Bl##dy Amazon

[SteveTibbetts]

I did think about Amazon Prime but realized I've never had a delivery take longer than 48hours, unless direct from a Chinese seller. Even once ordering on a Saturday morning and getting the item hand delivered on Sunday.
I've never had a problem returning, canceling or otherwise disputing any transaction with them either.

I did cancel their video streaming service though as i found I could watch a film on anything other than the big Telly in the living room.

And now they've made me write to a Forum defending a huge capitalist tax dodging slave employing corporation too!

 

[121]

On the other hand depending on how much you use it it is great! Next day delivery even on Sunday. Free tv stuff on lovefilm, and now free unlimited photo storage.

Of course you may think that Amazon are evil and you shouldn't use them as they are wiping out local business, grinding authors in to the ground, expoiting their warehouse workers, getting subsidies from the government (6 million in dunfermline apparently!) whilst avoiding all UK corporation tax.

Great service though and apparently thats progress!!

Absolutely right. All it takes is a few more minutes to find a more ethical retailer than these scum and match their prices.

Google and Ebay are no better... Funny how they're all American; see a trend??

 

[Burnham Bob]

I have used amazon for ages. Never been trapped by the Prime trial. But it's a salutary lesson to make sure you read everything on a website before pressing the button.

Amazon have always offered me great prices, a choice of goods and a first class after sales service. Are Amazon evil? Or is the way we shop changing? Maybe the corner shops of my childhood saw Tesco and Sainsbury as evil and driving them out of business. I also shop on ebay. How many of us think of how the supermarkets screw farmers when we buy fresh food? How many of us disapprove of battery chickens but buy the eggs and the cheap chickens?

Who decides the ethics of shopping? The consumers who demand low prices, excellent service and fast delivery? When big retailers use their power to deliver what consumers want - is that ethical or unethical?

And don't let's forget that the Co-Op is the best possible example of buying power. The workers put their purchasing power together and beat the capitalists at their own game. And if they beat suppliers down was that ethical?

 

[RobbieW]

One thing that is unethical, though mostly legal, is companies that duck, dive, twist and turn to avoid paying taxes in the countries where they take their revenues

 

[Ravi]

|If anyone is thinking of ordering PRIME for their limited range of free streamed movies. I tried it tonight and found the streaming quality to be so poor that the movie was unwatchable. (During these 'lockout' periods, other streaming services which I tested on the laptop were working fine, so it is the Amazon streaming that is the problem.)

 

[Fantasie 19]

I have used amazon for ages. Never been trapped by the Prime trial. But it's a salutary lesson to make sure you read everything on a website before pressing the button.

Amazon have always offered me great prices, a choice of goods and a first class after sales service. Are Amazon evil? Or is the way we shop changing? Maybe the corner shops of my childhood saw Tesco and Sainsbury as evil and driving them out of business. I also shop on ebay. How many of us think of how the supermarkets screw farmers when we buy fresh food? How many of us disapprove of battery chickens but buy the eggs and the cheap chickens?

Who decides the ethics of shopping? The consumers who demand low prices, excellent service and fast delivery? When big retailers use their power to deliver what consumers want - is that ethical or unethical?

And don't let's forget that the Co-Op is the best possible example of buying power. The workers put their purchasing power together and beat the capitalists at their own game. And if they beat suppliers down was that ethical?

Well said... Amazon (and others) will be following whatever rules that apply to them to the letter - they have very good lawyers and accountants to ensure they do.. don't blame Amazon - blame the numpty governments and legislators who make tax rules and laws that those clever folks could drive a double decker London bus through surely??

 

[markhomer]

im saving my prime offer for xmas so that i get prompt free delivery of pressies bought from amazon as i have done last two years , thanks amazon for this opportunity , i shall off course cancell prime before i have to pay .

ive always had great products and service from amazon

if you dont like em fair enough ,

ps i avoid amazon sellers , would rather use ebay and paypal in that scenario

oh as for coop , they are consistantly the worst supermarkets in w.o.s , and regularily over charge , dont apply offers etc , but dont get me going on that one .

 

[ditchcrawler]

A friend of mine won't buy from Amazon at all.He tried to convince me to stop.I put the following to him.

Amazon are doing what lots of companies do and that is take advantage of whatever tax laws are in place.(Helped by Luxembourg and the EU it seems).

If they pay more tax they will put up their prices and I will pay more for goods.

If I pay more in tax then the Government will give it to people from other countries or people who come here from other countries who do not deserve it.

So at present I consider it a win/win. I get to keep more of my pension and it is not wasted by the government.

(This is purely a personal view)

 

[robp]

I seem to be a Prime member and never paid for it. I think they ran some kind of promo years ago!

Whatever the rights and wrongs, and there are certainly a few either way, they are much better to deal on than Fleabay. I made an error and simply ordered the wrong type of item. Called them by phone (yes by phone) and the guy helped find the right item for me, confirmed it whilst on the phone, shipped it and sent a free label for return of my mistake. All despite me telling him that I'd just keep it as it was my fault.

As for Ebay, you're on your own after 45 days. Seems that sellers who don't honour warranty have immunity after that. Not a nice place to buy.

 

[Burnham Bob]

none of us would pay tax we don't have to - and neither does amazon. agree with the post that says if you make rubbish tax laws with big loopholes you get clever lawyers finding the ways to avoid tax. Ireland is currently being investigated by the EEC for dubious tax breaks. As for the Co-op I agree that the current incarnation would make the founding fathers weep. what they did was rooted in hard headed commercial thinking to get a better deal for working people. during the recent governance discussions it emerged that today's board are appointees from various left wing organisations, and one was described as being more concerned with the rights of battery chickens than running a retail organisation. and don't put me down as a right wing UKIP sympathiser. these days the people that run the labour party would make the founders of the welfare state and the NHS spin in their graves. rant over, returning to fond memories of protest marches in the 60s.........