I decided that $140/yr to pretend I'm getting #free shipping is too much, and canceled my #Amazon #Prime subscription this year.
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I decided that $140/yr to pretend I'm getting #free shipping is too much, and canceled my #Amazon #Prime subscription this year. I have become repulsed by how it's become the "default" for #retail and everyone just lazily links to it for everything and lines #Bezos' pockets further for no apparent reason. Please help me form new #habits by suggesting alternative #retailers for various needs, and share this post for maximum insight from the community.
@ishotjr
I don't buy a lot of stuff from Amazon. Maybe half a dozen things per year and don't pay any shipping with this sort of "hack".
This works in the UK so I am not sure about elsewhere.
I know you are trying to stop Amazon but just in case there is the very occasional item that you have trouble getting elsewhere and you don't want to stump up extra for shipping.
If you can get the item delivered to Post Office then at the point you chose delivery there is usually an economy (free) option. -
@kathimmel yes, doing this right now at the #AnnArbor #FarmersMarket!
@ishotjr sound!
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I decided that $140/yr to pretend I'm getting #free shipping is too much, and canceled my #Amazon #Prime subscription this year. I have become repulsed by how it's become the "default" for #retail and everyone just lazily links to it for everything and lines #Bezos' pockets further for no apparent reason. Please help me form new #habits by suggesting alternative #retailers for various needs, and share this post for maximum insight from the community.
@ishotjr The best alternative I've found is eBay. Often, not always, has the same stuff. Often, not always has the same prices by the time shipping is added in. I quite Prime years ago. I do not miss it.
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I decided that $140/yr to pretend I'm getting #free shipping is too much, and canceled my #Amazon #Prime subscription this year. I have become repulsed by how it's become the "default" for #retail and everyone just lazily links to it for everything and lines #Bezos' pockets further for no apparent reason. Please help me form new #habits by suggesting alternative #retailers for various needs, and share this post for maximum insight from the community.
@ishotjr Yes!!!
* Bookshop.org for new books
* Biblio.com for used books (Amazon owns Abe, BTW)
* Bandcamp for music
* Lowes and Ace for hardware supplies (was very impressed with Lowes delivery)
* Microcenter for electronics (they ship!)
* Knifecenter for knives and flashlights (including kitchen knives and a few tools)
* Ebay or local stores for everything elseI cancelled my Amazon account last year, so I'm 100% cold-turkey and have zero regrets.
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I decided that $140/yr to pretend I'm getting #free shipping is too much, and canceled my #Amazon #Prime subscription this year. I have become repulsed by how it's become the "default" for #retail and everyone just lazily links to it for everything and lines #Bezos' pockets further for no apparent reason. Please help me form new #habits by suggesting alternative #retailers for various needs, and share this post for maximum insight from the community.
@ishotjr where in the world?
I have a list of small shops that somebody in my group of friends have bought from, with various kind of products, but they are (by design) all in the EU
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@ishotjr where in the world?
I have a list of small shops that somebody in my group of friends have bought from, with various kind of products, but they are (by design) all in the EU
@valhalla Ann Arbor, MI, USA; but happy to take any recommendations, since I travel a lot and wouldn't mind ending up with a wide-ranging compendium!
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@ishotjr The best alternative I've found is eBay. Often, not always, has the same stuff. Often, not always has the same prices by the time shipping is added in. I quite Prime years ago. I do not miss it.
@Methylcobalamin @ishotjr I do this, but Amazon drop shippers and a problem. I also worry that this just creates distributed harm instead of concentrated harm.
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I decided that $140/yr to pretend I'm getting #free shipping is too much, and canceled my #Amazon #Prime subscription this year. I have become repulsed by how it's become the "default" for #retail and everyone just lazily links to it for everything and lines #Bezos' pockets further for no apparent reason. Please help me form new #habits by suggesting alternative #retailers for various needs, and share this post for maximum insight from the community.
@ishotjr
One useful trick, especially while you're getting used to the transition: look up items on Amazon, and then go to the manufacturer's website and see if you can buy it directly. -
@Methylcobalamin @ishotjr I do this, but Amazon drop shippers and a problem. I also worry that this just creates distributed harm instead of concentrated harm.
I don't understand this sentence ( the writing
" I do this, but Amazon drop shippers and a problem."I don't understand this sentence ( conceptually )
"I also worry that this just creates distributed harm instead of concentrated harm"
My guess is that you meant many eBay sellers act just as bad as Amazon?
Possibly environmentally. I don't see eBay sellers acting as bad politically as Amazon.
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I don't understand this sentence ( the writing
" I do this, but Amazon drop shippers and a problem."I don't understand this sentence ( conceptually )
"I also worry that this just creates distributed harm instead of concentrated harm"
My guess is that you meant many eBay sellers act just as bad as Amazon?
Possibly environmentally. I don't see eBay sellers acting as bad politically as Amazon.
@Methylcobalamin @ThunderDohm @ishotjr My wild guess: "and" is a typo for "are", and it's the situation where you buy something on eBay but the item then arrives from Amazon? That's happened to me more than once.
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@Methylcobalamin @ThunderDohm @ishotjr My wild guess: "and" is a typo for "are", and it's the situation where you buy something on eBay but the item then arrives from Amazon? That's happened to me more than once.
@timtfj @ThunderDohm @ishotjr That is trippy, I never heard of that happening.
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I decided that $140/yr to pretend I'm getting #free shipping is too much, and canceled my #Amazon #Prime subscription this year. I have become repulsed by how it's become the "default" for #retail and everyone just lazily links to it for everything and lines #Bezos' pockets further for no apparent reason. Please help me form new #habits by suggesting alternative #retailers for various needs, and share this post for maximum insight from the community.
@ishotjr I made that switch a few years ago under a general “things don't have to be 100% convenient” rule.
I try to go to physical stores as much as possible. If I want something specific like electronics or camping gear I can typically buy it from the company's website. To avoid expensive delivery or import fees I check local suppliers. For random niche bits or something that is overpriced in NA, I go to Aliexpress. -
@timtfj @ThunderDohm @ishotjr That is trippy, I never heard of that happening.
@Methylcobalamin @ThunderDohm @ishotjr I think they're either using Amazon as a delivery service (not sure how that works) or selling stuff from Amazon at a profit—the last time it happened, the Amazon paperwork concealed the price, as though I'd been sent a "gift" of the thing I'd bought on eBay. I didn't buy from that seller again.
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I decided that $140/yr to pretend I'm getting #free shipping is too much, and canceled my #Amazon #Prime subscription this year. I have become repulsed by how it's become the "default" for #retail and everyone just lazily links to it for everything and lines #Bezos' pockets further for no apparent reason. Please help me form new #habits by suggesting alternative #retailers for various needs, and share this post for maximum insight from the community.
@ishotjr Some of the places I've bought from online and been quite happy with:
toilet paper and paper towels: https://us.whogivesacrap.org
spices: https://www.penzeys.com
Clothes and bedding — given to my adopted seniors at the holidays, but the items looked very nice: https://www.vermontcountrystore.com/
Water bottles, should you ever be in need: https://www.stanley1913.com/products/the-iceflow-flip-straw-tumbler-30-oz
You may already have favorite brands for these items:
suntan lotion: https://www.mychelle.com/collections/sun-care/products/sun-shield-spf-28-unscented-1?variant=44166072959175
hand and body lotions; shower gels: https://shikai.com/
And also Zingerman's, but given you're in Ann Arbor you don't need to get that online!
