Why Not Just Buy From Amazon

How often do you shop on Amazon? You probably don’t know many people, if any, who don’t shop with this mega-giant e-commerce retailer. The rise in popularity of Amazon is unsurprisingly due to the lure of low prices and fast delivery. Still, things are not always as they appear. In fact, after digging a little deeper, you might find yourself thinking twice before opening your app.

Nine Reasons Not to Buy from Amazon:

1. It sells counterfeit products.

Most users are unaware of this, but most of Amazon's listings are for goods sold by third-party vendors. Although many third-party vendors are honorable businesspeople, a shocking number of them are selling counterfeit goods.

Sometimes we assume that an item sold on Amazon must be legitimate. This is not always the case. It is important to be aware of the signs of a counterfeit product and to take steps to protect yourself from buying one.

For flags, that’s where the FMAA comes in. They are here to ensure that companies have legitimate American-made flags. If you don’t see an FMAA certificate, don’t buy the flag!

2. It treats merchants poorly and copies their merchandise.

Merchants that sell their products on Amazon are often treated poorly by the company. For example, Amazon has been known to copy merchants' products without their permission and sell them for cheaper on its website. This can lead to lost sales for the merchants and reduced profits. Additionally, Amazon often fails to provide good customer service to merchants, resulting in frustration and a negative experience for those doing business with the company. Overall, Amazon is not always a trustworthy or fair partner for merchants.

3.Customer service is hard to contact.

Amazon.com is an online retailer that does not offer easy-to-reach customer service. If you have a question or problem with your order, you are directed to contact Amazon through a message on the website. There is no phone number to call, and it's practically impossible to speak to a live person. As most of us know, this is a highly frustrating process.

4.It mistreats its workers.

In recent years, Amazon has been criticized for its mistreatment of workers. In 2021, reports emerged that Amazon was unforgiving towards employees who couldn’t work fast enough to meet unrealistic shipping quotas. According to a New York Times article, one Amazon worker was fired for the reason of too much “time off task” after arriving late to work because she missed her bus. She was fired despite being the top performer at her facility and this being her very first bad day.

This issue has been going on for quite some time now. In October 2018, The Guardian published an article alleging that Amazon supervises employees intensely. The workday is regulated down to the second with the use of computerized trackers and indicators, with each task being timed based on a "rate" established by management who urges Amazon employees to work more quickly.

5.It mistreats its drivers.

Since its inception, Amazon has been known as a company that offers fast shipping. However, an investigation by The New York Times has revealed that the company's treatment of its drivers is far from exemplary. According to the report, Amazon often relies on independent contractors to deliver its packages. These contractors are often poorly treated. For example, they are paid low wages and are not given benefits like health insurance or overtime pay. They are required to keep cameras on them while in the truck. Furthermore, they are usually required to work long hours without any breaks. In some cases, drivers have even been penalized for taking sick days. Amazon needs to do better by its drivers if it wants to maintain its reputation as a good company.

6.It's environmentally harmful.

The company's packaging and shipping practices create a lot of waste, and its reliance on fossil fuels for transportation causes air pollution. In addition, Amazon's warehouses are notoriously energy-intensive, and its use of robots contributes to climate change.

Amazon has made some efforts to reduce its environmental impact, but it still has a long way to go. If you're looking to shop online responsibly, you should avoid Amazon and choose one of its many eco-friendly competitors.

7.It takes business away from small business owners.

While Amazon has brought convenience to consumers, it has also taken business away from small business owners. Amazon accounts for 43% of US online retail sales. This is because Amazon offers a wide selection of product categories compared to small businesses and often sells those products at a lower price. As a result, small businesses are struggling to stay afloat.

While Flags.com has offered a larger flag and flagpole selection than Amazon for years, its manufacturers are eliminating large chunks of their offerings to focus on selling directly to big box stores like Amazon and Walmart.

8.Amazon is a bully.

In 2017, Amazon was worth $580 billion, making it the fourth most valuable company in the world. Much of this value comes from Amazon's dominance of the retail market. The company has crushed its competitors, often taking advantage of its employees in the process. While this strategy has been profitable for Amazon, it has also caused harm to both competitors and employees.

9.It’s unAmerican to avoid taxes.

Every year, Amazon avoids billions of dollars in taxes by exploiting loopholes in the U.S. tax code. The loopholes allow Amazon to pay little or no taxes on profits it generates from sales in the United States. According to 2021 tax data, if Amazon had no tax breaks, it would have paid 21 percent of its profits in corporate income taxes, or more than $7.3 billion. Instead, it paid $2.1 billion.

The bottom line is that Amazon does not operate in the best interest of its consumers, merchants, employees, contractors, you, or me. Take a pledge today to find Amazon alternatives for your retail needs.