It’s 2021. It’s safe to say as humans we have modernized. We’ve moved from loin cloths to more practical clothes. We have kitchen appliances to make preparing a meal easier. And now we no longer have to leave our homes to get groceries and other items. But is that really the best thing?

Amazon is by far the largest online company, which should come to no surprise. Amazon sells just about everything. It’s eclectic selection is part of why it is so popular, but have you ever stopped to think that Amazon is causing more harm than good? 

Amazon can be blamed for in-person stores going out of business. Do you remember going to Toys R Us when you were younger? Due to competition from competitors, such as Amazon, it couldn’t recover from the debt from a buyout in 2005. It’s the same story with other stores. People no longer feel the need to go to an in-person store to pick out anything when they could just find it online and order it from Amazon.

Not only is it hurting larger businesses, it is also hurting small town businesses. Due to the mass production of the products, Amazon is able to sell a lot more of them for a lower price than an independent business could. For example, if you look at the price of shirts on Amazon, you could get one for less than five bucks, while if you went to your local store it may be $10 more than Amazon’s listed price. But you have to also think of where the money in those situations goes. Do you want your money to go to a big corporation like Amazon or to the hometown businesses you have grown to know and love? 

Amazon also ruins interpersonal relationships. In Delphi, Indiana, you could walk into just about any of the businesses on Main Street, call the owner by name, and know what is going on in each others’ lives. With Amazon there is none of that. You hit a button from your phone or computer and within days the product is sitting outside your front door waiting for you. You make no connections with the person who made it, packaged it, sold it, or even delivered it.

Ordering from Amazon also presents an element of risk. How many videos are out there that show people ordering random items off of Amazon that you shouldn’t be ordering online. For instance, wedding dresses. Wouldn’t it be better to try that on in person and be able to check the quality of them? Most of the time the quality of the product is sketchy, and those who bought it admit it too. When you shop in person, there is no debate over the quality of the item in question. You can touch it, check the material, and even try it on to make sure it fits and isn’t too revealing. With Amazon, it’s a guessing game. You never know what will end up at your doorstep. 

With the holiday season approaching, it is important to think about where you are buying your gifts, decor, and other items. While Amazon definitely offers convenience, there are inconveniences to take into consideration as well.