r/Anticonsumption • u/Secure-Cicada5172 • 1d ago
Discussion It's shocking how often I think of using Amazon
I can't go completely Amazon-free, because my job requires frequently purchasing books and materials that are only available on Amazon (either because that publication only sells through Amazon, or because a certain material isn't sold in the more rural part of the US I live).
So to slow down my shopping, I switched my Amazon account to business only.
I am horrified how often I think of using Amazon. I was just thinking of buying rain boots on their because my back yard keeps flooding. What's extra horrifying is that the idea isn't because I couldn't buy elsewhere (though admittedly the only reasonable "elsewhere" for me is Walmart, which isn't much better), but because I don't want to get out of the house during flash flooding. But for some reason I'm okay making an overworked employee unsafe???
Really eye opening and awful how many times I chose price and convenience over ethics. Some publications I could buy direct from publisher, but used Amazon anyway for fast shipping. And those are easy swaps to make, since it's both online shopping!
This is what killed my belief in true capitalism. I used to believe capitalism was a self-regulating system, because companies would be forced to change when consumers wouldn't buy from them due to bad practices. But I'm increasingly aware just how much we're willing to put lives on the line for convenience when we don't have to personally deal with the result of that. Terrible to think about.
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u/oakleafwellness 1d ago
I canceled my account around a month ago, I have found myself a few times going to the website, because I know they have something. Then I have to quietly remind myself there was a reason I canceled and deleted the app off my phone and find the product I need elsewhere.
I will say as time goes on, I find myself less and less thinking of Amazon when I need a product.
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u/StiffG0AT 1d ago
I use Amazon as a search engine & then try to buy from the original stores online.
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u/ThrowawayRage1218 8h ago
That's what I do, too. I usually use it to look at reviews for a product when I've got several different options, then purchase it in a brick and mortar store if I can or from the original seller if I can't.
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u/CocoaAlmondsRock 2m ago
That's what I do too! Good place to research. Then when I want to buy (which I'm hoping to do as little as possibly possible of moving forward), I go to another store.
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u/210tabbycat 1d ago
I thought the same..intill I pulled the plug!! Haven't looked back. Actually saved so much money it's awesome!!🙌 Save your money. Too much going on in the world.
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u/Secure-Cicada5172 1d ago
The money saving has legit been awesome. I stink at budgeting, so it's hard to know exactly how much I saved, but it has definitely cut down on impulse purchases.
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u/mysteriousmonster101 22h ago
It's been truly fascinating how my mindset has shifted since I've not been shopping at Amazon.
Our blender broke and instead of buying a new one, we reached out to the manufacturer, who is trying to help us fix the problem with replacement parts.
I bought my kids shirts (they grow out of them quickly) on eBay and they won't care if they're used.
I told my mom the kids wanted temporary tattoos and if she sees them in the wild, we're happy to pay her back for them. She started sending me Amazon links. I said, no, we don't need them now. If we see them somewhere local I'll get them as a treat when the kids earn them.
This has truly shifted my approach to shopping and parenting.
For shopping: I told my husband we are going to focus on experience gifts. For the holidays, we will take his parents to see a play. And, I started making a list of things I want but don't need. For example, lunch containers for the kids, kitchen towels to reduce paper towel usage, and new pots and pans. We will be very clear with our parents that for the holidays, we'd only like one or two things we truly need and we don't need stuff just for the sake of unwrapping it.
For parenting: we are no longer buying 'stuff' just because we can. The kids can earn one treat for two weeks of good behavior. They can choose one item of reasonable value that we approve or deny. The kids took it surprisingly well when we explained our change in spending and how it's not about them, it's about how we see the world.
And finally, with stuff we really do want / need, we are making a genuine effort to buy locally or from independent stores. We are reducing our restaurant visits, and we are only going to local places. And, when we go on vacation, we're getting a room with a kitchen because we truly don't need to go out three times a day to eat. Since this is still new and I've booked some experiences, I haven't seen true savings yet, but I know with time this will build better habits for all of us.
Today stunk because my friend published a book that I can only buy on Kindle, but I gave myself an Amazon exemption for 99 cents to support a friend.
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u/ThrowawayRage1218 8h ago
Experience gifts are great! Another idea I saw for gifts that was pitched as for kids but I think can be for anyone is giving four smaller gifts: want, need, wear, read. As a practical gift-giver this really helps me focus during the holiday seasons.
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u/Thick-Pattern1181 1d ago
It really has been easier than I thought to find things outside of Amazon. I needed #5 weights for exercise and I looked online, and it turned out they carry them at my local CVS. I needed two window fans this week and I found them online at Boscov's, a Pennsylvania department store chain, only $2 more per fan than Amazon and since I needed two I qualified for free shipping. The packing materials for my business have all been able to be sourced on Ebay.
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u/twarr1 1d ago
It’s easier to make the effort to avoid places like Amazon when you remember they exploit workers on your behalf. By trading with them you are complicit in their misdeeds.
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u/Secure-Cicada5172 1d ago
Oh yeah, for sure. They truly are the modern day sweat shops. I have cut Amazon purchases in every place I am able to, and even changed up my business practices so I have more control over where clients source material, thus further reducing Amazon purchases.
It's still amazing how much we can, as a society, distance ourselves from the evil that's committed. I think we're so used to our lives being proped up by human rights' violations (think practically any tech, low cost clothing, toys, etc) that we've grown numb to it all.
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u/MediocreBBQ 1d ago
As an Australian (admittedly living on an island state of an island continent), it is so bizarre to me that the US uses Amazon so often. I had no idea people did grocery shopping, back-to-school shopping and even home repairs shopping on Amazon. Here it's mainly books, electronics and toys. I do not know a single person who has purchased clothes or household items from Amazon. Maybe it's different with the .com vs .com.au stores? Anywho congrats to you for cutting it out of your personal life as much as possible, it definitely sounds alot harder for the US than for us here in Australia!
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u/Secure-Cicada5172 19h ago
I don't know, but that's been a running theme I've heard outside of the US. In the US, you could live solely off of Amazon and never buy from another company again. Plus, it is free 2 day shipping for anything purchased if you have prime (and even without prime, as long as you meet a dollar amount for your order).
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u/Aromatic_Theme2085 1d ago
Walmart source is probably the same source… I don’t see how it differs. Unless there’s a made in America rain boots then it will be different
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u/Secure-Cicada5172 1d ago
Yeah, the only way it differs is by avoiding the exploitative treatment of employees in the US.... a tiny bit. It's such a non-benefit that it can get discouraging. But it's the most ethical option I could think of out of all the unethical options. Some folks here gave me better ideas though.
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u/No-Fig-2126 1d ago
You can buy shoes without trying them on. I could never do that
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u/Secure-Cicada5172 1d ago
It's really that I don't want to spend a ton of money on rain boots, since I will use them for a limited purpose. When I buy every day shoes I definately want to try them on. Though I have been looking into higher quality and more sustainable shoe brands for when my ballet flats finally kick the bucket, and I really can only access that kind of thing online.
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u/No-Fig-2126 1d ago
Anti consumption and buying ethical items isn't all or nothing. If you need a pair of boots and you don't want to spend 300 bucks on them because you'll wear them a few times a year just buy some boots, just don't buy one of every color.
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u/Secure-Cicada5172 1d ago
That's a good point, yeah. And very much what it is. I want boots I can throw on when I need to garden but the yard is still marshy. Which is definitely part of the issue; balancing how much to spend for ethics vs saving money on cheep products vs deciding I don't need something.
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u/Coconut-Neat 1d ago
That’s our culture coursing through your being, singing its songs and luring you to crave, buy, crave, buy, etc, etc.
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u/Secure-Cicada5172 1d ago
Exactly! I used to think I was immune to it because I tend to take some time before making a big purchase, don't need the newest everything when it comes to tech, and try to make due with what I have until it wears out. But cutting off Amazon and Walmart as much as possible has shown me just how many little impulse buys I frankly didn't even fully realize I was making.
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u/Coconut-Neat 7h ago
I think the breakthrough I recently made is that to truly overcome this consumerist pervasiveness is to REALIZE when I’m having a thought about desiring something. I have learned to step outside of the psychological level in my head and - in a meta perspective- view this thought externally, passively. I view it, recognize it as not necessarily coming from myself, but originating from consumerist culture. Then I can dismiss the craving, thus not allowing it to materialize into the acquisition of some thing that won’t make me happy anyway!
This is a strange concept and I’m still wrapping my head around it. I’m not perfect because I catch myself browsing for “things” online and otherwheres and have to repeat this affirmation every time.
I hope this makes sense. Sometimes language fails us….
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u/Secure-Cicada5172 57m ago
That's actually really powerful, and I appreciate it. Sometimes the biggest battle is becoming cognizant of the forces that have subconsciously shaped our desision making, so we can engage with that head on.
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u/folkwitches 23h ago
I'm in a weird place with Amazon.
I use it because my library uses it to distribute their digital books. I also use it because a lot of indie authors are stuck in the Amazon industrial complex and I love indie books so if I can't get it anywhere else...
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u/Secure-Cicada5172 19h ago
Honestly, indie books are probably the place that's hardest to replace. Everything else doesn't take a ton of effort, though it does take effort. But indie books are nearly impossible to get elsewhere by design.
I wonder if folks could reach out more to indie authors about other places to get their books. Maybe if they have an increased demand for a non-amazon platform they will have the assurance that they can try it out? I don't know much about the self publishing industry though, so I wouldn't take my word for it.
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u/folkwitches 19h ago
Part of the problem is self publishing is hard and Amazon makes it much easier.
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u/Solid_Chemist_3485 15h ago
Stay strong!
I used to use them for books like 15 years ago but pretty much stopped that long ago.
Other places sell book too- there’s that one that emphasizes black owned bookstores.
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u/customersmakemepuke 7h ago
Just shop where you want. All the phony virtue signalers on here talking about dropping Target like they’re really doing something. & all because of something as dumb as DEI. Some people are just so bored & love being outraged.
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u/Secure-Cicada5172 53m ago
I mean, I feel less strong about target. I'm just trying to avoid shopping at places that are arguably causing deaths to their employees between high stress and policies that limit people's ability to have appropriate medical interventions.
That's why I feel less bad about Walmart. It's also a bad place to shop, but as far as I'm aware they haven't told their employees not to call 911 in an emergency, and if someone fell down dead on the job, I don't believe they would make the employees carry on business as usual. Same with target, but aI don't live close to target, so there are more practical reasons I don't shop there.
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u/drixrmv3 5h ago
Rewiring your brain will take a long time. As long as you don’t mindlessly press buy, you’re doing great!
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u/Ill_Manufacturer1590 2h ago
I find it on Amazon note all the details and then order it from my local independent bookstore.
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u/rocket_beer 1d ago
I’ve never used Amazon.
Pretty much, I’ve been anti-consumerism and anti-materialistic my whole life.
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u/Secure-Cicada5172 1d ago
I've been low-consumerism, but it definitely has slipped in in ways I was completely unaware of. I didn't really think I had a problem, since I tend to buy used when possible, don't need the latest and greatest, tend to wear stuff out before upgrading it, have what would have been a capsule wardrobe if I didn't also keep the basically worn to oblivion shirts and pants as a "just in case" bonus clothes.
But even that I've been unaware of how I might just hop on Amazon to buy something I "need", I think in part because I tend to sit on a desision before making a purchase. Still did it more than I realized.
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u/AdeleHare 1d ago edited 17h ago
You can shop online for rain boots. I’m aware what sub I’m in, but I feel the need to point this out because I really do think buying from pretty much any random website is likely better than Amazon or Walmart.
To be clear, shopping at a physical store is not any better than shopping online, all else being equal. Especially considering the items had to be shipped to the store, and then you used your vehicle to get there.
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u/Rocketgirl8097 1d ago
Exactly. No matter what you buy, the retailer is not the one paying slave labor pennies to manufacture the item. And each item has to be shipped to your city.
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u/Secure-Cicada5172 1d ago
Really helpful points! Yeah, I'm very aware Walmart is almost entirely not better, but it seemed the very slight lesser of 2 evils in my case (because to my knowledge, walmart is not creating work conditions so vile that people are told not to call 911 in an emergency, pushed to stay in unsafe working conditions, and dying due to the intense stress they are put under, peeing in cups, etc). But shopping online from producer is something I embarrassingly didn't even think about.
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u/Extension-Joke-4259 1d ago
No need to be embarrassed. You can be proud that you kept your mind open and you’re learning new things.
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u/AdeleHare 19h ago
You can probably also find them from a secondhand site, that where I’d look first
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u/Hold_Effective 18h ago
I’m going to disagree a little about buying at physical stores being equivalent, because:
I walk or take mass transit to stores; my “vehicle” is usually my shoes
if I buy something at a store, I can generally try it on, which makes it much less likely I’ll need to return it (and need to ship it back)
depending on the item: can be significantly less packaging if you buy it directly at a store
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u/AdeleHare 17h ago
Awesome that you can walk! Would definitely be an easier decision for me if I lived in a walkable area.
I'm not sure about the significantly less packaging though. I used to stock shelves at a grocery store and dealt with RIDICULOUS amounts of packaging waste unpacking shipments from the warehouse. I'm sure it's very similar for clothing stores. It's certainly significantly less packaging for customers to deal with, so it's totally more convenient, but in terms of waste, I wouldn't assume there's any less waste than the individual packaging that comes with my online orders.
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u/Ok-Beat4929 1d ago
It pure laziness and convivence that people keep using Amazon. Just look around the internet when some thing pops in your head to buy. Most business websites offer free shipping if you order enough.
As for books, I find pretty much everything I need on Annas Archive for free.
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u/Secure-Cicada5172 1d ago
Oh, 100%. That's why I'm so embarrassed that I fell for it.
The books I need of Amazon are spesific educational materials that students need hard copies of (i.e. workbooks) that the authors have said they only sell via amazon. So that isn't a perfect solution, but I might check it out on the off chance I can get it there.
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u/Rocketgirl8097 1d ago
It's the shipping that is a killer. But it's also wasteful buying excess to get the free shipping.
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u/Fluid-Signal-654 1d ago
Being anticonsumption means you need to change behavior. Making excuses is slacktivism.
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u/Secure-Cicada5172 1d ago
I don't know who you're talking to. I have made the choice to change and am actively changing my behavior. This is just a post discussing how much Amazon got into my mind without me noticing.
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u/Rocketgirl8097 1d ago
Anticonsumption does not mean not buying necessities, though. I'd say rainboots come under that category. I live in a small city, and I would still have to go online for that.
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u/Big_Acanthaceae9752 1d ago
I've needed a few things since I quit Amazon, have been able to find what I needed on Etsy & ebay.