Why I shop on Amazon

[mumof2]

I read that once and then saw a conflicting article from a bunch of staff who loved working there. Hard to believe anything in the media these days

I'm just wondering what areas they were working in..management or cashier/stock personnel etc

[Smallsteps]

I read that once and then saw a conflicting article from a bunch of staff who loved working there. Hard to believe anything in the media these days

It is not just stories about how they treat people.............. there are NUMEROUS lawsuits regarding unsafe working conditions and crazy quotas.
Yes, i am sure you can find some whom will say they are great place to work for many people simply do not pay attention to the big picture of the company UNTIL it hits them directly.

Co-workers act like NAW that can't be true until they found themselves on the short end of something.

There is a lawsuit of a worker pulling orders ... pulled a wrong item and was scolded in 2 minutes they are ON VIDEO ...had a medical crisis no one "noticed" died on the floor laying there almost an hour. The news played 911 call where supervisor threatened other employees to " get back to work" in the middle of the call with 911 operator......
it is well known that they paid retainer to keep ambulances outside warehouse in Texas cause it was cheaper then AC
Numerous employees resort to wearing adult diapers due to bathroom break policy. although robots bring shelves to pickers many injuries happen when pickers pull things off high shelf or do not take time for safety because it would be impossible to meet quota .... do not meet quota you are LET GO.
i have a family member spent a year working in Amazon HQ in HR this is normal SOP for them. Family member said they would not want ANYONE they knew to take a job with them.

WSJ just ran a investigation and sold stuff they grabbed out of a dumpster creating a amazon page. They have been caught ( third party i know) selling expired food not to mention a waffle maker at Christmas with an old waffle in it was just pictured o the news.

All they same PR run out .... This does not meet our "standards" we will look into it .... wink wink.

While it can be easy to find something you want and quick delivery. SO many people tell themselves whatever they chose to make it OK or simply do not Research it further that might inconvenience them from getting their "free" delivery and next day item.
The REAL irony is these same people OFTEN chastise other companies for low pay/ or PT hours.

I will not buy from Amazon .... $1 here or there is not worth my knowing I am supporting a company like that.

[Snydley]

I with mumof2. I hate Bezos. No one should be worth that much. Amazon has a crazy monopoly on shopping that makes me very uncomfortable. Plus, all this shipping is horrible for the environment and causing the downfall/closing of in person stores. Bezos is capitalizing on the fact that everyone is so overworked and overscheduled...we need to slow down! I just saw they are going to start 2 hour shipping on grocery items...OMG get in your car and go.to.the.store.

[disneysteve]

No one should be worth that much.

Who decides how much money I'm allowed to make?

causing the downfall/closing of in person stores.

Or maybe stores are closing because they have poor customer service and noncompetitive prices.

We went to Home Depot yesterday. The one item we wanted, a light switch plate - nothing exotic - is only available on their website with $5.99 shipping for a $4 item. Amazon had it a few cents cheaper and free next-day shipping (with Prime membership). Should I have paid $6 more just to support Home Depot? Sorry. That's not happening. And while we were at Home Depot, my wife commented on how many employees walked past us without a smile, a nod, a hello, or a "can I help you?". They all completely ignored us.

I just saw they are going to start 2 hour shipping on grocery items...OMG get in your car and go.to.the.store.

How is that better? We won't order groceries online because we don't want anyone else picking our produce, but other than that, what benefit is there to me going to the store to physically buy something, especially when I only need one item? It's more cars on the road, more traffic, more fuel used, more emissions. One truck can drive around and deliver dozens of orders per day.

And it isn't just Amazon. All of the grocery chains around here have a curbside pickup option and I think they all do home delivery too. Walmart does curbside pick up too, and has a growing online home delivery business. I don't consider myself overworked and over-scheduled but if I can buy something online, have it delivered to me within a day or two (or even the same day), AND pay less in the process, I'm good with that.

There are things I will only buy in person but for everything else, online shopping (Amazon and other places) is definitely my preference.

[creditcardfree]

If it's so bad, why aren't thousands of people quitting? It's never all or nothing. Sure some conditions may not be good. Sure some lawsuits may be necessary. I'm all for improvements, and a lawsuit if necessary to get it. Amazon provides people jobs, above minimum wage, that people are willing to accept. Are the packing jobs for example a long term career? Probably not. Is that Amazon's job to provide? No. Amazon's job is to provide a service its customers want, with a profit that pleases the shareholders. Just because a CEO has had good ideas (if they were bad no one would buy them), and made money should not make him a bad person. I will say I am NOT a fan of Amazon is getting into Pharma drug shipments, but hey that's what Americans want...drugs. And direct to their homes. It is each of our rights as consumers to shop with any company or buy any product we choose. Now if the government mandated you to buy a product...that's not choice, that's not capitalism. Capitalism is what lifts more people out of poverty than any other economic system in history. Is it perfect, no, but thank goodness that for all but one product we have the right to sue in this country if we are being unrightfully damaged in some way.

[Smallsteps]

If it's so bad, why aren't thousands of people quitting? It's never all or nothing. Sure some conditions may not be good. Sure some lawsuits may be necessary. I'm all for improvements, and a lawsuit if necessary to get it. Amazon provides people jobs, above minimum wage, that people are willing to accept. Are the packing jobs for example a long term career? Probably not. Is that Amazon's job to provide? No. Amazon's job is to provide a service its customers want, with a profit that pleases the shareholders. Just because a CEO has had good ideas (if they were bad no one would buy them), and made money should not make him a bad person. I will say I am NOT a fan of Amazon is getting into Pharma drug shipments, but hey that's what Americans want...drugs. And direct to their homes. It is each of our rights as consumers to shop with any company or buy any product we choose. Now if the government mandated you to buy a product...that's not choice, that's not capitalism. Capitalism is what lifts more people out of poverty than any other economic system in history. Is it perfect, no, but thank goodness that for all but one product we have the right to sue in this country if we are being unrightfully damaged in some way.

The turnover is quite HIGH in the area I live AMAZON hires numerous times a year.... they rent out conference rooms in hotels around the area and all you need to get hired is an ID ..... nothing else. no application no interview just come sign up.
It is easy for anyone with a spotty or simply no employment record or perhaps other issues to get a JOB no questions asked .......HOW do I know that it is what AMAZON SAYS in their radio commercials "show up and get hired on spot only bring an ID"........."no experience or past troubles NO PROBLEM" my hope is they only have your name and address and hopefully are better screened to be able to see CC info etc?

They are not leaving because many other places MIGHT just want to know your background / skills etc.
I have no problem if someone and there are millions in this country that stay at a bad jobs because they feel it is better then NO job that is their choice. It is also their choice If they tolerate being treated badly or illegally.
Saying everything must be OK some people stay is IMO looking the other way.
There are other bad employers ( some big names) out there and unless someone turns them in NO one knows.
Many times the end customer does NOT know what is going on. Once i find out about some places it is my choice to NOT support that.

The idea that lawsuits fix anything is hilarious most of these companies payoff cheap as they can and want the customers to never know or care. CNN just paid the largest EVER NLRB settlement and settled a huge liable case but i bet 80% of their viewers have no idea.

There are tons of lawsuits in the process and most will get little or nothing out of them and by the looks of it Most people do not even notice much less give a crap at the outcome.

[ua_guy]

It's tough NOT to shop on Amazon if the focus is on the bottom line. For a lot of specific things, they are cheaper. I'm conflicted on the corporate culture, though, and how they treat their line-level employees in warehouses, delivery drivers, etc. It used to be that shopping on Amazon was actually supporting "local" businesses (I lived not far from Amazon HQ). Amazon corporate has earned their reputation as being a sweat shop, but, they compensate their corporate employees very well. And it's inspired explosive growth (as well as growing pains, and a culture shift) within greater/Seattle area.

I've noticed now, here in the midwest, that they do hire a lot of people in these areas where earning $13 or $15 an hour isn't highway robbery like it would be in Seattle.

I lived in a small town, and for certain things we would choose to support small business instead of just buying it on Amazon. These days, my effort to steer capitalism isn't going to change things, so why not save money and have it delivered anyhow.

[disneysteve]

It used to be that shopping on Amazon was actually supporting "local" businesses (I lived not far from Amazon HQ).

That's actually a good point. At some level, Amazon is supporting locals. We live not far (maybe 15 miles) from the nearest fulfillment center. And Amazon employees a fleet of truck drivers and delivery people in the area. There are also a number of Amazon lockers in area businesses. I don't know what the arrangement is with those but I imagine the business gets some kind of compensation for leasing floor space to Amazon to install those lockers.

It's always easy to see a big corporation as some faceless behemoth operating from a fortress in some far off land, but that's never the reality. A quick search turned up that Amazon has at least 16,000 full time employees in New Jersey and they are the 2nd largest private employer in the country after Walmart. Plus that doesn't include part time folks or subcontractors (I believe a lot of the delivery drivers aren't employed by Amazon).

[rennigade]

A quick search turned up that Amazon has at least 16,000 full time employees in New Jersey and they are the 2nd largest private employer in the country after Walmart.

And those numbers should only go up. Just wait till amazon cracks "the last mile problem." When they no longer have to rely on usps, ups or fedex...that will be a massive blow to the big 3 delivery carriers. My guess is, amazon will offer that service to any retailer. They'll undercut fedex/ups/usps and severely hurt their bottom line.

[ua_guy]

And those numbers should only go up. Just wait till amazon cracks "the last mile problem." When they no longer have to rely on usps, ups or fedex...that will be a massive blow to the big 3 delivery carriers. My guess is, amazon will offer that service to any retailer. They'll undercut fedex/ups/usps and severely hurt their bottom line.

They've literally wiped out dealer inventories of fleet model Sprinter and Ram vans as they solve the last mile problem buying their own fleet and employing drivers. This has been a boost for the auto industry.

Also, it's a huge thing for companies to sell on Amazon. Yes, plenty of stories of small business being pinched and bossed around by some unfair policies, but a lot of businesses have made themselves by selling products via their channel. It's not "all" horrible.

[bjl584]

We went to Home Depot this morning for a few items. One item was a new dimmer switch for our sitting room. The dimmer we have in there isn't compatible now that we've changed over to LED bulbs. HD had the dimmer in the color we wanted (ivory) but didn't have the matching switch plate. I went to HD's website where they do have it for $4.03. I checked Amazon and it was $3.99, so essentially the same. BUT HD wanted $5.99 for shipping while Amazon was free shipping. Obviously I got it from Amazon. I just feel a little cheated because when we were in the store I checked Amazon for the switch itself and it was $1 cheaper but I opted to buy it at HD since I was there and had it in my hand. I should have just ordered both items on Amazon.

HD ships to store for free.

Were they the same exact switches?
I got some dimmers from Amazon and I didn't like them.
I actually didn't feel safe installing them.
They were cheap Chinese knockoffs
I ended up paying more for the ones at HD

[Jluke]

They've literally wiped out dealer inventories of fleet model Sprinter and Ram vans as they solve the last mile problem buying their own fleet and employing drivers. This has been a boost for the auto industry.

I read something late 2019 that Amazon bought 30,000 of those vehicles to assist with holiday deliveries.

I see quite a few of them on my daily commute (100 miles round trip) and I am traveling what most would consider “country” roads (no highways).

[rennigade]

HD ships to store for free.

Were they the same exact switches?
I got some dimmers from Amazon and I didn't like them.
I actually didn't feel safe installing them.
They were cheap Chinese knockoffs
I ended up paying more for the ones at HD

Ive never seen or heard of an ELV dimmer switch for that cheap. I tried swapping to and led bulb with a junk dimmer and the thing hummed like crazy. We have to keep it at 100% for it not to hum...but it was for a kitchen that is going to be demolished soon...so im not replacing the dimmer yet.

I have a proper elv dimmer for LED's...but it was $43. https://www.amazon.com/Lutron-SELV-3...41&sr=8-3&th=1 No humming or flickering at all. Personally, I wouldnt trust a $5 dimmer.

[disneysteve]

HD ships to store for free.

Were they the same exact switches?

I bought the dimmer at HD. I ordered the switch plate on Amazon. HD had the dimmers in multiple colors but only had the plates in white. We had to go online to get the matching plate (ivory).

Shipping to store is nice but that would have meant another trip to HD to get it instead of having it delivered to my door. No thanks. I'll save the time and gas.

[disneysteve]

plenty of stories of small business being pinched and bossed around by some unfair policies, but a lot of businesses have made themselves by selling products via their channel. It's not "all" horrible.

Yep. Just like ebay disrupted the market in the 90s, Amazon is the big guy now. I've sold tens of thousands of dollars of merchandise on ebay and I've sold on a much smaller scale on Amazon. Services like ebay and Amazon give the little guy worldwide reach at a very low cost that they couldn't possibly get on their own. If you have a small store and you aren't marketing your products online too, that isn't Amazon's fault. They've provided the platform. It's there for you to use if you want to take advantage of it. I've done it myself.