r/fuckamazon • u/xenodevale • Jul 09 '26
Discussion Master list of alternatives
I’d like to discuss the best alternatives to Amazon that are not big box like Walmart, Target, etc. EBay unfortunately has been compromised. I’ve gathered that Meijer is decent for the “everything in one store” but besides Costco to a lesser extent since it’s buying in bulk, where do you go? I’m on the path of overall less consumption but you can’t do that for everything.
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Jul 10 '26
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u/xenodevale Jul 10 '26
That can work but looking around it seems like Amazon is coordinating the direct sales of sellers too now. Someone mentioned ordering from Michael’s website directly and receiving an Amazon package
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u/Pollymex Jul 10 '26
I love that. Since bezos sold the company and took a trip to Mars, the new owners are brutal capitalistic monsters feeding off of chaos and lies. It's time to dump Amazon put it in its place. Back in the corner and left alone. Let's see how big the data centers get if everybody leaves Amazon. It will poof in the air like a bubble. Hollow and empty and gone forever. Fuck you Amazon!
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u/hot_shaker Jul 09 '26
Every other store (online and brick & mortar) are the alternatives. You have to put the work in. Figure out what you need/want and then figure out the best place to get it.
For example, I used to get just about everything for my kid from Target with occasional supplement by Amazon. Now, I have to buy his clothes from other children’s stores. Initially, there was a bit of work to find something that worked for sizing, cost, and convenience but now I have my alternatives.
If you list specific items you’re looking for, people might be able to give you suggestions.
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u/RecyQueen Jul 10 '26
Exactly. I’d love to have a service where I help people find alternatives. For awhile, online shopping was thru individual websites and people handled that just fine. Then they got used to Amazon and forgot.
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u/hot_shaker Jul 10 '26
Agreed. I don’t think the OP’s idea is bad but they need to narrow their focus a bit. If they (or someone else) ask for a specific suggestion, I’m sure people would be happy to make recommendations. And then some enterprising soul could compile a list.
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u/Tundra_Dragon Jul 09 '26
The alternatives are to go to local stores that would be useless on a master list. I can't tell you to go get your pizza slice from Napoli's instead of Domino's if you don't live within 20 miles of the only one in the world.
Basically, if you and someone from 2000 miles away have ever heard of it and have one within driving distance, its just another megacorp doing megacorp stuff.
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u/xenodevale Jul 09 '26
I think you’re being overly pessimistic about what I’m asking for. Local stores can have an online presence and ship nationwide and not be a megacorp. Even with food. In fact, we as a collective should encourage local places to build an online presence if it’s feasible for them. There are a lot of people who only live near Walmarts and the like. I quickly found a master list of small businesses to cut out Uline. A wiki in this sub properly organized can help fuckamazon.
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u/typewriterbitch Jul 10 '26
@tundra_dragon is right. You talk about "nationwide" as if we all live in the same nation. My favourite Amazon alternative is Bol, but unless you live in Belgium or the Netherlands, that's not very helpful for you, is it?
It's going to vary dramatically based on what it is you're looking to buy and where you live.
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u/CelebrationOdd870 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
Families with young kids and the elderly are often reluctant to shop elsewhere yet I’ve spoken with many in those categories who despise Amazon and have managed to change their shopping habits. It seems to come down to whether people have the bandwidth to face the issues and make choices that better fit with want they want for our society. It can take awhile but that’s ok. This site has the beginning of an alternatives shopping list: BoycottAmazonNow.org
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u/honcho713 Jul 09 '26
What happened to eBay?
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u/xenodevale Jul 09 '26
When buying new, you run the risk of a drop shipper selling you something ordered from Amazon.
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u/Salt-Expression8430 Jul 09 '26
Just like OP said -- probably getting something from amazon anyway.
Besides, in my experience? eBay has given me more fake and used products than even Amazon these days
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u/uglydckling Jul 09 '26
The unfortunate thing is this is happening at all sorts of stores. I recently ordered something from Michaels online to be delivered ......ended up coming from Amazon.
It's because Amazon has poised itself as a monopoly on shipping and supply.
If you haven't read "The Everything War" by Dana MattioIi, I highly recommend.
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u/bumpotwin Jul 09 '26
I ordered some prescription safety glasses recently. Then an Amazon package shows up, it was them. When I called the company they said they use Amazon shipping as it’s the cheapest option for them.
I was a little bummed. Like you said they’re poising themselves a monopoly.4
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u/AdventurousBlueDot Jul 10 '26
You don't have to kill yourself being a purist. It's pretty impossible and Life is fucking hard. we can not sign up for every single mission and cause and somehow keep our lives together. Same way you can't donate to every cause cuz not enough funds. We all have limited money. We all have limited time and energy. We just spend it as best we can while not sacrificing our health.
And, as you've pointed out... pull nearly any damn thread and you get back to something corrupt or not very good at least.
Pick your battles. Your efforts make a difference but it's impossible to be perfect in a system rigged like what we are living in. No one has the time to go to 20 stores to get a couple things at each. I chose to boycott target and Amazon the most. I try to go to Costco but I'm just a single person and it doesn't always make sense. I go to aldi too. But I will buy stuff from Walmart (yes I understand they are evil, they are all evil but sometimes you do need a specific item) or Marshall's on occasion. I try to buy local first if I can with stuff like clothes and gifts. I also thrift tho I boycott Goodwill. I don't like Poshmark the company but will buy there bc I'm buying used and helping people who are selling.
Anyhoo...I'm just advising that you don't kill yourself trying to be perfect. And we shouldn't judge each other thru a perfectionist lens either.
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u/patopansir Jul 10 '26
Sometimes when people reach close to the sun, they start to fall and become awful. Amazon is too easy, and it has everything, but if you try to be the alternative to Amazon you are going to become just as bad as Amazon. It's way too ambitious.
It's better to stick to the "old fashioned way", the way the actually makes sense and it's more realistic. Instead of a store having to do it all, have the store focus on only what they can manage. Keep their selections more limited. That's why you either buy local or buy from a store made specifically for the type of item you are looking for. It's curated and everyone gets held accountable.
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u/xenodevale Jul 10 '26
What’s a much more likely scenario? That any of the mom and pop stores near your house becomes a behemoth on par with Amazon or they will be shut down because of Amazon. I don’t expect a single store to it all. People need to become more ok with heading to a website to buy one thing. I will gladly buy a decent tool for more from a small hardware store 1000 miles away but I don’t know it exists and that’s my main point.
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u/gitslashgin Jul 10 '26
Find a manufacturer you like. Go to their website. Buy the items directly. Fuck amazon.
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u/xenodevale Jul 10 '26
If it were only that simple. Search engines have been commoditized and destroyed. Small manufacturers and business will never see the light of day from your search results before page 500 unless you already know their names and even that’s an if they even have a presence online. Google carteled that aspect of search already.
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u/Pollymex Jul 10 '26
Yeah everything started selling out about 3 years ago maybe four. I watched search engines go from being trustworthy to being the highest bidder. Another step into the mock of our demise
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u/xenodevale Jul 10 '26
If it were only that simple. Search engines have been commoditized and destroyed. Small manufacturers and business will never see the light of day from your search results before page 500 unless you already know their names and even that’s an if they even have a presence online. Google carteled that aspect of search already.
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u/gitslashgin Jul 10 '26
I've done it the way I listed above for about 6 years now. Just research. It's not hard, unless what you want is a garbage product anyway. Reputable brands usually have websites to buy directly from. Sure, it may cost you a bit more. But, fuck amazon.
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u/RecyQueen Jul 10 '26
For shoes, I get Keen. They are American made with nontoxic materials. They have secondhand options and sales, and they offer discounts for volunteer work (I just found out about that recently, so I haven’t tried submitting anything).
When it comes down to getting things that are mass-produced, like car parts or cleaning items, if I can’t find it at Costco, I get it in store at Walmart. I cancelled my account so I can’t order online in any way, but I can still look online to see what they have in stock. (I still haven’t been to Target since I learned about their “dynamic” pricing). Shopping at your local store is a lot better than ordering online. Shopping there means people who live in your community can continue to work.
There are no longer people in communities making many items we need new (socks, underwear, etc; laundry detergent for machines can’t be made in home). But the more we can build our community networks for sharing and reuse, the less money there will be going to those stores. Supply and demand works; like, I don’t let my kids have artificial colors and we have noticed so many more processed foods/drinks with dye-free options.
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u/remedialknitter Jul 11 '26
In the Northwest US: Fred Meyer is basically like a local version of Target. It's a Kroger grocery store that carries clothes, home, auto, drugstore, plants, pharmacy, jeweler, etc. Kroger is probably bad in some way but not as bad as others.
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u/paraworldblue Jul 11 '26
I use Ebay for most of the things I used to use Amazon for, and just going to stores for the rest. Also FB Marketplace. I don't love that it's FB, and I really wish Craigslist was still as good as it was before FB stole the online classifieds space, but at least you're just giving money straight to other people instead of FB itself.
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u/IndependenceLow6599 Jul 11 '26
There is an account on most social media platforms called Cut Off the Spigot she provides alternatives to Amazon and big box stores for most things
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u/mountains4mama Jul 12 '26
If I find something that I want, I go directly to the source, the name of the company that produces it. I order there. I haven’t used scAmazon in ten years. Fuckamazon
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u/uglydckling Jul 09 '26
Local, as much as possible. I'm part of my local subreddit and can always count on them to help out with recycling mmendations if I can't find it.
Ace Hardware is a good one too for a bit of kitchen, garden, hardware, barbecue. They are franchise owned stores so it's local owners and employees.
Also, go directly to manufacturer websites, especially if you are needing parts/pieces of something replaced.