Ask HN: Why would you choose to buy good from sites other than Amazon? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Why would you choose to buy good from sites other than Amazon?

5 pointskinshiro7 comments

Why do people use other online shops/retailers other than Amazon, for reasons other than limited access to rare/special-interest products where other companies may be better serving those niches? I am curious about what other retailers do better than Amazon, or other reasons people don’t always choose it, considering the convenience and low prices it provides, and other benefits such as Prime etc. Mostly interested in perceived shortcomings with the Amazon sites itself.

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How about because you don't want to support Amazon's abysmal work culture: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/22/amazon...

Lack of confidence that I’m going to receive an authentic version of the item I ordered. Background: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17327771

I find buying clothes on Amazon to be inconvenient, because of how poorly organized it is. Trying to find the same article of clothing in a different size or color is essentially a new search from scratch.

I use eBay because the platform is designed to incentivize transparency. Prices are not generated algorithmically and the reputation of the actual seller is prominently displayed. Shipping terms and timelines are clearly stated alongside the item. So is the return policy.

While all marketplaces are caveat emptor, on Amazon I am up against Amazon with all its staff, scalable computing hardware, and algorithms out to maximize the amount I pay. I may not trust a particular seller on eBay, but that's better than not being able to trust Amazon.

Reasons not to buy from Amazon - https://stallman.org/amazon.html .

Because what I'm looking for isn't always on Amazon?

I know, it's hard to believe. But there are definitely quite a few niche pieces of software (and technology) which Amazon doesn't supply.

Outside of that, deals and things help too. I mean, why do people buy games on Steam or the likes? Because there's always a sale on and it's got a better selection than Amazon for that market.

Believing that a monopoly is no better for the customer in ecommerce than for any other industry. Preferring to support companies with halfway decent employment practices.

The site itself? Fraud. Awful, useless search/filter results. Fraud. Did I mention fraud?

And this question reads a bit like an ad.

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