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How to Resist Amazon and Why
How to Resist Amazon and Why | Danny Caine
9 posts | 7 read | 5 to read
When a company's workers are literally dying on the job, and its business model relies on preying on local businesses and even their own companies, and its CEO is the richest person in the world while its workers make minimum wage with impossible quotas...wouldn't you want to resist? Danny Caine, owner of Raven Book Store in Lawrence, Kansas, compiled this zine about his commitment to fighting Amazon. Includes: the open letter he wrote to Jeff Bezos, examples of successful social media activism, links to other resources, and some sobering words about boycotting.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
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ImperfectCJ
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Wait...Amazon owns Litsy and LibraryThing??? WHY must they infiltrate everything? At least there's still libro.fm and bookshop.org and biblio.com and TheStoryGraph and Kobo and Libby/Overdrive and public libraries. For now, at least.

BkClubCare Ugh 😩 3mo
Ruthiella Is this true? 3mo
Bookwormjillk I thought Tim Spaulding owns library thing which owns Litsy. 3mo
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DGRachel @BkClubCare @Ruthiella @Bookwormjillk according to a 2010 article I found online, Tim founded and is the majority owner, but Amazon owns/owned 40%. I know LibraryThing uses Amazon as a major reference for books. I wouldn‘t say the graphic is wrong, but it‘s misleading and isn‘t the full story. 3mo
RowReads1 Hmm why would Amazon want Litsy? Isn‘t it not being updated? 3mo
Bookwormjillk @DGRachel that makes sense thanks 3mo
Bookwormjillk @RowReads1 I think they would want LibraryThing 3mo
BarbaraBB I had no idea but it seems incorrect about Litsy? 3mo
Deblovestoread Thanks for the details @DGRachel … it makes Amazon‘s involvement a little more palatable. 3mo
DGRachel @BarbaraBB I think they‘re including Litsy because LibraryThing owns Litsy. All I know is that as much as I hate Amazon and try to avoid using them for books of any format, they can pry Litsy from my cold, dead hands. There is no other place like it. 3mo
ImperfectCJ @DGRachel Thank you for the context. There's definitely no place like Litsy. I love TheStorygraph, but the community on Litsy is what I love. Its association with Amazon probably won't be enough to shoo me away (unless it becomes obvious they're using my personal info and content like they do on Goodreads), but the lack of support for the Android app might. 3mo
ImperfectCJ And just for additional context, this is from an Instagram post by libro.fm 3mo
TheBookgeekFrau Not surprised. They now own my damn doctor's office, too. There's no escaping them 😤 3mo
GingerAntics Wait, what?! When did that happen? 3mo
GingerAntics @TheBookgeekFrau seriously? How? 3mo
TheBookgeekFrau @GingerAntics The group was bought by MedOne and upon a little Google research I found that MedOne is owned by Amazon 🤬 3mo
Aimeesue Ugh. How is this not a monopoly? 3mo
BarbaraBB You‘re so right, there‘s no other bookish place like it. I do wish Tim (or Amazon for that matter) would invest a bit in an update though 😉 3mo
ImperfectCJ @Aimeesue I think there‘s a complicated historical/political reason why it's not, and it's related to why labor protections have been eroding for the past few decades. I blame Microsoft/Bill Gates for setting the stage, but getting this far requires lawmakers to agree (lawmakers who are making money off of their legislative decisions). This book provides one possible explanation. 3mo
ImperfectCJ @BarbaraBB It's disheartening to think that such a wonderful place could become like Goodreads. I used to LOVE Goodreads and put so much content on it, but since Amazon took over, it just feels like I'm being used. I don't mind paying for TheStoryGraph bc I know my subscription helps make it so users are the consumers, not the product. I actually paid for LT before it turned free. I'd be willing to pay for Litsy, too, if it helped keep it awesome. 3mo
BarbaraBB Yes me too. And I also paid for Storygraph. I really don‘t like GoodReads 3mo
GingerAntics @TheBookgeekFrau GROSS!!! Do you have other doctoring options, or are you stuck with them? 3mo
GingerAntics @Aimeesue right? I have wondered that about Amazon and Facebook. 3mo
GingerAntics Apparently, as of right now, Amazon does NOT hold a majority share of librarything, so at least there is that for now. It certainly made me look into the app Fable, and I dislike it even more now. I believe I will be deleting that one. 3mo
TheBookgeekFrau @GingerAntics I'm not *stuck* with them per se. The doctors and staff haven't changed and they're the reason I've stayed. 3mo
GingerAntics @TheBookgeekFrau that‘s good. As long as nothing really changes, then it‘s all good. It can be a real pain switching doctors. 3mo
TheBookgeekFrau @GingerAntics Yes it can!! And that's why I'm just gonna stay . . . for now. 3mo
GingerAntics @TheBookgeekFrau definitely keeping an eye on this though 3mo
43 likes30 comments
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peanutnine
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Pickpick

This audiobook was offered for free during the last prime days. It is an insight into the workings of the giant corporation, not just how it affects bookstores & small businesses, but also in terms of labor practices & data privacy. Caine offers small solutions to resist Amazon & boost local economies, rather than totally boycotting as that is impossible with how enmeshed it is in society. An engaging listen
#Nonfiction2023 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

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Soubhiville
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Pickpick

I think most readers know that amazon threatens our favorite businesses and people: Independent Bookstores! But did you know they undermine most small businesses, hurt the postal service, take advantage of workers through loopholes, and collect data on their customers through their Alexa devices and Ring products?

This short book is eye opening, and it will change the way I think about shopping and big tech companies.

mrp27 It‘s not always easy nor convenient but I try to avoid using Amazon unless absolutely necessary. Nor will I use Alexa. Now if I can just get the family to refrain…… 1y
Soubhiville @mrp27 it‘s really hard, it‘s become pervasive! 1y
bthegood Since January 2020 (not the best time to start 😂) I gave up online shopping with Amazon and online social media - to support local businesses and connect in person. Well...the pandemic - so I did join Litsy but I still do not have Amazon. So far so good 🙂 1y
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Soubhiville @bthegood That‘s really impressive! 1y
DivineDiana I just saw this book at my local Independent bookstore and mentioned to the cashier that it looked interesting! Adding to #TBR! 1y
bthegood @Soubhiville thanks, it just worries me when one company becomes that powerful and pervasive - make a great day 🙂 1y
Bookwomble Yeah, hate Amazon and everything they stand for! 1y
Hooked_on_books I‘ve been reading about Amazon‘s damaging practices for years, which is why I almost never shop with them. I never buy books (of any format) from them. The only time I ever buy something from them is when it‘s something I need (rather than want) and I either cannot find it anywhere else or the shipping from others to my location is so crazy high that it just doesn‘t make sense. I don‘t like to support them at all. 1y
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Bookwormjillk
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Libro.fm members this is free during Amazon prime days!

Sharpeipup I find this funny…and I love it. 1y
Bookwormjillk @Sharpeipup agree! (Even though I will probably order some cheap post it notes tomorrow 🤷‍♀️) 1y
57 likes2 comments
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TheBookDream
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Since @Chrissyreadit asked, here‘s the suggestions for how to resist Amazon. I would like to point out that you can buy books local from pretty much anywhere now thanks to the internet. So if your area doesn‘t have an indie, adopt one in another area and get the books shipped! It also emphasizes the good that secondhand stores and libraries do in a local community.

wanderinglynn Bookshop.org is a great online alternative for books & it supports indie bookstores. So does Libro.fm. 3y
TheBookDream @wanderinglynn Some indie stores have partnered with Kobo such that if you go to the indies website you can purchase kobo books and the indie gets a share of the sale 3y
TheBookDream My fave site to purchase kobo books through is https://www.banksquarebooks.com/ 3y
Chrissyreadit Perfect! I do use Libro and Indie stores. It‘s the random hard to find items I‘ve been using the evil empire for. And gifts overseas. I need to just search through for indie online shops for those. 3y
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TheBookDream
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Pickpick

Found this today at #TitleIX books ins New London, CT. I didn‘t need MORE convincing, but it was an interesting read nonetheless.

Chrissyreadit It‘s interesting- I just realized local small business were first crippled by Walmart, now by Amazon, but there are similarities in practice toward employees and work settings and pay. What were some options? Especially for rural areas more limited in options? 3y
23 likes1 comment
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Shadowfat
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Pickpick

I thought the tone of the book was a little angry but it has important information. I knew what they do with books, which is why i don't by books on Amazon. Sometimes they're a necessary evil, it's hard to want to quit Goodreads!

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MarkoPDX
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Pickpick

Stick it to The Man!

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The_Real_Nani
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My sister is on an epic road trip across the country and when she hit Nashville, she sent me these goodies from The Book Shop. ✌️

rather_be_reading awesome!! 😍 5y
13 likes1 comment