First: Good. Everyone deserves good and safe working conditions (and reasonable pay).
I have the same mixed feelings about Amazon as I do about Walmart. They underpay and overwork their employees, and treat them as replaceable cogs. They often gouge the companies that supply their stock. Their customer service ranges from “OK” to “forget it.”
But as someone living with a low income, I often don’t have a choice. Amazon’s “subscribe and save” program can save me significant money on bulk products, and sometimes Walmart’s prices are the best when I don’t have much money for the rest of what I need.
If you have the choice, I encourage you to choose to avoid these companies. But for those of us struggling to make ends meet, we’re stuck having to give business to companies that not only help create people like me, but depend on our need for them. Please remember that when there are calls that everyone has to stop using them.
This is why boycotts aren’t a replacement for legislation. Blaming consumers for making the best of a shitty system is simply shifting blame onto the victims, when the bad systems which force it are what’s to blame.
Labor didn’t get rid of company scrip by boycotting the stores, they fought against unfair labor and compensation and got it outlawed.
The fact that our system is set up so that the only way people who work full-time can afford to live is spending their money at the same collection of exploitative companies which employ them is only one step removed from it - instead of trapping people physically, they’ve rigged the system to trap them economically.
If you have the choice, I encourage you to choose to avoid these companies. But for those of us struggling to make ends meet, we’re stuck having to give business to companies that not only help create people like me, but depend on our need for them. Please remember that when there are calls that everyone has to stop using them.
Principle comes at a price not everybody can afford.
And this is the way they get big and grab their market share because they can afford to undercut the more ethical competition. When that competition ceases to trade, then they’ll bump up their prices. This is capitalism (at least, as I understand it.)
This. There are also sometimes fringe products that would be difficult to find some another store, but Amazon has 20+ listings of.
It’s a different business of theirs, but they also basically run the internet with AWS. Avoiding all of amazon essentially makes the internet unusable unfortunately…
No, it was always known as being awesome. I’ve never personally had a problem talking to a human if I needed to -shrug- And whenever I have, they’ve always done extra to fix things.
Hey man I’m not saying you’re wrong. I believe what you’re saying. Maybe it’s another one of those things that used to be really good, but has gone down hill over time.
It’s gotten worse very recently. Agreed they are usually on top of complaints. Keep in mind Amazon charges third party sellers a ton and passes the fees on to us, so they can afford a refund here and there.
First: Good. Everyone deserves good and safe working conditions (and reasonable pay).
I have the same mixed feelings about Amazon as I do about Walmart. They underpay and overwork their employees, and treat them as replaceable cogs. They often gouge the companies that supply their stock. Their customer service ranges from “OK” to “forget it.”
But as someone living with a low income, I often don’t have a choice. Amazon’s “subscribe and save” program can save me significant money on bulk products, and sometimes Walmart’s prices are the best when I don’t have much money for the rest of what I need.
If you have the choice, I encourage you to choose to avoid these companies. But for those of us struggling to make ends meet, we’re stuck having to give business to companies that not only help create people like me, but depend on our need for them. Please remember that when there are calls that everyone has to stop using them.
This is why boycotts aren’t a replacement for legislation. Blaming consumers for making the best of a shitty system is simply shifting blame onto the victims, when the bad systems which force it are what’s to blame.
Labor didn’t get rid of company scrip by boycotting the stores, they fought against unfair labor and compensation and got it outlawed.
The fact that our system is set up so that the only way people who work full-time can afford to live is spending their money at the same collection of exploitative companies which employ them is only one step removed from it - instead of trapping people physically, they’ve rigged the system to trap them economically.
Principle comes at a price not everybody can afford.
And this is the way they get big and grab their market share because they can afford to undercut the more ethical competition. When that competition ceases to trade, then they’ll bump up their prices. This is capitalism (at least, as I understand it.)
This. There are also sometimes fringe products that would be difficult to find some another store, but Amazon has 20+ listings of.
It’s a different business of theirs, but they also basically run the internet with AWS. Avoiding all of amazon essentially makes the internet unusable unfortunately…
I agree, but Amazon’s customer service is well known for being outstanding
Are you…being sarcastic?
The last time I had to engage Amazon customer support, I had to go through like 2 levels of chatbots.
No, it was always known as being awesome. I’ve never personally had a problem talking to a human if I needed to -shrug- And whenever I have, they’ve always done extra to fix things.
I will take your word for it, then. While I rarely need to reach out to them, my most recent experience with their support was less than stellar.
Hey man I’m not saying you’re wrong. I believe what you’re saying. Maybe it’s another one of those things that used to be really good, but has gone down hill over time.
It’s gotten worse very recently. Agreed they are usually on top of complaints. Keep in mind Amazon charges third party sellers a ton and passes the fees on to us, so they can afford a refund here and there.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdanziger/2021/02/05/amazons-third-party-marketplace-is-its-cash-cow-not-aws/?sh=908742521c03
Like all companies they’re shifting to shaft the user.