|
|
Post by salem on Oct 7, 2019 10:47:28 GMT
I worked for a large mail order catalog for almost 20 years. It was started in the owner’s garage and built into a multi million dollar business within a few years. They prided themselves on high quality exclusive items mostly for men. I called them rich boys toys. Boating, stereo and golf equipment which came at a price that their target customer was willing and able to pay. Average shipping time was about 7-10 days and if they wanted it sooner, UPS brought on 2nd and Next Day air. Shipping large golf bags with expedited shipping cost a fortune. People didn’t care. They wanted their product now! Contracts with vendors were always one sided and the owner was demanding. We were sellers of both Crocs and Shark Vacs back in their early days. Sold thousands upon thousands of each.
Along comes the internet. You no longer had to mail or call in your order. Vendors could set up their own websites and ship directly. Companies like Fed Ex and UPS plus the Post Office stepped up their game and delivery services got much faster and free or reduced shipping became a thing. People started to realize that they could just type something like Leather Golf Bags into google and they would have a hundred or more choices with so many price points and shipping deals. We never had a store front, but competitors like Sharper Image did and people would go to the mall, play with the items and then order online when the sales would come at holiday time. Then they stopped going to the mall.
Amazon wasn’t the first nail in the coffin for mail order, but they were a huge part of the end. I think the only catalog I receive is LL Bean at Christmas time. My mailbox used to be stuffed full at every season. I not a big Amazon shopper as my town is FULL of stores, but I coincidentally ordered a few items yesterday. Free shipping, should be here in a couple days and really good prices. It’s hard to beat that.
|
|
|
|
Post by LisaDV on Oct 7, 2019 12:16:51 GMT
My September orders: Repair kit for a hole in a pair of waders (always good to have but the hole is too big extensive for the little kit) power cord for DS's portable speaker (he left his at the farm and for $9 why not have a 2nd one) meclizine tablets without artificial dyes or flavors (could not find any in any stores locally) and my monthly subscription of dog food. (I love not having to pick it up at the store and move it between cart and car) I do buy a lot of food items from amazon. Cases of GF things are usually cheaper per unit there. I've not been crazy about Amazon in the last few years and I'm trying to buy locally more.
In the country my 2 day delivery took 3-4 days many times. Now that we're closer to somewhat larger towns sometimes I get delivery in a day.
** I remember mail ordering back to school clothes for Montgomery Wards. I loved going through their catalogs and looking at all the new stuff each season. And so excited for the Christmas toy catalog. Those clothes seemed like it took more like 2-3 weeks or more to come.
|
|
|
|
Post by mikklynn on Oct 7, 2019 13:25:22 GMT
I bought hair product, adhesive squares, and blades for my paper trimmer in the last week. I love Amazon.
|
|
|
|
Post by jennyap on Oct 7, 2019 13:34:01 GMT
Not a thing. I don't really shop much in general (although my house still seems to be chock full of stuff, go figure  ) and not much at Amazon at all. Typically there is a bit of a surge towards the end of the year in the big Christmas gift accumulation, but even that we managed to shop entirely off Amazon last year. My last Amazon order was in September 2018; it was only the 2nd order of 2018. I did used to buy a lot of books from them (as well as my local bookshop) but I've almost entirely stopped buying books. We mostly just read from the library. |
|
|
|
Post by Susie_Homemaker on Oct 7, 2019 13:40:23 GMT
But which can opener did you go with? 😂 The Kuhn Rikon that was recommended in my can opener thread. However, neither one of us could figure out how to use it so I returned it. I have to go find my thread and see what else was recommended. That's too bad because it's the best can opener! The video posted shows exactly how to use it. I love mine!
Lately from Amazon I've bought: 50th bday party decorations and napkins black and red t-shirts white bed skirt tank top over-the-shower door/wall organizer various supplements diffuser for my hair dryer electric foam maker/stir stick vacuum cleaner and bags
|
|
|
|
Post by ajsweetpea on Oct 7, 2019 13:41:31 GMT
I love Amazon! I still do shop at brick and mortar stores but it isn't always easy between working, having to bring along my littlest kid (who isn't exactly an angel) and managing around other time commitments! My latest purchases were 105 pieces of Halloween candy for a little over $7 (good candies too, like Kit Kats and Reese's Peanut Butter cups... now I just need to make sure my husband doesn't get into them before Halloween) and new gloves for my daughter.
|
|
CeeScraps
Pearl Clutcher
~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
Posts: 3,894 
|
Post by CeeScraps on Oct 7, 2019 13:45:05 GMT
Zappos did this first! I remember I could order shoes and have them within a day or two. Then Jeff Bezos created Amazon and caught on to the whole shipping service.
|
|
|
|
Post by tentoes on Oct 7, 2019 14:07:04 GMT
I buy Birthday presents for my grandchildren who don't live close by, and then ship directly.
I buy dog food. The brand my vet wants my dog on isn't at the grocery store.
I buy my sneakers there--the store I used to buy them from closed, and I like that brand.
I buy protein rich shakes and have them delivered.
I buy lots of other things like bed sheets, blankets, sleeping pads, air mattresses, sweatshirts, bras, socks, jeans.
|
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on Oct 7, 2019 14:38:40 GMT
Amazon isn't going to sponsor your kid's sports team, give your neighbor a flexible part time job, or pay taxes in your town. Or pay taxes in many other places either for that matter. What they are going to do is get people hooked on next day delivery, drive out the competition and then have a monopoly on the market that will allow them to raise their prices and cut corners on your service. I'm not saying I never shop with them, but I do think carefully before I do it. I totally get this. However, in my case the things I usually order from Amazon are very specific things that I can’t even FIND locally. I’m very much a look at it, hold it, check it out in person shopper but if the local stores don’t stock it I can’t buy it. And in some cases there aren’t any specialty stores left because the big box chains drove out all the better small competitors (Archiver’s, I’m looking at you and I wasn’t sad when you closed, karma’s a b!tch). Even the red liner tape that I ordered for the neighbor, she lives at the lake cabin over the summer months and is 70+ years old. She didn’t even know what she needed for her particular project, much less where to get it. There are no craft stores of any kind for over 50 miles. If the hardware store or Family Dollar doesn’t have it, you’re driving for at least 30 minutes to the next closest town and even that’s no guarantee anyone will have what you need. Had I known the week before I could have brought her some from home, but she needed it within three days and I live an hour away so I wasn’t about to go home and drive back (120 miles round trip) for a six dollar roll of tape. But the next best thing was to order it with my Prime account and have it shipped to her at the cabin in two days. Problem solved. And with the pooper scooper, I checked at three different stores in town and couldn’t find another one like the one I have at home and like. Rather than settle for one I knew I wouldn’t like, I went on Amazon and found exactly what I was looking for. Something most people don’t get is that many of the items sold on Amazon are coming from smaller third party retailers. Both of the dance wear items I ordered for my daughter’s costume came from the same small mom and pop shop that I wouldn’t have known existed if they weren’t selling on Amazon. |
|
|
|
Post by fredfreddy44 on Oct 7, 2019 15:14:35 GMT
I have been doing it more. I really try to go for practical necessities. Last two weeks:
-cloth napkins (switching out from paper)
-new vacuum bags
-bathroom soap dispenser (old one broke)
-Tshirts for grandson for his birthday
My impulse purchase was:
-hand butter churner - I am really curious to try it out
|
|
|
|
Post by quietlycrafted on Oct 7, 2019 15:49:06 GMT
We love Amazon here too! Lately I’ve bought compression gloves for my achy hands, multi pack of dental wax for my teen in braces, 6 pack of DH’s deodorant that local store stopped carrying, and of course a few crafty things.
if you don’t already know about it, you can sign up for Amazon Smile, and a small percentage of your purchase price will be donated to the charity of your choice. Part of the school year I set it for DD’s theater booster club, and the rest of the time it goes to the Child Rescue Coalition. Just a drop in the bucket, I know, but better than nothing!
|
|
|
|
Post by baylorgrad on Oct 7, 2019 15:57:22 GMT
My mom calls Amazon "the getting place."  She doesn't have a computer, so if she wants me to order something, she tells me to check "the getting place" and have it shipped to her house! |
|
|
|
Post by camomoftwins on Oct 7, 2019 16:10:55 GMT
Yesterday I ordered the Pioneer Woman ruffled bakeware set. I’ve been watching a lot of cooking videos on YouTube and have been inspired by the cute bakeware some of the cooks use. I’m trying not to order much since we’re planning on moving next year.
I also ordered a zipper die set for card making, and 6,528 round stickers. The stickers are to put on the spine of our paperback books after I’ve entered them into LibraryThing. We’ve never cataloged them and I’m hoping it will help us put them in order when we move into our new home. And keep us from buying duplicates. DH had over 4,000 books when we married 33 years ago and has bought countless others since.
|
|
|
|
Post by workingclassdog on Oct 7, 2019 16:11:43 GMT
I don't do all my shopping via Amazon.. but more like stuff I wouldn't go to the store or put it off forever. That said, I was just at JCP and the same items I just bought in the store were less than 1/2 off on their own website... That pisses me off WAY more so that longer delivery times.
What I have bought lately:
Silver serving set for DD wedding. Found something that will make her smile as I am not going to show her until she literally has to cut the cake. (the handles are in the shape of the Eiffel Tower.. her and I went last year so I thought that would be fun for her to see and who else sees the handles anyways) Would have never found that at the store.
A Jenga type game but some off brand.. they are plain with just numbers on the sides.. I am going to set those out for the 'guest book' for the wedding.. you can leave your name and a saying if you want on the blocks.
A Michael Scott (The Office) Pop Funko for my office.. Silly purchase.
Period undies for 11 year old so hopefully when the time comes and ya know the rest of the story.
Fingernail clippers that are the BOMB diggity.. SOO sick of the cheapies that we have at home. These were cheap but MUCH nicer than the crap we have at home. I have to hide them though.. they will disappear.
EDITED to add.. I guess longer delivery times don't bother me really. Unless it is something I need right away, which usually isn't the case. If it is delivered within the week, I'm good.
|
|
|
|
Post by Susie_Homemaker on Oct 7, 2019 16:49:14 GMT
Fingernail clippers that are the BOMB diggity.. SOO sick of the cheapies that we have at home. These were cheap but MUCH nicer than the crap we have at home. I have to hide them though.. they will disappear. I need to know what these are! Please share! |
|
|
|
Post by papercrafteradvocate on Oct 7, 2019 16:59:01 GMT
I bought disposable deli containers in bulk today for a soup class I’m teaching later this month!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Linda on Oct 7, 2019 17:08:57 GMT
not a huge fan of Amazon business practises and I would rather support local businesses (even chains with local stores). I mostly use Amazon for stuff that simply isn't available locally - recent orders included compression socks in fun designs, prayer books, and used children's Saint biographies - or to send gifts - British candy to my mum for her birthday and a whisk for DD at college
|
|
|
|
Post by workingclassdog on Oct 8, 2019 14:57:19 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Scrapper100 on Oct 8, 2019 15:04:27 GMT
Amazon isn't going to sponsor your kid's sports team, give your neighbor a flexible part time job, or pay taxes in your town. Or pay taxes in many other places either for that matter. What they are going to do is get people hooked on next day delivery, drive out the competition and then have a monopoly on the market that will allow them to raise their prices and cut corners on your service. I'm not saying I never shop with them, but I do think carefully before I do it. While I totally agree with this and try to shop at local mom and pop places when I can I use Amazon for things they don't carry. We have a pond and there are no local stores that carry supplies. Sure we could spend 3 hours driving to one and buying supplies but it is just so much easier and cheaper to have the stuff delivered. Most of the little stores around here don't carry the items I buy at Amazon it's usually saving me across town to Target or Hobby Lobby. I need to plan a shopping day in our old town. We have a few cool unique shops - one is a tea and spice shop and another is a local olive oil shop. The olives are grown locally. They have awesome flavors and nice vinegars to. Lots of nice little restaurants to. Unfortunately for most people convenience wins out and most don't have an extra 5 hours or so to shop locally. People can't even be bothered to pick up drive through but pay others to do so these days (if disabled or sick that's different but I see so many that they just don't want to bother and will pay the extra to do so). We are just too busy. Shopping locally is often a luxury. |
|
|
|
Post by peasapie on Oct 8, 2019 15:14:04 GMT
The Star Wars Advent Calendar is big in our house!
|
|
|
|
Post by tyra on Oct 8, 2019 15:25:34 GMT
I ordered a makeup bag set yesterday and a book about a little boy giving up his pacifier (guess what we are doing this weekend?  Pray for me). The bags have already been delivered. I am a bit butthurt that the book won't be here until tomorrow lol I did everything I could to find the book locally so I could get it last night, but nope... |
|
|
|
Post by revirdsuba99 on Oct 8, 2019 19:06:06 GMT
Amazon isn't going to sponsor your kid's sports team, give your neighbor a flexible part time job, or pay taxes in your town. I'll have to check on the sports team sponsor, if not ask them. There are jobs. Yes, they do pay taxes in my town for their facility. Have I shopped them, yes. Not a lot, but some. I also order from Walmart.. Getting larger items delivered makes it easier for me, I don't have to find a way to get them home, or someone to help me carry things. |
|
QueenoftheSloths
Drama Llama
Member Since January 2004, 2,698 forum posts PeaNut Number: 122614 PeaBoard Title: StuckOnPeas
Posts: 5,955
|
Post by QueenoftheSloths on Oct 8, 2019 22:46:19 GMT
Amazon isn't going to sponsor your kid's sports team, give your neighbor a flexible part time job, or pay taxes in your town. I'll have to check on the sports team sponsor, if not ask them. There are jobs. Yes, they do pay taxes in my town for their facility. Have I shopped them, yes. Not a lot, but some. I also order from Walmart.. Getting larger items delivered makes it easier for me, I don't have to find a way to get them home, or someone to help me carry things. Here's an interesting article about Amazon's tax "burden". www.snopes.com/fact-check/amazon-federal-taxes-2017/ and while they may pay taxes in your town, i'm sure they were offered generous subsidies to lure them there. Is your town on this list? www.goodjobsfirst.org/amazon-tracker Or maybe that was one of their secret deals. Do you think Jeff Bezos is going to answer the phone to talk to a pea who wants a donation for her school fundraiser? Not like the owner of a locally owned business would. Can I get a job with Amazon? Yes I could, if I wanted to drive an hour and a half away to work in their nearest warehouse which recently had the employees picketing out front to protest their working conditions. |
|
She doesn't have a computer, so if she wants me to order something, she tells me to check "the getting place" and have it shipped to her house!
Pray for me). The bags have already been delivered. I am a bit butthurt that the book won't be here until tomorrow lol I did everything I could to find the book locally so I could get it last night, but nope...