Introducing the Libertarian Democrat. Are You One?

[silverweb]

37. I have a love-hate relationship with Amazon.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Love it for the selection and the reviews, which are very useful for comparison shopping. Hate that they use temporary staffing companies for their warehouses and shipping centers, and that the working conditions are so harsh.

Love that small businesses can get greater exposure by selling through Amazon. I ordered an out-of-print book through Amazon last year that I couldn't find anywhere else. When it never arrived, I contacted the seller, a small bookstore somewhere out in no-man's land.

They bent over backwards to replace the lost book and the person with whom I was corresponding said that she was grateful for the exposure Amazon gives the shop. I now have a favorite go-to book store that I can patronize on line directly or through Amazon.

The same is true of Ebay, of course, and I use both, depending on the item.

Since I choose not to own a car, running from store to store trying to find what I need (wasting time and gas) isn't an option, so I do a great deal of my shopping on line.

The internet has changed how we do everything. Small businesses can survive and flourish by embracing it and using outlets like Amazon and Ebay.

Now if only Amazon would update and improve its labor practices ....