Amazon's Stranglehold

[Fearless]

[TreasonousBastard]

1. I've been saying for years that Amazon is the biggest scumbag in...

retailing, but nobody seems to care.

Complain all day long about Wal-Mart, and then go shopping at Amazon. It makes no sense.

[taught_me_patience]

4. Actually, the biggest scumbag in retailing is Target

They are arrogant and greedy assholes. At least Amazon and Wal-mart pass discounts along to the consumer... Target just lines their own pockets.

[GarroHorus]

2. Amazon is my first choice in online purchases

I buy lots of eBooks, CDs, Blu-Rays, and even electronic equipment through Amazon. The price is right and the quality is top notch.

My household's second most used online purchases come through QVC.

There are niche eBooks I cannot get through Amazon, like Pathfinder game books or Black Library novels. I purchase those direct from the publishers.

I'm locked into Amazon for eBooks and I really don't care. Nobody does it better, the Kindle is awesome, and I cna even read my Kindle eBooks on my wife's iPad.

Amazon charges sales tax in my state. They still beat every other competitor and provide superior quality.

It is what it is.

[Mr Dixon]

8. IMO

Agreed
Amazon is great compared to Best Buy and even Wal-Mart, I needed some HDMI cables and BB want 32 dollars for one cable, Wal-Mart wanted 22 dollars for one cable, Amazon had them for 6 bucks each you do the math?

[alphafemale]

18. As well.

I can ship gifts to friends. I have a Prime membership. Shipping is usually free. The Prime Mem Fee is made up in no time.

And if there is a problem with an order they just send the UPS to pick it back up no cost.

Great selection of items. Great reviews of orders before you order something.

Amazon has this down.

[HooptieWagon]

3. Well yea, if you're buying a Lady Gaga CD.

Not all of the Amazon listings are their own retail warehouses. Many small book and music stores list their items on Amazon. I have bought several old books from small stores via Amazon. I never would have found them otherwise. A few years ago I was looking for a couple of rare recordings, one by Joni Mitchell and one by Chilean folk singer Victor Jara. Found the Joni recording in Argentina, the Victor Jara recording in Toledo (of all places). Both thru Amazon, and I never could have tracked them down otherwise.

While some of their business practices are harmful to retail stores, not all are. In the niche markets, Amazon is a huge benefit to retail shops. Just my opinion... flame away.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. The one irony is

that as opposed to the scary eBay, Amazon does often direct to small outfits for items that I can't find locally, in states far far away from me Not to think that some who participate are schlock, but so many that I have dealt with have been excellent.

Wally World has pretty much bulldozed through the nation, eliminating many department, appliance, electronics, and niche small businesses around here (despite have only a minimal presence directly in the city). And if not a local small biz, I definitely don't mind helping a remote one vs using a big box.

[jillan]

6. I am an online seller and Amazon let a buyer steal my merchandise - and I am NOT alone.

Last edited Fri Jul 6, 2012, 01:09 PM - Edit history (1)

I used to sell alot on Amazon because people are willing to pay more for the same item if they buy it on Amazon than on Ebay.

A few years ago I bought my daughter an HP photo printer for Christmas. She opened the present, rolled her eyes, her dad opened the box, looked it over and said that we didn't need it - that there were online programs that would do the same thing.
That was that.

You're welcome, honey

Me, being the lazy arse that I can be, put it on a shelf and never returned it.

So earlier this year I listed it on Amazon. I paid $75 for the printer, but listed it for 49.95 since the box was opened.
In my listing - I clearly stated that the box had been opened but the printer was never used.
The same exact printer was selling for $75 + on Amazon. Someone was going to get a good deal.
Sold it within 2 weeks.
About 3 weeks later I get this horrible, nasty email from the woman who bought it. She accused me of ripping her off and that the printer was used. She was insulting beyond belief, calling me a little kid (I'm well into my 50s) who didn't know what the hell I was doing.
I calmly emailed her back, assured her that the item was never used, told her what happened, and that if she was unhappy she should send it back for a refund.
She never did. But instead chose to email me again - calling me every name in the book. I think she wanted me to agree with her - and I didn't - so she went off on me again!
Again, I calmly emailed her - told her to send it back for a refund.
I contacted Amazon and told them that I was getting harassing emails from her. They told me OH WELL.
Then the woman filed a claim against me! Amazon contacted me for my side of the story. Told them about the emails, the harassment, and told them to check their files - that I also complained. They didn't care. They told me that I should never have listed that item as new because the box had been opened. I should have listed it as like new. But - it was new. It was never used.

What happened? She got to keep the printer and Amazon debited my seller account for the amount this woman paid for my new printer.

Now I am out $75 and the printer. FU Amazon!!

I contacted the BBB and filed a complaint. While doing this, I saw that I was not alone... this is a common practice at Amazon.
If the buyer complains loud enough - they win.
Amazon has it in their fine print that they are allowed to do this. It is in the online contract you must agree to before you can sell there.


I will no longer sell OR buy from Amazon.

They are horrid!!!

[HooptieWagon]

9. Huh? How are you out $125?

You paid $75...

[GeorgeGist]

10. Read the fine print.

You should have listed it as 'Like New'.

[jillan]

12. Can you name one other company that lets a customer keep an item and get a refund?

I can't.

[GarroHorus]

14. Your customer apparently read the fine print because in the fine print, Amazon allows that...

if you misrepresent your product.

By listing an opened box as "new" instead of "like new", Amazon's terms considered that a misrepresentation of your product.

[denns25]

22. I am not a Democrat, but I do know what happened to you.

Last edited Sat Apr 20, 2013, 08:52 AM - Edit history (2)

Amazon is allowing buyers to steal rampantly from sellers. I am a seller on Amazon and Amazon lets buyers file claims on me and win even when they are in the wrong. Thank God we sell so many items that these trolls' feedbacks and A-Z claims can't do diddly squat to our ratings.

My message is this: I almost didn't come in here and reply to this post because I, like many others, am too busy to worry myself with posting nasty remarks on the internet about others. But as of today I have made a resolution that Amazon is the only company I will spend my precious time to write a nasty remark about. Amazon is an unethical company who rips off both buyers and sellers.

To all the sellers reading this: Sell all you can on Amazon, but make a resolution never to buy from them. Amazon is wedging themselves between you and your customers. If you don't believe me just ask yourself this, "Does Amazon give me the email address of the customer when he buys an item from me?". The answer is no. This is because Amazon doesn't want you emailing that customer later with your promos or specials. Amazon wants to retain that customer on their platform as their own, even though you are the merchant who well-served the customer and who the customer should seek a relationship with.

To all the buyers reading this, I have a couple of things to say to you. Please read this because what I am about to say will save you money and get you off the Amazon treadmill you are on:

1.) Learn how to comparison shop and stop being such an ignorant shopper! Amazon is the absolute highest price outfit on the internet. If you don't believe me, think of something to shop for, then go to google or bing and do a search that excludes Amazon.com from the results

whateveryouaresearchingfor -amazon.com

As you can see this search reveals the merchants out there who REALLY sell this item and at a much better price. 95% of the time when I search for something I am able to find a better price than what Amazon has.

2.) You only trust Amazon. Why? Every payment method available whether it be your credit card, paypal, google checkout has buyer protection. You aren't going to have any higher change of getting ripped off than if you shopped on Amazon. Amazon may be the biggest internet retailer in the world, but did you also know this: Amazon has more negative reviews on the internet than any one company.

3.) You pay Amazon Prime a yearly membership fee and they ship your stuff, only qualifying stuff, on 2 day delivery. Why do you do this? Most internet merchants have a shipping option that is FREE that only takes about 2-3 days to delivery. Why in the heck would you pay $50+ a year for something that most other companies are already letting you have for FREE!? You are getting hosed!

4.) Who do you think you are benefiting when you buy from Amazon? Nobody but Amazon. When you buy from them your money goes straight to their hungry corporate fat-cats who enjoy a life most of us could never even imagine. Why would you not buy from smaller, family run websites where you know that your money goes towards feeding those families' kids and maintaining the well-being of a family unit. Think of where you put your money. Spend in the places where your money is going to make a difference. Spend with companies who personally appreciate your business and who will benefit directly from your doing business with them.

[Brickbat]

7. If you need to buy books online, go through the Powells union portal.

Powells warehouse employees are union (I don't know about the retail ones) and when you go through their portal to get to powells.com, they get some of the proceeds.

http://www.ilwulocal5.com/support

[ohheckyeah]

16. You can't read their

eBooks on the Kindle.

[Brickbat]

17. Which is why I said "books" and not "eBooks."

[ohheckyeah]

20. I was just making a general comment about books...

not saying you said eBooks.

[DainBramaged]

11. WalMart, Target, Amazon, Lowe's, Home Depot, and Best Buy are the biggest scumbags in retailing

Where do we go then?


When I can get everything I need from those four retailers (and I don't do business with Best Buy, Hoe Depot or WalMart) where do we go from here? They've sewn up the market, so unless you want to use two tomato cans to talk to your friends, wear sackcloth, and live in a cardboard box, there is no alternative, period.


We can condemn them all, but we the people have created this mess by demanding the lowest price all the time and effectively put the Mom and Pop stores OUT of business.


Shame on us.

[Logical]

13. I love amazon. Have never had a bad experience with them. n-t

[mythology]

15. I only rarely shop at Amazon, but for me

it's mostly about the local consequences. I'd much rather patronize my local bookstore because the money is then circulating in my area. Well that and I hate waiting for shipping. I know progress and change will happen, but I don't see Amazon as a net positive force so I avoid them in large part. I mostly only buy used older dvds that aren't in print any longer.

[SOS]

19. Amazon has two distinct personae

Thus the wide divergence of opinion regarding this company.

Customers love Amazon. Low prices, huge selection and reliable fulfillment.

But publishers are shaken down for outrageous discounts.
Independent book sellers are put out of business.
Employees are pushed to the limit for $11 an hour.
Wholesalers are bypassed entirely, their business crumbling.

Your view of Amazon depends on your relationship to Amazon.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

21. I buy what I need at the cheapest price...

If it's a website that doesn't charge a sales tax, then I go with that. If it is something I can pirate, then I pirate it.

I don't make moral decisions about purchases. I'm not a regulator. I vote for that shit. Voting with the wallet is just not feasible in this economy.