Chrome extension recommends local businesses while shopping on Amazon or eBay • Hacker News Board

Re: Chrome extension recommends local businesses while shopping on Amazon or eBay

#61

Post by fauigerzigerk » Sat, May 08, 2021, 3:52 PM UTC

turbinerneiter wrote: post #44

fauigerzigerk wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It may take just a minute to enter your contact and payment info, but then it takes half an hour to figure out their returns policy, shipping fees and delivery windows. I buy a lot more from tiny businesses if they operate on top of Amazon's platform.

In Europe, they are bound by the same law, so return policies are not something I worry about. Shipping fees are clearly stated at checkout and honestly so damn cheap that I don't care. Delivery windows? It's the same delivery companies that Amazon uses or used to use. In Germany mostly DHL, who I never had a problem with. It's fine if your prefer what you prefer, I'm just saying that the experience of buying from ra…

>In Europe, they are bound by the same law, so return policies are not something I worry about.

No, the law does not mandate a specific returns policy. It just sets minimum standards. I can return almost anything to Amazon for free if I don't like it. I don't do that very often, but knowing that I can is one of the biggest incentives for me to buy from Amazon.

>Shipping fees are clearly stated at checkout and honestly so damn cheap that I don't care.

I have often gone through a lengthy ordering process before finding out at the very last step that my £20 order would incur a £5 delivery fee. And it's fine. It often doesn't make economic sense to make free deliveries to the doorstep. But that's yet another reason in favour of small stores sharing a logistics platform such as Amazon.

>Delivery windows? It's the same delivery companies that Amazon uses or used to use. In Germany mostly DHL, who I never had a problem with.

Here in London Amazon makes most deliveries directly. I can track deliveries in real-time and I know what they do if I'm not home. I had lots of issues with other logistics companies. They often lie about having made a delivery attempt and drop off parcels at some distant shop or depot.

Re: Chrome extension recommends local businesses while shopping on Amazon or eBay

#62

Post by matsemann » Sat, May 08, 2021, 3:58 PM UTC

Kalium wrote: post #16

corytheboyd wrote: post #11

This is a really good idea! I love my small businesses but being coddled by the internet is so real, you get used to immediately finding exactly what you want. With local stores, you have to put in some work sometimes, and ghasp talk to real people, potentially a few, at different stores, to get what you need. It sounds like a lot written out like that, but the important bits are that the people you talk to, you lear…

Last weekend, I went looking for a particular kind of garment. I wasn't hopeful, but I thought I would give local shops a chance. I did it by going around, looking in various local stores, and talking to people. I did this in four or so different spots. I spent probably three to four hours at it. After that process, I was no closer to the garment I sought than I had been when I woke up. What I had learned from my eff…

Could your need have been satisfied with another product available locally? Was your need for that exact product really only created by browsing online?

For instance I could spend hours reading reviews about power washers and finding the perfect model and then lamenting it not being available at my local hardware store. Or I could just buy whatever corresponding product they have and be just as happy.

Re: Chrome extension recommends local businesses while shopping on Amazon or eBay

#63

Post by matsemann » Sat, May 08, 2021, 4:06 PM UTC

mumblemumble wrote: post #50

usrusr wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> and ghasp talk to real people, potentially a few, at different stores, to get what you need. That's really an issue: if you aren't the hard-boiled, super unemphatic negotiator type you'll likely buy the very first thing a salesperson has invested face-minutes in, if it just gets the easy 80% of requirements/desires right. "Thanks for your time, but I'll go see if there's another offer that is maybe 3% better or 2%…

> "Thanks for your time, but I'll go see if there's another offer that is maybe 3% better or 2% cheaper" isn't something that feels good to all people. Not necessarily because they're meek. For me, going to a brick and mortar store, interacting briefly with a human, and taking the first thing that meets my basic needs is a life hack. The paradox of choice is real. Seeing the bounty of options available on sites like…

I agree, but as I wrote in another comment here I often fall victim to the same myself. I find it quite paradoxal however, how I spent weeks deciding which sports watch to buy, but how the real estate market here gave us a few hours in deciding which apartment to bid on..

Anyways, I find your point about 30% often apply more to local shops. Price is often a bit higher, but biggest problem is not having a comparable model at the price point I wanted. And with a seller in front of you doing their thing, it's easy to walk out with more than intended.

Re: Chrome extension recommends local businesses while shopping on Amazon or eBay

#64

Post by asiachick » Sat, May 08, 2021, 4:07 PM UTC

Kalium wrote: post #16

corytheboyd wrote: post #11

This is a really good idea! I love my small businesses but being coddled by the internet is so real, you get used to immediately finding exactly what you want. With local stores, you have to put in some work sometimes, and ghasp talk to real people, potentially a few, at different stores, to get what you need. It sounds like a lot written out like that, but the important bits are that the people you talk to, you lear…

Last weekend, I went looking for a particular kind of garment. I wasn't hopeful, but I thought I would give local shops a chance. I did it by going around, looking in various local stores, and talking to people. I did this in four or so different spots. I spent probably three to four hours at it. After that process, I was no closer to the garment I sought than I had been when I woke up. What I had learned from my eff…

I can imagine some future world where ordering garments online works for me. Maybe I could scan my body and see an AR version of the clothing using real physics simulation or something, though I'm also picky about how a fabric feels. So, for me, I can't tell if a garment is going to look good or bad on me unless I try it on. Further, I just don't seem to find what I'm looking for online. I also find looking online slower. Looking at racks of clothing I can see 100s of items at once, looking online I see 9 to 12 per screen and while sure, there's more places to look for some reason it feels like way more work, maybe because it takes more time to pass all the stuff I'm un-interested in.

Still, at least in the USA, I don't find it offline either. The USA or at least SF/LA has almost no variety in clothing. All there are are chain stores. The limited small stores I know of just don't carry enough. Conversely in Tokyo I can find 10x? 20x the variety? At least that's my experience.

Re: Chrome extension recommends local businesses while shopping on Amazon or eBay

#65

Post by benbristow » Sat, May 08, 2021, 4:09 PM UTC

Can see the use for Amazon (if it's an order directly from Amazon, not a third-party seller) but eBay is a bit harsh. Lots of smaller local businesses doing honest business on there, getting a wider reach because of the platform.

Maybe they'd make a bit more directly rather than after eBay's cut I guess so there's that argument.

Re: Chrome extension recommends local businesses while shopping on Amazon or eBay

#66

Post by yunohn » Sat, May 08, 2021, 4:10 PM UTC

Swizec wrote: post #28

Kalium wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Last weekend, I went looking for a particular kind of garment. I wasn't hopeful, but I thought I would give local shops a chance. I did it by going around, looking in various local stores, and talking to people. I did this in four or so different spots. I spent probably three to four hours at it. After that process, I was no closer to the garment I sought than I had been when I woke up. What I had learned from my eff…

On the other end of the spectrum you have items where expert help is necessary. When I bought my first motorcycle gear, I had little idea what to look for, what I need, or how to verify it does the job. Going to a store that specializes in motorcycles and gear was fantastic. They showed me how to fit a helmet, what to look for in a jacket, gloves, etc. I could try multiple items to find which brands fit my body, what…

> 1 trip to a specialist camera store wouldve solved his problem.

Why not both? There’s a lot of web-first brick & mortar companies coming up these days. Coolblue is a good example in NL. They offer expert advice at their stores, and an amazingly modern website experience at the same time. Inventory is all managed via warehouses, like Amazon.

Re: Chrome extension recommends local businesses while shopping on Amazon or eBay

#67

Post by ocdtrekkie » Sat, May 08, 2021, 4:13 PM UTC

Swizec wrote: post #28

Kalium wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Last weekend, I went looking for a particular kind of garment. I wasn't hopeful, but I thought I would give local shops a chance. I did it by going around, looking in various local stores, and talking to people. I did this in four or so different spots. I spent probably three to four hours at it. After that process, I was no closer to the garment I sought than I had been when I woke up. What I had learned from my eff…

On the other end of the spectrum you have items where expert help is necessary. When I bought my first motorcycle gear, I had little idea what to look for, what I need, or how to verify it does the job. Going to a store that specializes in motorcycles and gear was fantastic. They showed me how to fit a helmet, what to look for in a jacket, gloves, etc. I could try multiple items to find which brands fit my body, what…

I prefer to buy at brick and mortar but I question this reason for it. The guy in the plumbing section of the hardware store probably knows where things are on the shelf there, but probably has not done plumbing themselves and probably can't answer my DIY question about what product to use. For that, I end up needing YouTube.

Re: Chrome extension recommends local businesses while shopping on Amazon or eBay

#68

Post by benrbray » Sat, May 08, 2021, 4:15 PM UTC

IG_Semmelweiss wrote: post #49

benrbray wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think cars are largely to blame for the sorry state of small businesses. Before moving from America to Tokyo, I had never lived in a place with anything even remotely resembling a walkable city center where you can easily browse and pick up what you need from local businesses. Everything is separated by a 15min+ drive, and I likely need to get on the highway to get there. Atlanta was the worst for this. In Tokyo I…

You are in tokyo. Come on. Tokyo is not Niigata, or Sendai, or Saitama. The tokyo bubble is not the same as the rest of japan

I didn't say I was in Sendai. Human societies were designed to a human scale for thousands of years before cars started dividing us all up. American suburbia is one extreme, and Tokyo is another. Somewhere in between, I'd like to think we can find a balance in city design that allows us all to choose the mode of transportation that is most suitable for the journey.

Re: Chrome extension recommends local businesses while shopping on Amazon or eBay

#69

Post by greenie_beans » Sat, May 08, 2021, 4:21 PM UTC

londons_explore wrote: post #60

Small business near me never seem to have online catalogues or stock levels. Hunting for a specific product (for example a washing line) might involve walking into 3 different shops and guessing which shop might sell what you need. When you arrive in the shop, they always arrange aisles differently so unless you have 20 minutes to hunt you might not find it either. Whereas online it's a simple search and click "buy n…

I’m sorry, I can’t help but point out that you could call the store before you left your house. And when in the store, you could ask a sales associate for help. Just sayin!

Re: Chrome extension recommends local businesses while shopping on Amazon or eBay

#70

Post by BikiniPrince » Sat, May 08, 2021, 4:22 PM UTC

londons_explore wrote: post #60

Small business near me never seem to have online catalogues or stock levels. Hunting for a specific product (for example a washing line) might involve walking into 3 different shops and guessing which shop might sell what you need. When you arrive in the shop, they always arrange aisles differently so unless you have 20 minutes to hunt you might not find it either. Whereas online it's a simple search and click "buy n…

My new favorite is hunting through their online catalogues and only finding the things I want via their online sales. Just with worse shipping.

Other then niche products like brewers items, furniture and other home goods it’s difficult to find things I need.

It’s not like I live in the woods either.