BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!

Subject: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 06:09 AM

I'm sure that we and many other people would have found life in lockdown very difficult without the extraordinary service provided by Amazon!!

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 06:15 AM

Mixed feelings here. I prefer to be grateful for all those harassed and badly-paid delivery drivers, and the people who have to rush around massive, charmless warehouses in order to meet their near-impossible targets to get the stuff to us.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jack Campin
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 06:16 AM

Brutal exploitative shits. It was obvious where they were headed from the very start and I have never bought anything from them.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 06:19 AM

We've sort of covered it in three little posts!

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: The Sandman
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 06:28 AM

Amazon , i never use them , why should i thank them. i would rather thank the doctors and nurses

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 07:20 AM

Amazon consists of hundreds of thousands of low-paid workers in vast, soulless warehouses, sorting, gathering, packing and labelling the stuff we order before loading it on to trucks or vans, to be brought to us by an army of low-paid delivery drivers, all of these workers forced to stick to extremely tight, inhuman schedules. Oh, and a few highly-paid big knobs in offices (including squads of accountants to make sure that Amazon pays as little tax as possible so that the company can compete with the high street on unfair terms). Stuff that the millions of us who use Amazon don't see. We're good at "not seeing things." We don't see what happens to what we flush down the bog and probably don't care. We eat eggs and chickens without worrying too much how the birds were treated in their short lives. We simply see those neat little cleaned-up fillets, sitting several abreast in innocent-looking film-covered plastic trays in Tesco. We aren't that bothered about that packaging either, as long as the bin man takes it every week. When we turn up the heating to get the house cosy, we don't see the pollution churned out by the power stations that enable us to do it.

We have rights, you see...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Senoufou
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 07:36 AM

We too have been very grateful for Amazon. We've bought quite a few things during lockdown which we couldn't have obtained otherwise. (Mainly DIY stuff)
We always give the courier a tenner for his efforts, and a bar of chocolate/cupcake etc. And we're always happy to take in our neighbours' deliveries if needed. (Tenner tip just the same)
Amazon's site is easy to navigate (I'm a bit dim on the computer!), wide choice, good prices, swift delivery. Never had any problems.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 08:00 AM

"Brutal exploitative shits. It was obvious where they were headed from the very start and I have never bought anything from them."

Getting offended on behalf of the drivers who are almost certainly grateful for the work are we??????????????????

My wife is disabled and cannot do shopping when I am at work (at 74) so Jack Campin and Sandman - I'm sure that we and many other people would have found life in lockdown very difficult without the extraordinary service provided by Amazon!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 08:18 AM

Not black and white though, is it, Bonzo?

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 08:33 AM

We have both black and white drivers, some more polite than others.

So the tax question which really winds up lefties - corporation tax is paid on taxable profit. A smart company will set up a holding company in a low tax state. The holding company will charge a royalty on every sale for use of the name Amazon, which under current UK legislation is tax deductible. Get the picture?

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 08:39 AM

Oh, good, another thread set up for the purpose of arguing. Like we don't have enough of those.

Amazon is what it has become because people use it. I can look at my total purchase history; I first bought books for graduate school there in 1996.

Alabama is, I think, the first state with a warehouse on the cusp of unionizing, and hopefully that will continue. Bezos needs to spread the wealth more equitably and they need to stop with the warehouses run by contractors who hire without having to follow Amazon's rules for other employees and who depress wages to increase their profits. Those who work in the corporate other offices are generally paid well but work very hard until they burnout. Family experience speaks to that.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Mrrzy
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 09:08 AM

When I am grateful to Amazon it is the worker drones I am thanking, not the executives.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jeri
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 10:05 AM

...and as they slam over to an extreme view...well, I'll just ignore it.

I've been thankful for them. Currently, though, I ordered a set of watercolor paints (it's the manufacturer's #3 set)
Thursday, I got a package. Of 3 sets of acrylic paints, manufacturer's #1.
I filled out the thing on Amazon, got the QR code, and on Friday,I drove the wrong ones 20 miles to the UPS store, where they were sent back.
The'd sent the replacement out on Thursday, and on Friday, it arrived.
Guess what - same wrong thing again.
I figure they have someone working in the warehouse (they call it "fulfillment", right?) who can't read very well. One set of No.3 is three sets of No.1, and they don't know the difference between "watercolor" and "acrylic".
I CALLED this last time, and they said they'd elevate the issue, and call me back on Monday.
There's somewhere else I can order the paints I want, if I have to.
Most things I've ordered from them have arrived without mishap. This one is a chance to see how they handle screw-ups.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 10:14 AM

The most important item we ordered from Amazon was lavatory paper during period when people were panic buying from supermarkets. It's a shame one can't order a haircut from Amazon!!

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: DMcG
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 10:33 AM

There is role for Amazon that has not been mentioned yet. They do enable a range of products that really could not readily be sold other than online.

Around a year ago now I bought a 4Tb wireless drive. No local shop could afford to stock such a thing. The demand is too low - they could have it sitting unsold on the shelf for a year - and by the time they are on the point of selling it the customer would find it had been superseded by a 6Tb one for the same price, or maybe the price has fallen below what the local shopkeeper bought it for.

Niche products like that really do not work for local purchasers. As it happened, the manufacturer did not have 'direct sales' to end users either. Even if they had, searching through possible suppliers would have been difficult and risky: do I want to send a fair amount of money to a company I have never heard of?

Amazon has many faults, of course, and the way the treat their staff is a major one. I do not know a good alternative solution for this problem, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 10:37 AM

Who's "they," Jeri?

I'm not too happy with a lot of what I hear. Amazon, it seems, doesn't always (or at all? I only heard this on the news this morning) directly hire its own delivery drivers, and the companies who run those drivers can be extremely exploitative, to the point of illegality. I think Amazon should be held to account.

Bonzo, I don't understand stuff like corporation tax and, even as one of those lefties you oft disparage, I won't stand too much in judgement of Amazon on that score. However, their reputation is one of professional tax avoidance, as with several other multinationals, that's all I know. We should be concerned about the unlevel playing field apropos of our high streets, shouldn't we? How many charity shops or boarded-up shop windows have you got in Croydon? Plenty here in Bude. Coronavirus is one thing, but vicious competition from online corporations is a longer-running sore.

I use Amazon a lot and I have Prime. We live in a remote area with few big shops unless we drive for forty or fifty miles. That isn't an excuse, as I'm sure I'd still use Amazon wherever I lived. I can't afford to spend my life paying higher prices just on principle. We support our local shops as much as we can and buy from Amazon stuff we can't get locally. I have to admit that Amazon is super-efficient at what it does. I've had several issues with marketplace sellers and fake goods/non-delivery, and Amazon are extremely responsive.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 10:43 AM

No good asking me anything about Croydon Town Centre, it's a shit hole I avoid like covid!! I can only speak for Addiscombe a little more than a knat's pee away, where there are more charity shops than there were a year ago - all closed at the moment of course!

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jeri
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 10:57 AM

Not you, Steve. Only those who slammed over to an extreme point of view.

I think some folks have old information. I think maybe researching employee satisfaction might br good. I know there was a problem in the spring/early summer when they were hit hard with orders.
They used to have other delivery services deliver their stuff. Now, they have a fleet of trucks (In the US, I don't know if it's the same in the UK). I think it's likely they got things under control.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Raggytash
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 11:15 AM

I would think we are witnessing a fundamental change in the nature of shopping. The high street will change beyond all recognition and we will find many shops being changed over to residential use.

On-line purchases will continue to grow and grow and high streets will continue to decline. We just have to get used to it.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Malcolm Storey
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 11:18 AM

Not all they are cracked up to be.
Note today they have taken an official investigator in US to court to try to stop them investigating their ill treatment of employees.
That's another win for the lawyers - it really is Christmas everyday for them - the lawyers.
There are people today getting away with things they would have been jailed and even hung for in wartime.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 11:29 AM

All I can say is that I heard it only this morning. When I come to think of it, my Prime deliveries generally arrive in unmarked vehicles of various shapes and sizes. They don't much look like "official Amazon vans" but I suppose I just haven't remarked on it until today. I suppose it's possible to have an unhypocritical extreme view of Amazon as long as you never use Amazon. I'd love to take an extreme view but that would definitely make me a hypocrite, and I don't think I'd manage too well here without the occasional resort to Amazon, so I'd better be measured. I could feel the same way about Apple, Microsoft, Google, Starbucks, McDonalds, Sky and a whole bunch of others. Actually, I never go in either Starbucks or McDonalds, but if I were to publicly excoriate them I'd have people, perfectly justifiably, asking me why I wasn't also saying the same about Amazon...or Sky...or Google...who are just as bad... Because you use 'em, don't you, Steve?

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 11:41 AM

Amazon drivers do have the annoying habit of just stopping in the middle of the road for a delivery.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 11:53 AM

We haven't got a road.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 12:15 PM

Un-paved road - sounds very middle class!!

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 12:33 PM

The store I rarely go to is Walmart, but I suppose, upon examination, Amazon has pretty much done what they did, just Walmart did it earlier. They put small mom-and-pop businesses out of business. They pay so low that most of their employees are eligible for food stamps (SNAP card these days) and they've lowered the average income and economic power of a lot of small towns where they popped up because they are now the only game in town. They negotiated so ruthlessly with companies who were their suppliers that they drove many of them out of business. There used to be a robust Snapper lawnmower and power tool company warehouse near me in Fort Worth, but Walmart kept insisting they have their equipment made more cheaply (and of lower quality materials) in China so Walmart could sell them inexpensively. The company resisted as long as they could before going belly up. Just one of myriad examples.

Amazon CEO soon-to-be-something-else high on the food chain Jeff Bezos bought the Washington Post, and after a generous six month free trial people can subscribe to the digital version for $4 a month. It's a real bargain.   

They do take back returns very easily. I have discovered that if I deliver returns to the desk set up for this in the Kohl's nearby, Kohl's offers me a percent-off coupon to use in the store. I don't shop there often but when I do I've found things I needed (they are like many of the other secondary market stores that seem to get the unsold stuff from big department stores at pennies on the dollar and sell it themselves, like Ross or Belk or TJMax here in the US.)

They have shipped some very large items. I have a "standing" desk that has a sturdy steel base and a good-quality veneered wood table top that I needed help moving into the house (several boxes, shipped flat, and a lot of assembly was required.) Sometimes very small items come in absurdly huge boxes and I've joined folks on Instagram to shame Amazon for such silly shipping.

When researching new purchases I look at Amazon for reviews, but before buying I usually do a Google search to see where it turns up. If it is available locally for a price comparable to the online businesses, I get it locally. I have a number of online places I go to for specific items (like my sewing machine equipment pieces come from SewingPartsOnline.com because they keep high quality stuff in stock and the listings on Amazon are rather haphazard). They also have better prices on thread and their shipping costs are more reasonable than Joann.com. Amazon's thread prices are through the roof, no way I'd buy there.

Caveat emptor. Buyer beware.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jeri
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 01:49 PM

Walmart used to be pretty horrible to their employees. They probably aren't great now, but I think they've improved. A funny thing was they opened a new store near here, and shut down other places. Maybe mom & pop stores, but there was a K-Mart that closed. The prices at Walmart were good, then started to rise. A brand new Target opened across the road from Walmart, and their stuff was cheaper.
I gave up. I think Target's prices ar back up, but their sizes cater to smallish teens, and they usually don't have items in all sizes. Plus, both of the stores are a 40-mile round trip.

Amazon takes a bit longer, but I don't have to go anywhere. They cater to my laziness. That works for now, but when I have to actually go places and do things, it's going to be a hard transition.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: The Sandman
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 01:54 PM

boycott, amazon

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 03:04 PM

boycott boycotts...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 03:10 PM

I recently signed up to AliExpress,
and made a couple of cheap small purchases before and after xmas
to test them out..

Problem free delivery, much quicker than expected from most internet forum chatter I read..

Worth keeping in reserve for musician's stuff Amazon don't list...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 04:26 PM

"boycott, amazon"

how very stupid

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 06:08 PM

Boycott Geoffrey Boycott. I mean, what an arse. And if Geoffrey Boycott tries to set up a boycott, I say boycott Boycott's boycott...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: robomatic
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 06:37 PM

I dropped in to say nothing.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 07:01 PM

But your quiet eloquence knows no bounds...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 07:45 PM

I joined AliExpress to order specific cheap guitar gear
which Amazon is out of stock of, or overcharges when they do have it.

Since ordering, AliExpress has been sending me emails promoting similar guitar gear..
.. and guns and gun accessories..

Which just shows how much AliExpress's international market profiling
is being skewed by American guitarist customers...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 08:18 PM

AliExpress - is that part of the huge Chinese company AliBaba? There is such a wide range of stuff quality-wise from them, and shipping, while cheap, can take a very long time. Very long. Maybe it's different from China to the UK. Another "Buyer Beware" situation.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 08:34 PM

Yeah.. After reading guitar forum advice about pros and cons
ordering from Ali,
I was expecting to wait months..

Surprised that delivery was no more than a couple of weeks,
both times around xmas...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 16 Feb 21 - 08:37 AM

15kg bag of Burns dry dog food delivered yesterday while I was at work. The kind driver pushed it inside our front door!

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Feb 21 - 08:50 AM

Try it with a spicy tomato sauce and a sprinkling of Parmesan is my advice...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 17 Feb 21 - 02:02 AM

One of my daughters works for a company that sells online and has reported a strange knock on effect of Brexit. Amazon are now insisting that the vendor pays any duties incurred on sales into Europe from the UK or vice versa. Her company are stopping selling through Amazon. I suspect many more will do the same so expect to see a reduction in choice of items from Europe.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Feb 21 - 04:45 AM

bon appetit bonzo mon petit chien

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Senoufou
Date: 17 Feb 21 - 05:28 AM

Not Amazon's fault, but for the third time I got a call (this morning, 8am) which is the Amazon Prime scam. The recorded message 'informs' you that the wrong amount for Amazon Prime has been deducted from your bank. "Press 1 to speak to an adviser". If one does, bank details are requested 'to refund the amount'. Of course, they help themselves to your bank account. I have never had Amazon Prime, so I always just replace the receiver.
Pity it's a recorded message, as I'd like to vent my anger at the scammer.
Amazon suggest merely that one informs the relevant Fraud Department of the Police etc. I don't suppose to be fair there is much Amazon themselves can do.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Feb 21 - 05:51 AM

I get several of those types of calls every week.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Senoufou
Date: 17 Feb 21 - 07:22 AM

Isn't it annoying Steve? Since my last post, we just got yet another one! Our number is ex-directory and not listed anywhere, so they must be random-dialling.
I'm not sure if BT can block them?

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Feb 21 - 07:26 AM

I've got a block button on my phone but they just use different numbers.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jos
Date: 17 Feb 21 - 08:03 AM

The number on some says 'INTERNATIONAL', but if a number is displayed, it is often fake, using a dialling code that doesn't exist.
Lately I have been getting many calls saying I have ordered an i-pad or similar from Amazon or ebay for a several hundred pounds, which will be taken out of my bank account - I am to 'press 1' if I didn't place the order. They all go to the answering machine. I only answer if I know who is calling.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Feb 21 - 09:54 AM

I don't answer the phone unless the call is from someone I know. I've changed the ringtones for numbers I expect might call me. I don't know if I've received any scams about Amazon. They aren't FROM Amazon.

My latest adventure was I ordered something, and they sent the wrong thing. I complained, sent it back, and they sent it again. Both times, I ordered one set #3, and they sent three wrong set #1.
I called, and they said someone would call on Monday.
Come to find out, some idiot had slapped a label for the thing I wanted over the top of the thing it was.
On Monday, they e-mailed me, telling me to leave them my number so they could call.
I was pissed off, and sent them an email. I was surprised to get one back, apologizing, and telling me to keep/give away/donate the wrong paints.
So I have three sets of the wrong paints (which are still nice), and are $40 a set, plus I ordered the correct ones from a different place. If Amazon had replaced them again, I'd still get the wrong ones, because they're mislabeled in their warehouse (or wherever they keep stuff), and they don't seem capable of fixing THAT problem.
Probably, a screw up that won't happen with anything else, but it's annoying they can't do anything about the mislabeling problem.

Now, to find homes for the two unopened sets...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Feb 21 - 10:13 AM

"International" can be a warning sign but it can also mean a call from brother in Queensland...

I too got some Acrylic from Amazon the other day too, Jeri, though in my case I wanted it. It sticks pretty well to PLA but, even if I could paint, I'd not be doing a watercolour with it...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 17 Feb 21 - 10:54 AM

When I had more spare time..
persistent polite persuasive telephone complaints to Amazon about problem resolution,
got me significant refunds,
and at best some free [expensive] guitars, and an amplifier...

But not needed to complain to that extent for about 4 or 5 years,
so don't know if amazon is still as helpful and generous...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 17 Feb 21 - 05:02 PM

A case of tubes of dog treets arrived today with a huge pack of tea tree wipes, kindly put just inside our front door by the driver.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Feb 21 - 05:51 PM

"dog treets"...melt in the mouth, not in your paws...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Feb 21 - 08:19 PM

I find Amazon convenient for big heavy items like furniture, toilets refridgerators, electric bikes and rugs. I did order a unique small comb like titanium item that does haircuts.

HQ 100 inch Projection TVs are now $300 reduced by 50% or more since the new laser projection TVs are now the stupidly expensive over powered alternative. When we invent transporters, Amazon will sell them.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: robomatic
Date: 18 Feb 21 - 09:28 PM

Wasn't it Google that came up with the slogan "don't be evil"? So I guess Amazon figured, "that slogan's taken. we CAN be evil!" Or was that Facebook?

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jeri
Date: 18 Feb 21 - 10:21 PM

This paint is strange. It acts like watercolors, except when it dries, that's it. You can re-constitute watercolors, but this stuff is permanent. I didn't want acrylics, because that's what I've been painting with, and I have a ton. These paints are like a weird cross between inks and watercolors.

I'm impressed with how they handled this, right up to the point where I realized every bit of this product is mislabeled in this particular warehouse/"fulfillment center"/whatever, and they have absolutely no ability to fix it. I doubt I'll ever encounter a problem like this again, and they treated me well, but if I were running Amazon, they'd have the ability to do something about it.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Donuel
Date: 19 Feb 21 - 03:52 PM

The quickest delivery time from ordering was 3 hours. The longest never arrived but was refunded.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: JHW
Date: 20 Feb 21 - 06:13 AM

There's an enormouse new Amazon warehouse on the outskirts of my nearest town. Amazon and Ebay both demand personal details up-front guarded by a password. Good Luck to those who find them useful. I'm wary.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Donuel
Date: 20 Feb 21 - 09:58 AM

Yes I had to supply my address.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 20 Feb 21 - 04:24 PM

No major complaints here: in fact most things we have ordered have arrived well before the predicted delivery date. Anything from watch batteries (both of our watches gave up soon after lockdown) to unusual lightbulbs (not stocked in your usual supermarket), Christmas presents for the grandchildren, replacement computer battery, knitting row counters and circular needle. No failures, nothing that had to be sent back. (Touch wood!)

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: JHW
Date: 21 Feb 21 - 05:33 AM

Long before the internet when car keys had no chips I ordered one by post. Posted as often at the nearby sorting office. New key was there in the post when I got home that night (from town about 50 miles away)

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 21 Feb 21 - 06:04 AM

Thank goodness for Argos - ordered new greyhound sized bed yesterday at 4pm - delivered to our local Sainsbury's 10am this morning!!

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 21 Feb 21 - 07:29 AM

Bollocks to argos and sainsburys ...!!!

As with most other big chains..
permanently closed down in our derrlict town centre,
and moved out miles away to a trading estate
situated for the better convenience of the more affluent commuter belt suburbs and villages...

All we town centre dwellers
have left to rely on is Amazon delivering
smaller packages to our precarious High Street post office.
Or a lost wasted day waiting in for delivery of bigger parcels...

Not much choice now about being dependent on Amazon
(and less useful home delivery only internet stores)..

So again I say boycot the smug self righteous boycotters...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 21 Feb 21 - 09:24 AM

I've used Argos 2 or 3 times when I have wanted same day delivery. One I remember was to get an air bed for a relative who was visiting that night to sleep on. It's worked out well.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 21 Feb 21 - 09:35 AM

Mudcatters might help solve a question me and the wife are puzzling over..

Years ago when we had a big Argos only a handy few minutes walk away from our house,
there was also a copycat catalogue orders chain.
One branch of it operated from a concession at the back of another big town centre department store which has also recently shut down..

Anyone remember the name of that other catalogue company...???

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 21 - 09:53 AM

When I shop I go to the local store after I've researched the item online first. Yesterday I made the post-ice-age decision to set up the emergency supplies now so there is no excuse for their not being handy when I next need them. It could be in summer after a tornado goes through, not only just during an ice event. I will refurbish the camp stoves out in the garage (white gas burning so must be used outdoors) but am getting a propane burning small two-burner stove. REI (Recreational Equipment Incorporated) and Academy Sports and Outdoors have local outlets, and carry various stoves. I looked at the copious reviews on Amazon, and except for the fact that local stores are completely out of stock of any gear to deal with the cold weather and lack of power, I could have purchased them locally. I will buy the propane bottles locally, those don't ship for obvious reasons.

My small portable power supply for charging the phone died last week so I've also replaced it (again reading reviews on Amazon, but also on the electronics review sites like CNet or ZDnet).

I'm sure there are people who still do impulse buying when they're in the store, but once you figure out about comparing online (and figure out if the reviews are real or compensated by the product seller - those are usually pretty easy to distinguish from the rest) it's more a matter of calculating the odds that a product will work the way you want without a catastrophic fail. Reading the one-star reviews first is how I approach these, and if they don't have at least 60-70 percent happy customers, I go to the next product for reviews.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 21 Feb 21 - 10:16 AM

Mudcatters might help solve a question me and the wife are puzzling over..
Years ago when we had a big Argos only a handy few minutes walk away from our house,
there was also a copycat catalogue orders chain.
One branch of it operated from a concession at the back of another big town centre department store which has also recently shut down..
Anyone remember the name of that other catalogue company...???

Good question:

"Next!" ?

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 21 Feb 21 - 10:43 AM

Anyone remember the name of that other catalogue company...???

The rival to Argos was, I believe, Index. It was owned by Littlewood's and closed down in 2005.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 21 Feb 21 - 10:46 AM

Nigel - Fair guess, but nothing as aspirational lifestyle as Next..

The company we're try to remember
the name of was a rival almost complete clone rip-off of Argos catalogue business.

It disappeared from high streets about a decade ago...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 21 Feb 21 - 10:52 AM

Doug - yes.. that was it..

.. and Littlewoods is one of the big empty
closed down department stores our high Street...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 21 Feb 21 - 11:10 AM

I remember Argos opening in Cardiff in the early 1970s as a replacement for the Green Shield Stamp Shop.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Raggytash
Date: 21 Feb 21 - 11:30 AM

To the tune of Greensleeves

I found my love in a grocery shop
selling pickles and egg plants and bottles of pop
she asked me to try her asparagus tips
and I fell for the smile on her ruby red lips


Green stamps were all she gave
and green stamps were all I took
green stamps were all I saved
and I pasted them all in my little stamp book

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 21 - 12:08 PM

For people looking for a source of new versions of vintage products, the catalog for the Vermont Country Store is still sent out on paper via the mail. They have a web site also.

Soaps, candies, clothes, household products. It's an interesting look down memory lane but you can still buy these things.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Feb 21 - 08:52 PM

my phone rang & a female voice said she was calling from Amazon ...

unfortunately I automatically hung up so don't know which Amazon scam it was.

sandra (not an Amazon customer)

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 22 Feb 21 - 08:24 AM

Does anyone else here use the Smile option for Amazon?

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Feb 21 - 01:42 AM

Yes, I do, Jon.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: fat B****rd
Date: 23 Feb 21 - 04:53 AM

I realize there may be a moral decision with Amazons treatment of staff but for myself, confined to the house by caring family, it's handy to be able to obtain various items without waiting for somebody else's shopping trip.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 21 - 09:00 AM

I try to remember to use Amazon Smile with each order. The donations go to Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas; it looks like 119 purchases have contributed to that so far.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jack Campin
Date: 24 Feb 21 - 04:56 AM

Unionization efforts in Alabama

Thanks to Bernie Sanders for the link.c

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Donuel
Date: 25 Feb 21 - 11:03 AM

Amazon can afford unionization. I am all for it.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 26 Feb 21 - 04:35 AM

With the moving of Argos into Sainsbury’s premises, it has become easier and more convenient to get to for us, in contrast to PFR’s experience: the double outlet is far nearer home than any of the previous Argos-only stores were.
And I just saw yesterday that we now have an Amazon pick-up point in our even more local Co-op store: haven’t had to use that yet, as we are doing as we are told and staying at home most of the time, apart from our daily permitted exercise.
Spoke to soon about no faulty goods: just went to use the circular knitting needle for the first time yesterday: one of the “patented joints” was disconnected. I pushed it back together but it fell apart again repeatedly. So it’s either going back or getting superglued!

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jack Campin
Date: 26 Feb 21 - 12:38 PM

Amazon's destructive effects on other businesses and the wider social fabric:

https://www.indiebound.org/spotlightamazon

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 26 Feb 21 - 01:31 PM

I don't care, it's business and they have a sound tax strategy.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 Feb 21 - 02:49 PM

We both love Amazon, and use it quite a lot. Our village is rather far from town and most of the shops are shut anyway except for the supermarkets.
The couriers all know us and we give them a modest tip for their efforts.
I agree with Bonzo. If other businesses are not as competitive, charge higher prices and give less satisfaction, it's only to be expected that they'll crumble.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jeri
Date: 26 Feb 21 - 05:02 PM

With the pandemic, Amazon can do things local businesses can't. Given that businesses are, by nature, competitive, and one that's already bigger and more powerful, is going to come out ahead. I try to buy from local businesses if I can. The main problems is that they just don't offer the same services.

except I just gave up on buying a certain art supply thing from Amazon, as they had the item mislabeled, and couldn't seem to fix the problem. So I bought it from a local place - one that's local to a few hundred miles away and has a big, shiny catalog, so I guess they're sort of a really huge mom and pop.

I've also bought hand-made shibori ribbon from a small business.

In Russia.

I'd feel guilty if the were into human trafficing or pedophilia, or something as heinous, but being good at selling stuff people want? Naaaah.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jack Campin
Date: 02 Mar 21 - 09:46 AM

Amazon as a branch of the US government

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Mar 21 - 01:16 PM

The video discussion on Jack's earlier link is interesting. Much of it is known to people who shop at Amazon, and they have chosen to go with this business model.

Many of us were so glad that Bezos purchased the Washington Post and made Trump angry that we gave him some wiggle room to continue to build the empire.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 02 Mar 21 - 02:49 PM

I know of one musician who has had his sole source of income swept away from him by Covid: he has gone to work for Amazon: he's probably not the only one. Even a minimum wage is better than nil.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jack Campin
Date: 04 Mar 21 - 06:06 PM

Virtual picket line

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 07 Mar 21 - 07:19 AM

Managed to get a refund for my faulty knitting needle. They were not going to let me return it, as it was more than 30 days since I had purchased it, in anticipation of needing it later. However, under UK law, one is entitled to a refund or replacement for faulty goods for 6 months after purchase: and the onus of proof of goods being faultless falls on the seller. Pointed this out and got my refund! It didn’t cost a lot but it’s the principle!

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 07 Mar 21 - 07:50 AM

I bought a particular make of pulse oximeter from Amazon after reading reviews. I received instead an unbranded fake that looked nothing like the pic on the website. I contacted the seller, who said he'd give me a 10% refund if I kept it! I looked at his feedback and found that he'd done the same stunt a good few times before in recent weeks. I complained to Amazon and got an instant full refund, no quibbles. The chap never did ask for his oximeter back and I'm blowed if I'm paying to send it to him.

What am I bid for a very nice unbranded pulse oximeter, still in its box? :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Mar 21 - 08:07 AM

well done jack, boycott them

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 07 Mar 21 - 09:04 AM

We needed a 12kg bag of Burns dry dog food - Amazon

We needed Tea Tree Wipes - Amazon

We needed 3.5mm stereo jack cable - Amazon

We needed rechargeable batteries - Amazon

We needed inkjet cartridges - Amazon

We needed a watch battery - Amazon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jeri
Date: 07 Mar 21 - 09:55 AM

"Even a minimum wage is better than nil." Amazon's starting wage is $15 an hour, better than the $7.25 minimum wage in the USA.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Mar 21 - 12:31 PM

I've had sellers offer refund, etc if I would change my review. On a couple of things that just didn't work or were misrepresented, I edited my review to say that I wasn't changing my review even after their offer. Buying off the negative reviews makes your product look better without making it better. Nope.

Mostly I've had good luck, but I do a lot of comparisons before hitting the "add to cart" button.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 07 Mar 21 - 12:45 PM

I was sent a whole bunch of very amateurishly-faked SD memory cards a while ago. The SanDisk labels were sort of stuck on but were crooked, and instead of the little blister packs they were each in a plain little plastic bag. Since then I've always bought them from reputable shops. I've had a few issues with eBay purchases too, and I don't buy stuff from eBay these days.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 07 Mar 21 - 01:26 PM

A few years ago I was encouraged by online musician chatter
to consider selling off my excess hoarded music gear on Reverb;
the musicians equivalent of eBay..

Word at the time was that there were fewer
dishonest buyers and sellers infesting Reverb than eBay,
and Reverb fees were not as greedy as eBay..

Time-consuming family problems prevented me from doing so at that time.

Since then far more eBay crooks have moved to Reverb,
Reverb has been sold to to a less musician friendly corporation,
and the fees which used to be less than eBay ane now beginning to increase much higher..

It's a shame, because when post pandemic musicians feel more confident to start buying used gear again,
all online markets will probably be rancid with crooks and rip-off fees...???

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Mar 21 - 02:30 PM

List your item as carefully as possible with lots of photos and possibly even a link to the instrument being played, and make it clear that you're selling as-is. That means you won't accept returns (and unless you ship a piano in place of the guitar you were offering, eBay doesn't insist you accept returns, though they'd like to.) Tell buyers to ask all of their questions before hand. Sell as "Buy it Now" so some noob doesn't jump in at the end of an auction and bid on something they didn't intend to buy then make a stink or cause a problem.

I don't buy some categories of things on eBay, because you can't be sure about the sellers. Ratings are important there, but so few people post ratings any more it's difficult to be sure what to think of some sellers.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Mar 21 - 12:06 PM

The entanglement of Google with Amazon and Facebook and Instagram is very clear on my phone - after the deep freeze of "Winter Storm Uri" hit Texas, many of us started restoring our emergency supplies and building a stockpile of fuel and emergency food. I in particular looked at emergency battery units (the size of a 12-volt car battery or larger, and some of them come with a solar charging panel). I'm seeing tons of ads from all of those battery companies come through my Instagram feed now. So Google and Facebook are paying close attention to my browser activity. I need to remember to use FireFox more, it has a "box" to put Facebook in as far as sharing my browsing history, but I don't think they have any restrictions on Google.

P.S. I haven't decided which battery backup to purchase, but am leaning toward a solar recharging one that doesn't cost the moon.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Mr Red
Date: 11 Mar 21 - 02:39 AM

My latest E-Bay purchase came via Amazon. The packaging was sturdy and not excessive. Not a surprise but niggling.

I used E-Bay because the search is accurate, I wanted a particular brand to get the look & finish. These were plastic pockets and some come in anti-glare that ruins inspection what's inside. (too delicate to remove regularly). Amazon are pitiful on detail IME! It is as deliberate and vague as their Yapoo/Goggle results. E-Bay pages are a mixed bag but the system allows and encourages "detail". Call me an engineer, but detail matters! And so does "expectation met"!

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 11 Mar 21 - 04:23 AM

I watched "Lad - A Yorkshire Story" on Amazon Prime last night. Filmed around Settle with untrained actors and one of the best films I have seen for ages.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jos
Date: 11 Mar 21 - 01:13 PM

I bought an item from Ebay. It arrived this morning in Amazon packaging, obviously a new box, not recycled, and fastened with Amazon tape, and with a note saying "Thank you for shopping at Amazon.co.uk!"
I had paid £9.99 (postage free). I checked the price on the Amazon website - it is £7.99 (also postage free).
I feel cheated.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Mar 21 - 04:10 PM

Buyer beware.

The thing about shopping eBay is to also reduce the number of details sometimes to get the results you want. There are bargains to be had when people who list things don't really know what it is they're listing so describe it incorrectly or inadequately. Sometimes you have to keep looking if the item you want doesn't have a great long provenance.

Years ago I bought a stack of 5 stoneware lunch-size plates in a thrift store because I wanted a new look (I'd used Corelle for years when the kids were young). I knew I'd seen these around, but once I bought those the marketplace dried up. I found two more in a different color and was up to seven mis-matched plates. I tried describing them different ways and sometimes would see a related piece (the larger dinner plates, etc.). two weeks ago I spotted two bowls in the color and pattern and grabbed them, only to find that they're larger than the plates, so will use them as serving bowls. But after that small success I tried again and I finally landed on a product name and number that, using that in my search, found a stack of these plates in the size and color I wanted at Replacements.com. Image search is one way to achieve this (using Chrome, right click over a photo and in the lower part of the popup menu you'll see "search for image on Google.""

eBay used to charge per photo uploaded so I hosted them on Photobucket and linked my photos into my listings. That was years ago; eBay got smart and started encouraging photos, and the larger the better. Over 12 you may have to pay, but 12 is usually plenty. In my listings I always indicate that the photos are part of the description, so look at them carefully.

Amazon has a lot of companies that don't carry the same things all of the time and the brand names change or the descriptions vary for identical items. It does take cross-referencing, shopping eBay and Amazon and sometimes just Googling the item in question.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 11 Mar 21 - 05:34 PM

I experienced a weird Amazon phenomena this week...

After googling for clarification, I found it seems to have plenty of other people puzzling as well..

I was having a usual random browse through Amazon guitar effects and synthesizer listings,
when I noticed a few arbitrary items
included an option to pay for them by 5 monthly interest free installments..

I know Amazon sells their own echo products on installments from time to time.
But was surprised to see a random range of products from other brands as well this time.

Obviously I bit the lure, and immediately chose to buy an item for £30 per month.

Then, after the purchase, I went back to choose a second installment purchase,
only to discover all the other instalment listings had disappeared...???

This is a unexpected pattern other UK Amazon users are reporting.

Whatever Amazon is playing at,
It's suckered me into looking into their website a bit more frequently just now,
in hope of some more surprise time-limited instalment listings...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Mr Red
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 03:26 AM

Basically Amazon seem to have a lower moral ethic in the advertising department.

It comes down to my mantra - "I buy, you don't sell to me" - the minute I see/hear selling I loose interest. There is a con coming. Part of the joy of ownership is the expectation, and if I have missed something that was there to see I can be circumspect. Not if there is subterfuge.

Basically do we need stuff? And by and large, no. So joy is paramount for owning stuff.

Does anyone know if this is the case? Is there a switch that the vendor can throw, to offer a lower price on first viewing? - I seem to remember suspecting that, the evidence was temptingly hinting when I bothered looking at Amazon. Or has Goggle clocked me as a person who looks around and compares?

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 03:37 AM

Jesus Christ, shops are not open, we need something, Amazon can supply it, we order it - sod the cost!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Donuel
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 05:07 AM

Yesterday I bought a 20-80 power telescopic lens for my i phone so I can take stills and videos for about a hundred dollars. I put it in my cart but there was already cat food in the cart. My wife later said he didn't and wouldn't buy cat food. The cats didn't say anything. So we got the cat food the same day. Its a mystery item.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 05:26 AM

I've seen the adverts for that telescopic lens. Very good idea but probably difficult to hold steady, a selfie stick or better still a tripod would make life easier - plenty on Amazon!!! A camera "app" which provides manual control of speed/ apperture essential.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Donuel
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 05:58 AM

Yeah. 80 power looks crappy but 20-60 looks fine. Its not as good as a go pro on a drone for big bucks but its quick and cheap.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 06:24 AM

If you're talking about that monocular thing that keeps popping up in ads with me too, a few weeks ago I did some fairly extensive rooting around to find reviews of it. My firm conclusion was that you will not get what you pay handsomely for and, well, don't bother...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 07:42 AM

I bought a Raynox DVR-2025PRO telephoto conversion lens with a 2.2x for my Fuji HS10 (now 10 years old!) so the maximum zoom I get is 2.2 x 30 = x66.

There is no way that I can hand hold and get a sharp picture on maximum zoom, in fact it's not easy to hold my camera steady with telephoto lens attached even on minimum zoom, so a tripod of some sort does help a lot.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 11:45 AM

Prices do change, depending on the time of day you're looking at the site, etc. I've read about it but don't know know where I first saw that information. I'm sure you can search on it.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Donuel
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 12:23 PM

The 2019 model that was over 200 was only 106. I got it today and everything fits. Its not a wide field so it won't work for sports but clouds, landscapes and wild life is good enough for me. For better photos I use a Leica Panasonic which is not omnipresent like a phone..
I have a reflector, a computer driven newtonian, mini binoculrss and this spotting scope kept in the car trunk. I was interested in new cameras like Go Pro and a camera that digitally focuses AFTER you take a picture but I'm happy with the old stuff.

This morning I checked on 'orders' and saw a picture of the box on the porch so I went upstairs and opened the door and ...sho nuff.
It was like checking the weather on TV instead of opening the door.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 12:36 PM

I know - and I find that happens also. I see the email and go check the porch. Sometimes I hear the mail truck and check Informed Delivery to see what she put in the box.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jos
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 01:21 PM

I leave my door ajar so that parcels can be left in the dry and out of sight from passing ne'er-do-wells. The postal deliveries usually manage to put parcels inside, but couriers dump them outside and take a photograph.
I would rather have my parcel left in a safe place, than have a photograph of it in an unsafe place.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 01:57 PM

Since Covid, most delivery drivers to here just ring the bell and walk away. Sometimes I see them, sometimes I don't. Goods are sometimes left in the porch and sometimes on the wood bunker just outside. I think most do take the weather into account.

We've had one or two leave an item outside the porch door. This can be a pain with a heavy or bulky item as the door opens outwards and it can mean going out through the living room sliding doors and walking round as you can't get the porch door open.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 14 Mar 21 - 04:54 AM

Jos, is leaving your door open not more of a danger from "passing ne'er-do-wells" than parcels on your step?

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jos
Date: 14 Mar 21 - 05:46 AM

Dave, I am hoping most ne'er-do-wells will be discouraged by the sound of voices (Radio 4) from inside.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Mar 21 - 09:04 AM

For something completely different, The same guy who invented the cassette tape also brought about the compact disk. Yesterday was the the day that the inventor of Music delivery died at 94. Lou Otten.

Amazon has exceeded all of Europen retail sales.
Amazon plus 3 other corp account for 21% of the entire US economy.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 14 Mar 21 - 09:18 AM

Good old cassettes - I fired up my 30 years old Sony Pro Walkman last week, the headphone socket is broken and the led indicators no longer work, but still plays as well as ever. Do you think I could find a cable with stereo 3.5mm jacks on each end? I had several with just one and bare wires at the other, so went on a joining crusade which is very fiddly indeed.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 14 Mar 21 - 05:22 PM

I found a solution for joining stereo audio cable using of all things drip feed tubing, which was used to tie our grey's bandage cover!!