HMM I have been ordering off Amazon for 10 yrs[I have been vaping for 5 months] The longest an order has taken to get to me is about 10 days[with free shipping over 35$ order]. Every package has had a address from a US state. I order things you could get in a bigger city like from Whole Foods or Trader Joe's-computer stuff [parts]I would have to drive 100 miles for[I don't drive now] and once in a while a computer or TV at a steal of a deal,that comes from the same place my best Buy would get it. Not to mention a selection I would have drive around the metro for days to find.There are a lot of reasons they are successful. E-Bay is alright for certain things-IMHO. Now do I buy every whole foods item locally that I can? Mostly. I paid a $200 membership to help a Community Owned Grocery Store Open someday in Town.
I don't mean to hijack the thread I will shut up after this. I always use to buy from them, and had heard bad things but never had complaints myself. I have a few reviews posted on Amazon as well!
There was a special on one of the major news networks last week. They interviewed some store owners that had opened up there products to amazon. They sign and pay a 15% comission to Amazon. Make a boat load of money the 1st year or less expanding their customer base 5 fold. Then amazon learns the market and hijacks the customers by going directley to the suppliers on the top items sold and undercutting the people they signed a 15% agreement with putting all out of business. They aslo interviewed top ex-board members or CEO, high top level people that use to work for amazon.
These guys admitted that it is their business plain to do exacly that. "What better way to break into a new market." Money was not an issue. A matter of fact they are working on such a small to no margin they are loosing money. Their objective is power and then dominate the internet sales with no compitition. Henkel Cutlery knives agreed to sell to them direct but pulled out when they started selling below there cost and competeing against there own suppliers. I am suprised no one else saw this. There goal is a monopoly. Their top ex-employees admitted it. Not one but several. They went on to talk about the book stores like the Barnes and knoble types that are all out of bussiness now.
OK sorry to hijack I thought it was important to back up my claims from a reliable us news show ...ha,ha. It was a half hour or so show just on this subject. I said my peice, no more, sorry excuse my interuptions!