Head’s up! Amazon’s annual Prime Day has arrived, which means Prime members have access to big deals on everything from jeans to Kindles. (Even my mom’s favorite lipstick;) The sale goes from this afternoon through Wednesday night. Here are a few of our picks, sponsored by Amazon Fashion…
What would you pick? Shop all of the Prime deals here, if you’d like.
(This post is sponsored by Amazon Fashion. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Cup of Jo.)
I know I’m late to the party. But I do feel like there is an important consideration being left out of this discussion.
Despite its flaws, Amazon saves women time. Not just any time, but time doing the things for our households that often our male partners don’t think about.
COJ has covered the subject of emotional labor or the household mental kid that many women have to bear, particularly around children. It doesn’t matter how progressive my husband is, but I’m the one who makes sure the holiday cards are sent, the birthday gifts are selected, the medicine is bought when someone is sick, the pet food is supplied, holiday decor is purchased, etc.
Amazon has not only saved me time, but it frees women and others like me to do other, more meaningful things with their time. Instead of endless errands on the weekends, I can work out. Write. Hang with friends. Read. All because I took a minute to order/subscribe on Amazon.
Amazon is flawed. It’s business practices questionable. But it’s done much more for women than the Walmart’s and the Targets of the world have. It’s given me the gift of time and lessened my load. And for many, it’s a luxury to be able to NOT choose amazon.
I want to applaud Cup of Jo for enabling this thoughtful dialogue to play out and responding positively to well-informed critiques of Amazon’s practices. This is an example of why I love your blog so much – it is about encouraging multiple perspectives and truly listening to and accepting criticism. The comments here are one of the few instances on the internet I’ve seen of useful arguments that haven’t spiralled down a rabbit hole of hateful finger-pointing. Thank you, Cup of Jo writers and readers!
Posted earlier, but I think my comment was one of those that got lost. Wanted to return to say that I love CoJ, but was also surprised and disappointed to see an Amazon-sponsored post. It just doesn’t seem compatible with the values that I am so glad you share here (one of the reasons this is my favorite blog!). I hope you will reconsider for the future.
I’ve worked in the book business for 20 years and it’s been interesting, to say the least, to witness how Amazon has reshaped publishing, bookstores, and more. I quit Amazon about 8 years ago as a result — if you’ve never had Prime, you don’t miss it! I LOVE CoJ but have always wished that book posts would link to sites like indiebound.org.
Here’s an eye-opening discussion from the 2017 Winter Institute, a conference for indie booksellers, between Chris Hayes and Stacey Mitchell from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance – “We tend to think of Amazon as a retailer… but Amazon is a company that’s after controlling the underlying infrastructure of the economy.”
https://ilsr.org/listen-msnbcs-chris-hayes-and-ilsrs-stacy-mitchell-in-conversation-about-amazon/
THANK you for posting this. As a book writer who distributes some of my books via Amazon, I see firsthand its unfair purchasing from suppliers. NO other book buyer takes the deep discounts it requires AND they refuse to pay for shipping to their warehouses.
Folks don’t realize that Amazon is a soul-less killer of local commerce and jobs, as well as economic diversity. I lose money selling books on Amazon.
I think that many workers were striking on Prime Day – i’ve Decided to no longer buy from them having found out about the terrible working conditions of many warehouse employees
I’ll chime in with my 2 cents as well. Sad to see a post here sponsored by Amazon. Especially with the latest ICE news.
Why don’t they take some of their enormous marketing budget and redirect it to paying employees higher wages?
NO to Amazon. Putting local brick and mortar businesses OUT of business. Now I can’t find anything I need locally which makes people dependent on Amazon (their goal) and they don’t always deliver when they promise to. Also, they get huge tax breaks, make huge profits and if you need to know nothing else, Jeff Bezos is the richest man in the world. By peddling wares that most of us don’t even need. AND…Amazon just bought an online pharmacy..pretty soon they will own everything and be able to name their price and we will have no options. No.
I do not like Amazon. What, at first, seemed like convenience: pour a glass of wine, order your Christmas gifts, has turned into realizing that Amazon has closed down numerous brick and mortar stores, which then results in not being able to find things locally, which then makes you dependent on Amazon (their goal) and people, their promised delivery date is often wrong and when you need something for a specific date, you’re screwed. Add to that the fact that they just bought an online pharmacy which is probably the first of many and pretty soon Amazon will be able to name their price on EVERYTHING because we won’t have any choice (if all our local stores except for groceries (for now) close down. Dangerous for one company to hold all the cards. Amazon=NO.
I want to echo many of the sentiments already made in previous comments. Please do not support Amazon. There are so many other companies whose mission and values align with CoJ. Aside from their horrendous treatment of employees and generally unscrupulous business practices, Amazon also benefits from the sales of antisemitic/neo-Nazi/white supremacist merchandise.
(Read more: wapo.st/2zdk4d7?tid=ss_tw-bottom&utm_term=.c8497700b1f8 and http://www.theverge.com/2018/7/17/17578826/keith-ellison-amazon-hate-groups)
I understand the desire to pay less for something, but really think about the implications of your actions–what’s the true cost for those cheap sneakers?
Just adding my 2 cents here. No more shopping at amazon for me here in Canada. Just the fact that the company pays NO TAX is astonishing to me. No more money for Bezos from our family. I am truly trying to buy local 100%.
I agree with so many of these comments. I was also recently really disappointed to hear how fiercely Amazon opposed the corporate tax in Seattle that was to help with the homelessness and affordable housing problems. Of course, it got shot down. Just how wealthy and powerful do they need to be? I really try to find an alternative when I can.
It heartens me to see many fellow readers express concern over endorsing Amazon, and I’d like to add to the chorus.
Amazon is a dangerous monopoly hell bent on destroying all sellers of consumer goods and automating as many people as it can out of jobs (future Amazon warehouse workers, perhaps?). Yes, it’s convenient and less expensive to shop there, but at what cost to society? I don’t want to live in the society that Jeff Bezos envisions – one with every consumer transaction automated and drones buzzing over our homes and offices that we never leave.
Progressive, civic-minded, and otherwise conscious consumers under 40 seem to have a huge blind spot re. Amazon. We must put our money where our mouth is and stop supporting this predatory company.
Just bought the air brush! Can you do a tutorial? :)
I have one too and would love a tutorial!
I am a frequent Amazon/WF customer and was excited to see this post. I immediately bought two of the rain coats! But after reading the comments, I’m thinking seriously about how to shop elsewhere. Thank you for all of this useful information, especially the rec for Thrive. As usual, Cup of Jo is informative.
Thanks CoJ community, for reminding me to cancel my Prime membership! It’s been on my to-do list, and there was something especially satisfying about cancelling on Prime Day :)
The Bad with Money podcast did a very accessible and informative piece on Amazon and many of the issues touched on here.
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/panoply/bad-with-money/e/54594027
I’m so thrilled to see many readers bringing up Amazon’s business practices and the respectful conversation going on here. Amazon has also been shifting deliveries to contractors who are not well compensated.
Thrive Market!!!!
For those readers who purchase supplements/vitamins and natural skin care and body care from Amazon, and/or who shop at Whole Foods, consider a subscription to Thrive Market. The selection is phenomenal and the prices are very competitive; often better than Amazon and WF.
What’s even better is that they are very environmentally and socially conscious. For every annual membership that is purchased they give a membership to a low-income family, teacher, student or veteran. The orders also come shipped in environmentally friendly packages. More I could say!
I admit that I still have my Prime Membership (although, after reading more of these comments, I don’t know if I’ll keep it. I didn’t know Amazon was that bad), but I’ve made a point for the last two years to order our family’s vitamins and supplements and toiletries, as well as dry goods (e.g. Acure shampoo, Annie’s macaroni, mayo, tuna, crackers, oatmeal, diapers, etc.) from Thrive. I only end-up at WF for fresh produce and dairy. Shipping takes a little longer, but life is not always about what’s most convenient!
Check them out!
Also, I do not work for Thrive, I just like Thrive a lot :).
Thank you so much for this recommendation! I’m a bargain-hunter and tend to get drawn in to Amazon prices, though I’ve been trying to make an effort not to. Seeing such a great selection and filters for fair trade, etc. is really exciting.
I love Thrive Market! Prices are competitive with WF and they are good about labeling items based on needs/preferences (paleo, gluten free, vegan, etc.) – I used to trust WF more for this but now that they are owned by Amazon, I’ve seen some interesting products that never would have made their way into a WF pre-Amazon. I agree that the shipping isn’t Prime fast, so I do have to plan a little more ahead — I am admittedly not Amazon-free (yet).
I also don’t work for Thrive, but I appreciate what they’re trying to do for access to affordable organics and healthy food. Would love to see a post on other companies like them who are focused on positive change and alternatives to Amazon. We can make a difference by voting with our wallets!
In lieu of he other comments, I’d like to add this quote from USA Today about Amazon:
“The stock has soared more than 55% this year, which has added more than $50 billion to Bezos’ net worth in less than seven months.”
His net worth briefly surpassed $150 BILLION dollars yesterday.
And yet amazon pays no federal taxes.
Amazing.
I’d like to add one other negative to shopping at amazon, or relying heavily on any online retailer — it is frightening how much it adds to your individual carbon footprint. I decided to change how I shop online after ordering some eye makeup remover because I was too lazy to walk a couple blocks and get it at a brick and mortar store. The box it came in was enormous and it really made me think about how much wastage was involved
I just want to say how helpful these comments have been to me. Thank you to those who have posted thoughtful, kind comments with relevant information. I has helped me decide not to purchase anything on prime day and rethink my prime membership (a big deal for me as a full time student and mom, for a variety of reasons). I am so thankful for this community and Joanna, you are a model of all we see in it.
Ditto! Very informative.
Thanks so much for these thought provoking comments and not deleting like other blogs do (or rather that I’ve heard they do). Love this blog, this team of women, what have you.
Thank you to all speaking out about the strike. I had no idea (and I’m embarrassed by that). Even though I do buy from Amazon, I will not do so today, or again until the strike is over. I encourage others to do the same.
And I agree that COJ’s other small business, sustainable partners are much more in line with the ethos here than Amazon. Even though most of the time they are well above my price range, or just luxuries I never buy, I’d still rather see COJ promoting their work.
I made a vow at the beginning of the year to not shop on Amazon, actually any on-line store. If I need or want something I have to find it locally. I find that I often pay a little more, but I also don’t impulse buy like I used to. I used to see a beauty product or something recommended on a blog and then go order it on Amazon without any thought given. Now I have to find it in a local store, and then go there. Often it’s too much trouble. And if that’s too much trouble, I didn’t need it in the first place.
I really respect this. Honestly, the world would be better if we all did this.
Here’s why I don’t (mostly). I hate shopping. Online or in person, I just hate it. I hate the decisions, the time waste, just spending in general. In person involves driving to the next town over, no shopping except for thrift or groceries in my little village. Traffic isn’t fun. I am usually quickly overwhelmed and tired by people, choices, the atmosphere of stores, prices. (I also suffer from chronic pain and shopping in person sucks for that. Also an introvert and don’t enjoy being with strangers. Also frequently work over 50 hours and have little time). So if I really need something, I grab my phone and spend less than five minutes and order, usually Amazon or Target or vitacost. The pay off in less stress for me is enormous. I wish it was different and I enjoyed spending hours at local shops and the farmers market….. But I really do hate it and have learned to try to make a positive difference in other ways. I do use the local thrift stores whenever possible.
Do others struggle with the reality of in person shopping?
This is one of the better pieces of advice I’ve heard in a while. I did something similar with unsubscribing from ALL retailer emails. I would often succumb to “SALE SALE” subject lines for things I did not really need, or sometimes not even really want! I like your going one step further, which also promotes more local/community support, even if it is a nationally based store. Thank you!
Thanks for all the thoughtful comments. As a consumer, I know I struggle with making a choice that works for my budget that doesn’t create oppressive circumstances for others.
I would echo others in urging folks to not shop the Prime Day Sale. I just cancelled my membership and emailed Amazon to let them know why. (Yes, I am smart enough to know that I am one person, but I still think it is important to explain my cancellation).
In addition to their treatment of workers Amazon has been selling facial recognition technology to the police and to ICE. I am so proud of the work that Cup of Jo did on child separation, but supporting Amazon enables ICE to further terrorize immigrant families.
One of the things that I love about Amazon is Amazon Smile. If you start your buying with smile.amazon.com, a portion of your purchase goes back to charity. I donated to Oxfam last year and I am donating to Charity:water this year.
I came to comment just this! It’s so easy! This year we are donating to the South Texas Planned Parenthood chapter.
I’ve been doing this for at least 2 years for my parish. I think it’s up to $10 in additional donation. That’s really a drop in the bucket compared to what I give to them already. It’s not really enough to justify using this source.
Amazon smile is somewhat of a scam. Amazon will never, ever tell you how much your purchase helped a charity, if at all. Many items are not eligible for Smile. I worked at a non-profit that received $15 or so dollars in the course of a year, despite my excessive Amazon spending that was supposed to somehow benefit the charity. (Just a side note: I live in Seattle and many Amazon employees have confirmed that Smile is a complete mystery on purpose.)
I think amazon really missed an opportunity by not having prime day on Friday – it was the 13th day of the 7th month – both prime numbers!
I’m also a maths person, and I can’t help but agree! <3
Thanks CoJ for posting these comments even when they’re (thoughtfully!) critical, and to CoJ readers for the critical thinking.
I want to add that while it’s worth it to think about all of our personal shopping decisions, there’s also a growing conversation about how to regulate Amazon and Big Tech at the state and federal levels. Individual decisions can only go so far, but we have a lot of power as citizens. As many of us are supporting striking workers today, also consider calling your elected officials to tell them you want to see them investigating how to rein in Big Tech.
Here’s a good article with more info: https://www.thenation.com/article/amazon-doesnt-just-want-to-dominate-the-market-it-wants-to-become-the-market/
Still crazy about the Cup of Jo team, but definitely not buying grinned amazon today as their workers strike to get bathroom breaks and other decent treatment.
*from. Arg, typo.
Sorry but I agree with the criticisms of Amazon and Bezos. Just don’t think their corporate culture aligns with the Cup of Jo brand
I really appreciate these comments today–and to COJ for supporting a community that posts these comments. That’s one of the reasons I really love COJ.
It’s really hard to not buy from Amazon. I try really hard to not buy products from them unless I have to, and my closest grocery store is a Whole Foods too — Ugg. I’m doing the best I can on this, and I’m so thankful for all the reminders of why it’s important.
I was aware of Amazon’s labor issues and squeezing their partners (the publishing world especially), but I was unaware of the strikes. Thank you all for making me more aware.
I love your blog and I’m all for supporting brands that support you. And i know you can’t only choose companies that are perfect. But yikes, there’s a big strike against amazon going on and they are so bad in so many different ways (some info on the strike here: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wired.com/story/strikes-boycotts-and-outages-mar-amazon-prime-day/amp)
Sorry to leave a negative comment, I really do understand that you have to get sponsorships to fund your wonderful site. Just wanted to make sure your aware of the issues
Ellen, this is not a negative comment at all. Unions and workers are under attack and we should absolutely draw attention to Amazon’s anti-worker, union-busting practices, and support workers who are fighting for dignity and a living wage! Thank you for doing that.
Great picks! I was looking for some great deals too!
Amazon is notorious for their poor working conditions. I understand the need and convenience of shopping on Amazon; however, there is currently a strike happening all over Europe in response to a tightening of labor practices enacted by Amazon to further worsen the working conditions, such as reducing the already limited amount of time workers have to complete a job.
In the United States, Amazon paid $0 in federal taxes last year, while also ranking 11th for having the most employees on Medicaid in the state of Washington. Amazon has been a major beneficiary of government tax policies and has been reliant on taxpayers to provide their workers with basic health care.
It’s disappointing to see Cup of Jo promote a company that values their workers so little. I know everyone’s situation is different, but for those able, I would strongly urge people to wait until the strike has been resolved before resuming Amazon purchases.
Hi Cup of Jo,
As a long-time reader I’m extremely disappointed to see you promoting Prime Day and Amazon, and thereby encouraging your readers to cross the picket line and betray the striking Amazon workers… “Amazon workers all across Europe are striking at warehouses. Shoppers are organizing boycotts.Combined, these efforts are an attempt to draw attention to working conditions at Amazon on Prime Day — the annual shopping event that brings in more than $2 billion for the company. Amazon has come under fire for years over accusations of poor work conditions, and this year, employees all across Europe are determined to capitalize on publicity around Prime Day to push for change at their workplace.”
https://www.vox.com/2018/7/16/17577614/amazon-prime-day-strike-boycotts
I encourage you to reconsider your partnership with Amazon in light of the ongoing strikes and continue to uphold the progressive values you have shown on this blog.
Thank you- a concerned, pro-labor reader
We practically live-off of Amazon, but can I just say that I’m getting kind of “Amazoned-out?” Am I the only one? Not to be all negative, but now with Bezos owning Whole Foods it’s all starting to feel a little Orwellian :(. Makes me kind of sad that finding that small business owner’s shop feels like a real effort.
That said, COJ, you’ve exposed me to a lot of great, smaller retailers, so thanks for that!
The change at Whole Foods, post Amazon is a little scary. So many smaller, local brands are getting squeezed out to give more space to 365 branded products. I’ll admit I cringed a bit when I saw an Amazon sponsored post here. The fact that Amazon seems to be taking over the entire world makes me re-think my online shopping habits.
I wish you would reconsider having Amazon as a sponsor. Between their running small booksellers out of business and now taking over Whole Foods….to their treatment of their employees- their median salary is a mere $28K! There are so many other companies who seem better aligned with Cup of Jo and what you seem to stand for. Just my two cents, something to consider.
Don’t forget the Nordy sale! Already feeling the pang in my bank account…but worth it :)
Don’t buy from Amazon!!! They treat their warehouse workers absolutely abysmally, and workers in Europe are on strike this week: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44857318
There’s an Amazon strike by it’s workers going on – ordering on Prime day is crossing that picket line. I urge everyone to refrain from engaging in an Amazon purchase this week; conditions for the warehouse workers are quite harmful. There’s a real human cost to the on-demand customer service we’ve become used to.
Please, please avoid buying on Amazon today if you can, whether you’re in the U.S. or elsewhere in the world! Amazon employees in multiple European countries are striking today in an attempt to gain better working conditions – it is well documented that many have to skip bathroom breaks to meet quotas, often having to pee in bottles, are harassed for taking sick days (including pregnant women), and there are numerous other awful reports about working conditions for those in Amazon warehouses. Shopping online on Amazon today is essentially breaking the picket line. You can read more about this here: https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/16/17577348/amazon-warehouse-worker-strike-europe-prime-day, and take a look at this twitter thread: https://twitter.com/kadybat/status/1018926864767676416
The hot air brush is my best beauty tool and makes EVERYONE look like a supermodel. I highly recommend!
Amazon has become a parasite. I want to stop shopping there, but it literally carries things I can’t find anywhere else. Their employees are treated like garbage and Jeff Bezos rolls around in millions of dollars. I don’t even buy clothes from there because the sizing charts are never right, and the quality of the clothing is awful. I’m not here to tell you to boycott, just to share my opinion.
Billions, not millions.
Thanks Kim. I had a feeling I was wrong, so I went lower.
I’m confused by prime day. I just checked those adidas sneakers and they are the same price as other stores. Not sure how that’s a deal!
Thanks! Got a little Christmas shopping done. xox
I’d that the brush Stella uses? Or comparable?
Thanks to you guys for introducing me to the John Frieda hot air brush. It’s my very most favorite hair tool and I tell EVERYONE about it!! I almost picked up another one for Prime Day, but held back. Haha.
Not to sound like a killjoy but I definitely boycott Amazon and have for the last 4-5 years. Living in their HQ where the richest man in the world and his company put next to nothing into philanthropy, civic projects or the arts is bad enough – but I am also trying to keep small businesses alive. It means I can’t watch anything on Amazon video or rate my books on Goodreads (still sad about this) but I truly wish people would think a bit before ordering from Amazon…
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