Amazon Boycott Set for Black Friday

The economist Yanis Varoufakis has called for a one-day boycott of Amazon on Black Friday as trade unionists, environmental activists, privacy campaigners and tax justice advocates plan coordinated actions against the company’s sites and supply chain.

Amazon’s success during the coronavirus pandemic – at one point the company was reported to be making sales of $11,000 (£8,200) a second – has vastly inflated its share price, increasing the personal wealth of its chief executive, Jeff Bezos, already the world’s richest man, by $70bn. Bloomberg estimates his current wealth to be $187bn.

www.theguardian.com...

I admit to being an Amazonaholic.
The place comes in really handy for things you cannot find in brick and mortar stores.
Sometimes you cannot find things at a better price.
Sometimes Amazon is easier than going to 6 different stores....time, gas, etc.
Sometimes it's just easier.
And pretty damn handy during the government lockdowns.

But those very lockdowns drove so many to Amazon that Bezos raked in BILLIONS.

So, you decide.....visit Amazon on Black Friday...or not!

“By boycotting Amazon you will be adding your strength to an international coalition of workers and activists,” he said. “Amazon is not a mere company. It is not merely a monopolistic mega-firm. It is far more, and far worse, than that. It is the pillar of a new techno-feudalism.”

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

I imagine Bozos response to any boycott will include one shoulder shrug in conjunction with a pffftt, and that I reckon is a worst case scenario.

We have only bought a couple of things through Amazon, I am old fashioned, I want the money I spend to go through the hands of the people locally so they can make a living from it. I only order things online I cannot get here, I had to order three hundred bucks worth of tractor parts from Steiners tractor because nobody here stocks that stuff or can find the numbers to actually order it.

I don't mind paying extra here to get things I need, but in some kind of things, you cannot get them locally around here, like specialized mineral and vitamins. I do order my canned beef and canned chicken by the case from the manufacturer though and certain supplements from vitacost. Stores here cannot afford to buy a whole case of a special vitamin to sell me one bottle, most will just sit on their shelves.

a reply to: myselfaswell

If he becomes aware of it al all

When I think of what Amazon was 20 years ago....it boggles the mind.

a reply to: rickymouse

Vitacost is a wonderful place, I use them a lot.....even buy things from them rather than Amazon.
I also buy form the manufacturer when possible, Lees/Wrangler, etc.

Yarn I get from a crafts site, I cannot tolerate stores like Joanns...almost always understaffed. I've taken to knitting garments, hats, etc because stuff in stores/sites often SUCKS!!

Local is best, but often not possible.

But sometimes you cannot beat Amazon....got some great licorice throat lozenges sweetened with Stevia....from the UK. Seem to be NOT available in the US.

originally posted by: DontTreadOnMe
a reply to: rickymouse

Vitacost is a wonderful place, I use them a lot.....even buy things from them rather than Amazon.
I also buy form the manufacturer when possible, Lees/Wrangler, etc.

Yarn I get from a crafts site, I cannot tolerate stores like Joanns...almost always understaffed. I've taken to knitting garments, hats, etc because stuff in stores/sites often SUCKS!!

Local is best, but often not possible.

But sometimes you cannot beat Amazon....got some great licorice throat lozenges sweetened with Stevia....from the UK. Seem to be NOT available in the US.

My wife is into knitting, she has many totes full of Yarn in her sewing room. She used to go to the library and knit with other knitters on Wednesdays, but now they just do zoom since the library is not open anymore for that and meeting outside sucks in the winter.

I used to be an Amazonoholic too, but now I try and use eBay or buy direct from the manufacturer. Yea sometimes I pay a little more sometimes less but it's mostly going to people instead of a huge corporation. Regardless I have cut back to bare essentials mostly anyway.

Bigtime believe in buying from small local businesses whenever possible.

We use Amazon quite a bit because local stores either don't have what we need or they're big box stores anyway. We haven't gotten 2 day free shipping since March due to Covid but the Prime shipping is still free so we're still saving money. Sometimes it sucks being in a rural area.

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Boycott it for a day. Then people will just buy it the next day for non-black Friday prices. Which means more money in Bezos pocket.

TBH, Amazon could lose half its customer base and still rake in an absolute fortune every, single, day.

It seems similar to how people felt about Wal-Mart stores taking over towns all over the country.

I won't boycott Amazon because Bezos gets rich. Amazon was inevitable. It's easier to shop-around, find exactly what you want and have it delivered to your doorstep.

The only thing is if I'm making a big purchase - I'll look at other websites. But the only store I go to regularly anymore is my local grocery store and guitar shop.

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Let’s keep in mind Amazon is actually a little like Ebay in that many small businesses are selling goods so the money is being made by the people not just Bezos. And so what if he makes a lot as long as he makes it fair and square.

Yanis Varoufakis.... isn't he the leftist responsible for Greek's massive debt?

I read his book, "Talking to My Daughter about the Economy". Not my cup of tea. Tried to blame Africa's lack of modern progress on the fact their farming land is not fruitful.

Now he wants to boycott Amazon? Whilst half the world is in lockdown and cannot get to an actual shop?.

originally posted by: nOraKat
a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Let’s keep in mind Amazon is actually a little like Ebay in that many small businesses are selling goods so the money is being made by the people not just Bezos. And so what if he makes a lot as long as he makes it fair and square.

Facts don't matter to the envious...

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

boycott of Amazon

No thanks.

Black Friday Sale..

Near all items i want in my basket Has increased from

It's a con.

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Amazon is testing the waters. A lot, and I mean a lot of their prices are now higher than a regular store.

People are addicted to that "free" delivery part...

originally posted by: JAGStorm
a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Amazon is testing the waters. A lot, and I mean a lot of their prices are now higher than a regular store.

People are addicted to that "free" delivery part...

It is the convenience... price is secondary. I'll pay more if I can have someone bring it to the house.

Amazon's advantage is the convenience. I can't tell you how many times I've needed some widget. I call several stores locally and none have it. Quick 10 second search on Amazon and some seller has it and it can be at my house next day or two days.

I try to shop locally but some of the retailers make it so hard for me to give them the business.

a reply to: Edumakated

It is the convenience... price is secondary.

I'll pay for convenience to a point. I found that a lotion I use was 2-3x more on Amazon, to me that wasn't worth it.

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe
Good to see something being done.
In Canada, there is a long-running series called Marketplace - they investigate consumer complaints. In my opinion its one of the best series on tv.. in its 40th year.
- this episode had a few consumers order from major online retailers including the Amazon -
- the amount of fake products they deal on is, well, amazing... all of the products purchased were fake -

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

I try not to use Amazon, though I'll admit I still have the membership for here and there when like you said convenience of having something in two days.

I have found that their prices now aren't always the best and seem to be trending towards rarely the best.

Bezos told investors early on the plan was to lose money for years to gain market share. Once they had a large customer base they'd retool the price structure to turn a profit.

Now they only win on the small knick knacks, cables and other Chinese made knock offs. You can see different "brands" slapped onto the same products.

If you see a real recognizable brand, there's a good chance you can find it on the manufacturers website, search a coupon code own Google, get it cheaper and still in two days.

I keep Amazon in my back pocket, but rarely use them. I think the free market will pick a new juggernaut at some point.