It used to be that people would use local brick & mortar stores to examine the item and then buy it cheaper on Amazon.
I now use Amazon to search, then go buy more reliably at the source company itself, a specialized online store, or locally.
It isn't just about getting ripped off, it's about actual personal and household safety. Many categories such as electronics and batteries, I NEVER buy from Amazon, and I also understand any health & beauty products are so rife with sometimes-dangerous counterfeits that they should be also avoided. This is only going to get worse with the current US regime actively dismantling regulation and H&S systems.
Yes, it's definitely degraded, but there are some categories where it is handy to just get a survey or discover some options. But to really try to actually complete a purchase, it is nearly completed its enshittification.
It used to be that people would use local brick & mortar stores to examine the item and then buy it cheaper on Amazon.
I now use Amazon to search, then go buy more reliably at the source company itself, a specialized online store, or locally.
It isn't just about getting ripped off, it's about actual personal and household safety. Many categories such as electronics and batteries, I NEVER buy from Amazon, and I also understand any health & beauty products are so rife with sometimes-dangerous counterfeits that they should be also avoided. This is only going to get worse with the current US regime actively dismantling regulation and H&S systems.