# Amazon.com is EVIL **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 9, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-com-is-evil/268393 "2004-10-09T20:02:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-com-is-evil/268393/21 "2004-10-11T20:53:29Z")
Amazon just sent me an email with a $20 certificate code for buying a certain product during a promotion period (happened to be my brother’s wedding gift). They sent me a $20 certificate code for that same purchase about a week or two ago. Got to fight the temptation to use both - I know it is a mistake on their part to send it. Susan ---
**Author:** ![Ashes\_Ashes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@Ashes\_Ashes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashes_Ashes)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-com-is-evil/268393/22 "2004-10-11T20:59:22Z")
You also get thirty dollars or thirty percent or something off the first time you use the amazon card. I do enough damage with my regular credit card that I don’t need to sign up for more. My recommended list, I’ve noticed they’ll have something ridiculous like children’s ladybug underpants, but then the rest is much too accurate. Last week I recommended myself into spending three month’s allowance. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-com-is-evil/268393/23 "2004-10-12T01:42:18Z")
> [@LtningBug](#): > > [Zero 7](http://www.zero7.co.uk/)? Frou Frou? > [puts on recommendation cap] > You’ve probably heard of Jem. Her album [Finally Woken](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001FFIY2/qid=1097477403/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/002-7506317-9228064?v=glance&s=music&n=507846) is a real treat. Much like Frou Frou. > > I bet you’d also like The Postal Service’s [Give Up](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000089CJI/qid=1097477481/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_2_1/002-7506317-9228064). Sort of a mix between 80’s pop and electronica with some grunge thown in. Definitely not as depressing as the title makes it out to be. Sort of a poppier/darker Zero7. > > And of course there’s Santessa. Her album [Delirium](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004SUYN/qid=1097477618/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-7506317-9228064?v=glance&s=music) is a real treat, much like Frou Frou but a little less ethereal. (This one’s a bit of a risk, though, since it’s an import and a bit pricey, and you’re not likely to have heard any of the songs.) > > Did I mention Emiliana Torrini? She’s much like Frou Frou, and her album [Love in the Time of Science](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00002DESF/qid=1097477747/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_2_1/002-7506317-9228064) is a real treat. > > No discussion like this is complete without mentioning Hooverphonic. Very good music, I recommend [Blue Wonder Power Milk](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000009QOY/qid=1097477877/sr=2-2/ref=pd_ka_2_2/002-7506317-9228064). This was my gateway into the world of trip-hop, and sounds somewhat like Zero7, though a bit more abstract. > > Last but not least, Massive Attack’s [Mezzanine](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000006045/qid=1097477977/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_2_1/002-7506317-9228064) is one of the best albums to come out of the 90’s. Much darker than Zero7, though. > [/recommedation cap] > > Also, don’t miss Zero 7’s new video for [In Time](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=273237), possibly their best song. > > I’m glad to hear someone else likes Zero 7. I got the chance to see them in concert here in Seattle, and wow, what a treat! I’d have to say it was better than even the Sarah McLachlan concert (though not by much)! Thanks for the reccomendations… I’m actually completely new to the genre (is it trip-hop?) due to the Garden State soundtrack (go see the movie) and Zero 7 and Frou Frou might very well wind up being my gateways to the genre. I’ll have to bookmark this page to look at later when I have more disposable income. Right now, with trying to find a different apartment and replacing this POS computer, my finances aren’t really up for a splurge at Amazon. By the way, where in the Seattle area are you? ---
**Author:** ![partlycloudy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/partlycloudy/32/3114_2.png) [@partlycloudy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partlycloudy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-com-is-evil/268393/24 "2004-10-13T04:00:08Z")
> [@cbawlmer](#): > > Oh, boy! I only have to spend $833 on Amazon to get a $25 gift certificate! I know it would be easy to spend that much on Amazon TODAY, but it would be a bad idea and I don’t think that 3% savings is going to be much incentive for me. Well, It’s better than getting _nothing_ back, like my old credit card. I just put everything on the card. And it adds up much quicker than you’d think. (hm, for me anyway) Of course I’d rather have a Southwest credit card, but there’s an annual fee. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![LtningBug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/73ab20/32.png) [@LtningBug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LtningBug)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-com-is-evil/268393/25 "2004-10-13T04:41:23Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > Thanks for the reccomendations… I’m actually completely new to the genre (is it trip-hop?) due to the Garden State soundtrack (go see the movie) and Zero 7 and Frou Frou might very well wind up being my gateways to the genre. > > I’ll have to bookmark this page to look at later when I have more disposable income. Right now, with trying to find a different apartment and replacing this POS computer, my finances aren’t really up for a splurge at Amazon. > > By the way, where in the Seattle area are you? The eastside. Glad I could help :). ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-com-is-evil/268393/26 "2004-10-13T12:58:04Z")
I think the worst thing is that Amazon has my credit card number. Now all it takes is a couple of mouse clicks and cool stuff arrives at my apartment. Where’s the harm in that? …written as I order enough books to fill up a freaking Uhaul… The related items often dig up interesting stuff. For example, I ordered a book on Php and Mysql the other day and it came up with a couple of Lacuna Coil albums I’d been interested in but never got around to checking out. I didn’t order them, but it was a close thing. Other times, they’ve pointed out new authors I’ve never heard of but sounded kinda cool. More often that not, it works for me. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-com-is-evil/268393/27 "2004-10-13T13:12:34Z")
What always gets me is the used hardcover books. What happens is that I’ll look something up that I’m interested in. I’ll see that it’s $10 for a paperback version. And then right below that, some entrepeneur is selling the hardcover, probably in mint condition but remaindered. For a price of $5. I don’t like paperbacks, especially at $10, so it’s an easy choice. More importantly, Amazon gets the money either way. Nicely played. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-com-is-evil/268393/28 "2004-10-13T13:26:42Z")
I actually bought a vacuum cleaner from [amazon.com](http://amazon.com). They had the lowest price I could find anywhere, and there was no tax or shipping charges. And it arrived in less than a week. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-com-is-evil/268393.md?page=1)