What's your non-Amazon online retailer of choice?
March 26, 2021 3:28 PM Subscribe
In an attempt to retrain my shopping habits, I'm looking for retailers that cover a decently broad category (i.e. Chewy for pet needs, Powell's for books) rather than item-specific sellers. Product reviews & fast shipping are important to me. Not being owned by Jeff Bezos is also important to me.
Newegg for computer stuff, Crutchfield for home/car AV equipment, Monoprice for a little from column A, a little from column B.
posted by box at 3:50 PM on March 26, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by box at 3:50 PM on March 26, 2021 [5 favorites]
Bed Bath and Beyond has saved me from a lot of the kind of "I need a spice shelf" household goods Amazon purchases I would've made in the past.
posted by misskaz at 4:20 PM on March 26, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by misskaz at 4:20 PM on March 26, 2021 [2 favorites]
I buy ebooks through Kobo.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 4:40 PM on March 26, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 4:40 PM on March 26, 2021 [2 favorites]
I used to spend way too much money at Target. Now I spend way too much money at Target.com. Shipping may take a day or two longer than Amazon, but it will be packed much better, and if time is a factor, I can opt for local delivery or in-car pickup.
posted by sageleaf at 4:49 PM on March 26, 2021 [14 favorites]
posted by sageleaf at 4:49 PM on March 26, 2021 [14 favorites]
Sock Dreams for socks, stockings, and odds & ends like sock glue.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 4:49 PM on March 26, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 4:49 PM on March 26, 2021 [3 favorites]
Target is not without its problems but overall it seems slightly less evil than Amazon on many counts. Their product quality is less iffy and they have a strong shipping infrastructure set up. I often use them over Amazon if I have the option.
posted by castlebravo at 4:50 PM on March 26, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by castlebravo at 4:50 PM on March 26, 2021 [5 favorites]
Another third for Target as my big box retailer of choice.
posted by joycehealy at 5:01 PM on March 26, 2021
posted by joycehealy at 5:01 PM on March 26, 2021
Home Depot’s website is not the worst for a lot of household supplies, and you can do tool and truck rentals if you have a store nearby and can drive.
I’m a big fan of Zingerman’s for gifting and/or fantasy window shopping. I’ve rarely ran into a dietary restriction they don’t have something a little special for that I could gift someone with.
Seconding Monoprice, they’re the best.
posted by Mizu at 5:12 PM on March 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
I’m a big fan of Zingerman’s for gifting and/or fantasy window shopping. I’ve rarely ran into a dietary restriction they don’t have something a little special for that I could gift someone with.
Seconding Monoprice, they’re the best.
posted by Mizu at 5:12 PM on March 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
I get a lot of grocery-type items from Vitacost. Per Wikipedia, they’re owned by Kroger.
I also get a lot of household items from Target online.
posted by FencingGal at 5:17 PM on March 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
I also get a lot of household items from Target online.
posted by FencingGal at 5:17 PM on March 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
ebay is my fav alternative to amazon.
posted by SageTrail at 5:20 PM on March 26, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by SageTrail at 5:20 PM on March 26, 2021 [6 favorites]
Bed Bath and Beyond has been my go to for many (but not all) household needs. It helps that returns can be made to the store! How essential is fast delivery? The human cost of 2 day delivery is steep, and even if Amazon is the leader of the pack in worker surveillance, it's practices are being popularized.
posted by spamandkimchi at 5:47 PM on March 26, 2021
posted by spamandkimchi at 5:47 PM on March 26, 2021
On the topic of target - I was turned off at first because they quoted very long shipping times, like three weeks. Everything I've ordered from them has come much faster. Not the next day, but as spamandkimchi points out, that has a big cost.
posted by lab.beetle at 6:07 PM on March 26, 2021
posted by lab.beetle at 6:07 PM on March 26, 2021
• Uniqlo for clothing, especially underwear & socks
• REI for recreational and outdoors stuff
• B&H for computer, photo, and other electronics
posted by theory at 6:12 PM on March 26, 2021
• REI for recreational and outdoors stuff
• B&H for computer, photo, and other electronics
posted by theory at 6:12 PM on March 26, 2021
King Arthur for baking stuff—they’re employee owned.
posted by sugarbomb at 6:54 PM on March 26, 2021 [10 favorites]
posted by sugarbomb at 6:54 PM on March 26, 2021 [10 favorites]
Gardeners Supply is worker owned too. Lee Valley Tools.
posted by clew at 7:17 PM on March 26, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by clew at 7:17 PM on March 26, 2021 [3 favorites]
I've bought a bunch of outdoor gear from Backcountry over the years and have always had a good experience.
posted by kickingtheground at 7:50 PM on March 26, 2021
posted by kickingtheground at 7:50 PM on March 26, 2021
ebay is my fav alternative to amazon.
I’ve often gone to eBay to avoid Amazon. More than once the eBay seller has just gone and purchased the item I bought from them from Amazon and had it shipped to me. It’s maddening.
posted by zsazsa at 8:30 PM on March 26, 2021 [8 favorites]
I’ve often gone to eBay to avoid Amazon. More than once the eBay seller has just gone and purchased the item I bought from them from Amazon and had it shipped to me. It’s maddening.
posted by zsazsa at 8:30 PM on March 26, 2021 [8 favorites]
On the topic of Target, get their RedCard (get the debit not the credit card) and everything is 5% off with free shipping.
posted by JoeZydeco at 10:55 PM on March 26, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by JoeZydeco at 10:55 PM on March 26, 2021 [2 favorites]
Rockauto for auto parts? So many parts listed on Amazon are cheap, knockoff crap, including pieces that appear to be OEM or brand-name but aren't.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:32 AM on March 27, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 5:32 AM on March 27, 2021 [5 favorites]
If the main objective is To Not Be Bezos, and we're throwing Target on the table, I don't see any reason not to throw Walmart and their website into the mix as well.
Both are different brands of difficult and/or evil, but No Bezos involvement.
With the Mart of Wal, the website works, tons of products, multiple choices of pickup and delivery, etc.
posted by Bill Watches Movies Podcast at 6:01 AM on March 27, 2021 [4 favorites]
Both are different brands of difficult and/or evil, but No Bezos involvement.
With the Mart of Wal, the website works, tons of products, multiple choices of pickup and delivery, etc.
posted by Bill Watches Movies Podcast at 6:01 AM on March 27, 2021 [4 favorites]
Tell you what, with the rise of counterfeit items, I have started buying direct from the manufacturer for many items. I’m finding that shipping is free a lot more often than it used to be, and for items where I’m really concerned about authenticity, I’m willing to pay.
I would add Costco to the list of online purveyors of general crap. Shipping is quick and the quality, authenticity, and generous return policy are the same as in the store. Otherwise my default Amazon substitute is Target.
posted by HotToddy at 9:23 AM on March 27, 2021 [13 favorites]
I would add Costco to the list of online purveyors of general crap. Shipping is quick and the quality, authenticity, and generous return policy are the same as in the store. Otherwise my default Amazon substitute is Target.
posted by HotToddy at 9:23 AM on March 27, 2021 [13 favorites]
I like to buy beauty and cosmetics from Sephora and Nordstrom.
posted by mostly vowels at 1:08 PM on March 27, 2021
posted by mostly vowels at 1:08 PM on March 27, 2021
I stopped shopping at Amazon in December so I've been figuring this out too! Stuff like shower curtain liners, mass-market hair and beauty products, random household goods, I've realized I can actually get at the supermarket along with my groceries (whether that's in-store/curbside/delivery). Whether or not there are reviews really depends on the supermarket, but these are mostly things that I bought on the regular anyway - I don't really need a review of the deodorant I've been buying for the past 20 years.
The other place I use on the regular that hasn't already been mentioned above is Staples for office-y stuff and stationery.
I've also found, though, that I'm not buying quite so much random stuff, which wasn't my plan but it's nice. I mean I'm definitely buying SOME random stuff (hello alto recorder and budget sous vide immersion circulator) but I think it's less?
posted by mskyle at 1:22 PM on March 28, 2021
The other place I use on the regular that hasn't already been mentioned above is Staples for office-y stuff and stationery.
I've also found, though, that I'm not buying quite so much random stuff, which wasn't my plan but it's nice. I mean I'm definitely buying SOME random stuff (hello alto recorder and budget sous vide immersion circulator) but I think it's less?
posted by mskyle at 1:22 PM on March 28, 2021
Ulta and Sephora for skin and hair products. Best Buy for electronics if they have it, other joints like Monoprice if they don't. Ordering online and getting curbside pickup is a snap, and a nice option if you need an item right away. Target and Costco for basically everything else.
posted by Autumnheart at 1:41 PM on March 28, 2021
posted by Autumnheart at 1:41 PM on March 28, 2021
https://threshold.us/c/cancelprime/amazon-alternatives
posted by lalochezia at 2:47 PM on April 3, 2021
posted by lalochezia at 2:47 PM on April 3, 2021
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by veery at 3:45 PM on March 26, 2021 [8 favorites]