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Economic blackout

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  • S Steve Miller

    This post is deleted!

    wtgW Offline
    wtgW Offline
    wtg
    wrote on last edited by
    #33

    @Steve-Miller said in Economic blackout:

    Maybe I don’t need them.

    ☝

    I’ve adopted this strategy.

    When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden - Minnie Aumônier

    1 Reply Last reply
    • RontunerR Offline
      RontunerR Offline
      Rontuner
      wrote on last edited by
      #34

      I wondered about Amazon's profit sources... subscriptions, or online sales???
      https://fourweekmba.com/amazon-revenue-breakdown/

      wtgW ShiroKuroS 2 Replies Last reply
      • RontunerR Rontuner

        I wondered about Amazon's profit sources... subscriptions, or online sales???
        https://fourweekmba.com/amazon-revenue-breakdown/

        wtgW Offline
        wtgW Offline
        wtg
        wrote on last edited by
        #35

        @Rontuner That's great info. Thanks for posting it.

        When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden - Minnie Aumônier

        1 Reply Last reply
        • RontunerR Offline
          RontunerR Offline
          Rontuner
          wrote on last edited by
          #36

          As for hard to find items....? I suppose if Amazon isn't the first place I go, but the last, that should make an impact.

          1 Reply Last reply
          👍
          • RontunerR Rontuner

            Even if you don't have a Costco nearby, a membership allows you to purchase online - often more items than are available at a local Costco... $65/year?

            ShiroKuroS Online
            ShiroKuroS Online
            ShiroKuro
            wrote on last edited by
            #37

            @Rontuner thanks, I'll look into that.

            My Amazon prime expires in April I think, so we'll keep it until then (unless I get a prorated refund?)

            I already pay for prime, so taking that expenditure elsewhere makes sense. As much as I hate Walmart, I was thinking that I would prefer joining Walmart's program over staying with Amazon.

            But Costco, yes, that would be much better.

            @Steve-Miller

            But are a lot of things I can’t get anywhere else.

            Maybe I don’t need them.

            Yes, this is how my thinking is going....

            1 Reply Last reply
            • RontunerR Rontuner

              I wondered about Amazon's profit sources... subscriptions, or online sales???
              https://fourweekmba.com/amazon-revenue-breakdown/

              ShiroKuroS Online
              ShiroKuroS Online
              ShiroKuro
              wrote on last edited by
              #38

              @Rontuner thanks Ron!

              AWS is Amazon Web Services, which I'm pretty sure is the tech backbone for many, many university systems. I was surprised it's only <16%. Interesting.

              But of course it's the online stores and third-party sellers at 65% that make up the biggest chunk.

              What this chart doesn't show is that, probably the biggest reason for those sales numbers is because of those subscriptions, along with the purchase bundles non-subscribers do to get free shipping.

              So without the subscriptions, people will shop elsewhere.

              wtgW 1 Reply Last reply
              • ShiroKuroS ShiroKuro

                @Rontuner thanks Ron!

                AWS is Amazon Web Services, which I'm pretty sure is the tech backbone for many, many university systems. I was surprised it's only <16%. Interesting.

                But of course it's the online stores and third-party sellers at 65% that make up the biggest chunk.

                What this chart doesn't show is that, probably the biggest reason for those sales numbers is because of those subscriptions, along with the purchase bundles non-subscribers do to get free shipping.

                So without the subscriptions, people will shop elsewhere.

                wtgW Offline
                wtgW Offline
                wtg
                wrote on last edited by wtg
                #39

                @ShiroKuro said in Economic blackout:

                AWS is Amazon Web Services, which I'm pretty sure is the tech backbone for many, many university systems. I was surprised it's only <16%. Interesting.

                That was my first reaction until I looked at profit.

                alt text

                AWS is their profit maker.

                When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden - Minnie Aumônier

                ShiroKuroS 1 Reply Last reply
                • wtgW wtg

                  @ShiroKuro said in Economic blackout:

                  AWS is Amazon Web Services, which I'm pretty sure is the tech backbone for many, many university systems. I was surprised it's only <16%. Interesting.

                  That was my first reaction until I looked at profit.

                  alt text

                  AWS is their profit maker.

                  ShiroKuroS Online
                  ShiroKuroS Online
                  ShiroKuro
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #40

                  @wtg said in Economic blackout:

                  AWS is their profit maker.

                  Ahh... yikes, this is a good illustration of the difference bw profit and revenue, I guess.

                  And it explains a lot, bc when I saw that pie chart, I was very surprised.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  • ShiroKuroS Online
                    ShiroKuroS Online
                    ShiroKuro
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #41

                    I would imagine that AWS has fewer associated costs, the main costs are the tech infrastructure and the people managing the tech. Which is surely a much smaller number of people involved than sales, since product sales, require distribution logistics and people etc...

                    I have the impression that AWS was fully embedded as a major internet service provider before anyone even noticed.

                    I wonder if AWS does medical, like those "mychart" systems that hospitals and clinics use....

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    • P Offline
                      P Offline
                      pique
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #42

                      Most of what I bought on Amazon I can also find on eBay--usually from the same sellers.

                      Otherwise, you can visit Amazon, look at the name of the seller, and then buy from them directly. It is often actually cheaper that way.

                      fear is the thief of dreams

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      👍
                      • P Offline
                        P Offline
                        pique
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #43

                        Another option is join a local community "Buy Nothing" group. People do swaps and freebees on there. Our town has one online. Or, whenever you need something, post in your online neighborhood group what you need and see if someone local is selling it.

                        fear is the thief of dreams

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        • R Offline
                          R Offline
                          RealPlayer
                          wrote on last edited by RealPlayer
                          #44

                          Piqué, on the subject of Buy Nothing groups, I found that (at least around here) they are HYPER local. So local, that on this island of about 490,000 people the groups are only about a few blocks in size...even smaller than what I would call a neighborhood. It might be hard to find what you want, or find a taker for what you have. Often you have to extend your reach farther than that. So examine the geographical breadth of your various local groups. You may also find that some groups are not called Buy Nothing, but have some different name, and different rules.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          • P Offline
                            P Offline
                            pique
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #45

                            That is so New York. I promise you, we do not have that issue here. In fact, the buy nothing group here includes communities that are as much as an hour's drive from town.

                            fear is the thief of dreams

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            • wtgW Offline
                              wtgW Offline
                              wtg
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #46

                              A 40-day Target boycott starts today. It couldn’t come at a worse time for the company

                              https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/05/business/target-boycott-jamal-bryant/index.html

                              When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden - Minnie Aumônier

                              B 1 Reply Last reply
                              👍
                              • wtgW wtg

                                A 40-day Target boycott starts today. It couldn’t come at a worse time for the company

                                https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/05/business/target-boycott-jamal-bryant/index.html

                                B Online
                                B Online
                                Bernard
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #47

                                @wtg Good!

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                • ShiroKuroS Online
                                  ShiroKuroS Online
                                  ShiroKuro
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #48

                                  When spring break gets here (two weeks away!) we're gonna make a pilgrimage to the "big city" and go to Costco (and the bigger Japanese grocery store).

                                  Target and Amazon can suck it.

                                  wtgW 1 Reply Last reply
                                  • ShiroKuroS Online
                                    ShiroKuroS Online
                                    ShiroKuro
                                    wrote on last edited by ShiroKuro
                                    #49

                                    Hey what about Aldi? Are they ok? They weren't on @Rontuner 's list...

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    • ShiroKuroS ShiroKuro

                                      When spring break gets here (two weeks away!) we're gonna make a pilgrimage to the "big city" and go to Costco (and the bigger Japanese grocery store).

                                      Target and Amazon can suck it.

                                      wtgW Offline
                                      wtgW Offline
                                      wtg
                                      wrote on last edited by wtg
                                      #50

                                      @ShiroKuro said in Economic blackout:

                                      go to Costco

                                      Ha! Glad you said something. Saw this literally 5 minutes ago:

                                      Costco membership deal: Costco is now offering a bonus $20 digital Costco Shop card on top of a Gold Star Membership price of $65 for your first year. On top of that, this offer will give you a free additional household card.

                                      Some of Costco’s most loved services are Costco Optical prescription glasses center, Costco’s gas program (where you can gas up your vehicle for discounted member prices) and the hot food options, including the beloved $1.50 hot dog and soda combo.

                                      Note that when you purchase this deal, you will be sent redemption instructions via email; you must redeem your membership online before you shop at Costco. The $20 Costco card will be emailed to you within two weeks after you redeem it.

                                      https://www.marketwatch.com/picks/costco-and-bjs-are-offering-major-discounts-on-membership-with-a-bjs-annual-membership-now-just-20-5e7f4e84?mod=MW_article_top_stories

                                      If you don't find a Costco membership works for you, they will refund your membership fee, no questions asked.

                                      When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden - Minnie Aumônier

                                      ShiroKuroS 1 Reply Last reply
                                      • wtgW wtg

                                        @ShiroKuro said in Economic blackout:

                                        go to Costco

                                        Ha! Glad you said something. Saw this literally 5 minutes ago:

                                        Costco membership deal: Costco is now offering a bonus $20 digital Costco Shop card on top of a Gold Star Membership price of $65 for your first year. On top of that, this offer will give you a free additional household card.

                                        Some of Costco’s most loved services are Costco Optical prescription glasses center, Costco’s gas program (where you can gas up your vehicle for discounted member prices) and the hot food options, including the beloved $1.50 hot dog and soda combo.

                                        Note that when you purchase this deal, you will be sent redemption instructions via email; you must redeem your membership online before you shop at Costco. The $20 Costco card will be emailed to you within two weeks after you redeem it.

                                        https://www.marketwatch.com/picks/costco-and-bjs-are-offering-major-discounts-on-membership-with-a-bjs-annual-membership-now-just-20-5e7f4e84?mod=MW_article_top_stories

                                        If you don't find a Costco membership works for you, they will refund your membership fee, no questions asked.

                                        ShiroKuroS Online
                                        ShiroKuroS Online
                                        ShiroKuro
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #51

                                        Thanks @wtg !!

                                        @wtg said in Economic blackout:

                                        If you don't find a Costco membership works for you, they will refund your membership fee, no questions asked.

                                        This is good, because we live far away enough from it that we would have to find we can use the online shopping option enough. Like, the gas card isn't going to do anything for us, nor the hot food options.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        • wtgW Offline
                                          wtgW Offline
                                          wtg
                                          wrote on last edited by wtg
                                          #52

                                          I love Costco and their prices are usually very good, though it always pays to compare.

                                          costco.com is not as sophisticated as Amazon, so don't expect the same speedy delivery times you get with Amazon. Costco doesn't warehouse the stuff, so your goods are coming from the vendor and delivery times are not super fast.

                                          And when I do a return, I take it to the warehouse. You can return online purchases without going to the warehouse, but I've never done it so don't know how it works.

                                          Anyway, you have a year to give it a try and see how it works out. Others who are farther away from Costco will perhaps chime in and talk about how they use their Costco memberships. Don't forget Costco optical if you need a pair of glasses! At least take a look around while you're there.

                                          When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden - Minnie Aumônier

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