12 devices and services that could help you ditch Amazon completely (AMZN)

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• Amazon’s formerly sterling reputation has taken a hit from all sides over the last year. 
• That has led some customers to threaten to boycott and cut themselves off from Amazon completely.
• Amazon relies on the interconnectedness of its services — and Amazon Prime in particular — to keep customers in its ecosystem.
• But there are plenty of alternatives to nearly all of its offerings, if you’re willing to do a little research.

Amazon is quickly growing to be one of the most powerful companies on earth, spreading into so many categories and offering so many services that it can be difficult to keep track of them. 

With such rapid growth, it was bound to catch the eye of both scrutinizing politicians and customers who might be inherently distrustful of such a large organization.

Amazon’s repuation has taken a beating over the last year, with high-profile detractors like Sen. Bernie Sanders repeatedly criticizing the company over its workplace practices and pay standards. Amazon is one of Sanders’ top examples of a company that has become too powerful, and he frequently makes reference to CEO Jeff Bezos’ incredible wealth in his criticisms.

In 2018, scored a victory when Amazon raised its starting pay to $15 an hour for all US employees. The company was hailed as forward-thinking, and even Sanders praised the move. 

But employee pay is far from the only reason customers have criticized the company, as the rise of e-commerce has long been blamed for putting brick-and-mortar — and, especially, locally owned — stores out of business.

Whatever the reason for wanting to file for divorce from Amazon, the fact remains that it’s daunting to find a place to start.

We’ve rounded up some of the most commonly used Amazon services and found the closest alternatives to them. Some of them are easy, like shopping. Many other retailers now have perks like free two-day shipping, though they often come with different stipulations. Others, like Amazon’s Kindle devices, aren’t quite a one-for-one replacement.

SEE ALSO: I ordered the same items from Amazon and Walmart to see which one does e-commerce better — and they both had major flaws

Instead of checking Amazon.com first, look at competitors like Walmart and Target.

Amazon.com is the first URL many online shoppers type into their browser. 

But Amazon is not always the cheapest or fastest option, despite its sterling reputation. Other general merchandise sellers like Walmart and Target have caught up after years of online investment, and they both have low prices and a similar two-day shipping promise.

Instead of Whole Foods, try Sprouts or another natural-foods store.

Amazon-owned Whole Foods is certainly the largest US grocer focused on organic and locally sourced foods. 

But there are others. Sprouts Farmers Market is one of the largest chains, with 280 stores across 15 states. Many local players also replicate Whole Foods’ model.

Instead of Twitch, use YouTube Gaming.

Twitch is Amazon’s gaming streaming platform. And while it is still the go-to service for follow-along gaming, it’s far from the only one doing it.

YouTube has its own similar service with YouTube Gaming. 

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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