Matt Hazard

Holiday shopping traditionally looked like busy malls and shops, cramped parking lots, and bus drivers waving angry fists out of driver side windows. Snow filled the sidewalks, but tire tracks kept the streets somewhat plowed for the entire month of December.

Does that scene sound familiar? If so, chances are you have a great memory! That scene was painted on the canvas of the past, blurred by the sands of time. In contrast, today’s landscape is looking increasingly digital.

But is Amazon the best solution to modern day online shopping?

At one time, I’d have said yes. Their unique commitment to a fast delivery system does make it very convenient, so it’s no wonder why their signature vans can be spotted in most neighborhoods on the regular. Their strongest quality is undoubtedly the speed in which they hurl the packages to your home seemingly immediately after you press the checkout button. Yet still, it seems somewhere down the line, Amazon succumbed to capitalism.

What used to be a site with great deals and unique products turned into an overpriced reselling platform for sellers who buy from other markets like AliExpress and push out into the inflated Amazon marketplace.

Two years ago, I bought a huge water bottle to emulate my wife, and it cost about $30. A year later, the exact same bottle from the same seller jumped up to over $60. The same thing happened when I bought a five-pack of Chinese boxer briefs for $26, and the following summer they were over $40. The takeaway here, other than I occasionally buy underwear online, is that you can’t always trust Amazon to be cheaper than brand name stock at stores in your own hometown.

So then, what’s the point?

Despite being riddled with overpriced knockoff products, if you sift through the debris, Amazon can still show some value. Their bookstore is stellar, and big brand resellers sometimes have their own stores on Amazon that sell products for the same list prices as the stores in your city, plus they deliver with more efficiency than Canada Post ever could.

Hey, I’m not here to criticize anyone’s life choices. Online shopping is obviously easier than leaving the house, and I’m absolutely guilty of it too, but it seems like Amazon has become the de facto one stop shop for almost everything. It might be worth checking out other online stores direct since Amazon doesn’t carry everything, and get some variety. And maybe this way, you won’t be spending $100 at checkout with a cart containing underwear and a water bottle.