and btw the shipping is NOT free. someone is paying for it

are paying for it.

and tons of people on here support him for that, but someone who actually deals with this every day like me, crickets. Pathetic. This is where y'all fail, and fail miserably. Real world crap that actually means something to people, to their lives, and nothing. Or almost nothing. I'm trying to build lives for my employees, to make them better, happier, more of what we need, and yall are too busy retweeting crap that doesn't help at all, whatever your favorite politician says about this is worthless compared to you actually going to the store and buying what you need and supporting them. Period.

To most of them its just a job and for a lot of them not a high paying job and that I am lucky to have them there to help. In our line of business a lot of the employees get outside work so I am as flexible as I can be to accommodate them. I have even covered their shifts while doing my own job quite a few times for them. I have worked open to close many times when someone calls out and there is no one to cover so that they dont get stressed out. I have promoted quite a few people and even helped people get promoted to store managers. Helped them financially when they need it, support them when life gets rough, buy lunches for everyone when we win awards, give bonuses out of my own pocket, and always help them when they ask for it even on my days off.

When I want to buy a book or some other item, I check Amazon for reviews. Then I find a local retailer to go to and buy the item. Does anyone else do that?

I would turn off my TV manually, too, if I could find the on/off button. I have a fan with a remote, a concept that completely trips me out. A fan with a remote?!

I’ve heard many say they shop there because it’s cheaper and they’re on a budget. I’m on a budget and the monthly fee for Prime is too high, their products are often not cheaper and since I used it I frequently, I gave it up some time ago. Even with their Subscribe and Save, those prices can go up from one shipment to the next (happened to me, but just once) and the Pantry encourages further buying to fill a box. I can do better and feel better by buying locally. I’m sure Amazon won’t miss me 😬.

If you're buying current best-sellers, by all means go to Costco, B&N, or a local independent bookseller if one still exists. But quite awhile back I decided to track down hardcover copies of my two favorite authors -- then decided to go for the gold and get signed firsts. All roads led to Amazon and Amazon.UK and out again. Sooner or later most vendors ended up there. You try that in a smallish city.

But I won't buy clothes (barring T-shirts) or shoes or jewelry or food unless I can handle them in person.

destruction of a significant element of healthy communities. Small businesses in America have always been one of the primary places where people met to chat, gossip and share fears, hopes and emotions - in essence, our commons and our fabric. In my youth, these were feed stores, hardware stores and family owned grocery stores and restaurants that supplemented town halls, schools and churches. We have lost most of that unity of people as a community today.

Since Big K and K-Mart, then Walmart came to town back in the 60s, I've seen much of the friendly nature of small towns and urban communities become less friendly, and more self-centered and money driven. Therefore, we're less interested in doing things as a community and more interested in the individual or "self".

Wealthy investors, bankers, plutocrats, autocrats and oligarchs of the world would prefer we do absolutely nothing as a group but instead exist in an "every man is an island" mode, which makes us far easier to influence and control. In their world, every home would be armed to the teeth, have chain-link fences and security cameras all about, and with nothing but an internet connection to the outside world.

......... .........

you mean small local stores that will make me my waste time and fuel driving to for a much smaller selection, served by a clerk (if you can find one) whose attitude may not be optimal. The price for any local retailer will be higher. I will be expected to carry my goods and deliver them to my house (shipping and handling) and should there be any problem I will be expected to reverse the process and argue for a refund?

Amazon is Amazon because of what it does right. As to worker rights, that's why we need Democrats legislating and enforcing labor laws. You imply a virtue to local retail I fail to recognize...

If not they can order if for you and even ship it to your house. That helps the retail store because the sale goes to the store and they can employ people. If there is a problem with the order they can place a ups return tag so that ups comes by to pick it up from you. A lot of stores will price match for you also.

without it.

What do I do when what I need is only available from Amazon and there are no substitutes? It's not available locally, so do I drive 1500 miles to buy it "locally"? Or do I order it online? Or do I simply do without?


Inquiring minds want to know....

The sale goes to that store then.