Is it just me, or has Amazon really improved for COmputer components and accessories? Yes they don't have everything, but what they do have sometimes is just unbeatable, I've bought a whole set of Razer gear, Edifier speakers, and Ryzen from them already! Bad news for local retailers as Amazon AU can even get USA parts at a good price and good shipping times…..
Just a small correction/addition - Amazon Flex is a program for very small contractors that can earn some money by delivering Amazon packages. Amazon Logistics is the logistics network, this is what they use for in-house deliveries in the US, Canada and Europe.
Also, Amazon already deliveries some packages in Victoria under its own "Amazon Logistics" brand. At least that's what Amazon delivery dispatch emails say sometimes.
Whether they will start using Amazon Logistics in Australia almost exclusively (like they do in the UK for example) or not - time will tell. It depends on negotiations with Australia Post.
They aren't the world's biggest retailer for no reason. I think Australia is a bit behind the curve, but in the US, Amazon is legitimately huge, much bigger than what you probably imagine. You could go an entire year without buying anything from anyone other than Amazon.
Even petrol for my car?
but their packaging become very bad lately. i had few broken items due to poor packaging. anyone had this problem?
Quite the opposite for me, I find they overpack many of the things I order. Small items have come in a large box with lots of air cushions around.
I honestly can't in good conscience use Amazon for my online purchases. their business model and how they treat their staff like cattle really rub me the wrong way. I know they're great at what they do, and completely understand why consumers love them, but I personally really feel like it's selling your soul to the devil. Whats interesting is i felt the same way when i was hearing about how bad Walmart were…. funny how times change.
I honestly can't in good conscience use Amazon for my online purchases. their business model and how they treat their staff like cattle really rub me the wrong way. I know they're great at what they do, and completely understand why consumers love them, but I personally really feel like it's selling your soul to the devil.
As much as what you're saying is true, human society for the privileged few (of which everyone in Australia most certainly is, on a worldwide scale), has always been built on the back of the labour of the unprivileged majority.
You can rail Amazon however much you want, but you're probably doing so on a smartphone built in a Chinese factory with working conditions far worse than Amazon, using electricity mined by coal miners who will get lung cancer, whilst wearing clothes sewn in a sweatshop somewhere in South Asia.
I'm not making arguments for or against the morality of what Amazon does, but if you're worried about "selling your soul to the devil" by buying from Amazon, don't worry about it, you've sold your soul to the devil long ago.
Whatabboutism doesn't help your argument much. You have to draw the line somewhere, you can't win all battles, but you can at least try to do better.
I never criticised your decision to not purchase from Amazon. It's a free market, you purchase from who you want.
I just think it's rich to say purchasing from Amazon is "selling your soul to the devil" as you text your friends on a phone made in a Chinese factory where workers have no rights, wearing clothes sewn in sweatshops. You can criticise Amazon's business practices objectively without taking a faux moral stand. If you want to make it a moral issue, you have to at least be consistent.
@ProlapsedHeinous: No I get it, people like to do things that make themselves feel good and look like good people whilst being completely hypocritical.
You can keep using your phone made in a Chinese sweatshop to tell everyone what a great person you are because you don't shop at Amazon.
I built myself a new PC only a couple of weeks back. I ended up buying locally from PC Case Gear. I looked at Amazon but I won't buy there unless it is supplied and fulfilled by Amazon. Other wise it can be difficult with warranty.
Had something delivered from Amazon the other door; young guy in his own clothes, no bright vest etc, hoodie so I couldn't see his face from my window. Staring into his phone the whole time, being monitored in real time perhaps?
Left my package by the front door, and he drove away quickly in a small unmarked sedan.
Amazon does underclass well.
Amazon don't supply them any clothing so why would they spend their own money on it? There's a docco on youtube I think showing how bad it is.
That could be anyone from StarTrack to Couriers Please at the moment. Parcel freight is overloaded so heaps of casuals using their phones and their own cars to deliver packages. It's an everyone problem, not an amazon problem.
This is pretty much Amazon's way of business and growth. 2 years ago they barely had any stock of anything then started growing and growing. We've had some great price matching deals, especially in the books and games area and now they've branched out to other tech, gadgets, lighting etc. They'll become consistently cheapest place to get stuff with Prime delivery.
Eventually they'll become ubiquitous and we'll order almost everything from them. From TVs to rice. Clothes to screws. Gadgets to makeup. It's been that way in the UK for a while and I'm sure USA for longer.
They'll eventually setup their own logistics delivery network and internal courier service (called Amazon Flex in other countries). What is currently few days delivery to CBD will become 3 days guarenteed then eventually will be next day, then same day by 9PM and then finally get most items delivered within 1-2 hours of order in large cities.
Same will inevitably happen here as they're investing heavily (e.g. huge new logistics warehouse under construction in Moorebank for intermodal freight). I look forward to it.