Alternatives to...

[rebeccmeister]

I think my sister is the person who shared a link to this website:

https://www.bankrupttrump.org/

I've been trying to avoid the Jungle for shopping as much as I can, anyway. I am unsurprised but mad about the recent change where they will no longer sell you a copy of any ebooks you buy through them - ebooks are now rent-only. I didn't care for the Jungle's monopolistic behavior or its greedy owner full of greed prior to that, but these kinds of changes solidify my sentiments.

And similar sentiments extend to a number of other large corporations.

But for some categories of things, it can be really challenging to figure out alternative suppliers anymore. For instance, recently I ordered some things from some plastics manufacturer, and they sent along Jesus propaganda with the order. Ugh, what. And now I'd like to shop for plastic spray bottle nozzles (which seem to always break before the bottle does), but definitely not from that company. It took until this morning for a lightbulb to go off: I can probably get that item from McMaster-Carr instead. Is McMaster-Carr any better, though? (head explodes). I guess at least so far they haven't sent me religious propaganda.

Anyway. If people are serious about this boycotting business, it would probably help to provide ideas for alternative places to shop!

Comments

[awwaiid]

Maybe one idea is to use the site for making a list and then going to each manufacturer. I guess many don't sell direct.

[sytharin]

This. I've had pretty good success buying direct from the original maker -- sometimes the price is notably higher, sometimes it's about the same -- and I find that's an option about 75% of the time. Why reward the middleman?

[coffeetime]

I have to shop with Bullethead Bezos about once every 1-2 months, and I am just riding out my soon-to-expire membership. I currently have a cartload of stuff that it's just crazy expensive to buy elsewhere. I have a friend who absolutely refuses to order from there, but she needs a special part for a baseboard heater and this is the only vendor that has it, so I have offered to put that on my order and let her take me out for coffee. Once my membership has expired, I'll order as rarely as possible, but it does seem unlikely that I'll never order there again. It's definitely not a fun shopping excursion for me.

As I am currently laid up and unable to drive (at least it's only temporary), AND my COA dues went up $55 per month this year and my homeowner's insurance is going up at least 60%, I have perspective. I have a hard time judging people who live more remotely and/or don't have transportation to shopping areas, are disabled (not everyone can bike, especially year round), have a lower income, etc. I think most of us would love to completely abstain from this reptilian bastard's money tree, but owing to the state of the country, many people cannot. Same thing with shopping at Walmart.

[rebeccmeister]

Really good point, that making these kinds of shopping changes is far easier for some folks than others. I get frustrated with the limits to the shopping options here in Albany, but they're still generally better than for many people in many parts of the country, especially those who live in food deserts.

[sytharin]

It's definitely tough to sort through every possible vendor to find the least bad option. I don't think people should beat themselves up too much if they have to just give up and buy something they need. I'm starting to search for boycott resources that suggest useful alternatives to fascist companies, intending to compile my own list, but I don't expect it to be comprehensive.

I don't buy from Amaz*n any more in my personal life, but I do have to use them (and Uline, and other known Bad Places) when purchasing for work. I can try to search for alternatives but it's hard to push against the grain of a company that is hyperfocused on finances at the moment. So I am just living with that dischord.

[sytharin]

By the way, I looked up McMaster-Carr's political donation history, and it's pretty benign. Seems like a safe choice. (The contrast with Uline is... striking.)

[rebeccmeister]

Thanks so much for this!