General Discussion

Adrahil

(13,340 posts)

96. Well, here's a for example....

Tue Oct 21, 2014, 03:42 PM

Oct 2014

... I do some RC robotics. My local hobby store pretty much limits itself to the most common products. Those products are 25% (guesstimate) than I can get them online, even considering shipping. They rarely have the more unusual parts I often need for my weird robots. I just wind up ordering all my stuff from servo city or hobby king. I mean, why drive downtown and pay more if I'm just going to wind up having to order online anyway.

While I get what you're saying, it's honestly no good trying to keep something alive that's doomed. I think folks in local business need to be thinking about businesses that can't be easily replaced online.

Also, I appreciate your position about Starbucks, but our local coffee places were kind of weak for the Buck showed up. One of them stepped up their game and survived (doing rather well). They did that by partnering with a local bakery to offer better food choices than the Buck. The others did not adapt and died. That's business.

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Do you use Amazon to purchase products [View all] el_bryanto Oct 2014 OP

Pretty soon, with our "overlords" seeing to it that we work 2 or 3 jobs and have no time off at all. hlthe2b Oct 2014 #1

I use Amazon to read reviews. Then I purchase the item from someone else. tenderfoot Oct 2014 #2

Sometimes I do that. Their reviews have become an important part of decision-making. stevenleser Oct 2014 #59

Wal-Mart is cheaper too. tenderfoot Oct 2014 #67

Ugh. Comparing Amazon to Wal-Mart? stevenleser Oct 2014 #70

Is there a reason I shouldn't be? tenderfoot Oct 2014 #91

You realize what Amazon does to local and state tax revenues? joeglow3 Oct 2014 #92

I use Amazon to purchase camera equipment justiceischeap Oct 2014 #3

keh.com??? rdking647 Oct 2014 #21

Yep, keh.com justiceischeap Oct 2014 #29

I like B& H and Adorama to buy camera equipment csziggy Oct 2014 #43

I've been using KEH for years... bobclark86 Oct 2014 #46

I hate their new site too justiceischeap Oct 2014 #47

Almost never. Sometimes a retailer will only sell through Amazon, so then I'll use it. Brickbat Oct 2014 #4

I mostly use it to "buy" $0 books that I read in a browser their cloud server. eShirl Oct 2014 #5

Usually just for used books that I can't find in the stores around here. FSogol Oct 2014 #6

Check out Thriftbooks.com csziggy Oct 2014 #44

Thanks. I also use these: FSogol Oct 2014 #48

Thanks! csziggy Oct 2014 #68

1st editions make great gifts, but other than a Vonnegut and Jim Carroll, I don't own any. FSogol Oct 2014 #73

I use it for things I cannot get anywhere else at anywhere near the price seemingly. brewens Oct 2014 #7

But with Costco at least, they pay a living wage. closeupready Oct 2014 #66

Yup. I buy everything I can at Costco for that reason. We have Winco opening soon in my brewens Oct 2014 #76

Occasional... Wounded Bear Oct 2014 #8

Never bigwillq Oct 2014 #9

Privacy concerns? nt el_bryanto Oct 2014 #13

No bigwillq Oct 2014 #37

I would put ours at well over your maximum choice Lonusca Oct 2014 #10

Amazon is great for the environment. Nye Bevan Oct 2014 #11

Then the mall goes out of business Art_from_Ark Oct 2014 #40

A dead mall has a much smaller carbon footprint than a live mall (nt) Nye Bevan Oct 2014 #41

People are going to drive around anyway Art_from_Ark Oct 2014 #42

The Internet has been putting malls out of business for years, kentauros Oct 2014 #45

Malls are buildings that can be used Skidmore Oct 2014 #55

You Left Out The TOXIC Airplane otohara Oct 2014 #65

Run "netstat -an" or "netstat -a" to see how many connections to Amazon servers seveneyes Oct 2014 #12

I use Amazon to purchase heavy items Sedona Oct 2014 #14

Yes. Ykcutnek Oct 2014 #15

Yes, absolutely. MineralMan Oct 2014 #16

well let's try an experiment whatthehey Oct 2014 #17

People like that can take a hike. Ykcutnek Oct 2014 #18

Yeah that's my issue gollygee Oct 2014 #19

Declining health and a dead car necessitate my need for delivered items BuelahWitch Oct 2014 #53

"unionized highly paid"? Buying from local mompop shop means they will have $ to buy from you uppityperson Oct 2014 #78

I think you're fighting a lost cause. Adrahil Oct 2014 #83

They will only survive if we help them. I order online also, but do what I can to keep asm uppityperson Oct 2014 #86

Well, here's a for example.... Adrahil Oct 2014 #96

I use Amazon prime frequently - TBF Oct 2014 #20

Much like Walmart, a few times a year I must buy there rurallib Oct 2014 #22

Hell yeah Reter Oct 2014 #23

I have used it to find books that are hard to find here. femmocrat Oct 2014 #24

I've sold quite a few textbooks. tammywammy Oct 2014 #27

I have, but rarely, I avoid it you could say. nt bemildred Oct 2014 #25

I've used it for books treestar Oct 2014 #26

Only real Books & Movie DVDs appalachiablue Oct 2014 #28

I do nearly all of my shopping online. Starry Messenger Oct 2014 #30

I buy a lot of stuff from Amazon Lurks Often Oct 2014 #31

I prefer to buy local Le Taz Hot Oct 2014 #32

I use it mainly to buy stuff that is either hard to find or hard to transport. The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2014 #33

I use Amazon for almost anything I buy dumbcat Oct 2014 #34

"My UPS guy knows me well." CrispyQ Oct 2014 #36

My favorite place to shop is my local JAX stores, but I use Amazon a lot. CrispyQ Oct 2014 #35

Once every few years, but I'd probably use it more if I had money. GoCubsGo Oct 2014 #38

But not anymore!! applegrove Oct 2014 #39

Stop using Amazon, please. Orsino Oct 2014 #49

Eh pipi_k Oct 2014 #58

Their low prices hurt people badly. Orsino Oct 2014 #61

Like I said... pipi_k Oct 2014 #75

There are even more alternatives than you suggested. Orsino Oct 2014 #80

This is one of those catches d_r Oct 2014 #89

There is something to be said for lobbying Amazon as a customer. Orsino Oct 2014 #90

I but at least 5 grand a year from Amazon yeoman6987 Oct 2014 #84

I admit I did not expect such pride. Orsino Oct 2014 #85

I am glad you are willing to fight the battle joeglow3 Oct 2014 #93

I am learning there's a little more to it than that... Orsino Oct 2014 #94

Gone are the days of Southwest Airlines joeglow3 Oct 2014 #95

The one thing about Amazon... yuiyoshida Oct 2014 #50

I don't use them as much as I did BuelahWitch Oct 2014 #51

If it can not be obtained localy........... wandy Oct 2014 #52

They really do pipi_k Oct 2014 #60

Yes I use Amazon. We should keep in mind that this giant 'retailer' is also an snappyturtle Oct 2014 #54

I use it once or twice a year. Stellar Oct 2014 #56

I just set up an Amazon Smile account for the group I sing with. woodsprite Oct 2014 #57

Just ordered a set of 38 special sizing dies about 10 min ago. ileus Oct 2014 #62

Their books-on-demand service is what I expected of the 21st century. hunter Oct 2014 #63

Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 2014 #64

On getting things free when they screw up, yes, I've also closeupready Oct 2014 #72

Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 2014 #81

I just looked and I have been making 2-4 purchases a month for physical items. dilby Oct 2014 #69

We have members of DU who have successfully self-published on Amazon. closeupready Oct 2014 #71

Only if it's something I can't find locally shanti Oct 2014 #74

I'm enrolled in subscribe and save. ecstatic Oct 2014 #77

All the time. Basically, on demand, online retail is the future. Adrahil Oct 2014 #79

No sales tax here in Colorado! El Supremo Oct 2014 #82

Does Zappos Count RadicalGeek Oct 2014 #87

I did when they started here in Germany. OldEurope Oct 2014 #88

I have, and use, an Amazon Prime account to get things both cheaper and that I cannot get locally. herding cats Oct 2014 #97