Kido Butai
Protestant
This year I was shopping for some items.
1- humidifier
2-crossbow
3- bar soap
In an effort to stop feeding the beast, I made an experiment with 3.vendors. Here was my plan
1- shop for the item in Amazon and Chinamart. Compare prices and find the manufacturer/vendor contact details.
2 - call them. Explain that I wanted to give them business directly and eliminate commissions to the greedy system. I proposed to write a bill of sale with the agreed price & shipping. If I paid an excess of shipping cost, the company maintains a credit in my account for future business.
3 - send payment via mail. Smile upon its arrival because I gave the middle finger to Bezos.
Results
Humidifier - was built in the USA, in fact in my home state. The vendor thought my proposal was a great idea and I received a humidifier. It quit working after 3 months.
Crossbow - did not play ball. Said I was making a joke and that he can find his bow at Bass Pro Shop
Bar soap - complained that the company has no salesmen and it's hard to issue refunds outside of Amazon. I must have spoken with an finance guy, not an operations guy. I hung up after getting annoyed with him
Ok so maybe not a resounding success. But I'm happy to say a that I didn't pay one red penny to the Beast, for my broken humidifier.
1- humidifier
2-crossbow
3- bar soap
In an effort to stop feeding the beast, I made an experiment with 3.vendors. Here was my plan
1- shop for the item in Amazon and Chinamart. Compare prices and find the manufacturer/vendor contact details.
2 - call them. Explain that I wanted to give them business directly and eliminate commissions to the greedy system. I proposed to write a bill of sale with the agreed price & shipping. If I paid an excess of shipping cost, the company maintains a credit in my account for future business.
3 - send payment via mail. Smile upon its arrival because I gave the middle finger to Bezos.
Results
Humidifier - was built in the USA, in fact in my home state. The vendor thought my proposal was a great idea and I received a humidifier. It quit working after 3 months.
Crossbow - did not play ball. Said I was making a joke and that he can find his bow at Bass Pro Shop
Bar soap - complained that the company has no salesmen and it's hard to issue refunds outside of Amazon. I must have spoken with an finance guy, not an operations guy. I hung up after getting annoyed with him
Ok so maybe not a resounding success. But I'm happy to say a that I didn't pay one red penny to the Beast, for my broken humidifier.
