Got burned on Amazon (well, sort of)

[5030]

Actually, I most often prefer to support the local businesses here. Buying online does nothing for them except to put them out of business eventually.

 

[DarkBlack]

Actually, I most often prefer to support the local businesses here. Buying online does nothing for them except to put them out of business eventually.

Our biggest recurring expenses other than taxes is our groceries, which we buy locally, but most of the food comes from Around the globe.
Fuel we obviously buy locally. And prepared food at restaurants.
Otherwise it’s mainly Walmart or Amazon, for most other things. Walmart is “local “, but nationwide.
I’ll occasionally buy from the local Autozone if I need it that day, but they’re usually more money than Amazon, E-Bay, or Rockauto, delivered to my doorstep, plus they’re nationwide, like Walmart, so no more brick and mortar virtue signaling credit than Walmart.
I do get stuff locally from Home Depot and Lowe’s. They’re nationwide, and have plenty of Chinese sourced items besides lumber, so again…same category as Walmart

 

[5030]

I agree with your post except to say, I prefer buying from local business like the up town hardware store or the locally owned and operated NAPA store because the profits they make from sales (even if those sales are of goods not manufactured here, those profits support the people who own them and they in turn plow that back into the local economy. When you purchase from an entity like Amazon for instance, NONE of that profit is being utilized in supporting the local economy at all.

Why, if I need something pronto, I always buy local and if I can wait, I will buy online. Of course that don't include necessities like food or fuel but at least in my case I do buy fuel locally as well as groceries and those retailers are still paying local taxes that support the community which isn't the case at all when buying online.

If everyone only bought their goods online instead of from local merchants, at some point there would be no local merchants to buy from and then what? We firmly believe in supporting local businesses if at all possible. Chains like Lowes or Home Depot may be national but they still pay taxes in the locality in which they are located. Not so with buying online. Additionally, if you loose your local retail base, then the onus of tax liability falls back on you and you alone. Think about that.

Good example of that is Remington Small Arms and their leaving the small town in New York where they have been for over 100 years and employ most of the townspeople there. When they relocate to Georgia, that town might as well cease to exist because they lost their tax base that provides community services. Not only do those employees loose their income (lively hoods), they loose everything else as well. I understand why they are moving (because of the adverse business atmosphere in New York state) but regardless, the town looses and looses big. Life will change there and not for the good either. property values will decrease, unemployment will increase and overall well being will diminish and why we always like to support local to us business first. I may be off base with my assumptions but I don't think I am.

 

[Oaktree]

If everyone only bought their goods online instead of from local merchants, at some point there would be no local merchants to buy from and then what? We firmly believe in supporting local businesses if at all possible. Chains like Lowes or Home Depot may be national but they still pay taxes in the locality in which they are located. Not so with buying online. Additionally, if you loose your local retail base, then the onus of tax liability falls back on you and you alone.

Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems the worst of the "retail apocalypse" has passed. Humans are, for the most part social creatures and like to see the merchandise before they buy, or in the case of clothing try it on. Sometimes you need assistance with your purchase too.
I'm sure 100 years ago there were those who thought the Sears catalog or mail order in general would wipe out local retail too.

Good example of that is Remington Small Arms and their leaving the small town in New York where they have been for over 100 years and employ most of the townspeople there. When they relocate to Georgia, that town might as well cease to exist because they lost their tax base that provides community services. Not only do those employees loose their income (lively hoods), they loose everything else as well. I understand why they are moving (because of the adverse business atmosphere in New York state) but regardless, the town looses and looses big. Life will change there and not for the good either.

But this is nothing new. Look at the former New England mill towns/cities, their downfall began in the 1950s or before. Some adapted and were able to attract new businesses, others not. Even those that succeeded went thru some lean years, even decades.

 

[DarkBlack]

Actually, I most often prefer to support the local businesses here. Buying online does nothing for them except to put them out of business eventually.

I do too..when the pricing is competitive.
I forget to mention, I also buy from the local tractor supply store when they have what I want at a competitive price. Again though, they are a national chain, and all these local places we’ve discussed are just retailers, nothing more. They just resell a product someone else made(and usually not here).
We’re a nation of almost no manufacturing industry. We make food, lawyers , and politicians. That’s about it.

 

[grsthegreat]

Amazon free shipping is amazing. I ordered a canvas storage bag to store my heated step mats in on saturday morning. Was picked up in Detroit MI sat afternoon, was delivered to my door in idaho monday morning. Amazing. I cant mail a letter across the street in less that 7 days.

 

[5030]

Don't forget babies, delivered with surgical tools made in China....

"We’re a nation of almost no manufacturing industry. We make food, lawyers , and politicians. That’s about it."

 

[DarkBlack]

I agree with your post except to say, I prefer buying from local business like the up town hardware store or the locally owned and operated NAPA store because the profits they make from sales (even if those sales are of goods not manufactured here, those profits support the people who own them and they in turn plow that back into the local economy. When you purchase from an entity like Amazon for instance, NONE of that profit is being utilized in supporting the local economy at all.

Why, if I need something pronto, I always buy local and if I can wait, I will buy online. Of course that don't include necessities like food or fuel but at least in my case I do buy fuel locally as well as groceries and those retailers are still paying local taxes that support the community which isn't the case at all when buying online.

If everyone only bought their goods online instead of from local merchants, at some point there would be no local merchants to buy from and then what? We firmly believe in supporting local businesses if at all possible. Chains like Lowes or Home Depot may be national but they still pay taxes in the locality in which they are located. Not so with buying online. Additionally, if you loose your local retail base, then the onus of tax liability falls back on you and you alone. Think about that.

Good example of that is Remington Small Arms and their leaving the small town in New York where they have been for over 100 years and employ most of the townspeople there. When they relocate to Georgia, that town might as well cease to exist because they lost their tax base that provides community services. Not only do those employees loose their income (lively hoods), they loose everything else as well. I understand why they are moving (because of the adverse business atmosphere in New York state) but regardless, the town looses and looses big. Life will change there and not for the good either. property values will decrease, unemployment will increase and overall well being will diminish and why we always like to support local to us business first. I may be off base with my assumptions but I don't think I am.

Another angle you probably haven’t given much/any thought to, is that Amazon, and Walmart are both publicly owned U.S. corporations. This means the company is owned by the people-shareholders , unlike a privately owned local shop where all the profits go to just the owner, a few employees, and taxes to the town. Walmart and Amazon’s profits flow to all the shareholders in your town. I guarantee there’s more people in your town, benefiting from owning direct shares of either company, and/or mutual funds including these companies, than the salaries of a few people at the mom pop store.

Walmart also pays dividends to all your town’s shareholders , which most states benefit a cut of.

Many mom/pop shops quietly run back store e-business selling through Amazon and EBay, while they keep the front open for you.

Lastly many states collect sales tax on Amazon orders. So there again is money back into your area.

 

[WinterDeere]

We spend a lot on Amazon, but I hope it isn't $50k.

It used to be much easier to do a yearly report. You can still do it, but more button clicks and manual filtering is required now. Each year, I have to search for instructions on Google again, since they keep changing it.

Last time I checked, we were running $15k - $20k spending on each of our three accounts, myself, wife, business. That includes everything from toilet paper and light bulbs to garage door springs and oscilloscopes. Come to think of it, it'd probably be fun to have a "what's the weirdest thing you bought off Amazon this year" thread.

It's been argued that someday, the only brick and mortar stores will be those that actually sell brick and mortar. It's too heavy to ship!

 

[WinterDeere]

Amazon free shipping is amazing. I ordered a canvas storage bag to store my heated step mats in on saturday morning. Was picked up in Detroit MI sat afternoon, was delivered to my door in idaho monday morning. Amazing. I cant mail a letter across the street in less that 7 days.

I've ordered items at 10pm and had them on my doorstep at 4am. 6 hours!

 

[5030]

It's been argued that someday, the only brick and mortar stores will be those that actually sell brick and mortar. It's too heavy to ship!

I sincerely hope not but then you didn't include the taverns and bars of which we have 3 in our little farming community.

 

[plowhog]

I did some further research on the vendor I had problems with. Numerous complaints about "fake" shipping status, plus a lot of complaints about providing used products when new was advertised. It seems if a vendor "prints" a shipping label-- that triggers Amazon to report the product has shipped?

With my problem vendor, I have to wonder if receiving an order touches off a search to find refurb or used items to fulfill the order. Not sure-- just seems that way.

Now for the other shoe to drop. To be helpful, I entered a review about my experience. It was rejected by Amazon.

This is how they explained the rejection:

We couldn't post your review because it focuses on one or more of these topics:

• Sellers
• Delivery
• Packaging
• Pricing
• Availability

Why isn't that allowed?
These aspects vary by order and won't be relevant to all customers.

 

[jyoutz]

I did some further research on the vendor I had problems with. Numerous complaints about "fake" shipping status, plus a lot of complaints about providing used products when new was advertised. It seems if a vendor "prints" a shipping label-- that triggers Amazon to report the product has shipped?

With my problem vendor, I have to wonder if receiving an order touches off a search to find refurb or used items to fulfill the order. Not sure-- just seems that way.

Now for the other shoe to drop. To be helpful, I entered a review about my experience. It was rejected by Amazon.

This is how they explained the rejection:

We couldn't post your review because it focuses on one or more of these topics:

• Sellers
• Delivery
• Packaging
• Pricing
• Availability

Why isn't that allowed?
These aspects vary by order and won't be relevant to all customers.

That seems odd because half the Amazon reviews I read focus on one or more of those topics.

 

[MattB4]

The change made last year to Amazon reviews and the hiding of the question area has pretty much destroyed their usefulness to me. It was by reading both questions and 3 star reviews I got the best information on a product.

 

[Oaktree]

Amazon free shipping is amazing. I ordered a canvas storage bag to store my heated step mats in on saturday morning. Was picked up in Detroit MI sat afternoon, was delivered to my door in idaho monday morning. Amazing. I cant mail a letter across the street in less that 7 days.

I think the best I've ever done with Amazon is 4 days from when I ordered until I received it. More likely 5 or 6.
Usually it seems to be a couple days before they even act on the order. Maybe it's different if you pay for prime.

 

[Oaktree]

This is how they explained the rejection:

We couldn't post your review because it focuses on one or more of these topics:

• Sellers
• Delivery
• Packaging
• Pricing
• Availability

Why isn't that allowed?
These aspects vary by order and won't be relevant to all customers.

I've had that happen too. You'd think that poor service from a 3rd party vendor would be good info to know...for both Amazon and other potential customers.

That having been said, there at least used to be a way to file a complaint about a vendor. Don't remember how to do it.

 

[jyoutz]

I think the best I've ever done with Amazon is 4 days from when I ordered until I received it. More likely 5 or 6.
Usually it seems to be a couple days before they even act on the order. Maybe it's different if you pay for prime.

I ordered a phone mount for my Jeep this morning. My email from Amazon said it would be delivered tomorrow. I’m a Prime member.

 

[jyoutz]

I've had that happen too. You'd think that poor service from a 3rd party vendor would be good info to know...for both Amazon and other potential customers.

That having been said, there at least used to be a way to file a complaint about a vendor. Don't remember how to do it.

After the item is delivered you can go to your order on Amazon and leave a seller comment or product review.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I bought $8700 of stuff from amazon last year.

 

[WinterDeere]

I bought $8700 of stuff from amazon last year.

Put otherwise, I saved myself maybe 300 trips to TSC, Home Depot, or Lowes, last year.