I still see that button (in the mobile version, anyway).

What’s more alarming is that I’ve run across several things akin to toilet seats (things you probably buy like once every 20 years) that have defaulted to the ‘Subscribe and save’ option. I don’t know if this something the seller does or if AI is flagging things for them, but it’s insidious.

If you’re not paying attention, you can wind up an accidental collector of toilet seats.

Best I found:

The chart suggests that some time late into the day before yesterday, they had about -0.3 husbands.

It's just a computer following an algorithm. An algorithm that has been found to increase sales.

It also doesn't have to be all or nothing. Even if there is some specific issue that keeps you bound to Amazon, seeking out alternatives the rest of the time is still an improvement.

I know someone who has extreme difficulty taking pills and who frequently needs pain relievers to function. The only thing they have ever found that works for them is the Walmart brand Tylenol (aka tiny lol). They don't buy anything else from Walmart on principle, but thos pills are a necessity.

That said, in my experience at least, while Amazon's shopping experience has gotten significantly worse over time, smaller local and regional businesses have been making things much better over the last few years. It's easier to find what I need on the website of my local hardware store than Amazon, with prices that are as good or better on most things, and without the glut of trash items clogging my search. I can even get 2 hour delivery if I need it. I can't get a fucking pizza delivered to me but I can have a socket wrench and a change of underwear here at a moment's notice.

I can't say that there is a better option available to everyone for anything they need. But I would bet that there are good alternatives available the vast majority of the time.

Also their profit margins on their consumer store are razor thin. So it’s not like ordering a toilet seat is making bezos rich. It’s AWS where they make their money. And some estimates have that as like 70 percent of the Internet. You can’t really boycott that.

I understand and agree to some extent. Still good to say it tho, doesn't really sound like barking.

Did Bob Loblaws update his law blog?

Amazon is shit now you can find stuff cheaper only "problem" is you don't get it in "two* days.

I sometimes think about how we got here. How now this has become some people's only option. Amazon banked on people relying on them and scooped up market share, and destroyed small businesses so they became the only option. People don't even look for alternatives or discover businesses around them anymore. I had to help a few friends understand this. I had a friend buying toilet paper from Amazon, that's literally sold everywhere.

When I say don't use Amazon, it's not to shame the people who can't, it's to have them think of an alternative, train out their reliance. Don't continue to give Amazon that reliance.

There are not many times you need that specific obscure part, most of the time it's things that will have alternative sources. So it's about taking a moment to just consider.

Target Jeff Bezos because he is literally top of the list of billionaires, he does not need the money. You can use this as a measurement. Newegg is a better option. A small electronics store that delivers in your country if their brick and mortar store is not near you, even better.

And like you pointed out, perfection is the enemy of progress.

This combined with just considering if you actually need something or just want junk advertised to you. It's a way to break from frivolous consumption as well, which Amazon also relies on. Also consider that you don't need things this fast. I feel like Amazon broke our perception. We used to not get things delivered for up to 2 weeks and that was fine. But somehow it's unacceptable if it's not there the next day. Most things you buy are not emergencies. Waiting does not waste your time, your life goes on while you wait.

Use eBay.

I needed 7/16" ink ribbon for my antique Burroughs adding machine. Bought it on eBay. Order was fulfilled by Ribbons Unlimited, a small business that just sells ink ribbons for typewriters. Took a week to get it, but I wasn't in that much of a hurry.

Using Amazon , I'd love to stop using Amazon but unfortunately amazon has killed all competing stores in my area so if I want a product that's more specialized than s*** you would find at an old timey General Store I'm out of luck

What are people ordering so much of from amazon? I apparently haven't ordered from them since late 2024, and those were a handful of small orders.

Well returns have gone to shit on Amazon. Now they charge you most of the time. Delivery date not so much now they are charging for faster delivery on some items.

So you can't purchase stuff from Walmart, Costco or any online store just Amazon?

Yes but if you can buy off Amazon an online store you can buy from another online store. So saying it's the only choice is false.

I got an email a few days ago that they were disabling mine, now I would have to buy my own prime in addition to my wife's. I simply decided not to use Amazon anymore.

It's my number one reason here for abandoning a thread by far.

Sure. Or maybe you have a different tolerance. Either way, I dont care. I just expect I wont see the next Amazon thread on Lemmy. Because Lemmy is incapable of discussing the topic in a way I want to engage.

I am not here for an endless flood of negativity and doomerism. When I see it, I block what I think is necessary. I use keyword filters, user blocks, community blocks or occasionally the entire instance.

Waiting for a toilet seat to be delivered is really more efficient than getting one in the mean time while you’re already away from home in your car? Or out to dinner near the home store?

Only IF you drive and it’s the only thing you go shopping for and the only reason to drive.

If you really can’t plan your shopping trips efficiently then, maybe.

Walk. Bike. Stop on the way home from work.

what a shittake

people don't necessarily go to buy single stuff off the store, do you? With your argument, why not let Amazon send you rations of everything instead of anyone ever learning to cook, drive, learn a skill, fix stuff, or do anything for themselves.

is it going to to be more efficient to go to store with a list and find things you like/prefer than getting it hauled from wherever their stock is located, packaged with tons of plastic and then possibly having to return it back if you don’t like how it feels/looks/works/breaks down?

sO eCo-FriEnDLy and eFfICiEnT