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Any bets on when people who are "shocked, shocked" about Amazon's treatment of its workers are going to put their money where their mouth is and actually forgo

Any bets on when people who are "shocked, shocked" about Amazon's treatment of its workers are going to put their money where their mouth is and actually forgo the convenience of next day delivery & rock bottom prices? Americans have it tough in so many ways (health care system, lack of public transit, kleptocratic federal government), it's sad to see us making it even worse for our fellow small-guys like this to buy ourselves some convenience and save a few dollars on consumer goods. (Notwithstanding the many people for whom home delivery etc. is a godsend without which they'd have a much more difficult life. It's complicated.) We vote with our dollars and currently we are telling Amazon "this is OK, keep doing it" loud and clear.

homonculus1 7y ago
Some of us are doing it! I no longer do business with Amazon due to their association with law enforcement and surveillance.
tudelo 7y ago
I mean, when it comes down to it, is individual action really going to convince Amazon to have higher working standards? Or, will it come down to law?
EdTsft 7y ago
I don't think it's reasonable to expect the average consumer to research the worker quality of life (and the product safety history, and the environmental record, and the political donations, and the tax evasion tactics, and ...) of all of the hundreds or thousands of companies that they give money to. These aren't the kinds things we can expect to solve with consumer boycotts.
- sequoia 7y ago
  Yes but you and I and the royal We of hackernews are aware of the issues. Further research is not required. So how are We reacting to it with our actions? Continuing to give amazon gobs of money & data?
GaryNumanVevo 7y ago
This is a really bad take, voting with your dollar works when there’s actually competition. Amazon has an effective monopoly, and we need people to vote with their vote for regulation to protect works.
- JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
  What does Amazon have that you can't purchase at any other retailer? With the exception of Amazon-branded products, you can find almost any item on another online marketplace.
- sequoia 7y ago
  I agree that regulation is probably needed to curb the excesses of a company Amazon's size. It doesn't follow to me, however, that you and I must continue shoveling money into their coffers whilst we complain about how bad they are. Is there some reason you can't vote with both your dollar and your vote? Most of us can still buy our toothpaste, toilet paper, headphones, and cat litter at a local pharmacy, electronics store, or mall.
- refurb 7y ago
  Monopoly? Everything you can buy at Amazon you could buy before Amazon ever existed. And guess what? You still can. Not even remotely a monopoly.
  - csb6 7y ago
    This is not what the parent is talking about. Amazon has a virtual monopoly over online buying and selling, with even other sellers having to sell their products on Amazon to reach customers. What does Amazon do with these third-party sellers? It uses the sales data that Amazon collected for them to create cheaper products with Amazon branding, which are then suggested ahead of the third-party products. This is blatant anti-competitive behavior; effectively no one can compete with Amazon’s online marketplace - not even the people in that marketplace.
    - tracer4201 7y ago

homonculus1 7y ago

Some of us are doing it! I no longer do business with Amazon due to their association with law enforcement and surveillance.

tudelo 7y ago

I mean, when it comes down to it, is individual action really going to convince Amazon to have higher working standards? Or, will it come down to law?

EdTsft 7y ago

I don't think it's reasonable to expect the average consumer to research the worker quality of life (and the product safety history, and the environmental record, and the political donations, and the tax evasion tactics, and ...) of all of the hundreds or thousands of companies that they give money to. These aren't the kinds things we can expect to solve with consumer boycotts.

sequoia 7y ago
Yes but you and I and the royal We of hackernews are aware of the issues. Further research is not required. So how are We reacting to it with our actions? Continuing to give amazon gobs of money & data?

GaryNumanVevo 7y ago

This is a really bad take, voting with your dollar works when there’s actually competition. Amazon has an effective monopoly, and we need people to vote with their vote for regulation to protect works.

JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
What does Amazon have that you can't purchase at any other retailer? With the exception of Amazon-branded products, you can find almost any item on another online marketplace.
sequoia 7y ago
I agree that regulation is probably needed to curb the excesses of a company Amazon's size. It doesn't follow to me, however, that you and I must continue shoveling money into their coffers whilst we complain about how bad they are. Is there some reason you can't vote with both your dollar and your vote? Most of us can still buy our toothpaste, toilet paper, headphones, and cat litter at a local pharmacy, electronics store, or mall.
refurb 7y ago
Monopoly? Everything you can buy at Amazon you could buy before Amazon ever existed. And guess what? You still can. Not even remotely a monopoly.
- csb6 7y ago
  This is not what the parent is talking about. Amazon has a virtual monopoly over online buying and selling, with even other sellers having to sell their products on Amazon to reach customers. What does Amazon do with these third-party sellers? It uses the sales data that Amazon collected for them to create cheaper products with Amazon branding, which are then suggested ahead of the third-party products. This is blatant anti-competitive behavior; effectively no one can compete with Amazon’s online marketplace - not even the people in that marketplace.
  - tracer4201 7y ago