Over the last three decades the retail side of Amazon has grown to where you can buy almost anything through them. I have bought stuff through them and probably so have you. While this one-stop shopping may be convenient for customers, it has the added effect of creating a monopoly—posing problems for smaller retailers, communities and even Amazon employees.
Legal Challenge to Amazon
Small Business Rising, an online support organization for small businesses, is currently seeking signatures by small business owners/management for a petition to support an effort to reign in the breadth and depth of Amazon’s influence.
Posted in May, 2026, on the website they state:
We’ve seen Amazon use their influence to skirt accountability before. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — we must show our support for this lawsuit and trial to discourage the FTC and states from backing down — either through settlement or dropping the case. Don’t let Amazon get away with a slap on the wrist.
Their effort stems from the Federal Trade Commission September 2023 lawsuit accusing Amazon with monopolistic practices.
The FTC position on its website begins as follows:
The Federal Trade Commission and 17 state attorneys general today sued Amazon.com, Inc. alleging that the online retail and technology company is a monopolist that uses a set of interlocking anticompetitive and unfair strategies to illegally maintain its monopoly power. The FTC and its state partners say Amazon’s actions allow it to stop rivals and sellers from lowering prices, degrade quality for shoppers, overcharge sellers, stifle innovation, and prevent rivals from fairly competing against Amazon.
In her December 20, 2019 article, New York Times columnist Karen Weise gives a background scenario in how Amazon puts the squeeze on the businesses that it contracts with on its website.
Alternatives to Amazon
In the meantime, this brings the question to the surface, “are there alternatives to Amazon when it comes to shopping online for a variety of product categories?”
Several large retailers have opened their websites to third-party sellers, the latest being Best Buy. A few months ago I was searching for a musical recording console and found one pictured under Macy’s. Other retailers like Walmart, Target, Kohl’s and others have done it. These items, like the console, are not sold in stores. They are stored with the supplier and are shipped from them directly to the customer.
In this case, there is no fulfilment center, and thus can be a cheaper alternative than going the Amazon route. Also, it means the land where a fulfillment center is built can be used for other purposes. Communities are realizing this now with Big Tech data centers.
Customers also have alternatives available—perhaps with not as large a selection but also not as controversial. An example is eBay. Once again, items are shipped directly from the supplier. Another is Etsy. This site specializes in various handmade household items that can be monogrammed.
Rolling Stone magazine recently posted 21 Amazon Alternatives and what each focuses on. The website GoodGoodGood also has an alternative list, including reasons why each is better than Amazon.
Radio Shack
Finally, if you are looking for electronics supplies there is…Radio Shack! Seems like the retailer that was a go-to place in the 1970s-90s still exists online. They once again sell only their own products. And they have retail stores available—but with a twist. They are located only in small towns and partner with local shop owners as resellers to sell their products.
