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Almost every big company [1] does something or the other that is so bad ethically (and sometimes legally too) that if we decided to boycott, we'd end up boycott

by vijayr 10y ago

Almost every big company [1] does something or the other that is so bad ethically (and sometimes legally too) that if we decided to boycott, we'd end up boycotting them all - and this is assuming people are even willing to, which most people aren't (convenience and product price trumps everything else to most). I just wish there is a way to protest and protest strongly enough for them to change their behavior. There have been some good attempts [2]. What else can a normal person do to protest? [1] Some examples here - https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/4wpl0i/whats_a_big_industry_secret_that_isnt_supposed_to/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/4wpl0i/whats_a_b... [2] https://www.buycott.com/campaign/browse https://www.buycott.com/campaign/browse

gdulli 10y ago
You can find positive and negative anecdotes about any company, but with Amazon it's a qualitatively different situation. It's a long-term ongoing pattern of unethical behavior, a cacophony of negative feedback that outweighs the positive. The way they treat their blue-collar employees, white-collar, business partners, sellers, etc. (All parties except the buyers.) I've stopped buying from them but I'm realistic, very few people will care enough to do so, not enough to affect their bottom line. I do it because it supporting them would feel wrong to me. Not because I expect I can make them change.
- vijayr 10y ago
  I don't shop at a few places (Walmart etc), can add Amazon to that list. Will it make any difference though? You and I are probably in the rounding error minority, unlikely to move the needle. We can feel good about our choices though, I don't see any other positive result.
  - gdulli 10y ago
    Whether it makes a difference or not, I'd rather feel good about my choices than feel bad. With its current practices, it's only a matter of time before Amazon has a recruitment problem that it can't fix.
    - vijayr 10y ago
      it's only a matter of time before Amazon has a recruitment problem that it can't fix. That is to be seen. There are lots of horrible employers who are still around (EA for example). Supply of workers is much greater than demand (even software industry is not immune to it as more and more youngsters enter the profession)
Qantourisc 10y ago
And would boycotting them all be a bad case, although a bit unpractical. It's not like they are being entirely ethical without incentive.
vmateixeira 10y ago
> I just wish there is a way to protest and protest strongly enough for them to change their behaviour You have. Trough your money.
sverige 10y ago
Lots of people boycott Walmart for various reasons. They recently closed a bunch of stores, but that seemed to have more to do with the failure of the small store concept. They're still making tons of money though. I give the Walmart example because the boycott sentiment has been around for so long. For companies as big as them and Amazon, even if boycotts hit the bottom line somehow, would they be able to sort that out from all the other factors that affect revenue and profits? It's like flies buzzing around an elephant. I doubt they'd make the connection and decide, "Oh, we'd better change the way we do business!" It seems the only effective way might be to get high-impact media coverage. But then their spin-masters go on tv to neutralize the damage and everything stays the same.
justinjlynn 10y ago
I concur - it feels like all of our money goes to the same unavoidable group of people in the end. I've tried to boycott a number of large groups but it's so difficult and obfuscated. Try boycotting Sony or Nestlé... good luck with that. I have yet to find a workable solution. Most of them require constant work and vigilance - enough to invade every economic decision you make. Because it requires more transparency than is available are almost impossible to integrate into a daily lifestyle. An illustration of this: "where does your favourite Cafe buy the chocolate for its hot cocoa? If they buy a prepared mix, then who do they pay?" etc etc I'm still searching for and working to develop a good solution to minimise the flow of my economic output to those who do undesirable things with it.
- vijayr 10y ago
  At least with food, we have the option to shop from local farmers markets (wherever possible). But it is nearly impossible to do it with electronics, clothing etc

by vijayr 10y ago

gdulli 10y ago

You can find positive and negative anecdotes about any company, but with Amazon it's a qualitatively different situation. It's a long-term ongoing pattern of unethical behavior, a cacophony of negative feedback that outweighs the positive. The way they treat their blue-collar employees, white-collar, business partners, sellers, etc. (All parties except the buyers.) I've stopped buying from them but I'm realistic, very few people will care enough to do so, not enough to affect their bottom line. I do it because it supporting them would feel wrong to me. Not because I expect I can make them change.

vijayr 10y ago
I don't shop at a few places (Walmart etc), can add Amazon to that list. Will it make any difference though? You and I are probably in the rounding error minority, unlikely to move the needle. We can feel good about our choices though, I don't see any other positive result.
- gdulli 10y ago
  Whether it makes a difference or not, I'd rather feel good about my choices than feel bad. With its current practices, it's only a matter of time before Amazon has a recruitment problem that it can't fix.
  - vijayr 10y ago
    it's only a matter of time before Amazon has a recruitment problem that it can't fix. That is to be seen. There are lots of horrible employers who are still around (EA for example). Supply of workers is much greater than demand (even software industry is not immune to it as more and more youngsters enter the profession)

Qantourisc 10y ago

And would boycotting them all be a bad case, although a bit unpractical. It's not like they are being entirely ethical without incentive.

vmateixeira 10y ago

> I just wish there is a way to protest and protest strongly enough for them to change their behaviour You have. Trough your money.

sverige 10y ago

Lots of people boycott Walmart for various reasons. They recently closed a bunch of stores, but that seemed to have more to do with the failure of the small store concept. They're still making tons of money though. I give the Walmart example because the boycott sentiment has been around for so long. For companies as big as them and Amazon, even if boycotts hit the bottom line somehow, would they be able to sort that out from all the other factors that affect revenue and profits? It's like flies buzzing around an elephant. I doubt they'd make the connection and decide, "Oh, we'd better change the way we do business!" It seems the only effective way might be to get high-impact media coverage. But then their spin-masters go on tv to neutralize the damage and everything stays the same.

justinjlynn 10y ago

I concur - it feels like all of our money goes to the same unavoidable group of people in the end. I've tried to boycott a number of large groups but it's so difficult and obfuscated. Try boycotting Sony or Nestlé... good luck with that. I have yet to find a workable solution. Most of them require constant work and vigilance - enough to invade every economic decision you make. Because it requires more transparency than is available are almost impossible to integrate into a daily lifestyle. An illustration of this: "where does your favourite Cafe buy the chocolate for its hot cocoa? If they buy a prepared mix, then who do they pay?" etc etc I'm still searching for and working to develop a good solution to minimise the flow of my economic output to those who do undesirable things with it.

vijayr 10y ago
At least with food, we have the option to shop from local farmers markets (wherever possible). But it is nearly impossible to do it with electronics, clothing etc