# What are you buying on Amazon, and why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 28, 2023, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799 "2023-09-28T00:17:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/61 "2023-09-29T18:07:13Z")
I forgot I sometimes buy stuff that I could buy locally but it would take some hunting to find. Like the year my dad wanted handkerchiefs for Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/62 "2023-09-30T03:59:57Z")
I just bought 5 new shirts and 12 boxes of salmiakki pastilles. Clothing options here absolutely suck, and there is nowhere around here to buy salmiakki. I buy my groceries locally, but generally everything else comes from Amazon (for random non-grocery items) or Newegg (for my computer-oriented purchases)… other than items that I try to buy direct from the manufacturer (razor blades and such direct from Gillette, jeans direct from Levis, etc.) I’ll be in the market for a new car soon. It pisses me off to no end that I can’t just go to, say, Chevy’s website and just buy the damn car I want… I prefer online ~~shopping~~ buying to wasting time wandering around shopping. Heck, half the time I just buy my groceries from the local Kroger alias and have them delivered via Instacart. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/63 "2023-09-30T04:51:59Z")
I just bought telephoto lenses for my camera phone. Can’t wait until they arrive! ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/64 "2023-09-30T05:03:55Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Can’t wait until they arrive! If you had a telephoto lens you could see your delivery coming. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/65 "2023-09-30T05:05:31Z")
That’s exactly why I’m ordering it. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/66 "2023-09-30T11:04:10Z")
> [@Kron](#): > > I’ll be in the market for a new car soon. It pisses me off to no end that I can’t just go to, say, Chevy’s website and just buy the damn car I want… That’s more or less what I did with my last two cars. But I called them. “I want this model in this trim and this color” My Wife has done the same. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/67 "2023-09-30T13:09:39Z")
about fifteen years ago I bought my Weber Performer charcoal grill from Amazon. I see that they are still available, if more expensive: [Weber Performer](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=weber+performer+grill&hvadid=557582400458&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9024578&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=9576085086641785691&hvtargid=kwd-192493756&hydadcr=15278_13496743&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_5vs0agv3e9_e) ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/68 "2023-09-30T16:58:10Z")
In the last 2 months I have ordered a saddle pad, hair conditioner, riding tights, furniture leg pads. I rarely buy books and if I do, I go to a local bookstore. I bought the saddle pad and tights because there is no tack store near me. No local store carries the conditioner and I was too lazy to go to Ace for the furniture leg pads. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/69 "2023-09-30T19:05:26Z")
Just today my wife went to the hardware store to look for a mop with a wringer - and couldn’t find one. So we’re buying on Amazon. Also a step stool, since I found yesterday ours was broken (after 15 years or so) and I forgot to tell her to look for one. And an RCA to TCL TV adapter. With no Radio Shack or Fry’s anymore, I don’t even know where to find one. And filters for the range hood. Before that I ordered razor blade cartridges since Gillette seems unable to keep either the supermarket or drug store supplied with them, and flossers, also no longer available. The real benefit comes at Christmas time, when we can send the presents to our daughter’s house in Indiana and not worry about bringing them on the plane or shipping them. So much easier. ---
**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:** [September 30, 2023, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/70 "2023-09-30T19:31:52Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > when we can send the presents to our daughter’s house in Indiana and not worry about bringing them on the plane or shipping them. So much easier. A friend of mine owns a UPS store. He says Amazon has effectively killed his Christmas season present-shipping spike. Damn near nobody walks in during early Dec to ship holiday stuff any more. He still gets a big spike of inbound holiday packages for his PO box renters just like before, but now they come straight from Amazon, Walmart online, etc., rather than from private citizens shipping to here from other UPS stores, post offices, etc. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/71 "2023-09-30T20:45:19Z")
Today I received, from Amazon, 24 bars of Irish Spring, 12 sticks of Degree antiperspirant, and six tubes of toothpaste. Available locally, but why bother? ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/72 "2023-09-30T20:49:50Z")
Perhaps to support the local economy. Provide jobs, etc? ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/73 "2023-10-01T04:02:36Z")
On the Twelfth day of Prime Shopping, my True love gave to me… 12 drums of car wax, 11 bathroom fixtures, 10 furnace filters, 9 bags of candy, 8 spiral notebooks, 7 books on fixing, 6 fleece parkas, 5 GOLDEN RINGS! 4 calling cards, 3 French pens, 2 Turtlenecks and A par-cooked duck fricassee! ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/74 "2023-10-01T04:23:15Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > 5 GOLDEN RINGS! 5 Golden Ring Cameras! (Amazon bought Ring, in case you weren’t aware) ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/75 "2023-10-01T04:24:47Z")
Look, it’s late, I’ve had a couple of drinks, and not musically inclined. Get one of our songsters if ya want the good stuff! 😜 ---
**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:** [October 1, 2023, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/76 "2023-10-01T13:21:29Z")
I’d sooner believe 5 gold-_plated_ rings, but whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/77 "2023-10-01T17:56:53Z")
Every morning I eat a porridge made with chia, hemp, pumpkin seeds and oatmeal. Locally, I can only find small containers of chia and hemp seeds, but I can get 3lbs bags on Amazon that last for a very long time. I also bought a gallon jug of body wash and a refillable bottle. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/78 "2023-10-01T17:58:00Z")
I just bought some glasses for the annular eclipse that’s going over my head on Oct 14th. Next day delivery. Amazon is not completely immune to counterfeit products, but they are Celestron branded and sold by Amazon (not a third party), so I think that’s pretty safe. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/79 "2023-10-02T14:48:23Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > Shipping, not to ME, but to others! Yes! I forgot to mention this. During the plague, I was able to have my mom’s Mother’s Day gifts delivered to her. Just last week my grandson who lives over 2 hours away, asked if gramps had an old heavy bag laying around that he could have.(No he wasn’t referring to me 🤣 I’m not very heavy! He wants to use it for boxing/working out.) I told him we would buy him one. So I went to Amazon, found the heavy bag and set it up to be delivered to his door - bing, bang, boom! ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799/80 "2023-10-02T18:08:38Z")
To echo what others have said, we buy just about every damned thing off Amazon. It’s a rare day that I don’t get one or more packages from them. The exceptions are groceries (although since COVID we now order those for pick up from Whole Foods, so _Amazon_ I guess) most clothing except things like socks, and specialty hobby/electronics that Amazon often has but doesn’t have wide coverage for. Stuff like ham radio equipment, film and darkroom supplies, kayaking stuff, used camera gear. Much of it is pure laziness (or economy of time and fuel as I prefer to think of it). I do make trips to Target, Costco, the local grocery, Home Depot, but most of the time the need is not immediate. I don’t care when I get replacement bottles of household cleaning supplies as long as I’m not already out. But I am buying things that I could also get locally. Where I really see the value of Amazon is with things I can’t get in this small town. I need some very specific LEDs and capacitors for a guitar pedal? There’s no electronics parts store nearby but tomorrow’s fine. Can’t get the oil filter cartridge for my car? Amazon will get it to me tomorrow. My wife says she used to know what hobbies I was working on by what magazines I would bring home. Now she says she knows by what’s in the Amazon box. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-buying-on-amazon-and-why/990799.md?page=5)