There’s a fine line between customer loyalty and being taken for a fool — and Amazon just crossed it.
Recently, I had a conversation with someone who’s been shopping on Amazon for years. We’re talking old-school, pre-Prime days. This wasn’t a casual shopper. This was a loyalist — a practical, detail-driven, deal-hunting, give-you-a-chance kind of person.
And now? She’s out.
And I don’t blame her one damn bit.
đź›’ It Started with a Box That Never Came
Actually, two boxes.
First order? Melatonin, HEPA filters, a sleep mask — everyday stuff. A woman needs to sleep, after all. Amazon promised a date. Then changed it. Then changed it again. Two weeks turned into three, until finally, they threw up a sad little message that basically said: “Your package might be lost.” No email. No notification. Just a sentence at the top of her order status page.
It was allegedly bouncing around on the East Coast. The customer lives in Nevada.
Let that sink in.
Eventually, Amazon offered a cancelation link, so she canceled the order and — quite reasonably — expected a refund. But after another week, the refund never came. She had to go through her bank and file a chargeback — a move that no regular Amazon customer ever wants to make, because it’s messy and it shouldn’t be necessary.
📦 Order #2: Still Not Shipped, Still No Answers
Ten days ago, she placed another order. More essentials. Deodorant. Socks. The stuff that keeps you feeling human. Same strategy: put together a cart that hits the free shipping threshold, avoid Prime, shop smart, shop ahead.
Ten days later, it still hasn’t shipped. No updates. No delays. Just… nothing.
Meanwhile, all the prices on the items she bought? They’ve gone up. About 10%. Conveniently — the exact amount that matches the tariffs making headlines. Except these items were in stock, not imported since April 2.
It doesn’t take a tinfoil hat to connect those dots.
“They don’t want to ship my box,” she said, “because I got it the stuff on sale. And now that prices have suddenly gone up, they’re trying to get me to cancel so they don’t have to honor the original deal.”
And honestly? That tracks.
📉 From Disruption King to Corporate Vampire
Let’s zoom out for a second.
Amazon used to be about disrupting the system — fast shipping, better pricing, better service. They wanted to beat everyone, and they did. But somewhere along the way, the disruptor became the villain.
They did it to writers first. Lured them in with Kindle readers and self-pub dreams, then squeezed them with ever-shrinking royalty shares, exclusivity traps, and algorithm voodoo.
Now they’re doing it to vendors — forcing lower prices, higher fulfillment fees, and killing the margin on everyday goods until sellers either quit or drown. A race to the bottom.
And now it’s customers’ turn.
We’re watching it happen in real time. Prices go up. Support disappears. Refunds stall. Loyalty means nothing. Unless you’re paying for Prime, you’re background noise.
💸 What’s Really Going On Here?
Here’s the theory — and it’s not a wild one:
• They delay shipping until the price goes up
• They stall long enough that you cancel
• Then they relist the item at the higher price
• And they pocket the margin while gaslighting you about “logistics”
And if you dare to get a refund through your bank?
They treat you like a problem — not a customer.
That’s not a conspiracy. That’s a business model.
🚪 And That’s Why She Walked
She canceled the second order.
She closed the tab and started her boycott. The goal is to go a whole year without buying a single thing from Amazon. Not even a single music download. The hope is that this time next year, she will have found other sources for everything she needs and not even give Amazon a second thought.
And she meant it when she said: “I vote with my dollars.”
And honestly? That’s the only language Amazon understands anymore. Not feedback. Not loyalty. Revenue. If you’re done, be done. It’s the one thing that hits back.
🧠Where to Shop Instead (If You Want to Boycott Amazon)
Here’s the short list:
• Target: More transparent shipping. Great app. Regular deals.
• Walmart: In-store pickup and surprisingly decent e-comm now.
• Direct from brands: Skip the middleman. Sometimes you get better support AND warranty.
• Local stores: Especially for essentials. Yes, they still exist.
• Thrive Market / Vitacost: For supplements and healthy food, often cheaper with real humans behind support.
🗣️ Final Word: Don’t Let the Algorithm Win
This story isn’t just one person’s rant. It’s the canary in the fulfillment center. Amazon has gone from game-changer to game-rigger, and more people are waking up to it every day.
You don’t have to delete your account. But you can stop giving them the benefit of the doubt.
And if you’ve had your own shipping nightmare, chargeback battle, or refund loop? You’re not crazy. You’re not alone. You’re not wrong.
You’re just finally seeing them for what they are.
And yeah — maybe it’s time to start shopping like it.
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