Robert Reich: 'While Amazon adds 5,000 warehouse jobs it destroys 50,000 retail jobs.'

[frazzled]

23. But they're not saying what salary & benefits are attached to these "jobs"

I should assume it's hardly a great wage or benefit offering. This is not an answer to income inequality in America. These are low-level minimum subsistence jobs.

I use Amazon as little as possible. I used to order my printer toner from them, because it was considerably cheaper. But it meant that if I did not want to wait 5-7 days for the standard shipping, I'd have to pay a fee which made the savings less attractive. Last time the printer toner went kaput, with little warning, we used a $15 coupon we had from Office Depot, got the toner the same day (I was in the middle of a project and needed it), and the price difference was minimal.

Lately, I've noticed that companies are catching up to Amazon: I always do research before I buy something, and often find I can get a better sale price on an item from a store or from the company that manufactures the product itself.

For books ... well, I'm lucky to live in a city that has an excellent independent bookstore. It has to be really arcane or unavailable for me to order it from Amazon.

I do on rare occasion use the "My Habit," a fashion/home decor sale site connected to Amazon. But quite rarely. Mostly when I have to get a present and don't want to go out and shop. Recently, I bought a baby present at considerable sale price, from a US maker (a California brand). Adorable little outfit that would have cost $95 in a store, which I got on sale for $32. I hate shopping for children's gifts (as much as I used to love it.)

I often use Amazon for research on products, but buy elsewhere, either in store or directly from a manufacturer. I almost never buy myself clothing online. I just need to feel the fabric and try it on.