[mingus88]

I always buy local if I have a choice anymore.

* I’m not making a trip downtown for just one item. I’m picking it up on my way somewhere else, usually one of a few errands. That delivery driver might be making rounds too but randomly and likely far less efficient, bouncing around various suburbs. (And the recipients of those packages are still out running errands too)

* most delivery vehicles, aside from the nice rivian EDVs, are gross polluters, noisy, driven like their lives depended on getting there as fast as possible. The drivers are abused workers, stories of pissing in bottles to make a quota. I prefer fewer of those in my neighborhood.

The bottom line though, regardless of delivery efficiency, is that communities have suffered when everyone shops online. The benefactors of that efficiency are the billionares.

I buy from stores that employ my neighbors. Where I can talk to a human when I need to return an item. Where they are treated less like warehouse robots being abused like sweatshop workers. Costco is my model for a good local warehouse, not Amazon or Newegg.

[cortesoft]

You have a lot of valid criticisms to his online retailers treat employees and communities.

However, I think there are some flaws in your argument.

> That delivery driver might be making rounds too but randomly and likely far less efficient, bouncing around various suburbs.

They are absolutely not making rounds randomly. Delivery routes are meticulously crafted for maximum efficiency. The drivers are going the absolute most efficient route for what they are delivering, and the companies spend millions of dollars to make sure, because that has a huge effect on their bottom line.

> most delivery vehicles, aside from the nice rivian EDVs, are gross polluters

All the Amazon and fedex trucks near where I live are electric. Again, these companies have strong incentives to maximize their effeciency.

> The benefactors of that efficiency are the billionares.

While it is true the billionaire owners capture an outsized share of the gains, I think it is disingenuous to say that consumers don’t get any benefit. I grew up before online retail, and I would never want to go back to having to buy everything at a store. It is INSANELY convenient to be able to order things in 30 seconds on Amazon, for as cheap as I can buy it anywhere, and have it delivered to my house in a few hours or the next day. Now, there are certainly costs to this convenience as you laid out, but it is absolutely a benefit that I have enjoyed.

> Costco is my model for a good local warehouse, not Amazon or Newegg.

I absolutely HATE our local Costco with a passion. It is always so crowded, and the parking lot is a zoo with people driving around trying to find spots and creating gridlock, plus having to walk around the crowds to find stuff and carry it to my car, etc. My experience is way better just pulling out my phone and placing an order. I even have my normal household items set to be delivered on a schedule, meaning I don’t even have to think about buying toilet paper, it just shows up at my house at the rate I need it. It is impossible to get easier than that, why would I want to give that up?