# Alternatives to Amazon **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 26, 2025, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848 "2025-02-26T22:51:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/81 "2025-03-14T22:03:29Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > > [@LSLGuy](#): > > > > Right now Amazon is about 80% done with Step 1. > > Wrong, as of 2023, Amazon accounted for 37.6% of US e-commerce sales, they were projected to go up to 40 in 2024. A loooong way from 80%. My point was not that Amazon controls 80% of e-retail sales. My point was they are 80% of the way along the journey to have eliminated _significant_ competitors big enough to fight back. Yes, it’s a WAG number and a qualitative, not quantitative estimate. But they are pretty close to having no-one but Wal\*Mart in a position to form a real functional alternative. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/82 "2025-03-14T22:22:54Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > 40% is HUGE. It’s big but it’s not 80% and it’s certainly not a monopoly. Your link strengthens my case. If there a governing body to stop them then they won’t become a monopoly. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > My point was they are 80% of the way along the journey to have eliminated _significant_ competitors big enough to fight back. Yes, it’s a WAG number I disagree. And you’ve not offered any proof of this. Not pointing at you specifically, but I think a lot of JB hate is driving the WAGes and fear mongering. In this global economy we have now, especially regarding online services, if Amazon oversteps their boundaries other companies will take their place. Amazon is is the dominate platform right now, not because of browbeating their customers, they just offer a better, cheaper product. I have zero loyalty to them. If they raise their prices, I’ll shop elsewhere. So will everyone else, I presume. Amazon can’t stop me from shopping locally and they can’t stop me from buying from Japan (for example). ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/83 "2025-03-14T22:30:55Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Your link strengthens my case. If there a governing body to stop them then they won’t become a monopoly. Governing body? Have you been asleep since November? This case is still in the courts. Its future depends entirely on the inclinations of the US Justice Department (directly under the direction of a fan of oligarchy) and judges who may or may not be rubber stamps for the present administration. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/84 "2025-03-14T22:50:32Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Governing body? Have you been asleep since November? No need to be nasty. Last time I checked Trump wasn’t a Bezos fan. And it was you who posted the link. Whatever, I’m done. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/85 "2025-03-14T23:44:16Z")
My apologies. I did not intend to be nasty. If you want to hear a better argument for calling Amazon a monopoly than I can muster, you should seek out interviews with former FTC Chair Lina Khan. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oaDTiWaYfcM/maxresdefault.jpg "Lina Khan – FTC Chair on Amazon Antitrust Lawsuit & AI Oversight | The Daily Show") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaDTiWaYfcM) ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/86 "2025-03-14T23:45:53Z")
for books I use Alibris ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/87 "2025-03-15T20:00:31Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > They are selling more product, but no, most aren’t making more money. Most really are. I pointed out why. Even if you say- make a dollar more for a used book if sold direct, with Amazon you reach 300 million or so potential buyers. Rather than the 1000 or even ten 1000 you get form you own site. And yes, it is nice for the Indy bookseller to get a customer who comes from Amazon originally then starts buying direct- that is certainly a win- except that the customer would never have come there in the first place without Amazon. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Isn’t a boycott supposed to be at least a little bit inconvenient? Isnt a boycott supposed to have a purpose? People are mad at Bezos due how he is running the WaPo. Sure, I get that- then cancel your WaPo sub. Bezos owns less than 10% of Amazon- you are not punishing Bezos by this boycott. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/88 "2025-03-15T20:03:37Z")
Bezos is a red herring. Amazon the monopoly is the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/89 "2025-03-15T20:03:43Z")
Bezos spent something like $250 million to buy the Washington Post. I have no idea how much more money he’s put into it since then but I can’t imagine it’s more than that. So even if _every_ single subscriber and advertiser cancels so that the newspaper shuts down the presses tomorrow, it’s hardly going to hurt him financially. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/90 "2025-03-15T20:11:37Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Bezos is a red herring. Amazon the monopoly is the problem. But it is not a monopoly. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > So even if _every_ single subscriber and advertiser cancels so that the newspaper shuts down the presses tomorrow, it’s hardly going to hurt him financially. Sure, But no boycott on Amazon will hurt him either. And he supported many Dem candidates. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/91 "2025-03-15T20:12:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But it is not a monopoly So you ignored the FTC lawsuit I linked to as well as the interview with Lina Khan. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/92 "2025-03-15T20:28:50Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > So you ignored the FTC lawsuit I linked to as well as the interview with Lina Khan. Which was partially dismissed, and so far has not gone to trial. So it is a mere allegation, not a ruling that Amazon is indeed a Monopoly. > **[Amazon Gets Partial Dismissal of FTC's Landmark Monopoly Lawsuit](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/antitrust/amazon-gets-partial-dismissal-of-ftcs-landmark-monopoly-lawsuit)** > > Amazon.com Inc. won dismissal of part of the Federal Trade Commission’s monopoly lawsuit as the case move towards a trial, according a to a sealed order. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/93 "2025-03-15T20:35:30Z")
You don’t even know what part was dismissed or why. If the court thought suing Amazon for monopolistic practices was without merit, the whole case would have been dismissed. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/94 "2025-03-15T20:48:49Z")
Now that’s a stretch. All kinds of useless bullshit is litigated on a daily basis. It’s a very high bar for the court to throw things out. This may very well end up hurting Amazon but let’s wait until it plays out. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/95 "2025-03-16T01:25:40Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > You don’t even know what part was dismissed or why. If the court thought suing Amazon for monopolistic practices was without merit, the whole case would have been dismissed. That is true. The case was no dismissed, just part of it. But again, just because a company is sued, that doesnt mean they are guilty. Only 65% are successful, but nearly all of those were settled. > [@hajario](#): > > All kinds of useless bullshit is litigated on a daily basis. It’s a very high bar for the court to throw things out. This may very well end up hurting Amazon but let’s wait until it plays out. Right. I expect some sort of settlement, but without Amazon agreeing it was a monopoly. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/96 "2025-03-16T06:10:30Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Bezos is a red herring. Amazon the monopoly is the problem. It is not a monopoly and it is not a problem. There are two issues here: 1. Is Amazon is a monopoly and limiting our choices 2. If it becomes one, is it a sure thing there prices will go while the quality goes down. Answer to 1 is no, it hasn’t been shown to be. A lawsuit isn’t proof. Plus there are plenty of other places millions of people, myself included, can and do shop online. 1. And even if it gets closer to being one, you haven’t provided one shred of proof the business model would change. It’s just wild speculation on your part. Sure, they probably use some very aggressive marketing strategies, but Amazon got to where they are by providing a better service and product. I see no good reason they would fix what isn’t broken. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/97 "2025-03-16T11:07:01Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Sure, they probably use some very aggressive marketing strategies, but Amazon got to where they are by providing a better service and product. > > I see no good reason they would fix what isn’t broken. Amazon workers have to pee in [bottles](https://www.forbes.com/sites/katherinehamilton/2023/05/24/delivery-drivers-sue-amazon-for-being-forced-to-pee-in-bottles/) & routinely illegally double park, blocking traffic & emergency vehicles as part of their business model. How much slower / more expensive (more delivery workers & vehicles) would it be if the did it legally? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/98 "2025-03-16T18:23:46Z")
I don’t understand what that has to do with them being a monopoly or not. I’ve admitted several times I don’t like Bezos. They might be a shitty company, but they don’t force people to use their services and no one in this thread has provided any evidence that will change. Hate them? Don’t use them. Simple. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/99 "2025-03-16T18:26:34Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Hate them? Don’t use them. Simple. Uh, wasn’t that what this thread was supposed to be about? Alternatives to Amazon? ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848/100 "2025-03-16T18:37:21Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > I don’t understand what that has to do with them being a monopoly or not. Because your own previous post is false (below). Would you say the company manufacturing clothes, for less, in SE Asia is doing it properly because they’re using either children or slave laborers? I sure wouldn’t! > [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > but Amazon got to where they are by providing a better service and product. > > I see no good reason they would fix what isn’t broken. When workers don’t have time to take a bio break, or must disrupt the flow of traffic because they can’t take the time to find a safe/legal place to pull over to make that delivery; both of which would mean less deliveries per driver & therefore both more drivers & more vehicles their costs would go up it would negate both that better price & better (quicker) delivery. It’s not too difficult to be the cheapest when you’re cutting corners all over the place. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-amazon/1014848.md?page=6)