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10 Reasons to Stop Buying on Amazon

Taxes, 'monopolistic' behavior top the list

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 9, 2012 4:07 PM CDT

(Newser) – Amazon: the evil empire? The Nation seems to think so, warning that Amazon is "well positioned to overpower its rivals" as publishers turn to digital books and the mega-site sells more Kindle books than hardcovers. The lefty mag lists 10 reasons not to do business with Amazon:

  1. Amazon avoids paying taxes. Amazon's tax rate is a shockingly low 3.5%, and what's more, the company gives paltry sums to charities.

  1. Amazon is monopolistic. As the world's biggest bookseller, Amazon has insisted on more discounts from distributors—but that's illegal under anti-trust law that forbids companies from selling the same product at different prices to different buyers.
  2. Amazon kills small businesses. Its practice of selling bestsellers at a loss means small bookstores can't compete.
  3. Amazon gathers your info. A class-action lawsuit has accused Amazon of dodging customer privacy settings, and critics say Kindle Fire's web browser could help Amazon track all our surfing.
  4. Amazon dissed Wikileaks. Facing political pressure, Amazon kicked Wikileaks off its cloud server two years ago.

Click for the whole list. Or read about a small bookstore that outwitted Amazon.

In this Sept. 28, 2011 file photo, Jeff Bezos, Chairman and CEO of Amazon.com, introduces the Kindle Fire at a news conference, in New York.
In this Sept. 28, 2011 file photo, Jeff Bezos, Chairman and CEO of Amazon.com, introduces the Kindle Fire at a news conference, in New York.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 46 comments
JudMiller
Jun 11, 2012 6:02 PM CDT
This story makes me want to buy from Amazon even more...
KooKooforCocoPuffs
Jun 11, 2012 1:53 PM CDT
Hey, I'm totally cool with Amazon and their anti-union policies. Unions, while they were a good thing in the early 20th century, have become fat, bloated, self-serving organizations that enable a ridiculous sense of entitlement in their members. Most large-union members, were they put into a non-union situation, wouldn't last ten seconds in that job. Union members have become whining, entitled brats that feel as though they're owed everything and shouldn't have to get out of bed in the morning if they have a hangnail. It's ridiculous that there are union members out there scrubbing toilets as a job description, making $100,000 yearly and entertaining a ridiculous level of benefits and perks. Most are spoiled and, nowadays, think they should be taken care of cradle-to-grave and that businesses OWE them a living. Apparently, actually doing the job makes their tummy hurt, not to mention... oh, sorry, I'm entitled to a break now and no one can do my job in my place......okay, I'm back....had to take some extra time for my massage and to stop by HR and let them know that my pet insurance has lapsed and my corporate dividend check is late. That reminds me, I need to call my maid and the dogwalker. Oh, what do you know, it's break time again.....and those toilets aren't going to scrub themselves, then again, maybe I'll just take the day off with pay.
bewilderbeast
Jun 11, 2012 8:19 AM CDT
Reasons enough for me. I won't be using Amazon again.

 
Internet • monopolies • Amazon • publishing industry

 
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