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How Do You Go About Buying Stuff Online While Avoiding Amazon? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 2 months ago by chickenf622@sh.itjust.works to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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It's been ages since I've really done some deal hunting online with how ubiquitious Amazon is I've realized I'm not up to date with the current ecosystem for finding trustworthy online storefronts. Do you have any sources/tips for finding good quality products (especially with all the AI slop that exists nowadays)?

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[-] GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 months ago

It's very easy in Sweden - there are plenty of e-commerce alternatives present, and you can use a comparison website to find the best price for any given item.

For various cycling gadgets and other cheap stuff, I've started ordering on AliExpress, with a pretty decent success rate so far.

[-] thatchemguy@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago

I use Facebook. I hate that I have to use Facebook, but I feel like using it to buy second hand items (which is most of what I buy anyway) is slightly more ethical.

[-] Opinionhaver@feddit.uk 1 points 2 months ago

I've always considered Amazon a store that mostly Americans use. Personally I've always just used eBay and Aliexpress myself.

[-] weeeeum@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I used to use eBay as well, before I was scammed, and eBay did absolutely nothing. On top of that it was impossible to reach a human. Ever since I never felt comfortable buying from there, knowing that if the automated service page can't help me then I'm just fucked.

I once had a problem with amazon, a 100$ item was missing from a package, and after talking to a representative for 10 minutes they completely refunded me.

Amazon is monopolistic, and evil, but in my experience have excellent customer service.

[-] umbraroze@slrpnk.net 1 points 1 month ago

You should research regional and local options! This may not help you specifically, but fun thing about Finland and the other Nordic countries is that we seem to have pretty decent local chains selling stuff. I think the last physical book I ordered from Amazon was a mildly obscure out of print one I couldn't find elsewhere, about 10 years ago. I think the local used book web store situation has gotten better since. All of my recent new physical book purchases have been via AdLibris (a Swedish store). For ebooks it's been harder, I think Google Play is the most feasible place nowadays when the Finnish ebook store I used to use recently shut down (luckily they were DRM free). We have a couple of good options for stuff like electronics. Even the hypermarket chains have good web stores if I can't be bothered to visit them in person.

[-] BigTrout75@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Not perfect but if you can't get it from the company's website or at a local shop, try Target and Walmart they both offer free ship options too. Lastly, something like Google shopping sometimes works.

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[-] Today@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

If you are using Amazon, you can look for products from small businesses. There are many that only sell on Amazon. At least your helping someone else at the same time.

[-] TokenEffort@sh.itjust.works 0 points 2 months ago

And you're supporting one of the few companies that actually give immigrants, transgender people, mentally and/or physically disabled people, recovered felons/addicts/etc, the homeless, single parents, poor people, people facing eviction, and anyone else in horrible situations multiple chances at saving themselves, living real lives, being independent, and actually living. All while being the most flexible workplace so whatever life throws at you doesn't ever cost you your job, and paying for their college tuition as a benefit alongside access to emergency loans on top of that.

Can Amazon be a better employer? Sure, there is much more room for improvement. But they are far from unethical or evil. Boycott all the big box retailers and shop exclusively on Amazon. You're literally saving lives by doing nothing. You all wish for a button you could press to make people less poor and struggling, and you already have it. Buy your Pampers and cat litter on Amazon. Stream Prime shows. Watch Twitch. Shop at Whole Foods. Support the only actually ethical company.

No one cares about their employees, let alone their entry level employees, as much as Amazon.

[-] numbermess@fedia.io 1 points 2 months ago

If your search engine allows you to configure your results, you can set it to block any results from amazon.com. I use Kagi and have been pretty happy with that feature.

[-] Kennystillalive@feddit.org 0 points 2 months ago

Easy, in Switzerland we don't have amazon (there are only a few sellers that send to Switzerland. We only got Galaxus and other shops.

[-] remon@ani.social 0 points 2 months ago

Easy ... we don't really have Amazon.

[-] CheeseNoodle@lemmy.world 0 points 1 month ago

There are some simple steps:

Use Amazon as a catalog to find what you want
Copy the items name/brand and find it elsewhere
Find out you live in a high cost are for deliveries and buying anywhere but on amazon outright doubles the price of the item.
Give up and buy on Amazon anyway.

[-] quediuspayu@lemmy.world -1 points 2 months ago

Generally I don't buy shit I don't need. Most shit I want but I don't really need I can find it in a brick and mortar shop. For everything else I try to go to the source or a specialised seller as close as possible to where I live.

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this post was submitted on 15 Apr 2025

295 points (98.4% liked)

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