zlacker

This is the part where everyone stops buying from Amazon as a show of solidarity right?

>>2OEH8e+(OP)
Now would be a great time to do this given the delays of the once-convenient fast shipping times. That said, what are the equal alternatives?

I think for most consumers, some things are absolutely required in order to switch away from Amazon: fast shipping, an inventory of hard-to-find items (e.g. car part or furnace element typically found on Amazon), a good refunds/returns system, and a massive crackdown on counterfeit products.

That last one is really important to me. Vendors are now filling legit containers of brand name items with fake product, then resealing them as new. This is becoming increasingly common now. I've noticed it with food (Pumpkin seeds, noticed a poor re-seal job), vitamins (a hole in the top seal beneath the cap despite being plastic wrapped), and Clorox bromine tablets for a spa (tablets didn't match store bought version). These products have all been obviously tampered with.

>>2OEH8e+(OP)
Who is "everyone" here? Some small but significant part of Hacker News?

>>y-c-o-+xu
There's a fairly decent alternative to Amazon for most of the things you listed.

It's Wal-Mart and walmart.com. Oh. Not much better from a workers' rights standpoint than Amazon, I guess...

>>2OEH8e+(OP)
Not for show of solidarity but for practical reasons, India has realized the advantages of its vast network of neighbourhood mom-n-pop shops in these times. It is time that people take note of this and start supporting local businesses even if they can cost a bit more. Of course it is understandable to order online due to lack of local availability or very significant price differential on non-trivial purchases but if these small businesses close, then the impact would be great in times like this.