How to Shop on Holidays Without Amazon
Amazon offers everything you can imagine at prices that are usually better than the competition. But there are a few things that just aren’t right for getting a 12-pack of paper towels or whatever you want delivered in two days (or less).
It may be the high injury rate at some of the company’s warehouses, especially during the busy holiday haul season, that prompted 600 workers to apply for additional breaks during their shift. Or reports of grueling work quotas that injure employees far more than other warehouses. Or on Prime Day, the strike of fulfillment center workers demanding better working conditions. Or the company’s plans to develop a facial recognition policy to pass on to legislators.
Perhaps you were about to leave Amazon or you have already taken the plunge. But now the holidays have come. What should a buyer do who is looking for good deals and knows the time? Can you avoid buying Amazon when you are shopping for holiday gifts?
This. You just need to get used to it.
Compare offers elsewhere
If your loved ones have provided detailed wishlists to make your holiday shopping easier, most of your job will be comparing prices online instead of using Amazon’s default convenience. I recommend two methods of comparing prices if you know what you want to buy.
Check out Slickdeals to enter a product name and see the best online prices; if there is a coupon with a limited expiration date, you will see a deal warning below the search results.
Another option is to simply enter the product name in Google Shopping . A recent search for a raincoat that I was planning to buy as a gift offered 19 options for large stores, specialty stores, and some websites that I hadn’t heard of before. It’s pretty reliable for quick searches.
Once you get an idea of the pricing of a product and where you can buy it, you can check for cash back discounts and free shipping offers to maximize your savings.
Choose Amazon Alternatives
Dad asks you for an Amazon Echo? Maybe Google Home would be good for him to check the weather every morning. A teenage bookworm begs for Kindle? Change it to Kobo or Nook. Thinking of a Ring video intercom? How about skipping this !
There was a time when Amazon was the leader in many categories of personal technology. But in recent years, the playing field has leveled off , giving you more options when you want to buy a device that can make life easier or a little more fun. This nifty gadget doesn’t have to be Amazon-made to be useful or attractive.
Try slower delivery
So you’ve packed your virtual cart at some other online store and now it’s time to pay for it all. How quickly do you really need these packages to arrive at your place? While many retailers offer free one-day or two-day shipping on holidays, others require you to pay if you want your packages to be faster.
If you’re not shopping at the last minute, try choosing an option that is a few days slower than you would normally choose. You probably won’t notice the difference.
When I left Amazon Prime last year, I found it hardest to get used to living without two-day shipping. But over time, I learned to be more comfortable planning the things I expected to be needed. At the same time, many large stores (Walmart, Target) offer faster delivery without the reputation built around Amazon’s shipping methods .
Check out local shops
I’ve heard this complaint before, and I’ve even made it myself: You drag yourself to a local salesperson – maybe a bookstore or a street shop – only to find that they don’t have what you need. Before you get discouraged in the middle of a store, save time and effort by calling your local stores before getting in your car.
The sales rep will be happy to know if they have the desired item in the size or variety you are hunting, and if it is not available, he will probably be able to tell you when it is in stock. They will also likely be able to pick up the item for you when it becomes available, or specially order it to be shipped to their store at no additional cost to you. Yes, it does take a phone call and some planning. But if you’re looking for good service this holiday season, it might be a good idea to take your gift list to a local store.
Don’t worry about perfection
Even if you stop shopping at Whole Foods, throw Ring’s doorbell in the trash, and boycott Fleabag , it’s almost impossible to avoid Amazon entirely.
The company is involved in many areas of our digital – and increasingly physical – life, and if you are not going to pay with cash only, in person, forever, without any research for your purchases, there is a good chance that you will run into Amazon or one of its services. But you can take small steps to stay away from Amazon, at least when it comes to buying gifts.