Welcome • User Guide
ToS • Privacy • Canary
Donate • Bugs • License

©2025 Poal.co

1.1K

How do you find small and large businesses with online storefront that we should support? Is there a directory or list somewhere?

How do you price compare at least on some basic level?

Is there something like a better search engine 'shopping' search?

If I were in a hard spot and had to buy from Amazon, do I go to ebay first since some small businesses post there?

How do you find small and large businesses with online storefront that we should support? Is there a directory or list somewhere? How do you price compare at least on some basic level? Is there something like a better search engine 'shopping' search? If I were in a hard spot and had to buy from Amazon, do I go to ebay first since some small businesses post there?

(post is archived)

[–] • 7 pts (edited )

Just search for the product with "made in America" on the web.

There are multiple "buy american" directories like chinanever.com/ you can shop at too.

I found something on Amazon I wanted, went to the products homepage and bought it there (with free shipping even).

[–] • 2 pts

Also ebay is terrible on sellers. They have no rights and the fees take half of everything they make.

[–] • 0 pt

So, use it just to locate businesses?

Wouldn't it still be better than purchasing from amazon if I search and cant find it elsewhere? Is it acceptable to just 'soft' boycott ebay?

[–] • 1 pt

I was only an eBay seller so can't compare but I got absolutely raped on there. Maybe the business have an upgraded account that isn't as bad. But Amazon, eBay and PayPal are all part of the same machine.

Just remember the internet hasn't been around that long and people got by before without it.

[–] • 3 pts

So far, I am 1) decreasing what I buy 2) trying to buy used stuff locally 3) buying directly from the company or another online seller

We will figure it out eventually.

[–] • 2 pts

There are small businesses on both ebay and amazon. (Both give part of their gross earnings to the PC satans. What I like to do is find the item I want, then search for the item name, or company name, part number, etc and see where else offers it. Pretty often there are competative sellers elsewhere that beat the big sites' prices.

[–] • 1 pt

Is there a search engine that gives better results than others when searching by part # or item?

[–] • 0 pt

I use Duck but will use startpage, yahoo, and screwgle with a VPN and other anonymising addons. It tales more work but I'd rather spend my money with people who are not (know to be) my enemy. Things like appliance parts are often cheaper from US supply companies than cheap foreign imitations.

[–] • 2 pts

Use eBay.

[–] • 1 pt

Yes this, I will often find a product on amazon with the reviews and such, then find it cheaper on ebay, but I also try to buy directly from the manufacturer if I can. Frys electronics is also good, and newegg.com are good places to check too. I have also canceled my subscription to amazon prime.

[–] • 1 pt

many ebay sellers simply are fronts for Amazon. Plus Amazon acts as the warehouse for many sellers. it is a safe bet that multiple sellers of the same item with the same picture and within a few cents of each other then are likely fronts for Amazon. The clever seller will have a different picture but is still an Amazon reseller--and there are times I will send a msg asking if they are Amazon reseller and a no response confirms my suspicions

[–] • 1 pt

Fulfilment by amazon. They will hold your items in there wearhouse and have integration to every major and most minor e-commerce platforms.

[–] • 1 pt

Amazon itself is the best thing to use for that purpose. Nearly every company that sells on Amazon has its own website. So what I do is look up a product I need, then go to the company's website and buy it directly from them instead.

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

Same. I thought that that was normal procedure. TIL.

[–] • 0 pt

You can usually purchase what you want directly from the manufacturer. Just search for the product (use quotes if needed) in Duckduckgo or your preferred search engine, and it'll be one of the first links.

[–] • 0 pt

The other day I ordered directly from the person who's book I wanted, and it came from Amazon anyway. 🤦‍♀️

[–] • 0 pt

Was it printed by Amazon's platform as well?

[–] • 0 pt

Not sure. Quarto publishing group, month by month gardening by Walter Reeves.

[–] • 1 pt

Maybe they use Amazon's print on demand services.

[–] • 0 pt

Stop using amazon and help them out by slashing their tires like they slash prices.

[–] • 0 pt

You pay more money. Amazon is a monopoly on many things.

[–] • 1 pt

Yeah. It's tough when it's quicker to find, cheaper in many cases, quicker to get, one sign on, more secure than some of the small sites, guaranteed returns, etc.

I want to change my shopping behavior, but its tough trying to figure out a good balance.

[–] • 0 pt

you can find the product number, and enter it into serach engines or price comparing sites. i dont know what its called but every product sold has an official number like a barcode, the number can be found somewhere on the product page.

[–] • 0 pt

I used to only buy on Amazon if the price was substantially cheaper or it was not available anywhere else. Now I will be avoiding Amazon completely.

First, buy local. Search for local retailers and try and buy from those who are like minded. Try and get an idea. There are many great small private companies out there. Search on duck duck go. Search the name of the product, or the company. Buy direct from the manufacturer or a based dealer.

[–] • 0 pt

I'm definitely going to try, but it will take more time, money and effort.

I think it's worth it, but it won't be easy.

Load more (4 replies)