Do you guys really rely on Amazon so much that one week without feels like a protest? Seriously?
Guys I’m going to take a picture of myself holding up a sign saying that Amazon are racist oligarchs and I’m going to post it online
Here’s the thing. If I could shop somewhere else I would. Do you know what sets Amazon apart from other places? It’s their delivery, pure and simple. I ordered 3 TV’s from Best Buy. It took them a week to ship them. I had to pay for shipping on top of the $600 I spent. On the day I was supposed to receive them I was home all day. I got a notification they were an hour out. So I went outside and waited for them to arrive. They never arrived, but i got an email telling me they had stopped by but I wasn’t home.
So I had to go down to their depot to pick them up. I am stuck using public transit so Imagine trying to get 3 40 inch TV’s home on a bus. I ended up having to get a cab half way home with money I couldn’t afford to spend just to get it all home.
So for me, That is the main reason I buy from Amazon. Although lately I’ve been shopping with Uber from Walmart.
And Fuck Purolator.
I haven’t bought a single TV in my whole life and I haven’t missed anything important. Whenever I am somewhere where there’s a TV and I’ve got nothing better to do or I’m just curious I zap through the channels whithout finding anything remotely interesting or entertaining 99% of the time. I really wonder what people want with these ad-infested, annoying trashcans. Aren’t you dumb enough, yet? Try heavy drinking. Preferrably methanol or break fluid…
I’m using them as computer monitors…
I will admit it’s been super convenient if I need shampoo or toner or drinks or dozens of other things to just take 60 seconds to order it from Amazon and it’s here in a couple days. Well it used to be. Now things often take many days to ship. I canceled Prime about 6 months ago.
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You just listed things that you can pick up at any number of local stores. That stupid convenience of ordering crap instead of just adding it to the shopping list is why people think going a week without using Amazon will “disrupt the system.” This is exactly the problem.
It’s kinda sad, I’ve been back and forth with online ordering actually being a “logistical god-send” for our chaotic consumerism. I mean think about it, one full delivery truck that can bring in a full neighborhoods worth of goods for the week/day versus every single car being driven to only transport a portion or less of a trunk (sometimes driving out for even one item).
In a perfect “non-monopoly/Amazon couldn’t exist world” where everyone could plan ahead and have everything shipped, you could save on store/display costs (including environmental) and just have a smaller distribution center from semi-trucks to box trucks for local deliveries. Could even go from box truck to local end point distribution (biking,etc) so city spaces could go car-less. Keep the local farmers/co-op markets for socializing/freshest produce-shipping and bob’s your uncle.
Instead we have the worlds most horrific amalgamation where you have underpaid people in fucking V8 trucks delivering a few bags of groceries someone has “door dashed” from the local grocery store or just a burger from a local joint so they don’t have to cook because they only have an hour of free time a day.
Yes but when I live 40 miles from a city and hate wandering around multiple stores looking for things they may or may not have. But I know I need to change.
I’ve genuinely never used amazon to shop, not even once, but only because it’s always been the more expensive option compared to smaller shops. Right now seeing 5070ti tuf goes for 1400 on amazon, 1300 at my local store.
It’s so bad and cyclical while just being unavoidable in some areas. On the map, you’ll notice how heavily populated northern europe is compared to a lot of sparse areas which have less options. I’m in a relatively normal size town and there is one big box choice and maybe one defunct “local” store that’s barely getting by.
I had to beg a guy in a corner shopping center “repair shop” for a small syringe of thermal paste when I ran out (I’m not fucking kidding, there’s just no electronics store anywhere nearby, losing Radioshack was fucking hard). Dude at the shop was the only reason I didn’t have to go online and wait a week (he wasn’t selling it, just had spare for his own use). My trades and hobbies make this a common occurrence throughout the week. Most places now are forced to sell on Amazon to remain competitive (Amazon dominates with shipping cost reduction alone for large items), finding a local or even nationally based company through search algorithms becomes harder and harder as they can’t pay to keep up with SEO bullshit. You can try to keep it all legit but with competitive monopolies everywhere you just eventually find out your favorite company no longer really exists.
There are some suppliers I could shop with but each one is an hour drive in different directions and 80% of the time they’re ordering the same shit through the same companies I would be using if I went online. It works sometimes, but takes so much effort it becomes it’s own full-time job that no one has the ability to keep up with.
I live in a small town in Alaska, more than 300 miles from the nearest decently sized city. It’s been more than two years since I’ve given Amazon a single dime. You’ll manage if you care enough to try.
Never started buying from amazon. The stories on Reddit where enough to turn way. I admit having searched the site now and then, but you get the same prices elsewhere, Especially in Europe there is no need for them.
I week long boycott will do nothing. If that is the most you are prepared to inconvenience yourself to send a message, then just give up now.
If these measures are not enough; please suggest some more for us to take.
Don’t let “perfect” be the enemy of “good”.
Agreed. Better to make it a month or two. This gives you time to find replacement companies and then hopefully never return to Amazon.
Or just stop using them entirely, right now, because the only service they have an uncontested lead in is, ironically, audiobooks.
I know, I know. You might have to physically go to a store. The HORROR.
Hard disagree. If you ask people to make a temporary change that still feels achievable, they’re more likely to at least give it a shot, and many of those people will spend some time considering alternatives. Once the week is up, some people may even choose to continue boycotting Amazon, or at least reduce their spending there.
Sounds like an excuse to not get started.
It sounds like a call to avoid symbolic action and take meaningful action instead, to me.
I don’t think advocating people do nothing while vaguely gesturing at doing more while offering no alternatives or next steps is meaningful action.
I don’t think what you describe is meaningful action either.
Do I understand that you agree the proposed “blackout” is symbolic, and that you wish there were something more meaningful being proposed; or are you defending the blackout as meaningful itself? Do you agree with the criticism of the blackout’s being symbolic, but want to go along with it despite its lack of meaning (or perhaps better stated, lack of effect)?
For my part, I’d be much more pleased with the idea of the blackout if I could be convinced that it would have useful results, and would generally be in favor of so-called “meaningful action.” This blackout wouldn’t effect me either way since I’ve already given up amazon and google stuff almost entirely except what I need for work. I just need to know what the meaningful next step would be.
If we were to assume that everyone would just wait until the 15th to do all their amazon orders that they waited a week for then I would agree it’s symbolic.
For many, this will be what happens, but for some, they will find an alternative. Then maybe in the future they chose that alternative too. It’s about gradual progress towards better alternatives. For you, maybe finding ways to make your work less reliant on those things would help. Or if that’s not possible maybe working somewhere else that doesn’t make you sacrifice your values.
As an example, one person choosing to educate themselves on animal welfare might not have much effect today, or tomorrow, or even next week. But after years, even small changes can mean the elimination of suffering for dozens or hundreds of lives.
Much of the province of Québec is already boycotting them since January, after they closed all their warehouses here to prevent them from unionizing.
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Honestly its just too easy to entirely cut them out of your life, coming from a heavy user previously. Alexas are gone. Prime canceled. Chase card closed. It was tough for one day, but now I feel great knowing I am not contributing to my own disenfranchisement. Also, saving lots of money after killing my consumption addiction.
I highly recommend it!
…killing my consumption addiction…
This is the key right here. Do more with less. Keep that phone a year or two longer. Don’t spend money into the pockets of the billionaires lining up for Trump’s new fascist country. A 7 day boycott can show you you CAN go longer than a day without buying from Amazon. And if you can stay away for a week from them, maybe you can do without the unnecessary stuff they’re throwing down your throat.
Wouldn’t it be easier to disrupt the system by—I don’t know—something old & boring like asking everyone to clean out/close their bank accounts at the same time to cause a run on banks?
Where do people come up with these weaker ideas? Trump’s inanity might disrupt the economy more than these efforts.
I want mega corps to fail, not spark a great depression.
You can’t have change without sacrifice.
Accelerationism is not the best way forward.
What’s the best way forward then?
Yeah, having like <5% of people put off buying stuff for a week isn’t going to do that.
Unfortunately at this point only something fairly world-changing is going to really do much. And it’s definitely going to get much worse before it gets better. Prepare for it.
With that said - I’m definitely not saying DON’T do it. Just realize this is would be a raindrop and we need a flood.
If people actually want change, they need to think way bigger (and unfortunately, probably harder).
I already pulled my retirement.
Was it not in a 401k or something?
It was. Is there a good reason why I should be confident that the money will still be there IF I get to retire? Should I expect even to live that long? I feel it’s better invested in a house and land out near the middle of nowhere.
Tax-free growth at compounding interest, beating inflation, diversification to mitigate risk & lessen volatility (eg, not putting eggs all in 1 basket). Markets always have risk: if you’re really afraid of risk, you can shift to mostly low-risk types of investments (bonds, money market, cash equivalents, etc). Real estate is typically considered riskier.
Retirement isn’t necessary: qualified distributions (no tax penalty) only require reaching a certain age or any of the many exceptions (including terminal illness). Early distribution with tax penalty is always possible.
It’s all basic information a certified financial planner or advisor or some articles on the internet can tell you.
And why should I be confident that any of that is going to survive the next 4 years?
I’m not afraid of risk. I just spent the last month watching a couple of the world’s worst narcissists disassemble my government with ease so that they could loot us for every penny they can steal. They’re trying to kill every agency that benefits the public, including the one where I get my healthcare. These men are unfit to manage a fast food joint, but now they’ve got the planet’s #1 nuclear power by the throat. I weighed the probabilities and the penalties, then made my decision. I’d rather have the money now. I no longer expect to grow old.
Why should I be confident that our recent economy will survive? I pulled my money out before they could collapse the entire house of cards. I’m now in the process of buying remote land with a house on it. I plan to put up a few greenhouses and raise chickens and goats. I’ll provide shelter to persecuted people in need. Try to live solarpunk while we can.
Not saying you should. The fact remains, though, you’re already investing it in real estate in an all-eggs-in-one-basket situation, inflation & property taxes are real, and insurance costs. Real estate still has some risk compared to low-risk assets that appreciate: do you remember any recent real estate crashes?
Investment accounts are generally insured (against things going missing) up to high limits, and you can split them up to fit in those limits.
If it all goes to shit, practically none of it will be worth much anyway. If armageddon doesn’t come to pass, you’ll be stuck with some property, livestock, crops, so not all bad.
Yep, seems the safer gamble to me. At least I’ll be happier than renting.
I moved all my IRA and HSA investments to cash only last week, since I have direct control and theres no fees to reinvest later. 401k will stay untouched, hopefully it exists when I’m ready to retire.
I’ve already been “boycotting amazon” for a while because everything on there is complete dogshit or overpriced and I just don’t feel a need to buy anything from them.
Also their website doesn’t fucking work on my phone.
Couldn’t boycott it for the moral reasons? Like, are you saying you’d still support the height of shitty companies destroying their industries if they just had good UI and better deals?
I’d eat a baby if it tasted good.
Yep. Half their products feel cheaper in quality than Temu. I cancelled Amazon years ago when I realized they let ANYONE sell on there. Pair that with the corporate monopoly they and others hold, I passed on supporting it.
Amazon.com could shut down at any point and Bezos wouldn’t lose anything really. Most of the web runs on Amazon web services. You don’t have to buy anything from them. If you’re online, you’re their product.
I’ve stopped using amazon as my one-stop shop years ago. I think the majority of the population has gotten too used to convenience over ethic’s.
100% on board.
I haven’t bought anything from Amazon since Christmas anyway. I’ll probably cancel my subscription after this year. I’m already paid up for the year.
Boycotts like this do nothing because the people most willing to “participate” are people who already don’t purchase from Amazon. Even if you were able to get a critical mass of people to participate for even 3 months. So what? Amazon will post 1 bad quarter and then things go back to business as usual. Nothing happens. They don’t even really lose any money. At least none out of pocket, of which they have plenty for things such as this.
Amazon is a subscription model. You want to hurt them, then hurt their subscriptions. Don’t boycott them, cancel Prime.
Yeah i stopped using amazon years ago. So I can’t really join. Plus amazon makes so much money from orime sub aand truly absence amounts from aws.
I disagree. Even if just YOU boycott and no one else does. The boycott does something. Even if you don’t believe in it, step aside and push the train forward while it passes you. Don’t create friction.
I agree with the principal of personal boycotts, though not effective in doing anything to affect the companies that you are boycotting, are necessary. But OP is right. For instance I have been boycotting Chick-fil-A for the last 10 years because I don’t agree with their homophobic attitude. But it has zero effect on their bottom line because no one else boycotts them or even cares. I think the kesson is that you should not expect any kind of real outcome from your personal boycott of a company. You should just be satisfied that you are not personally supporting that company.
I used to buy a ton of Amazon stuff. Mostly art supplies, pet supplies, clothes, novelties I didn’t need.
One day, I was browsing Reddit and I was like-- “what is this boycott thing all about?” and then I started by not ordering for one whole day!
Then one whole week!
Then one whole month!
Anyway, I ended up cancelling my Prime subscription, deleting my Amazon account completely, and cancelling my Prime Store credit card.
Then at work, for Valentine’s Day, we each received a $200 dollar Amazon gift card as an employee appreciation gift.
I spoke up and said that I would prefer to receive cash or nothing at all because my values did not align with Amazon-- which caused many of my coworkers to decline theirs as well.
It was so perplexing to leadership, that they decided that going forward they are just going to give us a $200 cash bonus on our paychecks
So anyways, that’s the impact one of these “pointless” boycott posts had on me.
So anyways, that’s the impact one of these “pointless” boycott posts had on me.
I didn’t say they were pointless. I say they don’t do anything. What does do something is this;
I ended up cancelling my Prime subscription
That’s it. You “buying a ton” on amazon is small peanuts in the grand scheme. Even if you buy a lot amazon is only making a percentage of whatever you spend. Something like 30%. So even if you spend $10k in a year, they make $3,000 net and have to deduct for the cost of getting those items to you. When all the financials are worked out, it’s next to nothing.
The price of their subscription service is their e-penis. They get to say “500 million people pay for Amazon Prime!” @ $139/yr is $69.5 billion. You can buy nothing and they can still survive… But if you stop paying for Prime they lose their e-penis, which affects their stock price, which loses them bargaining rights with their suppliers and ultimately can affect the price of Prime itself.
It’s the surest way to kill them.
Woosh.
A simple no-buy for one day boycott led to the way to Prime cancellation.
More than one, actually. I talked to my sister about it and she ended up cancelling hers as well. A couple of our friends did as well.
It’s very hard to avoid buying stuff on Amazon even if we hate them. This provides a bit of extra motivation.
LOL, I’m boycotting Amazon since 2007, at least. Good luck!
Me too, 2010ish though. I wish I could figure out how to boycott AWS. As an aged developer with a little bit of influence, I’ve steered plenty of clients, employers, and peers away, but I still use the internet. There’s no detaching from that.
This is off topic, but as a new developer (about to graduate) I’m having a tough time envisioning places to work. Ideally once I get enough experience I can be more choosy (non profit work is my goal) in the meantime I need experience.
Based on what you can infer about me from being on Lemmy in this thread, do you have any advice for a new developer in regards to fun or ethical work?
Absolutely, and thanks for asking. Also, congrats! I’d recommend looking at credit unions (US/Canada) and higher ed. Both are non-profits and good stepping stones. Either can be a career if you don’t want a ‘stepping stone.’ Depending on how altruistic you want to be, you can find either that serve underserved communities. CUs pay better, but are more corporate and demanding. Higher ed doesn’t pay as well, but is more laid back if you can ignore politics, which there is a ridiculous amount of. I worked at a HBCU (US) for a long time, and it was pretty great. Depending on where you are, it’s usually pretty easy to find an open spot at either.
Thanks for taking the time to respond I appreciate it.
Would be better to plan this a little farther out but I am already on a permanent boycott so I support this obviously.
