Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Why I Stopped Shopping at Amazon?


I used to be the biggest Amazon shopper to the point that even my family and friends knew that and would give me Amazon gift cards as gifts. I used to enjoy shopping there because I could generally find whatever books or DVD/Blu-rays I was looking for and at a relatively good price and I would also leave plenty of reviews. However, that has since changed because I have not made a purchase since April 2017 nor have I left any reviews (the last time I left a review was in July 2017).

There was a convenience in shopping there but I found I can easily find whatever I'm looking for somewhere else and still for a reasonable price. My decision to stop shopping with Amazon was initially due to the Grab Your Wallet protest but what also factored into my decision is that I don't like how much power the company holds and not just within the publishing and retail industry. I also don't like how book reviews and sales seem to count more on their site than anywhere else and that their system is designed to either make or break an author's career. I also don't like how they treat their employees by working them under extreme conditions and barely paying them what they are worth.

I'm not writing this to try to tell anyone how they should shop, this was just something that has been on my mind lately and I wanted to post it. I know there are no perfect businesses but I'm really trying to be a more conscientious shopper and make better decisions as to where I shop.

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