Saturday, November 23, 2024

How to Avoid Amazon

Plus, Amazon's negative impact & why your spending choices matter

Amazon is convenient, cheap, and fast, and it seems to have just about everything, all on one website—but it’s also one of the most unethical and most powerful companies in the world. If you’re trying to avoid Amazon and you’re not sure how to begin, we can help! We’ve compiled a list of tips to help you quit Amazon (and the many companies it owns and partners with—some of them may surprise you!) for good, as well as a list of Amazon alternatives to make curbing an Amazon addiction a little easier.

[Edit]How to Quit Amazon for Good

  • Replace Amazon with local businesses or second-hand stores.
  • Be more intentional with your consumption habits. Shop in alignment with your values.
  • Try to avoid companies owned by Amazon, like Whole Foods or Twitch.
  • Get re-used to inconvenience. Amazon is only convenient because it’s unethical.
  • Curb an Amazon addiction by reflecting on your emotional attachment to it and replacing shopping with a healthier coping mechanism.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Adjusting to Shopping without Amazon

  1. Practice getting used to inconvenience. The biggest thing Amazon has going for it is its convenience, bar-none. Free two-day shipping? Cheap goods? It’s almost irresistible! But to avoid Amazon, it’s important to remember what things were like before we relied on it so much. Remember: Amazon is only convenient because it relies on unethical labor practices.
    Avoid Amazon Step 1.jpg
    • Also remember, a lot of non-Amazon stores now offer fast and/or free shipping too. These stores may also rely on unethical labor practices, but they’re likely less of a threat than Amazon is.
    • What’s more, Amazon is no longer the king of cheap goods. We take it for granted it’s the thriftiest way to buy, but oftentimes, you can find the same items cheaper elsewhere.[1]
    • Try avoiding Amazon for 2 months—this is about as long as it takes to form a new habit.[2] By the end of the second month, you’ll likely find your brain has begun to adapt to “less convenient” modes of shopping.
  2. Avoid companies owned by Amazon or Jeff Bezos. Amazon isn’t just Amazon—it’s also Prime Video, The Washington Post, Twitch, Zappos, Whole Foods, IMDb, MGM, GoodReads, AbeBooks, and so many more.[3] If you want to really avoid Amazon, try avoiding these companies as well.
    Avoid Amazon Step 2.jpg
    • Understandably, this might be hard. Go easy on yourself if you mess up now and again, or if you can’t cut Amazon cold-turkey.
    • Many of the companies owned by Amazon have comparable alternatives—for instance, instead of Goodreads, try Storygraph. Instead of AbeBooks, try Thrift Books. Instead of Prime Video, try Hulu, Netflix, or Max.
  3. Shop in accordance with your values. You might think, “Why bother quitting Amazon? Nobody else is.” And you’re right. The odds that you avoiding Amazon will save the world are pretty much null. And yet! Following your values and shopping more intentionally or reevaluating whether you need to shop at all will make you a happier, more grounded person—even if it doesn’t have much effect in the grand scheme.[4]
    Avoid Amazon Step 3 Version 2.jpg
    • The reverse idea—that if you continue to shop at Amazon, it won’t matter much—is also, unfortunately, probably accurate. But you’ll know you’re shopping there. And your opinion of you matters.
    • Anyway, even if a lot of people use Amazon, there are a lot of others who refuse to. You’re not alone.
  4. Cultivate an anti-consumption mindset. Amazon relies on and promotes a culture of overconsumption: we need the next thing now, now, now, and what we don't want can be easily tossed out. But resisting the pressure to "shop 'til you drop" or "keep up with the Joneses" or some other third consumption-related idiom can help you be more intentional about what you buy, where you buy it, when, and for how much.
    Avoid Amazon Step 4.jpg
    • Instead, you'll be buying based on your values, based on your budget, and based on your personal needs, style, and taste. All of which is to say, you won't be a slave to consumerism.

[Edit]Alternatives to Amazon

  1. Shop local. There are tons of small businesses with amazing goods waiting to be bought by you—and there’s probably a number of them in your area! Instead of giving your money to Amazon and padding Billionaire Bezos's pockets, why not support independent businesses?
    Avoid Amazon Step 5.jpg
    • Not only is it great to support small businesses and help your community thrive, it’s also probably better for you in the long run, since you’re more likely to find higher-quality goods that last longer than the stuff you’d find on Amazon.
    • Getting out and shopping in person is also a great way to find community. The more you shop at your local stores, the more likely you are to get to know the owners, employees, and other customers.[5]
    • Shopping with friends or a date is also a great way to pass the time and be social. It’ll get you out of the house, too, which will likely make you feel happier and more a part of your town.
  2. Order goods from non-local indie stores. If you don't have many shopping options in your town, or if your favorite independent businesses are too far away to get to, see if you can order something and have it shipped to you. Most stores have a website these days, making online ordering super convenient.
    Avoid Amazon Step 6.jpg
  3. Buy goods directly from the manufacturer. When you buy goods from a company through Amazon, Amazon gets a percentage of the sale. Next time you need new headphones, a new laptop, shoes, an end table, or what have you, instead of buying through Amazon, purchase directly from the original manufacturer.
    Avoid Amazon Step 7.jpg
  4. Find an ethical company to support. Offset the bad Amazon does by shopping at a store that shares your values. Many companies have policies and practices in place that support specific values, such as climate protection, animal welfare, fair trade, ethical material sourcing, and many others. You can also support companies that are LGBTQ-owned, Black-owned, woman-owned, family-owned, and more.
    Avoid Amazon Step 8.jpg
  5. Get books at the library. Amazon is pretty much the worst place to buy your books. If you can’t swing the cost of the latest best-seller at your local indie bookshop, we know somewhere you can get it totally free: the library, of course! You might have to wait a little longer if it’s a popular title, but you won’t have to pay a cent—and you’ll be supporting one of the greatest institutions in the world, the public library (which Amazon doesn’t really do, because they avoid paying taxes).[6]
    Avoid Amazon Step 9.jpg
    • You can get a book in print, but you can likely also check out the eBook version or the audio version. There are also often large-print copies of books for users who need them.
    • Most libraries stock more than books these days, so also look into the latest DVDs, CDs, video games, and more.
    • And while you’re at the library, look into all the other amazing services they offer! Many libraries offer classes, after-school programs, tutoring, book clubs, and more.
  6. Shop used items online. Online vintage shops like Thredup, Poshmark, eBay, Mercari, Etsy, and others offer used goods at affordable prices. You could even sell your own goods and make a little moulah!
    Avoid Amazon Step 10.jpg
    • Did you know that fast fashion is one of the biggest global threats to the environment? And companies like Amazon, Shein, Wish, and Temu are among the very worst offenders! Instead of buying new, cheap clothes, try shopping vintage.
  7. Go thrifting. Amazon has a history of throwing away perfectly good items simply because they’re outdated or they need the shelf space. This leads to tremendous waste, which hurts the environment on a massive scale. Instead of buying new items and contributing to more waste, why not see what you find at your local thrift store?
    Avoid Amazon Step 11.jpg
    • Goodwill is a great choice, but there are likely tons of independent second-hand stores in your area as well. Second-hand stores are so much fun because you never know what you’re going to find! Take a few friends, grab a coffee to go, and make a day of browsing.
    • Or host a swap with friends! Invite your buds to bring over their old clothes and other items and exchange them. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure!
  8. Shop at other online marketplaces. Lately, it seems as if the only place to shop online is Amazon, since every other website offers affiliate links to their products, but it’s not true. There are loads of other online stores available to us—and many of them are quite affordable.
    Avoid Amazon Step 12.jpg
    • Not sure where to start? Try Google Shop to discover new places to buy your online goodies.
    • If you’re reluctant to let go of free shipping, know that lots of other stores have begun offering this, especially if you spend over a certain amount.
    • You can shop specifically for ethically made goods, but ultimately, almost any store is better than Amazon, so if you need to, don’t be afraid to take it slow and shop at another store you love—like American Eagle or Target—even if it’s still a little problematic. “Lesser of two evils” and all that.
  9. Make your own items. Get crafty! Instead of ordering those boho chic curtains on Amazon, make your own! Not only is it thriftier to make your own goods and better for the world not to shop at Amazon, but creating something with your own hands is a great way to relax and lower stress levels.[7]
    Avoid Amazon Step 13 Version 2.jpg
    • Or, support your crafty friend by paying them to make you curtains. You’ll be encouraging their art, and you’ll likely appreciate a unique product made by your friend more than you would a cheap product made through forced labor overseas.

[Edit]Why Avoid Amazon?

  1. They create dangerous working conditions for employees. The Strategic Organizing Center found that Amazon has double the injury rate of the industry average.[8] And in 2020, Amazon workers suffered more than 24,000 serious injuries.[9]
    Avoid Amazon Step 14.jpg
    • The Strategic Organizing Center’s survey discovered that 49% of Amazon delivery workers reported pain or injuries that forced them to miss work, and 89% of injured Amazon delivery workers reported that their injuries were related to production pressure or speed.[10]
  2. They violate human rights. Amazon employees have alleged the company enforces 9-hour days standing and impossible work targets, in addition to needing to urinate in bottles out of fear of taking a break when needed.[11]
    Avoid Amazon Step 15.jpg
    • Amazon also contributes to the human rights crisis on the Mexican border. As reported in The Guardian, Amazon Web Services hosts the Department of Homeland Security's databases, which lets “the department and its agencies…track and apprehend immigrants.”[12]
    • Amazon has also been found to sell products made through forced labor, including child labor.[13]
  3. They promote surveillance and vigilante culture. Amazon’s Alexa and Ring camera have become household items for many, and for understandable reasons. But they—along with Amazon’s algorithms that track what you buy and suggest items you might want—contribute to the notion that everything must be monitored at all times, and that we should be suspicious of our neighbors.[14]
    Avoid Amazon Step 16.jpg
    • For years, Amazon allowed police to request Ring camera footage—some police even did so without Amazon’s OK—but after much backlash, Amazon recently revoked police access.[15]
    • They’ve also been found to illegally store Ring and Alexa recordings of customers. In 2023, the FTC and the DOJ charged Amazon with recording the voices and geolocation information of children, in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Rule.[16]
    • They also use surveillance technology to monitor and discourage union organizing activities among their employees.[17]
  4. They oppose labor union movements. Amazon’s dangerous and inhumane working conditions would make a union ideal, but the company makes it incredibly difficult for workers to organize, and it discourages attempts to unionize when workers are able to get together.[18]
    Avoid Amazon Step 17.jpg
    • They’ve been accused of using surveillance technology to prevent workers from talking at work—and the work itself is so isolating already, it’s hard for employees to find the opportunity to meet.[19]
    • Even when workers agree to vote to unionize, the Amazon turnover rate is so high—estimated at 150% a year—that signed union cards and petitions are often irrelevant at the time of the actual vote, as many employees may have left.[20]
  5. They are killing the environment. Amazon makes a lot of grand claims about caring for the environment and the size of their carbon footprint, but when it comes down to it, they’re one of the biggest dangers to our climate. Amazon claims to be reducing their carbon footprint, but closer inspection reveals they’re not really doing anything at all to accomplish this:
    Avoid Amazon Step 18.jpg
    • They use “creative accounting” (such as planting trees or buying renewable energy credits to offset energy usage) to avoid taking responsibility for the fact that around 78% of the energy they use comes from nonrenewable resources.[21]
    • They purportedly have a smaller carbon footprint than big box store competitors, but this is because Amazon doesn’t count the vast majority of the products they sell towards their carbon footprint—which is where most stores’ carbon footprint really comes from.[22]
    • Also, Amazon sells technology to fossil fuel companies to help them locate more oil and gas. They’ve been accused of pursuing the oil and gas industry and offering tech to enable more fossil fuel extraction—despite climate experts saying this is exactly what we need to avoid to save the planet.[23]
    • Moreover, Amazon has a history of throwing away and/or burning unpurchased goods, either because the goods are outdated or because it’s cheaper to toss them than to store them.[24]
  6. They’re damaging small independent businesses. Amazon is so convenient and ubiquitous that it’s begun replacing brick-and-mortar stores, leading to the closure of unique independent businesses and shutting out small business owners from the industry. One study estimates that in 2021, Amazon displaced approximately 136,000 shops in the United States.[25]
    Avoid Amazon Step 19 Version 2.jpg
    • And while Amazon’s expansion provided thousands of warehouse jobs, that’s still only about half of the 1.7 million jobs that were lost due to the displacement of these smaller businesses.
    • They’ve also artificially inflated the price of eBooks, along with five major book publishers, according to one lawsuit.[26]
  7. They avoid paying taxes. Despite enormous profits, Amazon has a long history of tax evasion, which leads to less money for the most vulnerable in society and for necessary social services.[27]
    Avoid Amazon Step 20.jpg
    • It's not just the company: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is one of a multitude of billionaires (including Elon Musk and Michael Bloomberg) who have avoid paying taxes in recent years.[28] Meanwhile, two-thirds of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.[29]
  8. They’ve been accused of racism. Employees have alleged the company cultivates a racist work culture. For instance, a 2021 lawsuit claimed the company hired Black workers for lower positions and promoted them more slowly than their white counterparts. It also alleged Black employees were subject to racial harassment at work.[30]
    Avoid Amazon Step 21.jpg
    • In 2022, Amazon was accused of failing to act when warehouse workers received racial abuse and death threats.[31]
    • In another lawsuit in 2024, an employee accused Amazon of pressuring her to resign due to her race.[32]
  9. They promote a consumerist culture. Amazon, like other stores that are cheap, quick, easily accessible (think Temu or Shein) contribute to the notion that more = happiness, and that we derive our worth from what we buy, rather than how we take care of ourselves and each other.
    Avoid Amazon Step 22.jpg
    • Not only does money not buy happiness (a platitude we’re likely all familiar with), but shopping unethically actively harms others, often victims of forced labor.[33]

[Edit]How to Curb a Shopping Addiction

  1. Accept that you have a compulsion to shop. “Shopaholism” doesn’t have as much stigma as other types of addiction, like alcoholism or drug addiction, and therefore often isn’t taken seriously, but it can and does negatively affect people’s lives.[34] Realizing you have a compulsion to shop is the first step to curbing the addiction.
    Avoid Amazon Step 23.jpg
    • Think about the ways your shopping has affected, is affecting, or could affect your life: shopaholism can cause financial stress or ruin, leave you in debt, fracture relationships, and more.
  2. Reflect on your emotional attachment to shopping. A lot of us shop when we’re feeling down, stressed, or tired and in need of a mental boost or distraction. Consider what triggers you to want to shop. Identifying the moods that cause you to pick up your phone and scroll Amazon (or other stores) can help you resist them.[35]
    Avoid Amazon Step 24.jpg
    • It’s no wonder we turn to shopping for a lift: shopping raises dopamine levels, a.k.a. the “feel-good chemicals”—at least for a little while.[36]
  3. Ask yourself: “Do I really need it?”{endbold} It’s a tough question for even the thriftiest among us. But asking yourself whether you really need what you’re eyeing—or whether you really need it right now—can make it easier to spend wisely.
    Avoid Amazon Step 25.jpg
    • It’s easier to use shopping as a coping mechanism when we view it as a hobby, versus something you do when you need something. Reframing how you think of “shopping” as an activity may make it easier to stop.
    • Even if you need the item, ask yourself if you can wait until you can purchase it at another store.
    • Also consider asking yourself if you can wait just one day to purchase what you’re looking at. You may wake up the next day and realize it was just a passing craving.
    • Consider sticking to a strict list of shopping items and try not to deviate from the list. This will help you avoid impulse-purchasing.[37]
  4. Replace shopping with a healthier coping mechanism. If you’re addicted to shopping, it’s likely something you do when you’re not feeling great and need a distraction. It could help to find something else to do instead when you feel the urge to shop—something that will bring you less shame and affect your wallet less.
    Avoid Amazon Step 26 Version 2.jpg
    • Try exercising next time you feel the urge to shop. It’ll not only give you something to do, it’ll help you destress and feel better for the long term—not just in the moment.[38]
      • If it’s an online shopping addiction you’re worried about, consider heading to the mall in person. It’ll give you exercise—plus, thinking of “shopping” as something you do in person and not on your phone with the click of a button may make it easier to curb the addiction.
    • Consider taking up a new hobby and pick it up when you feel the urge to shop—maybe journaling, dancing, or doing puzzles.
    • Reach out to a friend for support when you feel the need to spend. Having a buddy for accountability can make it a lot easier to kick the habit.
  5. Delete the Amazon app from your phone. Amazon is already convenient and easy to use, and it's even more accessible when it's available right there on your phone. Delete the app to make it harder to access, and you might see your shopping habits change.
    Avoid Amazon Step 27.jpg
    • This doesn't just apply to Amazon, but to any of your favorite online stores that use an app. Delete the app so you'll be forced to access the website via your desktop. Even if it doesn't stop you, it'll likely make you pause and reflect on what you're doing.
  6. Delete your credit card info from your favorite online stores. It’s easy to buy anything and everything we want when the card info is pre-saved from our last purchase. Deleting your card info will make it a little easier to curb the shopping craving, since you’ll have to ask yourself, “Do I want this thing enough to get up and get my credit card?”
    Avoid Amazon Step 28.jpg
    • Not just credit card info—same with PayPal and any other payment info.
    • It might also be helpful to sign out of all your favorite shops on your phone, computer, or wherever you’re most likely to shop.
      • Sure, it might not take you long to sign back in, but heading to Amazon (or another website) only to realize you’re signed out may act as a little reminder that you’re trying not to spend.
  7. Unsubscribe from your favorite store emails. If you subscribe to even just a few stores’ emails, you’re likely getting emails announcing unignorable sales every single day—maybe even more than once a day. Unsubscribe to avoid the temptation to spend!
    Avoid Amazon Step 29.jpg
    • When you do come across a sale that seems too good to be true, remind yourself it isn’t—that more sales will come and go.
    • The message that you need to shop today or miss out leads to a panicky scarcity mindset—not a good headspace to be in when you’re spending money.
  8. Consider talking through your addiction with a therapist. Shopping addiction is real and its effects can be wide-reaching and devastating. If you’re having trouble kicking the addiction, don’t be afraid to reach out to a therapist to talk. They can offer nonjudgmental guidance and support to help you through the problem so you can get your life back again.[39]
    Avoid Amazon Step 30.jpg

[Edit]Quitting Amazon: Key Takeaways

  1. Quitting Amazon is possible—just take it slow. Whether you want to quit Amazon because you'd like to spend more ethically, spend less altogether, or both, you're on the right track. Just by deciding to change your habits, you've already taken the first step towards living in a way you can feel a little prouder of.
    • It might be hard sometimes, especially if you already use Amazon (and other Bezos-owned ventures) a lot, but take it slow, cut back where you can, be more intentional about your purchasing, and go easy on yourself if you mess up now and again.
    • Quitting Amazon-related companies isn't as easy for some as it is for others. For instance, if the only health food store in your town is Whole Foods, it might just not be feasible to quit shopping there, but you can still avoid other Bezos-owned companies.
    • Who knows? As you begin to experiment with ethical local shops and thrift stores in your town or online, you might discover a company you really love and are excited to spend your time and money on, and relinquishing the Amazon addiction will become even easier.

[Edit]References

  1. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/hat-learned-quit-buying-amazon-stores-community-2024-2
  2. ↑ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-long-does-it-really-take-to-form-a-habit
  3. ↑ https://www.smbcompass.com/everything-owned-by-amazon/
  4. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326475/
  5. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/hat-learned-quit-buying-amazon-stores-community-2024-2
  6. ↑ https://tax.kenaninstitute.unc.edu/news-media/why-didnt-amazon-pay-any-taxes-despite-having-huge-profits/
  7. ↑ https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/health-happiness/2024/01/24/creativity-connection-happiness-and-health/
  8. ↑ https://thesoc.org/amazon-primed-for-pain/
  9. ↑ https://www.greenamerica.org/blog/10-reasons-not-shop-amazon
  10. ↑ https://thesoc.org/amazon-primed-for-pain/
  11. ↑ https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/retailers/ten-reasons-avoid-amazon
  12. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/11/amazon-ice-protest-immigrant-tech
  13. ↑ https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/amazon-suppliers-tied-forced-labor-xinjiang
  14. ↑ https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/how-amazon-branded-convenience-and-normalized-monopoly/
  15. ↑ https://mediajustice.org/news/big-community-win-amazons-ring-ends-easy-access-surveillance-feature-for-cops/
  16. ↑ https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/05/ftc-doj-charge-amazon-violating-childrens-privacy-law-keeping-kids-alexa-voice-recordings-forever
  17. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/21/amazon-surveillance-lawsuit-union
  18. ↑ https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/how-amazon-branded-convenience-and-normalized-monopoly/
  19. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/21/amazon-surveillance-lawsuit-union
  20. ↑ https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/how-amazon-branded-convenience-and-normalized-monopoly/
  21. ↑ https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/07/17/1095019/google-amazon-and-the-problem-with-big-techs-climate-claims/
  22. ↑ https://revealnews.org/article/private-report-shows-how-amazon-drastically-undercounts-its-carbon-footprint/
  23. ↑ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-16/microsoft-amazon-big-tech-help-big-oil-pump-more
  24. ↑ https://www.itv.com/news/2021-06-21/amazon-destroying-millions-of-items-of-unsold-stock-in-one-of-its-uk-warehouses-every-year-itv-news-investigation-finds
  25. ↑ https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/90870-aba-report-charts-damage-done-to-retailers-by-amazon-s-expansion.html
  26. ↑ https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/85318-amazon-hit-with-e-book-price-fixing-suit.html
  27. ↑ https://tax.kenaninstitute.unc.edu/news-media/why-didnt-amazon-pay-any-taxes-despite-having-huge-profits/
  28. ↑ https://propublica.org/article/the-secret-irs-files-trove-of-never-before-seen-records-reveal-how-the-wealthiest-avoid-income-tax
  29. ↑ https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/banking/paycheck-to-paycheck-statistics
  30. ↑ https://www.reuters.com/article/amazon-com-lawsuit-racism-int-idUSKCN2AT3RM/
  31. ↑ https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/retailers/ten-reasons-avoid-amazon
  32. ↑ https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/amazon-must-face-bias-claims-by-black-worker-placed-improvement-plan-2024-05-31/
  33. ↑ https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/amazon-suppliers-tied-forced-labor-xinjiang
  34. ↑ https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/2016/12/can-you-control-your-shopping-urges
  35. ↑ https://newsroom.ucla.edu/magazine/shopping-addiction
  36. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/dopamine-the-pathway-to-pleasure
  37. ↑ https://newsroom.ucla.edu/magazine/shopping-addiction
  38. ↑ https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/five_surprising_ways_exercise_changes_your_brain
  39. ↑ https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/2016/12/can-you-control-your-shopping-urges


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