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What are the alternatives to Amazon? I'm sick of having to deal with fake reviews and potentially fake products. Nowadays I don't purchase anything critical on

by calebh 8y ago

What are the alternatives to Amazon? I'm sick of having to deal with fake reviews and potentially fake products. Nowadays I don't purchase anything critical on Amazon due to these sorts of problems. Amazon doesn't seem to be at all interested in tackling these issues - it's only a matter of time before it degrades completely into something like AliExpress.

dsfyu404ed 8y ago
Open your own brand store on eBay and ship stuff yourself. Lots of smaller e-commerce retailers do it. Many current Amazon sellers also sell on eBay. Unless you're relying on Amazon to hold your inventory it doesn't make sense not to sell on every platform you can.
Deinos 8y ago
I still find value in specific things, like subscriptions for common household items; however, I am inclined to agree with you on most tech items and other goods that are easy to counterfeit. Not worth the risk and hassle vs spending a little more to circumvent that grief.
atomicfiredoll 8y ago
I haven't ordered from Amazon in about a year, instead buying from a number of alternatives. It's a little more expensive and a little more of a pain sometimes, but I'm just that turned off by the Amazon. For electronics, I'm lucky enough to live in a decent size city with a MicroCenter. But, I've also resorted to ordering items like phones and laptops for family members at their local Best Buy, which gives them the opportunity to pick it up same day. (It's also nice to be able to talk to a person when making expensive purchases like these.) I ordered an InstaPot and some Hue bulbs directly from the respective sites. Wal-Mart's delivery and pick-up options aren't bad, but I try to avoid them and go with Target if buying from that sort of store. Honestly, it's the weird little things I have most trouble finding, like braille keyboard overlays or specific Halloween decorations.
fipple 8y ago
The alternative I use is a physical Target store. I’ve switched 75% of my Amazon spend to Target.
- davio 8y ago
  I think I save $100 every time I don't step inside a Target store.
  - hemancuso 8y ago
    Every time my wife goes to target for wrapping paper or something it costs $200.
    - mrfusion 8y ago
      I’ve always wondered how that happens. Everyone says that.
      - Consultant32452 8y ago
        There have been several generations of PhD psychologists working studiously to figure out how to manipulate the mind into buying extra crap you don't need. Our primitive monkey brains are little match.
- Kurtz79 8y ago
  Most people use Amazon mostly for the convenience of not having to go to a physical store. Usually the time saved is more valuable to me that any price saving I might get from going to a physical store. It happened a few times (1 in 10?) that the product didn't match my expectations, either it wasn't the one advertised or it had clear quality issues. In that case I returned the product, which was always accepted and refunded, no question asked.
  - fipple 8y ago
    Using Target is nothing about the price. It’s because I once got a counterfeit baby product from Amazon and aren’t going to risk that again.
steverb 8y ago
After reading the article it looks like this is an early stage of Amazon trying to deal with the confusion and mess that the Amazon Marketplace is causing. I sincerely hope they get that mess figured out.
- tracker1 8y ago
  It does seem that way, but it feels to me that the better option would be a brand exclusive initiative where either the brand is the sole seller on Amazon OR Amazon themselves is the exclusive seller. What's actually happening is that Amazon wants to be the only seller and is trying to strong arm popular brands selling directly on the platform.
Shivetya 8y ago
I bounce between Wal Mart's online store usually to go pick items up, will hit Best Buy up for items they carry, and Ebay has worked out well.
tjr225 8y ago
Buy directly from manufacturers or use smaller, more specialized retailers. You'll probably pay around the same price, possibly even less. Worst part is that you might not get your package in two days, but you also won't have to pay for Amazon prime. In many, many cases retailers offer free shipping. For knick-knacks(chinese garbo such as LED lights or whatever), car parts, etc. eBay is pretty good. I don't shop at Amazon for the same reasons I don't shop at Wal-Mart. They have a history of using shady techniques to put competition out of business. I also don't buy that their treatment of the customer is as good as they claim it to be. Shopping on amazon had become a pain in the ass when I gave it up.
- Zelphyr 8y ago
  Walmart's treatment of the customer is terrible - a direct reflection of their treatment of their employees in my opinion. The same will soon be said of Amazon. Which is a shame because I can remember a time when both offered amazing customer service.
- tracker1 8y ago
  If amazon raises their Prime prices again, I'm out... I don't really use the Prime video services, which kind of suck and have limited use outside their Fire devices, which don't support Youtube thanks to their war with Google who created the Android base their fire devices use. I'm generally clicking Seller: amazon.com in searches because I don't want to deal with other vendors for delivery issues, which is often a problem. It's gotten just plain more difficult to use. And I'm finding myself more likely to go to local stores as a result. Not to mention, the 2-day shipping now often means that it'll be delivered 2-days from when it ships, which could be a few days out. Where it used to always ship out the same day for 2 days later for delivery. The increased number of people that are stealing packages left on doorsteps make me more leery. It's getting close to a point where it just isn't worth it to me.
  - giobox 8y ago
    > I don’t really use the prime video services which kind of suck and have limited use outside their Fire devices While I’m no fan of paying more for Prime either, Prime Video is supported on practically everything - Apple TV, Roku, PS4, Xbox One, iOS, Android, desktop browsers, various smart TV vendors, all in addition to their own range of really pretty cheap streaming devices and tablets. Amazon apparently really don’t care what device you use.
Consultant32452 8y ago
Walmart has done amazing work at improving their online shopping experience to rival Amazon. Lots of stuff ships free 2-day shipping with no membership. Almost everything else is free shipping to either a Walmart or Neighborhood Market. To my knowledge there's no issues of fake products from Walmart. Free shipping to their grocery store (Neighborhood Market) is the best deal for me. I can order my groceries for "pickup" so I just park in a designated spot and someone brings my groceries. While I'm there I pick up my regular packages. And if there's a problem, you can return to a physical Walmart where there's at least a human to talk to.
- tracker1 8y ago
  I keep trying to remind myself to check Walmart after years of just searching Amazon first. It's hard to change ones' own habits.
trumped 8y ago
I just ordered a PC, part by part, and Newegg was cheaper for most parts...
thirdsun 8y ago
The alternatives are everywhere - you just have to let go of the idea of replacing Amazon with another single, giant everything-store. It will be multiple stores. I recently noticed that all my hobbies and/or niche interests are better served by specialized shops dedicated to the interest in question - whether it's studio equipment, computer hardware, bikes, outdoor equipment, fashion, music, HIFI, furniture...you name it. What Amazon still does best is delivering common, everyday items. I don't want to register at countless, small third party stores to do one-off purchases of low cost, everyday items that don't really matter to me. Amazon with Prime still shines here. And no, since I live in a rural area going to a brick and mortar store down the street often isn't an option.

by calebh 8y ago

dsfyu404ed 8y ago

Open your own brand store on eBay and ship stuff yourself. Lots of smaller e-commerce retailers do it. Many current Amazon sellers also sell on eBay. Unless you're relying on Amazon to hold your inventory it doesn't make sense not to sell on every platform you can.

Deinos 8y ago

I still find value in specific things, like subscriptions for common household items; however, I am inclined to agree with you on most tech items and other goods that are easy to counterfeit. Not worth the risk and hassle vs spending a little more to circumvent that grief.

atomicfiredoll 8y ago

I haven't ordered from Amazon in about a year, instead buying from a number of alternatives. It's a little more expensive and a little more of a pain sometimes, but I'm just that turned off by the Amazon. For electronics, I'm lucky enough to live in a decent size city with a MicroCenter. But, I've also resorted to ordering items like phones and laptops for family members at their local Best Buy, which gives them the opportunity to pick it up same day. (It's also nice to be able to talk to a person when making expensive purchases like these.) I ordered an InstaPot and some Hue bulbs directly from the respective sites. Wal-Mart's delivery and pick-up options aren't bad, but I try to avoid them and go with Target if buying from that sort of store. Honestly, it's the weird little things I have most trouble finding, like braille keyboard overlays or specific Halloween decorations.

fipple 8y ago

The alternative I use is a physical Target store. I’ve switched 75% of my Amazon spend to Target.

davio 8y ago
I think I save $100 every time I don't step inside a Target store.
- hemancuso 8y ago
  Every time my wife goes to target for wrapping paper or something it costs $200.
  - mrfusion 8y ago
    I’ve always wondered how that happens. Everyone says that.
    - Consultant32452 8y ago
      There have been several generations of PhD psychologists working studiously to figure out how to manipulate the mind into buying extra crap you don't need. Our primitive monkey brains are little match.
Kurtz79 8y ago
Most people use Amazon mostly for the convenience of not having to go to a physical store. Usually the time saved is more valuable to me that any price saving I might get from going to a physical store. It happened a few times (1 in 10?) that the product didn't match my expectations, either it wasn't the one advertised or it had clear quality issues. In that case I returned the product, which was always accepted and refunded, no question asked.
- fipple 8y ago
  Using Target is nothing about the price. It’s because I once got a counterfeit baby product from Amazon and aren’t going to risk that again.

steverb 8y ago

After reading the article it looks like this is an early stage of Amazon trying to deal with the confusion and mess that the Amazon Marketplace is causing. I sincerely hope they get that mess figured out.

tracker1 8y ago
It does seem that way, but it feels to me that the better option would be a brand exclusive initiative where either the brand is the sole seller on Amazon OR Amazon themselves is the exclusive seller. What's actually happening is that Amazon wants to be the only seller and is trying to strong arm popular brands selling directly on the platform.

Shivetya 8y ago

I bounce between Wal Mart's online store usually to go pick items up, will hit Best Buy up for items they carry, and Ebay has worked out well.

tjr225 8y ago

Buy directly from manufacturers or use smaller, more specialized retailers. You'll probably pay around the same price, possibly even less. Worst part is that you might not get your package in two days, but you also won't have to pay for Amazon prime. In many, many cases retailers offer free shipping. For knick-knacks(chinese garbo such as LED lights or whatever), car parts, etc. eBay is pretty good. I don't shop at Amazon for the same reasons I don't shop at Wal-Mart. They have a history of using shady techniques to put competition out of business. I also don't buy that their treatment of the customer is as good as they claim it to be. Shopping on amazon had become a pain in the ass when I gave it up.

Zelphyr 8y ago
Walmart's treatment of the customer is terrible - a direct reflection of their treatment of their employees in my opinion. The same will soon be said of Amazon. Which is a shame because I can remember a time when both offered amazing customer service.
tracker1 8y ago
If amazon raises their Prime prices again, I'm out... I don't really use the Prime video services, which kind of suck and have limited use outside their Fire devices, which don't support Youtube thanks to their war with Google who created the Android base their fire devices use. I'm generally clicking Seller: amazon.com in searches because I don't want to deal with other vendors for delivery issues, which is often a problem. It's gotten just plain more difficult to use. And I'm finding myself more likely to go to local stores as a result. Not to mention, the 2-day shipping now often means that it'll be delivered 2-days from when it ships, which could be a few days out. Where it used to always ship out the same day for 2 days later for delivery. The increased number of people that are stealing packages left on doorsteps make me more leery. It's getting close to a point where it just isn't worth it to me.
- giobox 8y ago
  > I don’t really use the prime video services which kind of suck and have limited use outside their Fire devices While I’m no fan of paying more for Prime either, Prime Video is supported on practically everything - Apple TV, Roku, PS4, Xbox One, iOS, Android, desktop browsers, various smart TV vendors, all in addition to their own range of really pretty cheap streaming devices and tablets. Amazon apparently really don’t care what device you use.

Consultant32452 8y ago

Walmart has done amazing work at improving their online shopping experience to rival Amazon. Lots of stuff ships free 2-day shipping with no membership. Almost everything else is free shipping to either a Walmart or Neighborhood Market. To my knowledge there's no issues of fake products from Walmart. Free shipping to their grocery store (Neighborhood Market) is the best deal for me. I can order my groceries for "pickup" so I just park in a designated spot and someone brings my groceries. While I'm there I pick up my regular packages. And if there's a problem, you can return to a physical Walmart where there's at least a human to talk to.

tracker1 8y ago
I keep trying to remind myself to check Walmart after years of just searching Amazon first. It's hard to change ones' own habits.

trumped 8y ago

I just ordered a PC, part by part, and Newegg was cheaper for most parts...

thirdsun 8y ago

The alternatives are everywhere - you just have to let go of the idea of replacing Amazon with another single, giant everything-store. It will be multiple stores. I recently noticed that all my hobbies and/or niche interests are better served by specialized shops dedicated to the interest in question - whether it's studio equipment, computer hardware, bikes, outdoor equipment, fashion, music, HIFI, furniture...you name it. What Amazon still does best is delivering common, everyday items. I don't want to register at countless, small third party stores to do one-off purchases of low cost, everyday items that don't really matter to me. Amazon with Prime still shines here. And no, since I live in a rural area going to a brick and mortar store down the street often isn't an option.