The Prime Reasons to Avoid Amazon • Hacker News Board

Re: The Prime Reasons to Avoid Amazon

#41

Post by viraptor » Sat, Jul 05, 2025, 10:03 PM UTC

ajross wrote: post #7

I guess, but Amazon gets me stuff tomorrow or the next day, reliably, week in and week out. Yeah, I could find this stuff elsewhere on the internet. But not for Tuesday delivery. And not without opening another account. Also, right now, often only by paying a tariff-adjacent fee to cover the import costs of the vendors that didn't have the foresight to pre-stock imports like Amazon did. People who want to write stuff…

Amazon enables us to buy lots of things we just wouldn't if there was just a little bit more of friction. I'm not sure it's an overall positive that they have next day delivery. We'd definitely be better overall if Amazon didn't undermine smaller shops using discounts only they can afford long term.

Re: The Prime Reasons to Avoid Amazon

#42

Post by wredcoll » Sat, Jul 05, 2025, 10:04 PM UTC

bilsbie wrote: post #11

Animats wrote: post #2

A real reason to avoid Amazon is fake merchandise. I'd been buying a vitamin supplement from them for years. Then they sent me a notice that it was being recalled as a fake.[1] (Archive [2]) They paid a refund for the last purchase. But that's all. Amazon won't respond to questions about what was in it or who the real seller is. I no longer buy anything from Amazon that could be faked. [1] https://www.amazon.com/ask/…

I’m having trouble finding alternatives. Do I really have to go to four or five different websites to buy my supplements.

Um. Exactly how many supplements do you need?

Re: The Prime Reasons to Avoid Amazon

#43

Post by dosinga » Sat, Jul 05, 2025, 10:08 PM UTC

Am I missing something, the article randomly says: "For context, the US federal government spent $53 million on public education in 2022." and links to: https://educationdata.org/public-education-spending-statisti... which says K-12 schools spend $857.2 billion.

Re: The Prime Reasons to Avoid Amazon

#44

Post by Phelinofist » Sat, Jul 05, 2025, 10:11 PM UTC

Honestly I hate Amazon because they are a mega corp that just gets bigger and bigger. But on the other hand they are just the best online store hands down. I ordered an electric toothbrush yesterday at 23:30 and it arrived today at 15:30 - that's just amazing. Also returning stuff is hassle-free and they often are the cheapest.

I tried using Otto for some time but it just cannot compare. Sure. I could also shop from multiple shops but that is kinda waste of time. Amazon is a real one-stop shop.

Re: The Prime Reasons to Avoid Amazon

#45

Post by renewiltord » Sat, Jul 05, 2025, 10:12 PM UTC

DanAtC wrote: post #18

renewiltord wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Trains are shaped like penis, bus is shape like penis, skyscraper is shape like penis, rocket is shape like penis, now Amazon logo is shape like penis? Why are all Americans always looking everywhere for shape like penis. Every time. "Hello, American, look at this pencil" "Pencil?! Shaped like penis!" "Hello, American, look at your hands" "Oh my god! That is five penises a hand!" Constantly searching for penis everyw…

If not penises... https://velvetshark.com/ai-company-logos-that-look-like-butt...

Ha! Good reference. Look at perplexity logo. It is fan of rectangular slats with line in middle. To American this is "butthole". Can only imagine that in USA, people are like duck with strangely corkscrewing genitals. Fan shaped butthole is for insertion of Torx T6 bit perhaps, to fulfill local slang of "screwing".

Re: The Prime Reasons to Avoid Amazon

#46

Post by yupitsme123 » Sat, Jul 05, 2025, 10:12 PM UTC

cogman10 wrote: post #31

johncole wrote: post #26

Would you consider Target or Walmart more ethical? Or better at policing counterfeits?

Strangely enough, yes to both (at least for in store purchases). And I find neither company particularly ethical. They have a tighter control on their supply chain and don't have a truly open "market" where anyone can sell crap (or stolen crap). A lot of this comes down to limited stocking and shelf space. Amazon effectively has unlimited storage space. Hence their ability to show off 6000 drop shipping products whic…

What you said is true for their physical locations, but both Target and Walmart implemented Amazon-style marketplaces a while back, and my impression is that there's very little oversight or quality control. Even less than on Amazon.

Re: The Prime Reasons to Avoid Amazon

#47

Post by witty_username » Sat, Jul 05, 2025, 10:13 PM UTC

Phelinofist wrote: post #44

Honestly I hate Amazon because they are a mega corp that just gets bigger and bigger. But on the other hand they are just the best online store hands down. I ordered an electric toothbrush yesterday at 23:30 and it arrived today at 15:30 - that's just amazing. Also returning stuff is hassle-free and they often are the cheapest. I tried using Otto for some time but it just cannot compare. Sure. I could also shop from…

Why do you hate mega corps getting bigger and bigger if they provide good service?

Re: The Prime Reasons to Avoid Amazon

#48

Post by add-sub-mul-div » Sat, Jul 05, 2025, 10:13 PM UTC

jvanderbot wrote: post #39

recursive wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do it not for the feelings but just to avoid hypocrisy.

I hate to be this guy, really, but did you consider that hypocrisy and anti-hypocrisy is basically what OP meant by "feelings" since they are based on (mostly self) perceptions? (Have you ever pointed out hypocrisy to someone? They are quick to tell you why you're wrong - it's absolutely about self justification not external judgement)

I don't understand the point you're making. Someone is living according to their principles and we're playing games with semantics as if "feelings" is a bad word? Okay, you win, it "feels" better to satisfy one's values.

Re: The Prime Reasons to Avoid Amazon

#49

Post by wging » Sat, Jul 05, 2025, 10:14 PM UTC

dosinga wrote: post #43

Am I missing something, the article randomly says: "For context, the US federal government spent $53 million on public education in 2022." and links to: https://educationdata.org/public-education-spending-statisti... which says K-12 schools spend $857.2 billion.

The federal government is distinct from state or local governments. The numbers still might not be consistent (it says “[t]he federal government provides 13.6% of funding for public K-12 education”, which would be more than $53MM) but the page you linked draws that distinction too. State and local funds make up the difference.

Re: The Prime Reasons to Avoid Amazon

#50

Post by add-sub-mul-div » Sat, Jul 05, 2025, 10:17 PM UTC

kristianp wrote: post #40

I wish our local postage carrier was more efficient. Amazon provides next day delivery, whilst other online stores dispatch your purchase within 2-3 days and the package arrives is a further 2-5 days.

I noped out of Prime a long time ago when it became clear they were training the population to treat all their purchases as instant gratification impulse buys.