Post AyMxsqdRobsqFJeWxc by tofugolem@mastodon.social
(DIR) More posts by tofugolem@mastodon.social
(DIR) Post #AyMew3qTG6pWxKYxRw by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-09-19T12:51:07Z
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Are you struggling to buy your favorite headache pills, lotions, makeup or other shelf-stable goods while avoiding using amazon? For some brands it might seem like the only option if you only look at the first three pages of a search. But nearly always the manufacturer will sell to you directly— although their pages are buried. I almost thought ebay was my only option— (items on ebay are often expired)Nope! The manufacturer will ship to me and it’s a few cents less than amazon. (not much less)
(DIR) Post #AyMfGeCDoiPDUIYLVQ by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-09-19T12:54:49Z
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There is something delightful about just buying things from whoever made them directly. It’s more fun in person— but no one is selling my favorite brand of migraine pills at the farmer’s market. And I know the brand that works and will throw a fit if I can’t have it. Amazon has cornered this kind of online purchase and driven all alternatives to obscurity. Don’t bother with walmart they are under some kind of corporate shipping warfare the product may not arrive. (and walmart isn’t great either)
(DIR) Post #AyMfSGgF4eEM1u8UG8 by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-09-19T12:56:56Z
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I don’t expect any of these companies are parasitic good but why involve amazon and a reseller in the process at all? Let the company who made the thing take all those profits.
(DIR) Post #AyMfl6F06yRf9eNDxQ by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-09-19T13:00:19Z
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That quip about the shipping warfare and walmart is something I wish I could investigate more. Something very fishy is going on— basically I know a lot of people who stopped using amazon and tried walmart online instead for the few things they can’t find in local shops. In each case they would make an order only to have it cancelled after waiting a week— or it would fail to be delivered. Wild stuff. Never happened with amazon.
(DIR) Post #AyMfyc2ZC2QLXl07v6 by uguisubari@m.ai6yr.org
2025-09-19T13:02:45Z
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@futurebird That’s the approach we take as often as possible - go directly to the company we need a thing from. Also, the 4-million-square-foot automated Amazon warehouse we have out by the airport would like to have a word with us about reduced shipping costs.
(DIR) Post #AyMgDGqGI5h28pEdRQ by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-09-19T13:05:26Z
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Mostly they got refunds but it was like Walmart was trying to shoot itself in the foot— or more likely when walmart tries to ship to NYC there are too many ways that amazon could mess things up for them. Amazon has its own fleet of delivery vehicles and runs half of the post office. I have not encountered this issue with direct sales from manufacturers.
(DIR) Post #AyMgcRTts4KCNVmJo8 by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-09-19T13:09:56Z
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@goaty They have no stores in greater NYC and this has been a hard fought battle. Amazon has done some of the same things to our many small shops and businesses we feared walmart would. I know of many small towns ruined by a walmart.
(DIR) Post #AyMgxBpfFTqvvPqrGy by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-09-19T13:13:43Z
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@uguisubari This is one of the reasons ali-express was so exciting. People think it’s like amazon but it’s not. It’s not vertically integrated in the same way. When you buy electronics often you are dealing with the factory in China. If you are adventurous and patient you can email them (write in English and include a translation with an apology) and they are super helpful and will hook you up with the parts you need. It’s closer to early ebay than amazon.
(DIR) Post #AyMh1VNwUev1j2wVGq by patsplat@open-ground.org
2025-09-19T13:14:25Z
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@futurebird I think it’s more that Walmart’s logistics are optimized around getting products into the back of stores. Online logistics are different.They acquired jet.com for the online but it seems like it got dismantled. I think Walmart is good for pickup an in store, not so much for delivery.
(DIR) Post #AyMhD1dYvDewwFk3kG by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-09-19T13:16:35Z
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@uguisubari For customers who don’t speak Chinese it’s more like a directory of where things are made and who to talk to. They don’t even ignore me when I tell them I’m a teacher and not a big company and will only spend a few 100 dollars. US electronics manufacturers block me for being too small potatoes while charging five times as much. Keep waiting for tariffs to ruin this but not yet.
(DIR) Post #AyMhdaVht0zicpjXf6 by megsouth@c.im
2025-09-19T13:21:12Z
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@futurebird Many small manufacturers sell on Amazon because even with the chunk that Amazon takes, the fulfillment process is reliable and less expensive than doing it yourself. The downside is the manufacturer is then stuck with Amazon’s restrictive return policy and you can’t communicate directly with your customers.Walmart opened up their online sales to any small merchant a few years ago - it’s called Walmart Marketplace for sellers, but it looks the same to buyers as purchasing from Walmart itself. The platform is hard to use, their fulfillment is unreliable, and it’s expensive to sell on there. That’s likely why you’re seeing cancellations and refunds more often. Disregard my info dump if it’s unwelcome.
(DIR) Post #AyMhif3wOAx4BwAJcG by michael_w_busch@mastodon.online
2025-09-19T13:22:16Z
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@futurebird My problem at the moment with buying directly from manufacturers is internal shipping being messed up.Simultaneously, I avoid Amazon whenever possible.So I have simply not lately ordered more books from France, tea from Japan, or those useful combined COVID + flu + RSV test cards from Germany.
(DIR) Post #AyMhkij7jiM68RPUwK by davep@infosec.exchange
2025-09-19T13:22:38Z
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@futurebird @uguisubari Alibaba is even better for direct communications with the manufacturer (or their approved distributors).
(DIR) Post #AyMhzrfMmYHsChsFwu by uguisubari@m.ai6yr.org
2025-09-19T13:25:23Z
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@futurebird That is cool, I will check it out. I wonder how the (eminently dumb) de minimis problems will affect that sort of shipping.
(DIR) Post #AyMi9lQMqP7LjzZwoa by jannem@fosstodon.org
2025-09-19T13:27:10Z
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@futurebird You can save a lot in some cases, like when the maker is abroad.I wanted a second specific coffee cup from an Australian company just last month. On Amazon it was quite expensive, so I googled the brand, found the company site, and was able to order three cups - one regular and two espresso cups - for less than the one cup on Amazon, shipping costs included.
(DIR) Post #AyMiSEi0hgZLmHdhmS by mansr@society.oftrolls.com
2025-09-19T13:30:27Z
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@futurebird Shopping for something recently, I found a suitable item on Amazon. I then checked the manufacturer's website. They would sell it, but for something like 15% more plus shipping. To top it off, the Amazon item was dispatched from the manufacturer. How does this make sense?
(DIR) Post #AyMkB5zo2qGNjxuxnd by paulc@mstdn.social
2025-09-19T13:49:49Z
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@futurebird I've done that, only to find that the goods arrived in an Amazon box. Yes, the manufacturer only sold via Amazon.
(DIR) Post #AyMkKGCXTFwZzwF9VI by paulc@mstdn.social
2025-09-19T13:51:29Z
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@futurebird I've been buying from producers since a teenager. I learned early on that the manufacturer makes more money by eliminating the middleman, though they might be constrained what price they could charge since they couldn't undersell their resellers. Truth is, is that these companies often have enough sales to make it good for their customers to buy directly from them.
(DIR) Post #AyMkfIWU2AiBHPbUdE by anguinea@mstdn.social
2025-09-19T13:55:15Z
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@futurebird YES. I never used Walmart.com before but the hospital therapist recommended a specific raised toilet apparatus. I never used them before, so I made an account and ordered it.Immediately after receiving the receipt, they cancelled the order with no explanation. I tried to delete the Walmart account, but was unsuccessful. My advice would be to look elsewhere.I ordered a similar apparatus for the same price off Amazon and it came the next day.
(DIR) Post #AyMqCkKi9noirHrldA by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-09-19T14:57:22Z
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@uguisubari When you are buying small quantities of inexpensive items like resistors and boards even if the price is doubled it’s not that alarming. Because the price was $1 and now it’s $2.
(DIR) Post #AyMtzmrroylYlvS0PY by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-09-19T15:39:48Z
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@dianea Needing few products and simplifying is a longer term project and one that I won’t twist anyone’s arm about. I do think it’s very rewarding. When I was younger and more idealistic I tried to brew my own Redbull by finding all of the ingredients and trying to buy them … um— don’t mess with powdered caffeine. Horrible idea. but yeah there is some room for growth here — up to a point.
(DIR) Post #AyMxsqdRobsqFJeWxc by tofugolem@mastodon.social
2025-09-19T16:23:22Z
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@futurebird I usually do a quick web search to see if the same product is available from someone other than Amazon. A lot of manufacturers will sell you their products from their own web pages.
(DIR) Post #AyMysuxhpQVDcSj2m0 by rmaloley@infosec.exchange
2025-09-19T16:27:19Z
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@tofugolem @futurebird We started doing the same in our household. End result? We spend less money (as it is a barrier now to overcome) and we support the company directly meaning they keep more profit.
(DIR) Post #AyMyswLUgT7nuWrYUS by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-09-19T16:34:36Z
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@rmaloley @tofugolem I’ve been saving so much money since I went off amazon. I used to get a box from them every week and got very bad about this during lockdown— but I haven’t seen their logo or the boxes with the blue tape for months. My goal is to make it so they can skip our whole apartment complex. Seriously considering setting up a table in the lobby to help people find alternatives. I’ve decided they don’t really provide value or save people money.
(DIR) Post #AyMzYulgwI8xBH8DZY by tkinias@historians.social
2025-09-19T16:42:11Z
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@futurebird For me it was the double hit of COVID then living for several years in a very rural area where buying a lot of stuff meant a 3hr round-trip drive (or 10hr for some things!). It was so seductive to be able to get stuff to show up magically at my door.But I live in (sorta) city now, so there’s really no excuse any more...@rmaloley @tofugolem
(DIR) Post #AyN0QyyhVGFVsIzwDw by Vincarsi@mastodon.social
2025-09-19T16:51:58Z
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@futurebird I wonder if this would hold true in Canada... Half the time, when I look up buying an item directly from a creator, there's exorbitant import fees that will, on occasion, literally double the cost of the good I'm ordering because it's warehoused in the US. I haven't checked everything, but it's been a consistent enough problem that I still usually default to Amazon even though I feel dirty doing so.
(DIR) Post #AyN1ALxusq3cCTGX2m by silvermoon82@wandering.shop
2025-09-19T17:00:08Z
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@futurebird My wife was pleased to find the maker of their specialty hair stuff (Curl Shoppe) not only sells direct, but sells honking big refills if you buy direct, so you can get bulk price and less packaging.
(DIR) Post #AyN1GmaIpLFOUmHo8G by Bemused@mastodon.world
2025-09-19T17:01:19Z
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@futurebird I canceled my Amazon prime account about two years ago, and have only been unable to find something elsewhere twice in that time.A search engine that doesn’t pay attention to advertising sites or advertising money (Kagi) has helped me to find sites that otherwise would be buried in something like Google‘s results.
(DIR) Post #AyN1VfcgzYabFTVFVA by Hellybootwader@mastodon.scot
2025-09-19T17:04:01Z
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@futurebird I managed to help get my workplace to put buying locally/ethically into their procurement policy. Was delighted that they went along with it, though I had some help from colleagues.
(DIR) Post #AyN7wIRZsZv2u3Nqym by BluesHarp@musicians.today
2025-09-19T18:16:02Z
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@futurebird I don't do Scamazon. But unfortunately some Scamazon sellers also are allowed to sell on Ebay. I try to avoid them but Ebay has no policy to notify you that a given seller is from Scamazon. So once in a while it happens that I buy from some seller there unless I first ask before I buy. Ebay should have better policies in place to address this.
(DIR) Post #AyNCteSW4RPa5GNg4u by AndyHat@anti-social.online
2025-09-19T19:11:37Z
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@futurebird And to make it even weirder, Sam's Club is owned by Walmart but seems to have no problems shipping into NYC.
(DIR) Post #AyNDsk1XzibP0Ytcwq by allenbrunson@mastodon.world
2025-09-19T19:22:38Z
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@futurebird terrible company. my last order from amazon was in november 2020. it was a bit of a struggle, but i moved all those orders to other suppliers.
(DIR) Post #AyO3frHYtNc1N4Z5tI by AndyHat@anti-social.online
2025-09-20T04:44:18Z
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@futurebird And now this hits the news: https://www.geekwire.com/2025/sold-on-walmart-sent-by-amazon-the-weird-new-world-of-online-retail/