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Jeff Bezos trying to own and rule the world. I avoid using Amazon most of the time. People think theyāre less expensive than others online and theyāre not. Oh, and āfree shippingā after you pay $119 a year for membership.
When my wife and I buy books (and we buy a LOT of books!) we always try to support independent booksellers.
For years, weāve purchased from ABE (āAdvanced Book Exchangeā). Itās a clearinghouse for small, mom-and-pop book stores all over the world.
Although Amazon eventually gobbled it up in 2008, itās still a lifeline for countless independents.
I wonāt post a link, in case it would violate the TOS (you can easily find it online), but I encourage you to buy through this subsidiary, if you can find what you need, rather than Amazon directly.
I have never had a bad experience with them.
Thank you for that. I was just thinking today that Iām almost in desperate need of some new books to read. Anything to distract.
I almost bought something from Abe this morning - I had no idea Amazon had bought them out.
Iāve tried to contact both our local small indie bookstores and they are not answering emails or phone.
What city are you in or near? I can work my exBorder network for suggestions for you or anyone elseās location.
This is going to get worse as Amazon experiences an explosion in orders as people start to get their $1200 checks and many unwisely choose to splurge instead of save or use it to pay bills or debt. My parents just got theirs on Friday, as paper checks (despite the IRS being able to obtain their DD info from Social Security), and Iām due to receive mine via DD next week.
Ok, I did āsplurgeā, on $12 magnifying eyeglasses to use to remove splinters that I seem to get with some regularity, that with my aging eyes I can no longer remove without magnification (also to use to solder tiny components). And I might buy a pair of Bluetooth earphones when they go on sale again for $30 so that my solitary runs arenāt painfully boring as I try to stay in shape during the pandemic.
Iāve heard rumors that heās just commissioned the creation of millions of clone troopers and droid fighters so they can fight each other and bring such chaos and misery to the galaxy that everyone will look to him to save them. Oh, wait, thatās the plotline to the Star Wars prequel trilogyā¦
Just adding this.
Amazon To Hire 100,000 Workers To Meet āSurge In Demandā
March 16, 20206:08 PM ET
Run into their vans going to and from work,constantly.
Thatās gotta do a number both on your insurance rates and on auto repair costsā¦
c_t
Leave it to you 
If you properly maintain your vehicle and itās in decent shape to begin with that shouldnāt be a huge concern with most modern vehicles. Even insurance shouldnāt have to go up much if youāre careful. And in any case the additional costs will likely be covered by the additional pay. Iād be far more concerned with catching the virus due to all the exposure to coworkers, customers and surfaces.
Sorry, itās the English major in me, canāt help reading all possible meaningsā¦
A twofer
While listening to NPR they were discussing states that are opening up more businesses. What struck me was that Abbott of Texas was opening up retail stores to continue business but only for online orders and curbside pick. Well thatās all great and good, but how are those stores going to handle returns? And I mean it in practical steps the store will have to go through. If I buy a pair of shoes, and I take them home to try on, discover that they donāt fit, call the store to return them, how will the store deal with return through a cash register, and will they have to separate that merchandise from all the other stock for how many days? How does one disinfect a new pair of blue suede shoes?
And here is another way to support indy bookstores.
https://bookshop.org/pages/about
Publishers, authors, and booksellers all wave a hand to say, āWelcome to the party.ā
Years ago Amazon used a shipping status called āSpecial orderā to shut small presses and even large publishers out of their sales ranking when they wouldnāt accept pricing and/or exclusivity demands.
Their tactics will always benefit them and their market share. The house always wins.
Apologies if hared before - thereās also https://www.indiebound.org/
You have to watch where you are directed with Indiebound.org. I looked up a suggestion a friend gave and when I checked their online ordering it goes through ABE, which is now owned by Amazon.