Amazon alternatives

[RainCaster]

I want to drop my Amazon account, but I use it for many things. One at a time, I'm moving to alternatives, but I need more. Let's make this thread about the alternatives we have available to keep from sending more money to Bezos and his monopoly.

Regular scheduled deliveries:
* Coffee- I now buy directly from Peet's
* Water filter- Lowe's?
* Home health - specialty web sites

Shopping items:
Tech stuff- B&H Photo
Books- library
Audio books- suggestions?
Streaming- Netflix, Apple TV, others
Tools- local hardware store
Clothes- many retail stores have web sites

Amazon gadgets-
Alexa- I depowered mine a year ago. Haven't convinced the Mrs to do the same with hers. Yet.
FireTV - we have 3, but only use one of them. Once we drop Amazon, I will remove all of them. We have a Chromecast that will work just fine, so I'm going to use that instead and see if there are any issues.

[thinkingagain]

1. Other suggestions

As for your audiobooks, if you have some type of a device that you can download often libraries also will have audio downloadable books along with the downloadable e-books.
They often will have audio CDs, although that’s getting rare with the downloads.

You’re streaming
You mentioned Chromecast you can also use Roku very similar. The only thing you need is Internet if you’re not particular, there is tons of free stuff to watch.

[obamanut2012]

2. Hoopla and Libby for audiobooks

Remember to use Interlibrary Loan at your library, too.

Bookshop.org to buy books. Huge consortium of independent booksellers.

[Stargleamer]

3. Besides the library, there are these bookstores to buy books thru mail order (all are on bluesky)

Space Cowboy Books
@spacecowboybooks.bsky.social
Indie bookstore in Joshua Tree specializing in science fiction

Firestorm Books
@firestorm.coop
Queer feminist collective in Asheville, NC

Point Reyes Books
@pointreyesbooks.bsky.social
"The best nature and environmental bookstore in the U.S." -- William duBuys
Stephen Sparks‬ ‪@ssparks.bsky.social (owner of Pt. Reyes books):‬
"People assume I hate Jeff Bezos because I own a bookstore. In truth, I hate Bezos because I loathe even the idea of a billionaire."

Green Apple Books
@greenapplebooks.bsky.social
independent bookstore in San Francisco since 1967. -- my personal favorite

City Lights Booksellers & Publishers
@citylightsbooks.bsky.social
(known for their poetry selection, which is the best of any bookstore I've ever seen)

Powell's Books
@powells.bsky.social
The legendary independent bookstore. -- has a very large collection

Dark Matter Books
@darkmatterbks.bsky.social

[Callie1979]

4. I use Amazon as a search engine only. Many items have seller company names

Go to THEIR websites & purchase directly.

[AllyCat]

15. This

I was finally able to find a direct company website for my contact solution that was only at Amazon. When I take out the cost of Prime, it’s about even for price.

[usaf-vet]

20. Here is a Google feature that I recently discovered.

Last edited Mon Jan 6, 2025, 12:16 AM - Edit history (1)

Open a Google search box. To the right side, there is a little graphic character. I'm not sure what it is supposed to be, but it allows you to search for a graphic, a picture in particular. So here are some steps.
1. Take a "good" picture of an item you want to find a source for. Try to isolate it as you frame it in the view. The better the picture, the better your search result will be.
2. If needed, crop it in the picture editing software.
3. Then drop or import into the search box (right side)
4. Hit the search button. You should get a great return of multiple places to buy it.
5. Additionally, I have used it to ID a "what is it."
Recently, I had a box with some old fly-tying tools. I couldn't figure out what it was used for. It turned out that it was to hold back hackle fibers while you whip
finish a head.
I will post this and return with a link to demonstrate whip finishing with hackle guard.

As promised, here is a short video to describe the steps for using a hackle guard.

?feature=shared

Regardless, it works to find a product. See steps 1-4

[Callie1979]

23. I recently found that too; "image search"

You can also use it to search pics of someone you think may be a fake account.

[usaf-vet]

25. Haven't tried that feature yet. Thanks!

[eppur_se_muova]

5. ThriftBooks is a great source. Even if they don't have your book, you can often get a lot of useful info ...

which will help you find it elsewhere.

And once you've gotten an ISBN number from ThriftBooks or even Amazon, don't forget the ultimate ISBN search engine: https://www.isbns.co.nz. This will connect you to various (hundreds of) booksellers; you must use your own judgement in choosing whom to rely on for good service, reliability, etc. Be aware this service relies on booksellers to provide them with accurate inventory databases; if your favorite bookseller doesn't participate, you won't find them that way.

[calimary]

19. Good info. Thanks!

[RainCaster]

6. My local used bookstore

I will gladly support any local business, and the bookstore is no different. If I'm reading for entertainment, I will peruse their shelves first. I'm so pissed at Amazon for the shit ownership I have of all the books I bought on my Kindle.

[Felicita]

7. Tim Cook from Apple gave $1 million

So don't get AppleTV

[RainCaster]

9. Now that football season is over, I will

[spooky3]

8. Pet food and supplies - Chewy

[joanbarnes]

10. Streaming....

Free streaming apps thru my library, Kanopy and Hoopla

[FakeNoose]

11. K & R - I love this idea!

We need to make this a regular thread on DU so we can all share resources with each other that will benefit the Undergrounders. AND take business away from the one-per-centers.

[Think. Again.]

26. K&R

[Aussie105]

12. I always do a price comparison when I 'need' to buy stuff.

Local walk in and mail order shops.
Amazon.
eBay. General search and some specific car part/computer part shops I've bought from before.
Temu.

I pick the cheapest.

Latest - 2025 calendars: Local shop AU $13, eBay AU $5, a no brainer!

No specific loyalty towards any of them.

[brakester]

31. Good idea to comparison shop., but

I don't buy from Temu. It's Chinese and from it's advertising at truly unbelievable and unsustainable prices, and its oversaturation of its advertising market, It reminds me of Amazon, Walmart and Hobby Lobby's early marketing that played on our short-sighted uber-consumerism urges. Those ploys distract us from considering issues like working conditions in China, lack of corporate morality and your support of unsustainable world market systems. A system that is based on major fossil fuel use in transportation, exploitation of poor people and taking jobs away from Americans.

I like eBay and would add Etsy, which supports home-based businesses run by American artists.

[Takket]

13. you can get the free shipping from a lot of places, just have to make a minimum purchase

okay if you are buying a bunch of household items. not so good if there is just one book you want

[Figarosmom]

14. Target is good for most

Things and has same day delivery.

[Alice Kramden]

16. Kobo for audio books

Also Hoopla

[csusan]

17. How about we stop twitter too.

I'll stop amazon when people stop using twitter.

[niyad]

21. Why would you make your ethical choices someone else's responsibility?

Either quit amazon because you want to, or don't. But don't blame others' choices.

[Think. Again.]

27. Or just stop amazon and go about your day.

[womanofthehills]

36. Dems quiting Twitter is a bad idea

100 million young people are on Twitter - mostly 18 to 45. So - you want them only to be influenced by Republicans??

[Susan Calvin]

18. Anthony's

I get my fiber powders and my organic instant coffee from them. Shipping is free, and the cost is approximately the same as ordering it from Amazon. Plus it arrives faster than it would from Amazon, unless you have Prime.

[live love laugh]

22. Book sources: Openlibrary.org bookshop.org libro.fm. Libby (app)

From the sites:

Bookshop.org works to connect readers with independent booksellers all over the world.

‍We believe local bookstores are essential community hubs that foster culture, curiosity, and a love of reading, and we're committed to helping them thrive.

Every purchase on the site financially supports independent bookstores. Our platform gives independent bookstores tools to compete online and financial support to help them maintain their presence in local communities.




How Libro.fm works
- Pick your local bookstore to support with your purchases.

- Get one credit for $14.99/mo. Add credits whenever you need them or buy audiobooks à la carte.

- Cancel or pause your membership without losing


Open Library

How does borrowing a book work through Open Library?
The Internet Archive and participating libraries have selected digitized books from their collections that are available to be borrowed by one patron at a time from anywhere in the world for free. These books are available in BookReader format and usually in PDF and ePub formats. You can choose which format you prefer.
BookReader editions may be read online immediately in your web browser. No special software is required. Other Internet Archive loans are managed through Adobe Digital Editions and will require software installation on your device.
Can I listen to books?
Any book that you can borrow from Open Library is also available in audio form. Click the "listen" button next to the "borrow" button.
LibriVox has books narrated by volunteers. If a book is available on LibriVox you'll see the link listed under ID Numbers.

[JI7]

24. If you need to use it that's fine but from what I have seen things are usually

more expensive on Amazon if the same thing is sold somewhere else. I also don't know if places still do price matching where they will sell you something for lower if another place sells it at a lower price.

But just do a search for the item to see where else you can find it and if you can get it at a better price. If not then just use Amazon.

[Think. Again.]

28. I've never done amazon, usually what I need I can find in stores...

...and if I'm looking for something hard to find locally I just search for an actual manufacturer site online.

[SARose]

29. Been using Amazon since 1998/1999

Seriously! I remember when I didn’t pay taxes on my orders!

I must admit I am conflicted about closing my account. My Prime membership doesn’t seem so prime anymore and it is expensive as heck.

Why do I still use Amazon? Because I hate going from store-to-store looking for that one item. Basically I’m lazy.

I also read on my Kindle app on my IPad. These old eyes don’t see as well as they did when they were younger.

I am seriously considering ending my Amazon romance. ☹️ Bezos is one reason, the tons of cardboard boxes is another and I really like shopping at small boutiques in my area. There are more and more every year.

My old dachshunds will be soooo disappointed when their arch enemy, the Amazon delivery person, no longer shows up.😂

[brakester]

32. Plus,

besides it's membership fee, they have the NERVE to charge extra on many rentals!

Burns my brisket!

[Voltaire2]

30. Amazon also has monopolistic control over 'fulfillment'.

And of course as we all should know by now, Amazon controls the price of commodities sold online, even if you buy from the manufacturers online web site.

If you don't know here is basically how it works. As Amazon sells a vast majority of all online commodities, it is essential for businesses to put their products up on Amazon's online store. To do so they have to agree to a) kick back a huge percentage of the retail price to Amazon, and b) not undersell Amazon on their own storefronts.

So the price you pay is set by Amazon, and quite often it will be an Amazon warehouse and delivery service that puts that package by your door.

[brakester]

33. Sheesh!

Once corps get that big, there's nowhere to escape from them. This relates back to my earlier comment on why I don't like Temu. Do we really want another mega-retailer taking over out lives?

[Voltaire2]

34. A sane society would nationalize amazon and run it as a public online market. nt.

[Emrys]

35. For all the hardware stuff on your "shopping items" list, try eBay

You can find books there too, often at prices that beat Amazon.

eBay's a very safe auctionsite to use nowadays, and safeguards heavily favour the buyer.

There are a few wrinkles, such as you may occasionally find that a book order placed on eBay is fulfilled by Amazon.

[Jacson6]

37. Amazon gets me my products I order fast.

I live in a rural area and have to drive 30-60 miles round trip to do any shopping. Half of the time what I need is not available and not in stock at the TG & WM stores.

[RainCaster]

38. Same here, but to me, fast delivery isn't everything

I have found a number of web vendors that offer pricing and delivery that are comparable to Amazon, but I send no money to the Trump-Ass-Kissing Bezos.

[Grumpy Old Woman]

39. I TRIED to cancel Amazon Prime

I tried to cancel Amazon Prime, but then last year I needed something right way....as the fates would have it, I am still waiting for delivery....

I'm still trying to source local suppliers when I can, but mobility is limited. Thank you all for the alternate suggestions.