Casual Observation

I am somewhat surprised that so many people are shocked that Amazon operates like a domestic sweat shop. That’s why I offer the opportunity to buy your books from Powell’s. Yes, shopping is political, too.

14 Comments

Geov Parrish on September 24, 2011 at 10:02 am

Amazon being a Seattle outfit, I have a number of friends (particularly writers and editors) who’ve worked there. They’ve almost all had bad experiences. Powell’s (also a Northwest outfit) has had labor issues as well, but in general they have a much better rep. And if anyone is ever in Portland, their flagship store downtown is a must-visit for book lovers.

Emily68 on September 24, 2011 at 10:15 am

I worked for many years at an office in a great big public university. We usually had some students working for us. One day we were discussing how we weren’t going to buy from a particular store because of the owner’s political views. Our student helper, a business major, was actually shocked to learn that consumers might make decisions like this. She was almost thinking that it would be discrimination. She had a lot to learn.

wilderness wench on September 24, 2011 at 11:54 am

Just goes to show what they’re teaching in business schools. This is pathetic.

Under a corporatocracy, shopping is absolutely political. That folks don’t get this, or even think about it, is a good part of what gives shitty companies their power. We want what we want & screw everything & everybody else. This is a basic ideology that reaches beyond party lines; it’s cultural. It’s also suicidal.

cruzy on September 24, 2011 at 10:33 am

Apparently many warehouse/distribution facilities operate like this, not just amazon. That’s been mentioned in several articles about the amazon situation. It’s become a common scenario all over this country. No unions to object. I would like to think that Powells is better -they probably are, as they’re union, at least at the stores, and, I used to enjoy that store when I went to college in Oregon – but it’s likely that other companies we all know do have similar problems to Amazon.

An unrelated note on Powells: they had an unexpected layoff this week of several managers, and some idiot stole 50k from their union’s bank account, so if people out there like them for other reasons, now is the time to buy a book (or ebook) from their web site. It sounds to me like they are in trouble.

Bearpaw on September 24, 2011 at 10:45 am

Yeah, what Booman said. I was an early Amazon fan until they started showing signs of eager corporatization, then I dropped them fast. That was back in the late 1990’s, I think.

If I buy online, it’s from Powells, or else I go to a local Independant bookstore.

wilderness wench on September 24, 2011 at 12:02 pm

Amazon is more than books. Boycotting Amazon means buying nothing there. Don’t even visit their website. If what you want can only be found at Amazon, reconsider your wants.

Consumer culture has become completely self-destructive. It’s time to change some basics. Honestly.

wilderness wench on September 24, 2011 at 12:05 pm

Amazon is more than books. Boycotting Amazon means buying nothing there. If what you want can only be found at Amazon, reconsider your wants.

Consumer culture has become completely self-destructive. It’s time to change some basics. Honestly.

WaterGirl on September 24, 2011 at 12:10 pm

I can’t get to that page on the NYT – it keeps asking me for a login, but even after I log in, it won’t give me the page – just asks for the login again. Could someone post the link so the URL is visible – maybe I can get to it that way. Thanks.