Do you use Amazon to purchase products

[el_bryanto]

i.e. physical items. The Kindle/streaming video/music is different enough that it may warrant it's own poll.

Bryant

77 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	I have never used Amazon
	3 (4%)
	I have used Amazon but I don't anymore
	5 (6%)
	I use Amazon irregularly (2-3 times a year max)
	16 (21%)
	I use Amazon occasionally (4-6 times a year)
	8 (10%)
	I use Amazon regularly (7-12 times a year)
	14 (18%)
	I use Amazon constantly (more than 12 times a year)
	31 (40%)
	I like to vote!
	0 (0%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[hlthe2b]

1. Pretty soon, with our "overlords" seeing to it that we work 2 or 3 jobs and have no time off at all.

What choice will we have?

[tenderfoot]

2. I use Amazon to read reviews. Then I purchase the item from someone else.

nt

[stevenleser]

59. Sometimes I do that. Their reviews have become an important part of decision-making.

Often, the price is lower on Amazon so I end up buying it there.

[tenderfoot]

67. Wal-Mart is cheaper too.

I choose to shop elsewhere.

[stevenleser]

70. Ugh. Comparing Amazon to Wal-Mart?

[tenderfoot]

91. Is there a reason I shouldn't be?

nt

[joeglow3]

92. You realize what Amazon does to local and state tax revenues?

Problem is people support screwing over the state when it is THEM who gets to do the screwing (i.e. not pay the use tax they owe on products purchased).

[justiceischeap]

3. I use Amazon to purchase camera equipment

because, a) it's hard to find locally (if not impossible) and b) the prices are always right. That said, I also purchase a lot of used camera gear from another online retailer that is not a "mega" retailer like Amazon. They're local to Atlanta. If you're a Prime member, which I am, you can't beat the free two-day shipping.

[rdking647]

21. keh.com???

thats who i used for used equipment
for new its either amazon,adorama or b&h

[justiceischeap]

29. Yep, keh.com

Been very successful in my used camera purchases from them.

And I like ordering new stuff from Amazon because of the free 2 day shipping and if it's not what I want or need, it's very easy to return to them.

[csziggy]

43. I like B& H and Adorama to buy camera equipment

These days I mostly use Amazon to scope out products and read reviews. For used books, I generally find which dealers have them, then go directly to the dealers' web sites and order direct, not through Amazon. The shipping may be a little more, but the dealers make more money and I am not rewarding Amazon for their bad acts.

I recently found a great place to buy reading quality (not collector quality) used books - ThriftBooks.com. I've only palced one order with them, but their website was easy to use, the books arrived fast and the shipping was free. I bought a selection of old science fiction and needlework books - the condition matched what was described and the prices were great. They had out of print science fiction books not available on Amazon!

[bobclark86]

46. I've been using KEH for years...

Hate their new website, but whatever. I just placed an order this morning.

[justiceischeap]

47. I hate their new site too

I'm a front-end developer and the UX (user experience) is just horrible. Which reminds me, I need to find their return area. I bought a Pentax 645 on eBay that ended up not working so I've no need for the lens I bought from KEH.

[Brickbat]

4. Almost never. Sometimes a retailer will only sell through Amazon, so then I'll use it.

So maybe 1-2 times a year. I actively try to avoid it.

[eShirl]

5. I mostly use it to "buy" $0 books that I read in a browser their cloud server.

[FSogol]

6. Usually just for used books that I can't find in the stores around here.

Last edited Mon Oct 20, 2014, 09:36 PM - Edit history (1)

Usually the shipping is more expensive than the book.

[csziggy]

44. Check out Thriftbooks.com

Great selection of used books - not in collector condition, but all the ones I got were in good condition for reading. Most of the paperbacks were $3-4 each. Shipping was free, with a discount if the orders came from the same warehouse.

I've only placed one order but I am very happy with the older science fiction I received! And the needlework books are ones I had lusted after for years, but couldn't afford when they were new - and haven't been available since from most places.

[FSogol]

48. Thanks. I also use these:

Abe books for 1st editions, signed copies, etc. http://www.abebooks.com/

Powells Books (one of the best used book stores in America) http://www.powells.com/

Chessler Books (specialized in maps, exploration, mountaineering, and climbing)
http://www.chesslerbooks.com/cat/200-New-England-Mid-Atlantic.asp

I often find books I'm looking for on amazon for $0.10-$1.00

If anyone knows of a store that sells old zines, I need to fill some holes in a collection.

[csziggy]

68. Thanks!

And there is always Hamilton Books for new, remaindered books: http://www.hamiltonbook.com/
(Remaindered books as those that didn't sell as new editions. They can be years old but I've always received shipments from Hamilton in great shape).

I'm not into 1st editions - I want beat up books to carry around and read. And since I like decades old science fiction and mysteries, few are out as ebooks (for those who think ebooks are the ultimate way to read). I used to find a lot of these at the local used book stores, but the best one closed and the other one mostly has romance drek. The one that closed probably did so mostly because the owner was ready to retire as much as business decreasing.

ThirftBooks let me shop for editions that match the old ones I have in my collection already. For instance, I was filling out my C. J. Cherryh collection. Some of her series were not complete because life interrupted and I missed getting some titles. Now most of her trilogies have been combined and re-issued in single volumes. But I had the original versions with two of the three titles and not the third and wanted the third to match. ThriftBooks had them - in the same slightly battered condition as my old ones!

I'll have to take a look at Powells. And I'll recommend Chessler Books to an acquaintance - her daughter leads climbing trips. She was doing it in China but she was not able to renew her visa. Now she's leading climbing trips in Australia. I will NOT tell my husband about Chessler - he loves maps and would spend all our money on maps!

[FSogol]

73. 1st editions make great gifts, but other than a Vonnegut and Jim Carroll, I don't own any.

I also have an early polar expedition map on the wall of my office. I can stare at it forever. Chessler has so much cool stuff making it another good gift idea place.

[brewens]

7. I use it for things I cannot get anywhere else at anywhere near the price seemingly.

I have resolved to try harder to find what I want without going through them. I'll at least try clicking on the sellers link to see if I can get the same deal buying direct from them.

It's part of the same downhill slide we began as far back as the 70's. Demanding convenience that ends up screwing people out of good jobs locally when we had it just fine before.

My first job was at a grocery store in high school. Before long we had to stay open an hour later because a convenience store chain and out major competitor did. We all had slightly crappier jobs overnight. For what? So that eventually fewer stores would be opperating but open 24/7. In my book, there was nothing wrong with having to get your shopping done by seven or so and everything being closed on Sunday.

Now all the profit goes out of town too. You used to buy a new tv from a little shop and went to school with the owners kids. My next tv will most likely be bought from Costco. They are relatively better than any of the other big stores because they pay better. Still, the profit leaves town.

[closeupready]

66. But with Costco at least, they pay a living wage.

And many or most of their store's employees come from within with local community, thus, helping lift the local economy where Amazon would do basically zero for the local economy.

[brewens]

76. Yup. I buy everything I can at Costco for that reason. We have Winco opening soon in my

town. It's a chain known for at least really good benefits even if they don't start people out at a very high wage. It will knock the living shit out of our Super Walmart! I imagine they have already lost some employees to them. I can't see how that wouldn't have happened.

I kind of hate to see them hurt our local Albertsons, Safeway and Rosaures supermarkets but I'll have to shop there to save money. Walmart I refused to use, Winco I will.

[Wounded Bear]

8. Occasional...

I download vids to my Kindle.

[bigwillq]

9. Never

I don't on-line shop.

[el_bryanto]

13. Privacy concerns? nt

[bigwillq]

37. No

I just like going to a store, picking out something and paying cash for it.

I know I could use a debit card, which is basically cash, but I kind of never buy anything if I can't afford it or can't pay cash for it. I feel like I could potentially get reckless with on-line spending. J

Plus, I could never buy clothes on-line because I am, let's say, vertically challenged (LOL) and nothing ever fits me. I like to be able to try it on in person. I would probably have to return so many items if I bought clothes on-line.

My sister has ordered things on-line for me with her account (CD, books, hair clippers) so I guess technically I have used Amazon and shopped on-line, but she puts it on her credit card and then I pay her cash.

[Lonusca]

10. I would put ours at well over your maximum choice

We average about a delivery a week. Thats not necessarily a single item per week, many deliveries are multiple items.

[Nye Bevan]

11. Amazon is great for the environment.

Compare the environmental impact of:

1. Thirty people in a town drive their cars to the mall, circle around to find parking spots, go inside to buy their items (each of which was delivered on a truck to the retailer), go back to their cars, and drive home. Of course, those who could not find the product they wanted drive to another mall and repeat the process.

2. A single UPS truck drives through a town and drops off a package to each of 30 Amazon customers in that town.

[Art_from_Ark]

40. Then the mall goes out of business

and the empty mall becomes a blight on the landscape.

[Nye Bevan]

41. A dead mall has a much smaller carbon footprint than a live mall (nt)

[Art_from_Ark]

42. People are going to drive around anyway

They might find something they like at Amazon, but they won't be able to socialize there, or go window shopping, and Amazon isn't going to break the tedium of staying at home.

[kentauros]

45. The Internet has been putting malls out of business for years,

and that's not restricted to just Amazon. That's also fine with me. I have always hated shopping at malls. Too many people, moseying around, not shopping, not getting what they need quickly, and then going home. I'd be all for the cities tearing those decrepit things down and recovering the land for parks and urban gardens/urban farms instead.

I socialize through friends, meet-up groups, and eating at friends' restaurants. Do people really socialize at malls anymore?

[Skidmore]

55. Malls are buildings that can be used

for other purposes. We have one that was converted for a university administrative office building and another became classroom facilities for the community college. The empty Menards box store now houses the arts department studios. Other communities have found use for these buildings beyond retail.

[otohara]

65. You Left Out The TOXIC Airplane

they say...if you take one flight in a year, it will undo everything you did positive for the environment in that year.

Besides, Amazon treats their employees like dirt - worse than dirt.

[seveneyes]

12. Run "netstat -an" or "netstat -a" to see how many connections to Amazon servers

Most people unknowingly use Amazon web services and many others.

[Sedona]

14. I use Amazon to purchase heavy items

I don't want to schlep upstairs to my apartment in my elevator-less building. Dog and cat food, kitty litter, canned goods etc. Also here in traffic and parking challenged LA its just easier to have items I buy regularly delivered (almost) free to my door. If I subscribe to regularly receive some of these items I save 15%.

Amazon Prime Pantry now delivers a 4 cubic foot box of groceries for $6. Again, I order heavy stuff, almond milk, canned goods, toiletries...

I'm not scheduled to get my flu shot until next week, I'd rather not hang out in a crowded grocery store in anti-vaxxer haven West LA

I started using Amazon when I lived in rural Northern Arizona because it just made more sense than driving 25-50 miles round trip for one or two items. Now in an urban community it still makes sense.

[Ykcutnek]

15. Yes.

Clothes, coffee, textbooks for school. It's wonderful.

[MineralMan]

16. Yes, absolutely.

Even though I live in a large city, it can be very difficult to find specific merchandise needed for something. On Amazon, that is never a problem. For example, I needed a wall-mounted gate latch for a chain link fence I was building. After making half a dozen calls to merchants in St. Paul, MN, I discovered that nobody had the item I needed. "We can order it for you," was always the answer. If I asked when, they all said, "about a week if the warehouse has it in stock." Sorry, Charlie...

So, I went on Amazon, found the latch and had it in two days.

I also get Amazon gift cards from people from time to time for birthdays and the like. I use them to buy stuff I want or need. I needed a new watch, for example. I had a gift card balance. So, I searched Amazon for men's watches in my price range. Each of the watches I looked at had user reviews. I used those to narrow down my choices. I ended up finding the perfect watch for my needs. Now, I could have gone to a department store to look, but the nearest one takes me half an hour to travel each way. When I got there, I'd have no access to user reviews of the watch, and there's no guarantee that they'd have one that suited me. On Amazon, I had my order placed within half an hour and had the watch in my mailbox two days later.

So, yes, I use Amazon for shopping. I'll probably use it more as time passes.

[whatthehey]

17. well let's try an experiment

I have 3 things on the way from them now.

A CD of Rubbra's 5th and 8th symphonies
A hypoallergenic metal free dog collar for a medium sized dog with skin allergies
Some Canadian chocolate bars (6 pack of Aero)

I'm in a medium sized town in W Kentucky. The total cost is about $25 (CD is used), 4 minutes of my time and as much extra fuel as it costs the UPS truck to stop and start at my house rather than just drive by.

Please oh purists tell me how to achieve the same economies both personal and environmental by using unionized highly paid and/or local mom and pop businesses.

[Ykcutnek]

18. People like that can take a hike.

My purchases are solely based on quality and price.

I'll stand by principles when my wallet is not involved.

[gollygee]

19. Yeah that's my issue

A lot of stuff isn't available locally. I'd have to drive quite a ways to get stuff that isn't really common. I buy from locally owned shops as much as I can, and shop at least at places locally when I can, but there is a great deal I just can't get around here. Before the internet, people used to organize bus shopping trips to Chicago, because you can get anything in Chicago. I like not having to take day-long bus trips to Chicago to get stuff.

[BuelahWitch]

53. Declining health and a dead car necessitate my need for delivered items

Amazon, Staples and yes, the dreaded Walmart, allow me to maintain my independence for the time being. I'm not ashamed of that.

[uppityperson]

78. "unionized highly paid"? Buying from local mompop shop means they will have $ to buy from you

Unless of course your business is all run via internet. For those of us whose customers are not all pver the world, the more money circulating locally, the better for our communities.

Regarding your list? I'd go to my local music store, local good pet food and supplies store, costco if I needed a six pack, otherwise ice cream candy store or food coop for 1 candy bar.

[Adrahil]

83. I think you're fighting a lost cause.

Small, local retail is going away, except for very specialized kinds of products and services. Local mom and pops usually have limited selection and high prices. I don't see how they will survive. Their only real avenue is very specialized merchandise and offering expert advice. I mean, why spend an hour at the local hardware store searching for a bolt that's kind of what I want (but not really), and at a very high price, when I can order exactly what I need online in minutes and have it at my door in 2 days for a lower price?

[uppityperson]

86. They will only survive if we help them. I order online also, but do what I can to keep asm

much local as possible, including food.

For books, if I want it new, my local shop orders it for me. Usd, we've a great used book store. I agree that often prices or availability are not best local, but do what I can locally as I have seen too many friends need to retire early without adequate ability due to internet and big box stores.


And I do not buy starbucks coffee since they bought out a local coffee shop and gried to tell me they were making new jobs for locals. What about those who used to work there, their jobs?

But, I am old and uppity, been in healthcare a long time and if locals have no money, aren't passing that dollar around, I miss out as do the others downstream of me.

[Adrahil]

96. Well, here's a for example....

... I do some RC robotics. My local hobby store pretty much limits itself to the most common products. Those products are 25% (guesstimate) than I can get them online, even considering shipping. They rarely have the more unusual parts I often need for my weird robots. I just wind up ordering all my stuff from servo city or hobby king. I mean, why drive downtown and pay more if I'm just going to wind up having to order online anyway.

While I get what you're saying, it's honestly no good trying to keep something alive that's doomed. I think folks in local business need to be thinking about businesses that can't be easily replaced online.

Also, I appreciate your position about Starbucks, but our local coffee places were kind of weak for the Buck showed up. One of them stepped up their game and survived (doing rather well). They did that by partnering with a local bakery to offer better food choices than the Buck. The others did not adapt and died. That's business.

[TBF]

20. I use Amazon prime frequently -

have items shipped at least once a week I'd guess. Kindle books even more so.

I will only go to Walmart if forced (for example I'm at the beach and it's the only thing for miles).

[rurallib]

22. Much like Walmart, a few times a year I must buy there

when I have a need for a specific item. I always google to see if I can find it anywhere else, but a couple of times a year I can only find the very specific item at Amazon.
Pretty much like Walmart. After looking other places if I have to as a last resort I will go to Walmart. I hate myself when I do, but sometimes i just have to. Then if we can't find it in a store, we go to the internet, and Amazon as the last stop. I just made a purchase there I think the first this year.

[Reter]

23. Hell yeah

Eventually they will put businesses like Best Buy and Radio Shack out of business, who in turn put mom and pop shops out. What goes around, comes around!

[femmocrat]

24. I have used it to find books that are hard to find here.

All we have is a Barnes & Noble (that I hate).

Has anyone sold books through Amazon? They seem to take quite a bit in user fees, etc.

[tammywammy]

27. I've sold quite a few textbooks.

The fees don't bother me...I'm just glad to be able to recoup cost at a better rate than the bookstore. Never had an issue selling.

[bemildred]

25. I have, but rarely, I avoid it you could say. nt

[treestar]

26. I've used it for books

There are no more real book stores around where I live.

Last two orders were the wrong thing though. That's a pain in the neck.

[appalachiablue]

28. Only real Books & Movie DVDs

Only use A. if we can't find books locally which is too often the case. Also use A. for DVDs of movies & films. Watch some online but not often. Enjoyed Blockbuster outings, not the best movie selection but fun to do. Went away more than 1 1/2+ years ago. Prefer to keep the $ local but increasingly difficult where we live, Zombie suburbs. Seattle's Nick Hanauer claims he recognized the potential of online shopping early on.

(Not happy about Bezos buying WaPo recently, but it could have been Walmart).
Stacks & stacks of A. pkgs. around here daily, at residences, apt. building offices, etc.
As said, with more working 2-3 jobs who has time to go out and shop.
E-commerce huge impact on stores, jobs, communities. Those w/o wifi, bb & credit card must shop big box, dollar stores. Home Depot & others now demos, selling 3D printers. Effect of these in many homes within 10 yrs. will be interesting, & robotic machines that produce 360 restaurant burgers in an hour. All happening.

[Starry Messenger]

30. I do nearly all of my shopping online.

The only stores around for dry goods are high end boutiques or big box.

I also support better labor practices for Amazon workers and if they call for a boycott, I will boycott.

[Lurks Often]

31. I buy a lot of stuff from Amazon

I have eclectic and obscure interests so much of what I want just isn't found at the local retailer, but increasingly I am finding myself buying more and more from Amazon because even with sales tax it is much cheaper. It also means no driving, using up gas or dealing with crowds.

For example Barnes & Noble lost my business when they charged $30 for a single book that I could have gotten from Amazon for $16. Same thing for clothes, I can find the colors and sizes I want online, something not always possible at a retail store, usually for about half the price of retail.

I understand retailers have to charge more, but twice as much means I'll take my business to Amazon

[Le Taz Hot]

32. I prefer to buy local

and do very often; however, there are some things the local stores don't cover and I can ONLY get from Amazon. As an example, I lost the weight on my pressure canner. The hardware stores had no idea what I was talking about so I went online and, sure enough Amazon had the exact weight that I needed. That is a $100.00 pressure canner/cooker and without the weight, it would have been useless.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

33. I use it mainly to buy stuff that is either hard to find or hard to transport.

I'm an old lady and it's nice to have things, especially heavy things, delivered to my door within a couple of days, and even moreso in winter. As much as I don't like some of their business practices, it's hard to beat that kind of service.

[dumbcat]

34. I use Amazon for almost anything I buy

if it is available there. Easier, cheaper, and saves me a trip to the city. My UPS guy knows me well.

I could probably go to "my orders" and see how much I spent there each year, but I'd probably rather not know.

[CrispyQ]

36. "My UPS guy knows me well."

Mine too!


Welcome to DU!

[CrispyQ]

35. My favorite place to shop is my local JAX stores, but I use Amazon a lot.

I especially love the booksellers who have novels for 99¢. Even with $3.99 for shipping it's a decent price.

Amazon or Walmart, it is the system that is the problem.

[GoCubsGo]

38. Once every few years, but I'd probably use it more if I had money.

The town where I live is useless as far as shopping goes. It's pretty bad for those of us women who are excessively endowed, and are looking for a swimsuit or a good sports bra. There are also a few brands to which I am partial, one of them being Ryka athletic shoes. Occasionally, they show up at TJ Maxx, but otherwise, I'd have to drive 60 miles to find a pair. In other words, the stuff I want is nowhere to be found in this craphole town. You either go without, or you patronize Amazon.com and its ilk.

[applegrove]

39. But not anymore!!

[Orsino]

49. Stop using Amazon, please.

They are more evil than most other corporations.

[pipi_k]

58. Eh

Last time someone implored us all to stop using Amazon, I replied that I would as long as he found me the same item at the same price and delivered it to me personally so I wouldn't have to drive into the city or spend hours online shopping for the same thing.

All corporations contain an element of evil. I have little inclination or desire to waste my time trying to figure out which ones are more or less evil than the others.

[Orsino]

61. Their low prices hurt people badly.

Please stop using Amazon.

[pipi_k]

75. Like I said...

If someone wants to find me the same item at the same price and get it to me in two days, I'll stop using Amazon.


And if people really cared about the oppressed workers of the world, they would start up their own small businesses and help those workers out.


IOW, don't tell people what to do without offering a solution to the problems that would arise if things changed.

[Orsino]

80. There are even more alternatives than you suggested.

Starting small businesses is a great idea, but we can also vote with our dollars by buying from more himane shippers of goods than Amazon.

[d_r]

89. This is one of those catches

I support union, I support made in USA and I buy it as much as possible. I have a ton of stuff made in USA and made by union in USA.

I bought a new car. I live in Chattanooga, TN, there is a VW plant here that makes passats. I was thinking about getting one and it was right while that whole UAW thing was going on. I decided not to support them and bought a ford cmax. I liked the idea of buying from vw because they have a whole lot jobs in my community. But I couldn't support them because of the UAW vote.

Another big employer here is amazon. A lot of people really seek out those amazon jobs. And I agree with you, they are crappy jobs and they hire temp labor. But people really want those seasonal jobs. They pay well compared to other alternatives or no alternative. There are around 2,500 people working there full time plus more seasonal, and they start at $11 an hour. Now that isn't a lot, but it is a good starting wage around here. The minimum wage here is 7.25.

Do I want the conditions and labor relations to be better? Absolutely. But where is the cut line? I also like that they give a lot of people here jobs. People really want to work there. In a way it is almost classist to say that those folks would be better off not working there.

I like what the poster said above "if the employees called for a boycott, I would boycott." I would, too. That makes sense to me as a way of looking at it.

You have that picture of Georgia. There's a lot of people down there working a lot of different jobs in terrible conditions. I am not going to begrudge those folks their jobs. I'm not going to begrudge the folks that work at amazon either. Heck a lot of people in N. Georgia go after those amazon jobs in Chattanooga.

[Orsino]

90. There is something to be said for lobbying Amazon as a customer.

Once an Amazon or a Wal-Mart kills all other jobs, there is the conundrum of wishing those workers out of even shitty jobs.

I tend to support the creation of jobs where employees are already treated better, but maybe other ways can work.

[yeoman6987]

84. I but at least 5 grand a year from Amazon

Exclusively Christmas gifts. All Instant Videos, cereal (ever see puffed rice in a grocery store). Me either. Amazon has it. I but 10 boxes at a time. Love it! Amazon is one of the best things to happen in America!

[Orsino]

85. I admit I did not expect such pride.

https://www.google.com/#q=amazon+employee+abuse

[joeglow3]

93. I am glad you are willing to fight the battle

My personal opinion is many people are just like Republicans - they will tolerate and in some cases support shitty abuses of others so long as they can profit off it. Amazon is the perfect example: I have gotten tired of trying to educate people here about how shitty they are to their employees and to the country. Frankly, the best answer I have received is along the lines of "I get shit I want for cheap, so I will support them." Sad...

[Orsino]

94. I am learning there's a little more to it than that...

...but cheap being our first priority is indeed how we got here.

[joeglow3]

95. Gone are the days of Southwest Airlines

Philosophies about treating our employees great and everything else will fall in line are old fashioned. Amazon has taught us if you can treat the customer great, you can shit all over the employees and the customers won't care.

[yuiyoshida]

50. The one thing about Amazon...

They were willing to work with me. I told them, if they sent the item I wanted by UPS, it would cost me a 40 dollar round trip via cab to go get the item at the UPS place, because UPS refuses to deliver to my residence. (They claim packages are unsafe to just leave them, so they will not.)

I told them I needed the item to be sent to me via the US POST OFFICE, because the local branch was only 10 blocks away. If the Post office refuses to leave an item, I don't have to go so far to go pick it up. They agreed to send the item I wanted via US Postal Service and of course I managed to get the item I ordered.

[BuelahWitch]

51. I don't use them as much as I did

Couldn't afford the Prime this year, but I would usually get enough stuff to qualify for free shipping (now $35). After having them SIT on a few of my orders (meaning they didn't ship them for several days b/c I got free shipping), I began to look elsewhere. I still use them now and again, but nothing like in the past.

[wandy]

52. If it can not be obtained localy...........

and by locally I do NOT mean wall-mart or a 30 minute drive to K-Mart (Sears), Amazon is the only way to go.
If you have ever tried to return a 'new defective' product to a local 'big box' store you quickly come to appreciate Amazon's no hassle 'DOA' return policy.

[pipi_k]

60. They really do

have an awesome return policy.

With all the stuff I've bought from/through them over the years there was only one item I couldn't return, and it was the policy of the company that made/sold it, not Amazon itself.

Otherwise, excellent service.

[snappyturtle]

54. Yes I use Amazon. We should keep in mind that this giant 'retailer' is also an

income stream for some "out of business" small, hometown retailers(pushed out by Walmart?). I've read accounts of lost store fronts becoming successsful vendors on Amazon.

[Stellar]

56. I use it once or twice a year.

Because I got into it basically for the streaming videos on Roku. But when I do a search for a product that I need, Amazon comes up in my search and I've forgotten that they offer their prime customers some kind of discount or non-payment to ship to my house. And I figure perhaps I got a deal....IDK.

[woodsprite]

57. I just set up an Amazon Smile account for the group I sing with.

It's not much, but if I'm going to order something, I figure I might as well do it through there and .5% of the price gets donated to the group. Like the Board said, "a little is better than nothing".

[ileus]

62. Just ordered a set of 38 special sizing dies about 10 min ago.

[hunter]

63. Their books-on-demand service is what I expected of the 21st century.

I do my best not to be a "consumer" in any way, but I do have a weakness for paper books, generally not popular books.

It still astonishes me that I can order a book from amazon and see it was printed in San Bernardino on the same day I ordered it.

I suppose my e-book reader is 21st century technology too, and I use mine frequently to read old books I've found on gutenberg.org, but that's not the same to me as a paper book.

My wife is more of a bibliophile than I am. She frequently buys used books from amazon and other sources, often the same edition of books she remembers reading as a child and teenager.

Ideally I think every community needs bookstores, books on demand machines, and free public libraries.

[closeupready]

72. On getting things free when they screw up, yes, I've also

received credits for things even when it was ME who screwed up, but contacted them thinking it was them. Stuff like that makes it hard to hate on a company that has dubious practices in other parts of their business model.

[dilby]

69. I just looked and I have been making 2-4 purchases a month for physical items.

Electronic purchases like ebooks, music and movies put me around 15 purchases a month. I don't feel guilty at all, my products arrive on time and save me from having to jump on my bike or bus and head across town for items. Times are changing and the days of going to a mall or big box store are over. And with the money I save using Amazon it allows me to enjoy local entertainment like live music shows, local restaurants twice a week and Friday nights at my neighborhood bar which means I am actually probably putting more money into my local community.

[closeupready]

71. We have members of DU who have successfully self-published on Amazon.

I realize their labor practices leave a lot to be desired. However, in other ways, they mitigate some of the 'evil' which is attributed to their business model.

I love Amazon, and so yes, I use them frequently.

[shanti]

74. Only if it's something I can't find locally

I needed a battery charger desperately a couple of years ago. I found exactly what I wanted on Amazon, and because I was trying out their Prime service, I got 1 day delivery. Now the only time I use Amazon is when I purchase something on Ebay and, unbeknownst to me, it's sent from Amazon.

[ecstatic]

77. I'm enrolled in subscribe and save.

And a prime member. I hate shopping!

[Adrahil]

79. All the time. Basically, on demand, online retail is the future.

Mom and Pop stores (and even a lot of big box retail) are doomed, except for items that cannot be effectively offered online.

[El Supremo]

82. No sales tax here in Colorado!

Yet.

[RadicalGeek]

87. Does Zappos Count

Got a pair of FiveFingers shoes through there and used my Amazon.com username to log in

[OldEurope]

88. I did when they started here in Germany.

But I stopped some years ago when I noticed that they are paying shitty wages and killing our local bookstores.
Now that they started a war on writers, editors, and everybody else that doesn't want to obey I'm trying to convince my husband to give up Amazon, too. Until now he is not convinced.

[herding cats]

97. I have, and use, an Amazon Prime account to get things both cheaper and that I cannot get locally.

Paul Krugman says he also has an Amazon prime account which he uses a lot and as he says, "so what?"

As a consumer I choose to use Amazon to purchase things I cannot find locally to avoid having to travel, or can't afford to buy locally. Yep, I'm a guilty party. I support local whenever I can, but I don't always have the option, a lot of us don't anymore.

If this was about Paul Krugman's column I'd like to add, the issue for Krugman isn't about who we patronize, but "public action to curb those who have too much power." Krugman was upset about how Amazon is dealing with Hachette.

So far Amazon has not tried to exploit consumers. In fact, it has systematically kept prices low, to reinforce its dominance. What it has done, instead, is use its market power to put a squeeze on publishers, in effect driving down the prices it pays for books — hence the fight with Hachette. In economics jargon, Amazon is not, at least so far, acting like a monopolist, a dominant seller with the power to raise prices. Instead, it is acting as a monopsonist, a dominant buyer with the power to push prices down.
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And on that front its power is really immense — in fact, even greater than the market share numbers indicate. Book sales depend crucially on buzz and word of mouth (which is why authors are often sent on grueling book tours); you buy a book because you’ve heard about it, because other people are reading it, because it’s a topic of conversation, because it’s made the best-seller list. And what Amazon possesses is the power to kill the buzz. It’s definitely possible, with some extra effort, to buy a book you’ve heard about even if Amazon doesn’t carry it — but if Amazon doesn’t carry that book, you’re much less likely to hear about it in the first place.

So can we trust Amazon not to abuse that power? The Hachette dispute has settled that question: no, we can’t.

It’s not just about the money, although that’s important: By putting the squeeze on publishers, Amazon is ultimately hurting authors and readers. But there’s also the question of undue influence.

He's raising a good point, and one we should all consider, but it's important to note he's not saying he's not going to continue to patronize Amazon for the items he's getting cheaper, and/or more conveniently, than he can buy elsewhere. He's saying we should be paying attention to them and the power they're accumulating. Very close attention. However, he's not mentioning the impact Amazon has on local retailers, which is my main concern when I shop.

If I can get it locally I do, if I can't I don't torture myself for being a selfish consumer and just buy from where I can get it cheapest. Sometimes, more often of late, that place is Amazon. Which since they have a local warehouse near me is sometimes helping out my local economy to some extent.