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Amazon still isn't doing enough to stop bait-and-switch reviews

fullstackeconomics.com

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Re: Amazon still isn't doing enough to stop bait-and-switch reviews

#201

Post by BeFlatXIII »

handrous wrote: post #190
maeln wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What start to really annoy me is how it as become almost impossible to buy quality product anymore. And the issue is not even limited to Amazon. Recently, at work, we had to make a bunch of RJ45 cables. So we bought some cable, terminals and a crimper and a tester. The crimper was so horrible, we add to cut and re-crimp new terminals 2-4 times before having a working cable. So we said fuck it, lets go buy another one…

Our economy seems really good at producing cheap garbage that's hardly worth even their low prices, expensive shit that actually works (expensive in part because the cheap garbage eats into its economy of scale by taking market share), and, for some product categories, super expensive shit that exists for the sake of being expensive (as in, conspicuous consumption). Absent is any ground between cheap garbage and expe…

IMO, this is driven by the middle class learning to optimize their spending. No more spending middle prices on mid-tier products when you can buy cheap garbage for things you don't care about in order to save up for the top shelf on the things you do. Suddenly, mid-price mid-quality items are unavailable at any price.

Re: Amazon still isn't doing enough to stop bait-and-switch reviews

#202

Post by wolverine876 »

MattGaiser wrote: post #57
wolverine876 wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Yelp -- untrusted, irrelevant, ultimately deserted. Is that true of Yelp? People I know still use it (I don't).

Indeed. As much as few I know trust Yelp, there really isn't anything close to an effective alternative, except for maybe the Uber Eats ratings. This is why this is not a problem for Amazon. Removing Amazon from my life would require substantially restructuring it and losing a lot more time procuring goods. Have I been burned a few times by shoddy goods? Yes, the alternative is spending time in stores or spending day…

FWIW, I've dropped Amazon and it was mostly just a change of habit. After becoming familiar with other options, it has been just as easy to order (and better in other ways).

Re: Amazon still isn't doing enough to stop bait-and-switch reviews

#203

Post by orthecreedence »

handrous wrote: post #190
maeln wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What start to really annoy me is how it as become almost impossible to buy quality product anymore. And the issue is not even limited to Amazon. Recently, at work, we had to make a bunch of RJ45 cables. So we bought some cable, terminals and a crimper and a tester. The crimper was so horrible, we add to cut and re-crimp new terminals 2-4 times before having a working cable. So we said fuck it, lets go buy another one…

Our economy seems really good at producing cheap garbage that's hardly worth even their low prices, expensive shit that actually works (expensive in part because the cheap garbage eats into its economy of scale by taking market share), and, for some product categories, super expensive shit that exists for the sake of being expensive (as in, conspicuous consumption). Absent is any ground between cheap garbage and expe…

> I wonder sometimes how much inflation this is masking

I've wondered this too. So many electronics or appliances from the 1970s are still working (I own some). Good luck finding that quality today. In effect, companies were smart enough to realize they don't have to bring costs down, they can just screw you on longevity and you'll have to come crawling back in a year or two. In effect, things are "cheaper" on the surface but more expensive over time. Not to mention the effect this has on landfills and pollution. It takes just as much gas to ship a 1970s stove as a 2020 one, but the 1970s one is still working and the 2020 one is replaced in three years.

Re: Amazon still isn't doing enough to stop bait-and-switch reviews

#204

Post by Grakel »

clsec wrote: post #177
Grakel wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought a Kershaw Leek from the Kershaw store on Amazon last month. I received a knife that was clearly used, it was dull, dirty, and scratched.

I bought fake Scotch-Brite sponges, fake Brawny paper towels and Gildan t-shirts that bled like crazy and faded after one wash. I now refuse shop at Amazon.

I once got a fake Colgate toothpaste. The printing was weird and it was liquidy, and half full.

Re: Amazon still isn't doing enough to stop bait-and-switch reviews

#205

Post by xvector »

technothrasher wrote: post #161
xvector wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

B&H - general electronics, tax-free Headphones.com - headphones, tax-free Drop.com - general hobbyist goods DigiKey/Mouser - miscellaneous parts Your local bougie salon - high-quality body products (bodywash, hairspray, etc) Bed Bath and Beyond - bedding and bath products Design within Reach - furniture Ubiquiti - wireless APs, PoE switches, and the nicest Ethernet cables I've ever used ProtectLi - firewalls Crowdsup…

> B&H - general electronics, tax-free B&H has been collecting sales tax for about two years now. Still a great place to get electronics from though.

If you get their Payboo card you don't have to pay tax. Took me like 2 minutes to sign up. They just closed the program but are re-opening it in January.

Re: Amazon still isn't doing enough to stop bait-and-switch reviews

#206

Post by [deleted] »

tablespoon wrote: post #171
xvector wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

B&H - general electronics, tax-free Headphones.com - headphones, tax-free Drop.com - general hobbyist goods DigiKey/Mouser - miscellaneous parts Your local bougie salon - high-quality body products (bodywash, hairspray, etc) Bed Bath and Beyond - bedding and bath products Design within Reach - furniture Ubiquiti - wireless APs, PoE switches, and the nicest Ethernet cables I've ever used ProtectLi - firewalls Crowdsup…

> Ubiquiti - wireless APs, PoE switches, and the nicest Ethernet cables I've ever used Haven't they been having issues recently?

[deleted]

Re: Amazon still isn't doing enough to stop bait-and-switch reviews

#207

Post by xvector »

tablespoon wrote: post #171
xvector wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

B&H - general electronics, tax-free Headphones.com - headphones, tax-free Drop.com - general hobbyist goods DigiKey/Mouser - miscellaneous parts Your local bougie salon - high-quality body products (bodywash, hairspray, etc) Bed Bath and Beyond - bedding and bath products Design within Reach - furniture Ubiquiti - wireless APs, PoE switches, and the nicest Ethernet cables I've ever used ProtectLi - firewalls Crowdsup…

> Ubiquiti - wireless APs, PoE switches, and the nicest Ethernet cables I've ever used Haven't they been having issues recently?

What sort of issues? Security ones? That basically came down to a malicious engineer compromising their own infrastructure and then whistleblowing.

Re: Amazon still isn't doing enough to stop bait-and-switch reviews

#208

Post by orthecreedence »

loeg wrote: post #4
odonnellryan wrote: post #2

If you leave a bad review on a high priced item often you will be contacted and offered a refund for removing the review.

Or Amazon will prevent you from posting the critical review in the first place.

They blocked me from writing reviews entirely, and I haven't been able to get unblocked.

Re: Amazon still isn't doing enough to stop bait-and-switch reviews

#209

Post by kenned3 »

noduerme wrote: post #56

I wish I could say I stopped buying things off Amazon for ethical reasons, but the truth is, I stopped buying because if you look closely at the reviews, you realize that almost everything for sale there is now a scam or a knock-off. This was a slow creep for awhile, but now the problem has grown exponentially. Amazon is what Canal Street was in the 90s - somewhere to buy fakes, stolen goods, and electronics that mig…

I gave up on Amazon some time ago and just use aliexpress now. Might as well remove some of the middle men and amazon is basically "everything made in china" anyhow.

I've been burned a few times with amazon sending me made in china knockoffs, or sending me things via "prime" that take as long as aliexpress.

Re: Amazon still isn't doing enough to stop bait-and-switch reviews

#210

Post by kenned3 »

stdbrouw wrote: post #129
maeln wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What start to really annoy me is how it as become almost impossible to buy quality product anymore. And the issue is not even limited to Amazon. Recently, at work, we had to make a bunch of RJ45 cables. So we bought some cable, terminals and a crimper and a tester. The crimper was so horrible, we add to cut and re-crimp new terminals 2-4 times before having a working cable. So we said fuck it, lets go buy another one…

That's interesting, I've been renovating my home for the past two years and have had the exact opposite experience: I've been quite happy with my cheap pipe bender, cheap angle grinder, cheap hex crimper, cheap multipipe pliers as well as store brand consumables like hybrid glue, tape, drill bits and whatnot. For electrical work I do buy Knipex most of the time and for tools that get used heavily it's usually Bosch,…

I do the exact same thing (buy the cheaper versions most of the time).

My dad was in the trades and he bought "good stuff" for his actual trade, but also bought 'affordable' stuff he needed around the house.

The idea is that if you are using a tool every day, and they break on the job it is time, money, embarrassment. How do you tell a customer the cheap saw just broke and you need to get a new one?

The "pro" stuff costs a LOT more, it will outlast if used on a regular basis, but most home owners will not reach those limits.

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