Has anyone seen good resources about alternatives to Amazon? Obviously shopping small and local is the go-to, but I'd like to compile something useful for disabled/rural folks that may rely more on online shopping...
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What i've been doing is, for each item in my amazon cart, I go search online for the same (or similar item). I've actually found quite a few substitutions that ship (and many for about the same price otherwise) right out. Now, I do live in SD meaning that shipping is easy.
It's possible that ebay is a good backup; I shop there for work so I tried it for some of my own stuff and so far so good. Costco ships a lot of stuff too. For books, I've been checking the authors themselves and am looking into Kobo (as a KU readaholic...)
I switched to Kobo 2 weeks ago. Their software is excellent. Because Amazon restricts Kindle Unlimited to only Amazon is the only downside. Prices are similar and often have same titles on sale.
I downloaded the Rakuten Kobo app but haven't figured out how to get books other than Japanese free comics, which I don't want. Do I have to work through an English-speaking country?
I only use the library app LIBBY for reading ebooks and audiobooks. Sometimes u have to wait for a specific book but i have a whole queue lined up - more than i could read in a year
Oh I didn’t know about AWS storefronts. Are there any alternatives to AWS? Maybe we could send out emails to these storefronts encouraging them to use the AWS alternatives?
Seconded. There are some specific shampoos and body washes that I used to get from amazon because my local stores don't have them, and I get them from iHerb now.
I have CRPS, it's considered to be the most painful disease there is, and I'm in constant pain from it. I feel guilty, but I don't have the bandwidth to shop from multiple places. It already takes me 5-6 days just to put together an Amazon order because my pain makes it so hard to focus.
I also can't drive anymore. Which makes things especially hard. Anything I buy I have to have delivered, or I have to have someone go and get it for me. It was so much easier when I could drive. Also, when I could walk for more than a short distance. That helped a lot too.
I liked this Substack guide, which lays out the process of getting off Amazon. For online alternatives, it really depends on what you’re buying. I’ve started looking up the websites for products I usually buy from Amazon, and then buying directly from their website.
Costco. They maintained their DEI policy, pay fair hourly wages (as high as $30/hr). They deliver to most places. They have everything you could need really.
Many of the shops on Amazon have their own sites. I usually will find the product I'm looking for and then find who sells/produces it directly, not using Amazon as a hub. It may require shipping costs and may take more than 2 days to arrive. Worth it.
Would really love to see an alternative that has the same type of convenience (free shipping & free returns). As someone that has chronic pain & only gets to a store once a month, who lives VERY rural, Amazon was such a help. But I'd really like to move away from it.
Your local library with Libby for ebooks, for physical books, Books a Million, and for Barnes and Noble for both physical and ebooks, are my sources now.
Thank you! I had a family member who had been temporarily disabled and at the time Amazon was a lifesaver for us. I understand people wanting to move off of it but it’s easy to ignore what a lifeline it is for some people. This is a great post and a lot of great resources.
Super Supplements/Vitamin Shoppe is a local
Store for me, but you can also shop online. Usually free shipping on orders over $35, and you can set up auto delivery.
I only window shop on Amazon and then go straight to the manufacturer to buy direct when I can. Not perfect by any means, but mostly it works. If I can't find it except on Amazon I don't buy it.
I find things on Amazon but find where to get what I need outside of Amazon and buy it there. It's a lot more work for most purchases, but I avoid giving more money to Bezos.
I also don't buy things from big box marts or other large corporations if at all possible. I'll drive 50mi to avoid Amazon.
It's really tricky we have become reliant on I want it cheap and I want it now. I am trying to disinvest as well, but amazon is a bit like toenail fungus.
I moved to StoryGraph for tracking reading, since GoodReads is owned by Amazon. I shop at my local food co-op since Whole Foods is owned by Amazon. I order books though my local bookstore (Talking Leaves Books in Buffalo, NY) as needed.
The best thing for us unable to get everything we need is to use Amazon as a place to find suppliers. Go to their outside websites and order from them directly.
Also check out @ykhong.bsky.social they have done a lot of work at finding and suggesting alternatives across lots of platforms for the current techbro convenience addictions we have.
A lot of small shops are online now.
Plus disabilities vary a lot so I find those lists always tend to leave someone out. I'd suggest using alternative search engines because Google and corporations work together on putting their preferred shops on Google's first listings.
It's also possible that a specific disability may find things they need mixed in other things so sometimes it's even easier to look up something specific they need. The coolest thing I've found for my daughter was legos braille set made by LEGO.
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https://Bookshop.org for books
Most grocery chains deliever groceries or have click-and-collect.
As for everyday items, thousands of options available as most businesses sell their goods directly.
There are also sites like eBay and Etsy for supporting small business.
I also like Awesome Books Canada which is based in the UK.
Unfortunately Bezos owns AbeBooks.
It's best to avoid it completely. If I could avoid businesses and services using AWS, I would.
https://bsky.app/profile/broligarchyboycott.bsky.social/post/3ljdw2boap42h
Argos (uk)
Etsy
https://houselucia.com/alternatives-to-amazon-for-books/
Also 7 Stories Press:
https://www.sevenstories.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqt6rjc79iAbFl4_YLidEZhTAyF889OsffJBrW1GU0ztSHrgDo6
https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb?srsltid=AfmBOooLhpZeQel5hntMT6sL3Bkf8bcPGWP6uhCk1CA4EeKp6494c4vY
Store for me, but you can also shop online. Usually free shipping on orders over $35, and you can set up auto delivery.
https://well.ca
https://londondrugs.com
https://iherb.ca
They've got 99% of my drugstore items (supplements, beauty, toiletries) covered, + some grocery.
eBay is great - I was recently able to find two big Amazon wishlist items on there for a steal of a deal.
https://canadiantire.ca & Costco, also good.
https://www.powells.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooojbSa_tonv9xBpSXZPZUlx-HkEDMXZqwlBeH57tl6sQpXgrJT
I also don't buy things from big box marts or other large corporations if at all possible. I'll drive 50mi to avoid Amazon.
https://Libro.fm is DRM free. Own your books! Listen to your book in the way you choose! https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm800022
🤗
Plus disabilities vary a lot so I find those lists always tend to leave someone out. I'd suggest using alternative search engines because Google and corporations work together on putting their preferred shops on Google's first listings.