6 Things To Keep In Mind While Shopping On Amazon.com

[ehrnst]

?7


If you plan on looking for online deals this Black Friday -- and if 2013 is anything like 2012, more than 57 million Americans will -- you’ll likely visit a little website called Amazon.com. From the outside, the world’s largest online store works like magic: Click a button and in few days, some chosen item will miraculously show up at your doorstep.

But unlike the greeters at Walmart or the cashiers at Target, you’ll likely never meet the men and women who box your Amazon order at one of the company's gargantuan warehouses across the globe. And Amazon may prefer it that way, since its online prices end up having huge costs.


1. Warehouse workers are treated like robots.

Your boss may be bad. But your supervisor probably isn't a piece of equipment that times you as you complete menial tasks.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/28/amazon-shopping_n_4351701.html

[roody]

1. Better yet, support your local economy.

[ileus]

2. I called a local archery store

and asked if they could get the same youth bow I was looking at with Amazon.

Same price, plus they'll set it up for my son's draw length and pull.

[pipoman]

3. Also

not everything sold on Amazon is shipped by Amazon...and it isn't all speedy delivery, you won't know until you agree to purchase. I bought a pair of shoes on Wednesday that said they are "in stock". When I received the confirmation page it stated the order will arrive between December 15 and January 12. I fired off an email to the seller asking why if they are in stock it could take 60 days to get the order..the response was that they are shipped directly from the Birkenstock factory in Germany. I received a shipping notification yesterday...I guess I'll see..

And yes...I am a hetero, Birkenstock wearing liberal..

[MineralMan]

4. Amazon tells you if it stocks and ships a product before you commit.

If not, they tell you who does. I'm much more careful about stuff that is shipped from someone besides Amazon, itself. You need to do some research before committing. It's also critical to read carefully before ordering.

[Cal Carpenter]

5. They avoid collecting and paying sales tax to the state

Some states have forced the issue - but in most states Amazon does not collect tax on sales and therefore does not pay them to the state. There is a lot of money in question that cash-strapped states sure could use. And this gives them a competitive advantage over bricks and mortar stores.

If I didn't have a food hangover I'd look up real numbers but for now my vague info is good enough imo, lol.

[pipi_k]

6. Another one of those

issues without a clear answer, much as many people would love to think so...

Shitty conditions for Amazon.com workers.

Let's all boycott Amazon.com...that will teach them!

Except that when sales go down, they might have to lay off or fire workers...who now, thank goodness, only have to deal with being unemployed instead of dealing with shitty conditions at Amazon.com.

Yay! Free at last! Now they can go out and get themselves a REAL job, and to hell with Amazon.com. Why the hell didn't they think of that to begin with????

Are they too stupid to see what they should really be doing? Just quit working at Amazon and get a better job!!!

So I ask the question...instead of urging us to avoid shopping at Amazon.com, why not skip the middleman and go straight to the people being hurt by their policies? Tell those morons working there to get themselves better jobs!

In case it's necessary...