A week ago, a (tragically young) worker died at my local Amazon warehouse, the same day that we got a package delivered. Most likely from heart issues complicated by a too-hot warehouse. Even if he wasn't the worker who packaged our (EXTREMELY un-urgent) goods, the guilt and shame are too intense for me to ignore. We haven't had Prime accounts in years aside from occasional free trials to get a few things. But that was it - no more.
May I recommend the Kobo e-reader as a way of reading eBooks without lining Bezos' pockets? You can use Libby with it, there's a Kobo store you can use, and you can send eBook files directly to the reader. I'm a die-hard physical book person, but the Kobo is nice to have for travel.
Oh my goodness. Was just texting with my bff about the Amazon of it all last night, I got similarly sucked into the Amazon forcefield after my baby was born a few weeks early in 2025. I'll never forget the midwife in the hospital saying to my husband and me, this is the time to use Amazon. The baby is more of a toddler now and it's time for us to stop it!!! Thank you for this timely reminder!!!
I relate to this sooo much. I have not taken the final leap of canceling. It is like they/IT knows. This month I tried to cancel my Amazon Prime subscriptions to HBO,Apple, etc. And immediately was offered a reducccccccccced pricccccccce if I stayed with the subscrition a few months more. Slithery. And like a whimp, I stayed. Like you said; the lure. Save.
If you cancel Amazon Prime, they will forever tell you on your next order that you can subscribe again for a limited-time offer of $0.99 for a week to get free shipping. You will of course forget to cancel and then they've got you back in again. Don't ask how I know. haha
I loved this! PS I don't understand how anyone with kids can have Alexa. Whenever my kids are anywhere near an Alexa they begin yelling at her to do stuff. They're now 15, 10, and 6, but as young as like 2 they caught onto her and loved screaming for jokes or bad songs or insulting her, etc. Seems like a shortcut to hell!
I loved this!!! I've been trying not to buy stuff online this year and totally agree that it's actually really nice :) I normally would've just ordered from Target whatever Reddit told me was the best 3-year-old present for my little niece's party this weekend, but instead went to the local kids' bookstore and our little neighborhood gift shop and got some really cute stuff (butterfly temporary tattoos! a little fairy garden set! books!). She might like the stuff a little less than the perfect 3-year-old gift as agreed upon by online consensus but I realized.... I don't care! If my present is slightly less ideal... oh well!! lol
This post feels very serendipitous. Yesterday we spent two hours returning a new ai phone that we hated after a week. Today is the first day of my husband having a dumbphone and he loves it. He's already said he's much more tuned into the kids at the park because it's just in his pocket not tempting him to check it. Unplugging from what you can feels great. Thanks for reminding people it's an option. Sometimes it's easy to forget.
I made my departure in 2021, then started working in a Whole Foods and it became to tempting not to use the discount. After I left, I also felt relief. Congrats on unlearning the habit of convenience- it is SOOOO HARD! Lovely comic, I adore the vignettes of the emergency room and the dominatrix. ❤️
I became a brief Amazon addict when I was burnt out at work. This is so embarrassing, but remember those BuzzFeed lists that were just Amazon ads? I would go through them and add "cute" things to my shopping bag...cos I was so depressed and numb and burnt out... I still have my kindle, but I try and prioritise my library first. But no more Prime, no Alexa, no mindless shopping and I try and prioritise Irish shops where I can. I've also addressed my depression; I think you've hit on something in this comic about how Amazon seeds when people are at their most desperate.
This comic helped me change a habit — instead of buying my journals from Am*z*n with that stupid-easy “order again” option, I’m walking to the neighborhood stationary store to stock up from now on. I can afford to move that money and energy, and I will. Thanks, HALMAIL!
A week ago, a (tragically young) worker died at my local Amazon warehouse, the same day that we got a package delivered. Most likely from heart issues complicated by a too-hot warehouse. Even if he wasn't the worker who packaged our (EXTREMELY un-urgent) goods, the guilt and shame are too intense for me to ignore. We haven't had Prime accounts in years aside from occasional free trials to get a few things. But that was it - no more.
May I recommend the Kobo e-reader as a way of reading eBooks without lining Bezos' pockets? You can use Libby with it, there's a Kobo store you can use, and you can send eBook files directly to the reader. I'm a die-hard physical book person, but the Kobo is nice to have for travel.
This is devastating 😭 💔
Oh my goodness. Was just texting with my bff about the Amazon of it all last night, I got similarly sucked into the Amazon forcefield after my baby was born a few weeks early in 2025. I'll never forget the midwife in the hospital saying to my husband and me, this is the time to use Amazon. The baby is more of a toddler now and it's time for us to stop it!!! Thank you for this timely reminder!!!
I relate to this sooo much. I have not taken the final leap of canceling. It is like they/IT knows. This month I tried to cancel my Amazon Prime subscriptions to HBO,Apple, etc. And immediately was offered a reducccccccccced pricccccccce if I stayed with the subscrition a few months more. Slithery. And like a whimp, I stayed. Like you said; the lure. Save.
Thank you for the post, Hallie.
If you cancel Amazon Prime, they will forever tell you on your next order that you can subscribe again for a limited-time offer of $0.99 for a week to get free shipping. You will of course forget to cancel and then they've got you back in again. Don't ask how I know. haha
I loved this! PS I don't understand how anyone with kids can have Alexa. Whenever my kids are anywhere near an Alexa they begin yelling at her to do stuff. They're now 15, 10, and 6, but as young as like 2 they caught onto her and loved screaming for jokes or bad songs or insulting her, etc. Seems like a shortcut to hell!
I loved this!!! I've been trying not to buy stuff online this year and totally agree that it's actually really nice :) I normally would've just ordered from Target whatever Reddit told me was the best 3-year-old present for my little niece's party this weekend, but instead went to the local kids' bookstore and our little neighborhood gift shop and got some really cute stuff (butterfly temporary tattoos! a little fairy garden set! books!). She might like the stuff a little less than the perfect 3-year-old gift as agreed upon by online consensus but I realized.... I don't care! If my present is slightly less ideal... oh well!! lol
This post feels very serendipitous. Yesterday we spent two hours returning a new ai phone that we hated after a week. Today is the first day of my husband having a dumbphone and he loves it. He's already said he's much more tuned into the kids at the park because it's just in his pocket not tempting him to check it. Unplugging from what you can feels great. Thanks for reminding people it's an option. Sometimes it's easy to forget.
Amen!
I made my departure in 2021, then started working in a Whole Foods and it became to tempting not to use the discount. After I left, I also felt relief. Congrats on unlearning the habit of convenience- it is SOOOO HARD! Lovely comic, I adore the vignettes of the emergency room and the dominatrix. ❤️
Love the way you put your thoughts to paper!!
I loved this so much haha. The surgery scene pulling out the Alexaaa 😂
LMAO !!!!!
I really love this comic, thank you for sharing!
I really love these drawings and the message! Thank you
I became a brief Amazon addict when I was burnt out at work. This is so embarrassing, but remember those BuzzFeed lists that were just Amazon ads? I would go through them and add "cute" things to my shopping bag...cos I was so depressed and numb and burnt out... I still have my kindle, but I try and prioritise my library first. But no more Prime, no Alexa, no mindless shopping and I try and prioritise Irish shops where I can. I've also addressed my depression; I think you've hit on something in this comic about how Amazon seeds when people are at their most desperate.
This comic helped me change a habit — instead of buying my journals from Am*z*n with that stupid-easy “order again” option, I’m walking to the neighborhood stationary store to stock up from now on. I can afford to move that money and energy, and I will. Thanks, HALMAIL!
I like going to the store toooooooo!!!!!!!!