This week, I posted on my personal Facebook page on Amazon's Prime Day:
I don't post frequently enough anymore, so if this makes me seem judgy or I arrogant, I'm sorry! I understand the appeal of Amazon for everything they offer, convenience & prices etc. But honestly, Amazon 👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻 is the worst.
Here is the statistic I was sharing along with this comment: "During the pandemic, Jeff Bezos became $97 billion richer by increasing prices by up to 1,000% on essential items and denying hazard pay and paid sick leave to over 450,000 of his workers." (ref.)
A thoughtful friend commented with honesty,
"Could you share some more of your insights about Amazon. I don’t disagree that their model is terrible but I also haven’t been convinced enough to forgo the crazy convenience of it.
Here is the response I posted. I really had no intention to share this here! But, several friends sent me messages afterwards, and I thought this might strike a similar chord with you. It's not a research paper; just a conversation between friends.
Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn, NY during the American Booksellers Association's #BoxedOut campaign (during Prime Week); photos via Greenlight's Facebook page
Thanks for all the information and sharing your chat with friends. I have always preferred to buy locally where I could…. Kantha blankets aren’t local here 😘….. I was not personally aware of Amazon’s treatment to their employees or the price increase for essentials being shipped!! I have forwarded this for my kids to read as well. I am very proud of you for everything you are doing to improve carbon footprint and fair treatment for all.
Thank you, Shelley! You put into words my long held opinion. Thank you for solidifying my opinion with some facts.
The threat of technology to our humanness is no new fear (hello, Blade Runner! …actually: goodbye, you are a super boring movie 😆). But, there seems to be an acute crisis of our current cultural moment, as we relate to technology.
Here is just a fraction of writings from the past month addressing this:
With so much pain, brokenness, ugliness in the world, attention to beauty, joy, & wonder is absolutely necessary!
Beauty may not solve problems itself... A stunning photograph will not end famine or war. Banksy's graffiti art does not solve Middle eastern contested-land conflicts.
But, the restoration, hope, and inspiration that come from creativity and beauty are like gas in the tank — fuel for the drivers & changers of the world.
We don’t receive a lot of returned items, but it does happen. Of course! There is some degree of risk in shopping online, always.
Stores take different approaches to return policies, sometimes with great sophistication in how it will impact your willingness to purchase. Here's a little peek at what I've learned over the years (as a customer and also as a retailer) about return policies.
Rebecca Gafuik
November 28, 2020
I would prefer not to shop at Amazon at all and I do try to find what I’m looking for at a smaller store but sometimes there are certain items I just can’t find anywhere else. Thanks for sharing and giving me more reason to be careful where I shop.