Hacker News Reader

Comment by the_gorilla | Hacker News Reader

I don't think it's part of an antitrust case, but I am tired of seeing every item being sold from 200 chinese companies with randomly generated names and fake/bought reviews. Walmart has started to do something similar with their online store. I'll use their words.

> It's easy to sell online with Walmart.com. Partner with the largest multi-channel retailer and put your products in front of millions of Walmart shoppers.

Americans are used to American storefronts going through American regulations, but now you're essentially being dropshipped hazardous unregulated products. I generally try to buy from companies directly but this hasn't stopped my family from buying chinesium children toys for me that go straight into the trash.

View on HN

> you're essentially being dropshipped hazardous unregulated products.

How did we end up here? Like why the hell can I buy things on Amazon that can't legally be sold on shelves in the US? Why aren't retailers suing?

> Why aren't retailers suing?

Because Amazons wiped a lot of them out, and the ones that remain are either doing the same thing, or stand zero chance of comign out of it anything less than bankrupt.

Amazon for all its convenience has decimated likely close to if not more than a million businesses at this point across the world.

The CPSC has sued and won https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2024/CPSC-Finds-...

Amazon used the excuse it wasn't acting as a distributor and thus shouldn't be held responsible for protecting the public from these products

>I generally try to buy from companies directly

This is the secret today. Find the product you want, buy straight from that company. Anymore the storefronts are all uniform and shipping (which used to be Amazon's advantage) is the same.

The days of massive online retailers dominating is over at my house. I just wish more people would figure that out.

I find Amazon’s shipping to be fastest about 9 times out of 10—and that 1 is just the direct seller matching, not beating. With Prime, shipping is also “free” (so long as you’ve saved enough on shipping to recoup the cost of Prime itself).

But aside from that, Amazon almost always has a better return process, and you only need to give one site your payment details rather than many.

(That said, I often buy outside of Amazon, because for certain specialty items, Amazon is pretty lacking.)

>Amazon almost always has a better return process

Every company so far, I send an email or click the return link on the confirmation email they sent when I ordered. Print the label and send it back. I haven't had any problems yet.

>need to give one site your payment details rather than many.

Either use PayPal or your credit card. If it gets compromised, cc companies are really good at making sure you don't get screwed.

I have been doing this for 5 years now and haven't had any problems.

How does it work with refunds and returns?

Every company so far, I send an email or click the return link on the confirmation email they sent when I ordered. Print the label and send it back. I haven't had any problems yet.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com