Reminder: The Amazon Blackout Starts Tomorrow
It's only for a week and YOU CAN DO IT!!! If we ALLLLLL do it, it will definitely make an impact on the only thing Jeff understands: MONEY.
The Amazon blackout is this Friday, 7 March through 14 March. That means buy NOTHING on Amazon, don’t use their products (e.g. books, music, videos, Amazon Prime on your TV), don’t use your Prime credit card anywhere (they make money on each transaction) and don’t go to Whole Foods.
At least, I thought that was the list, until I found this:
Source for the above graphic, with lots more information here.
I was so sad to find out they owned AbeBooks. I’d been buying there, but, mea culpa, I didn’t know. Sigh.
You likely won’t be able to completely avoid AWS, because so many companies use it, and it’s in the background from what you interact with as an end-user.
I’ve read over the years that it takes 3 weeks to make a habit stick. For a lot of us (me included) we’ve developed a habit of “I want X” —> go to Amazon —> select, click, and you’ve got it the next day. (Earlier, if it’s medicine.)
So here’s my plan for the blackout week, and going forward.
I’m putting a rubber band on my wrist, and if I accidentally go to Amazon, I’m going to snap it. (That’ll teach me…)
I AM going to Amazon and canceling all of the automatic (“Subscribe and Save”) deliveries I receive. Over the next few weeks, I’ll look into other places from which to source these items. I recognize that this is a financial hit since the items were all cheaper on Amazon.
I have marked my calendar with when my Prime subscription expires, and I’ll cancel the week before: you don’t get any money back, so it doesn’t pay to cancel in advance, JUST IN CASE there’s something that only Amazon has.
The next part is harder. (Your mileage will certainly vary on this one.) On a regular basis, I procure various vitamins, supplements, OTC meds and other medical supplies. In all cases, ordering through Amazon is substantially less expensive than buying anywhere else. Finding new sources is going to be tough1.
Finally, learning to prioritize “shopping” over Amazon for one-off items like birthday presents.
Point is, I’m personally using the blackout as part of the process of weaning off Amazon. And while it’s a matter of principle, and I detest Jeff, on a daily basis, it will be a hassle.
What are YOUR plans?
No, Costco is not cheaper. And since the manufacturers are different and thus would need to be ordered from different sites, the shipping costs really add up. Ordering from Amazon is 40 - 50% cheaper.
Recent research shows improvement in sense of well-being from casual social encounters out in the world of cafes and shops. So look at shopping in person in these terms…cultivate being pleasant to cashiers, baristas, salespeople. You’ll feel better & they’ll feel better.And as for maximizing savings, CVS coupons, which if you have their $5 monthly quasi-membership, you get a lot of, will help. I like to go in person since it’s nearby, but you can get pickup or delivery. It’s still a disgustingly powerful huge corporation but it’s not owned by Bezos
It won’t be hard for me since zoo don’t buy a lot of stuff on line or from Smazon. But I have friends who regularly do. I’ll also check my mail room on a daily basis to see if there’s decrease at my retirement community.
Will you be posting (public) on FB so the world sees it? Thanks for the research.