My Hobby spending & Amazon

I spend a lot of money with Amazon, frankly too much. It is my go to site for most of my hobby purchases. I get tools, kits and books from them. After completing a number of DIY projects that involved several Amazon purchases, it has crystalized my negative opinion on the matter:

Mt. Cardboard

Firstly I hate the fact that Amazon generates a ridiculous amount of cardboard recycling very quickly. Just recently I ordered a number of items and because they came in separate deliveries which generated multiple boxes of cardboard as well as packing material. What doesn’t help is that I can tick the “deliver in fewer boxes” checkbox and whether or not Amazon will pay attention to that is entirely a flip of the coin.

Pages of rubbish.

Secondly Amazon’s catalogue has been infested with copycats, poor entries and difficult to use filters. I’m sure if you have looked at any vaguely generic search you have found a dozen or more of what seems to be the same item sold by a different seller with maybe a different logo stamped on it. So many of the tools that I have looked for are not quality, they don’t last and just contributes further to the first problem.

I’m making a bad situation worse.

Finally, I am spending and thus encouraging their all consuming business. I believe they have contributed to the death of the High Street and independent shops as well. I have wanted to find model shops, baking suppliers and other such stores but they’ve either gone out of business or are bad at advertising themselves. When I do find a group of independent shops I make a mental note of their location and stock so I know to come back. But with even big names like Wilkinson’s going out of business and Debenhams closing their retail locations, I can imagine indie stores aren’t having it any easier.

I want to do better.

So what’s to be done? Ideally I would like to spend money on smaller more focused websites that cater to any of my various hobbies. However, I’m worried to do this because many of these websites I have never heard before and have no experience with. I don’t always feel like I can trust some of these sites because they look like something that was created back in the early 2000s.

Some sites enjoy some brand recognition, for example if I wanted to buy replacement parts or accessories for my KitchenAid mixer I can go to the KitchenAid website directly. But when it comes to say Gundam model kits, I can go to Bandai but honestly, I don’t much of a selection. Especially when it comes to things like tools and accessories.

Building a relationship slowly.

For small orders I think it is worth it because building that rapport with those websites means that I am supporting these smaller businesses and I am getting access to a company that is catering to my hobby. I wouldn’t want to drop say £300 on one of the massive Gundam kits with a site I don’t know.

I think there is also a need to reset expectations. Amazon logistics is a force that can only be rivalled by the US army. These smaller companies just do not have access to that logistics network so delivery times will be slower. Additionally, they don’t have an entire building of people working customer support. But on the flip side they will want to make you a repeat customer and if they cater to a particular niche then their website will (hopefully) be built with their audience in mind. Finally they will have a lot more knowledge in their area and can provide purchasing advise.

On that last note, I would like to point out that no matter how obscure your own hobbies are there will be a community somewhere for it. Maybe Facebook, Reddit or Discord, there will be a place where people will come together to discuss the topic. Always read the rules, don’t be a dick and I am sure you will find people who can help you with your hobby.

Trying to fix the issue

I think what I may have to do in the new year is look into getting myself a credit card for this very purpose. In the UK there are protections for credit card usages over 100 pounds. There are some complications to these rules that need to be understood but generally it seems to be better if you work with a credit card for online purchases. I would also consider PayPal but I have heard a lot of horror stories about people trying to get their money back when things have gone wrong.

One thing I will do is maintain a page on this site of the various smaller websites that I use to purchase hobby materials that have treated me well. Hopefully these recommendations will help you find them.