Off Topic ABA anything but amazon

[Sunderpitt]

I guess like many others I do not like shopping and use the Internet to buy stuff and have it delivered. For DIY stuff I tend to do click and collect.

My grouse is that Amazon is taking over and killing off most of the opposition.

So my intention is to use Amazon as little as possible, they can stick their Prime up their anus.

Rant over

 

[Saf]

I use Amazon, a lot. I think it's a great service. I've got the prime which I use for my movies and it gives me free next day delivery. Most things are cheaper from there than anywhere else.

 

[Guinness Guzzler]

I use Amazon, a lot. I think it's a great service. I've got the prime which I use for my movies and it gives me free next day delivery. Most things are cheaper from there than anywhere else.

This. I'd like to be principled enough to boycott them (mainly because of not paying their tax) but equally they tend to be cheaper than most places, I can get a very wide range of products, I can get free next day delivery if I have prime and, if I do that, I can also get a few films and TV shows to watch. I also find them decent for times you need refunds. Ultimately its just too cheap and convenient for me to ignore when other places want me to pay a few quid just for standard delivery. I'd like to support genuine independent retailers but there's very few of them selling electronic goods and the likes, and like i say I also like the convenience of not having to go out of my way to get them.

 

[Disco down under]

The fact that Bezos' personal wealth grew about 100 billion dollars this year when the rest if the world has been on its arse feels a bit backwards.

I despise what they stand for. I'm also a massive hypocrite, as they've been paying my rent the last month or so. Turns my stomach.

 

[Sunderpitt]

This. I'd like to be principled enough to boycott them (mainly because of not paying their tax) but equally they tend to be cheaper than most places, I can get a very wide range of products, I can get free next day delivery if I have prime and, if I do that, I can also get a few films and TV shows to watch. I also find them decent for times you need refunds. Ultimately its just too cheap and convenient for me to ignore when other places want me to pay a few quid just for standard delivery. I'd like to support genuine independent retailers but there's very few of them selling electronic goods and the likes, and like i say I also like the convenience of not having to go out of my way to get them.

Which Report reckons John Lewis is very good for electronic goods. I got my (newish) tele from them. They price matched )cos Curry's?) Had it cheaper, and came and put it up on the wall..very cheaply

 

[Sandy Camel]

Never bought anything through Amazon. Don't mind paying a couple of extra quid to shop at an independant or pay a bit for postage. Difficullt to avoid the old interent monopoly though as I've used ebay and paypal for years and them pair are cash hoovers an all.

 

[Saf]

This. I'd like to be principled enough to boycott them (mainly because of not paying their tax) but equally they tend to be cheaper than most places, I can get a very wide range of products, I can get free next day delivery if I have prime and, if I do that, I can also get a few films and TV shows to watch. I also find them decent for times you need refunds. Ultimately its just too cheap and convenient for me to ignore when other places want me to pay a few quid just for standard delivery. I'd like to support genuine independent retailers but there's very few of them selling electronic goods and the likes, and like i say I also like the convenience of not having to go out of my way to get them.

It's been a godsend to me during lockdown. So many little bits and gadgets I've bought to entertain me and the bairns. I can order some stuff up until 11pm and still have it delivered next day. That's a quality service, imo. I'm not going to cut my nose off to spite my face because some bloke is coining it in.

Ideally, I'd like to see a return to high street shopping with every town centre packed, but those days are long gone and this is the future.

 

[marcusblackcat]

Which Report reckons John Lewis is very good for electronic goods. I got my (newish) tele from them. They price matched )cos Curry's?) Had it cheaper, and came and put it up on the wall..very cheaply

John Lewis had a reputation for being expensive but this seems not to be the case from my experience recently so with you on that one.
The Amazon thing I can’t be with you. Absolutely love prime. Got stuff from there all year around and know a few of the drivers. Great service and prices

 

[Montysoptician]

I guess like many others I do not like shopping and use the Internet to buy stuff and have it delivered. For DIY stuff I tend to do click and collect.

My grouse is that Amazon is taking over and killing off most of the opposition.

So my intention is to use Amazon as little as possible, they can stick their Prime up their anus.

Rant over

I am with you on this, unfortunately my principles tend to go out of the window when I am sitting at home with a bottle of wine and searching for obscure items/music/books. I can't believe how much I have spent during this and last lockdown.
I was halfway through quite a book and thought I had left it at a hotel in the lakes so I bought a hard copy from Amazon only to find my original copy under my car seat the day after it arrived

 

[Sunderpitt]

I am with you on this, unfortunately my principles tend to go out of the window when I am sitting at home with a bottle of wine and searching for obscure items/music/books. I can't believe how much I have spent during this and last lockdown.
I was halfway through quite a book and thought I had left it at a hotel in the lakes so I bought a hard copy from Amazon only to find my original copy under my car seat the day after it arrived

My guilty secret is I have a kindle, but that is all I try and use them for!

 

[makemdan]

I like Amazon for 2 reasons

Delivery service is the best around
Customer service is second to none.

Here's a comparison with the worst and best

DELL
Bought a laptop from Dell direct in May. Faulty on starting it up. It took me 5 months to get a refund and then only because I took it up with my credit card company who reversed the charge and successfully stuck it to Dell

AMAZON

EVERYTHING I have returned to them has been dealt with without any hitch whatsoever. I've even been told to keep stuff AND get a refund a couple of times

They are successful because they look after customers, every other company needs to take notice

The downside to this of course is that they take over the market and other companies go to the wall but nothing I do will stop that

 

[rooch 3]

I am with you on this, unfortunately my principles tend to go out of the window when I am sitting at home with a bottle of wine and searching for obscure items/music/books. I can't believe how much I have spent during this and last lockdown.
I was halfway through quite a book and thought I had left it at a hotel in the lakes so I bought a hard copy from Amazon only to find my original copy under my car seat the day after it arrived

Can I have your spare one

 

[Montysoptician]

Can I have your spare one

Your welcome to it, I haven't mastered reading in stereo yet

 

[Brian Storm]

Like eBay they have 1000s of independent merchants. I tend to use them where available

 

[Blyth_bucaneer]

I can't stand the Amazon adverts, political correctness at it's most extreme.

 

[Wor Giacchi]

I guess like many others I do not like shopping and use the Internet to buy stuff and have it delivered. For DIY stuff I tend to do click and collect.

My grouse is that Amazon is taking over and killing off most of the opposition.

So my intention is to use Amazon as little as possible, they can stick their Prime up their anus.

Rant over

Then you should start doing your shopping using OnBuy.com a proper British marketplace. It isn't a necessity for a country to have Amazon with a monopoly - just look across the channel to France where Cdiscount rule and Amazon are smaller fry.

I run a business that does a good chunk of its turnover on Amazon... I can sell the same thing cheaper on my website, dispatch it from the same location and people still buy it from Amazon.

I could tell you all kinds of horrors about being a seller on their platform - including the constant threat of having your business switched off by an algorithm and the guilty until proven innocent attitude they have.

On the other hand, customers leaving unreasonable reviews are also a pain in the ass - throwaway 1* reviews can hurt someone's business far more than most people think.

I've said it before on here.. if this situation is going to change then it has to be driven by the population - Jeff Bezos has the government by the balls by employing so many people, I doubt any political party would take them on seriously.

 

[Wor Giacchi]

Like eBay they have 1000s of independent merchants. I tend to use them where available

eBay are far more ethical than Amazon.. two different types of organisation altogether.

I've been to both their head offices and met plenty of staff - the have a completely different view of the world from eachother.

 

[polyphemus]

The thing I like most about Amazon is their delivery service.
It's fast and efficient.Returns are easy too.

On the other hand I recently bought something on Ebay.
It had been sent by Royal Mail.
It didn't arrive on time and since the seller had sent it to be signed for I had a tracking reference. I called to their parcels office to see if they could help.
Yes, they told me it's shown as being at their Preston depot.
Can YOU chase them up, I asked.
Sorry, NO.
Any chasing has to come from the sender and that can only be done after 14 days from posting.
The seller waited. Chased it. By then it was lost.

Now neither the seller or me lost money, but neither of us enjoyed the experience.

Contrast this service with Amazon, or the other delivery services for that matter.

 

[D%d]

Decided the only way to defeat Capitalism is if everyone becomes a Capitalist. Consequently I use Amazon and China a lot.

 

[Nads]

With all the will in the world, I will buy things from wherever offer me the best value like for like.

If that’s Amazon, so be it. I appreciate small businesses are struggling, but I also am aware of the mark up they’ve charged for years. When I worked bars and used cash and carry I seen exactly what they paid for goods, then absolutely robbed folk for.

It’s a 2 way street. I’ll pay more than a supermarket gladly, but will I pay double when I know they’ve marked up 60%? Will I ****.