been to a high street, or supermarket, in years. Live out in the sticks, so get everything delivered.

It sounds like my concerns over Amazon may be a bit overblown.

[tomtomagain]

I placed 191 orders on Amazon last year. So far in 2019 its 165 .... Xmas should push that up a bit! No idea if that is a "lot" or not.

I don't really feel it's any different to any other business ethic-wise. The service is definitely better than dragging myself around some tired high-street shop only to find they don't have anything in stock.

And I wouldn't worry too much about the warehouse staff. Amazon deploys a lot of robots so in a few years they are likely to need a lot less pickers. The ones that are left will be in higher-skilled roles.

I also like the "Amazon Business" version of the website. Very useful for ordering supplies for my Ltd ... it's like having your own purchasing department.

[OwlHoot]

What annoys me no end is the way Amazon "hijacks" search results, appearing near the top, but on being clicked the result in effect is:

"This item is not in stock, never has been in stock, and we don't think it ever will be in stock! But we wanted to lure you onto our page so maybe we can flog you some lame alternative."

Is there something I can click on repeatedly when this happens, so Amazon have to pay Google a lot for wasting my time?!

[Boggy]

I Like Amazon...Kinda

Still use Amazon quite a lot. The Prime service is good and I get the telly stuff too.

Fed up with EBay for buying and selling, the fees are getting worse and half of the people on there have little or no common sense.

We can't grumble too much, we use these services and that has killed the High St.

Survival of the fittest I'm afraid...

[woohoo]

You don't need to buy those ebooks from amazon. You can sideload them using open source software called 'calibre'.

In fact calibre even has a search, so you can find the cheapest version of your book and choose the specific provider you purchase the book from if you prefer to pay the appropriates tax to a provider in a particular country. If you instead use a kobo you can rent books from your local library, of whom most use 'OverDrive'.

I tried an app for borrowing books from the library a couple of years ago, awful experience. Just tried OverDrive, the server error when signing up was a sign that it's still a piece of tulip. Just given up after the library search failing, and having to select, UK, England then manually search for a library by scrolling through an endless list.

[rogerfederer]

I try to avoid buying from them due to the conditions the warehouse staff have to work in, but then a local logistics firm is similar, so it's difficult to know where to buy stuff online where someone's NOT being exploited. Same problems with clothing manufacturers, really.

Then there's the corporate tax dodging. They do have the Smile version of the website with the charitable donations so that's a positive.

The thing is, I really love reading books on Kindle, because I have terrible eyesight these days. I do feel bad about it as it's much better to have bookshops.

You don't need to buy those ebooks from amazon. You can sideload them using open source software called 'calibre'.

In fact calibre even has a search, so you can find the cheapest version of your book and choose the specific provider you purchase the book from if you prefer to pay the appropriates tax to a provider in a particular country. If you instead use a kobo you can rent books from your local library, of whom most use 'OverDrive'.

[Eirikur]

The last few times I've bought stuff coming from Amazon itself (not their marketplace) I've felt a bit guilty, especially when it's trivial stuff like dog biscuits. I can't get it out of my mind the poor sods on zero hours contracts scurrying frantically around artificially lit mega warehouses.

There was a Dispatches programme about them on Ch4 last night where they sent a researcher undercover. I didn't manage to catch it but I don't suppose it painted a good picture.

So if the choice is unemployed, because self-righteous pr!cks won't order anymore on Amazon or having a zero hours contract I know what the workers would chose

[d000hg]

I find things are shipped promptly. If there's a problem, Amazon are still the best company I know to get a refund issued or a replacement shipped.

I do have an issue with the tech support though - there isn't any. With other people you maybe go through the script "try turning it off and on" but will get through to someone human eventually. With Amazon, nope. I have been having increasing frustrations with Prime Video and Amazon's own devices but cannot get ANY assistance.

[GJABS]

I'm still banned from EBay

[FIERCE TANK BATTLE]

I sold my phone on ebay for 240 quid and I listed it on a day with £1 listing fees or some other promotion, and I *still* had to pay around 20 quid in fees.

I'm never selling anything on there again, as that is extortionate.

You can boycott amazon for ethical reasons but to boycott for shipping makes no sense - prime (which gives you prime video and other benefits like their music service and photo storage) gives same day and next day shipping on many items, not only that but you can buy items from other amazon stores, e.g. italy, france, etc. and even AMERICA, where they will pre-calculate tax/import duties so you can pay it up front and not get gouged £10+ by the courier (or £8 royal mail).

Anyway, the discerning customer buys from aliexpress (and aliexpress have their annual 1 day sale on yesterday/today). Most of the stuff on amazon/ebay is aliexpress items imported and price hiked. If you don't need it in a hurry then it's significantly better, and it has customer protections out the wazoo.

[DealorNoDeal]

I do not believe Amazon are any different from any logistics company.

I mean about 15 years ago I worked in industrial recruitment and we were supplying staff to a large DIY supplies warehouse and those people had targets and expected pick speeds - and if they did not hit them they would be gone.

Generally it's like pretty much any job - if you go in with the attitude that you will try and get by doing the bare minimum you will be found and out moved on.

Aye, you're probably right.

I suppose the fact that they can get Brits to work there at all means it can't be that bad. There are many places and jobs where only Eastern Europeans and other foreigners will work.

[LadyPenelope]

I try to avoid buying from them due to the conditions the warehouse staff have to work in, but then a local logistics firm is similar, so it's difficult to know where to buy stuff online where someone's NOT being exploited. Same problems with clothing manufacturers, really.

Then there's the corporate tax dodging. They do have the Smile version of the website with the charitable donations so that's a positive.

The thing is, I really love reading books on Kindle, because I have terrible eyesight these days. I do feel bad about it as it's much better to have bookshops.

[HoofHearted]

I used to buy from Amazon itself (rather than marketplace sellers) in the belief that I would be less likely to be buying fake goods rather than from, say, ebay

I now take a more balanced view

[original PM]

I do not believe Amazon are any different from any logistics company.

I mean about 15 years ago I worked in industrial recruitment and we were supplying staff to a large DIY supplies warehouse and those people had targets and expected pick speeds - and if they did not hit them they would be gone.

Generally it's like pretty much any job - if you go in with the attitude that you will try and get by doing the bare minimum you will be found and out moved on.

[DealorNoDeal]

The last few times I've bought stuff coming from Amazon itself (not their marketplace) I've felt a bit guilty, especially when it's trivial stuff like dog biscuits. I can't get it out of my mind the poor sods on zero hours contracts scurrying frantically around artificially lit mega warehouses.

There was a Dispatches programme about them on Ch4 last night where they sent a researcher undercover. I didn't manage to catch it but I don't suppose it painted a good picture.