Post by: Beardy on 03 December, 2021, 10:11:10 pm
I don’t have an active Debit card or a Mastercard, so it’s going to be difficult even if i do decide to stay. No, I don’t want to capitulate to corporate bullying, so yes, I do want to leave. I can shop elsewhere on line with only a little more inconvenience. I’d come to terms with dropping Prime Video, even if I haven’t yet broached the subject with Dr Beardy (Mrs).
But it occurred to me this morning as I was perusing the kindle store for a new device for Dr Beardy’s Christmas present. Kindle books are Amazon. And then there’s Audible which I use extensively. I now find myself, with plenty of other people I’m sure, on the horns of a dilemma and possibly a need to get a new credit card.
I’d like to leave because bullying but like the title says, it’s complicated.
Post by: Snakehips on 03 December, 2021, 10:22:52 pm
Post by: canny colin on 03 December, 2021, 11:00:13 pm
The garage was so badly damage the fire brigade were summoned, by the police to shore it up .
At first Amazon claimed it was a subcontractor and had no idea who owned the van or who was driven it .
I believe it was pointed out by the boys in blue that if the driver did not come forward . He would end up with more points than Newcastle united . ( that will be 6 points then )
To add salt to the wound , amazons secret van drivers insurance are insisting on three estimates . While the garage wall and roof are swaying about in the storm like a drunken sailor and are in no hurry to get the job sorted .
I always try to have a visa card with one bank ( Santander have been spot on ) & a Mastercard with another. Yorkshire bank were appalling. But unfortunately Virgin Money have buggered it up even more . (dear God they could not run a tap ) So I am now with a local to me high street bank who just do visa . So Amazon can get stuffed.
Post by: rafletcher on 04 December, 2021, 05:07:49 pm
I would like to stop buying stuff made in China but how the hell do you do that these days?
Conflating the 2 issues, the only place I could find that had stock of the tiny built-in microwave I needed as a replacement for our 20 year old one, whose “start” button had failed, was Amazon. (Although it actually came from Germany, surprisingly without FedEx trying to gouge me for duties). It’s a “Bosch” microwave. Made in China (as opposed to Taiwan for the original)
Post by: ian on 04 December, 2021, 06:18:39 pm
*it helps to be modestly affluent and already be in possession of just about everything, of course, but we've opted to stop buying new stuff unless it's replacing something that genuinely needs replacement and when we do so, buy something decent.
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 04 December, 2021, 06:55:28 pm
Post by: lissotriton on 04 December, 2021, 07:38:41 pm
So might as well make sure you have a variety of Visa and Mastercard, to give you a choice of what to use where.
Or you could go to your local shop, and buy Amazon gift vouchers with cash.
Post by: ian on 04 December, 2021, 07:43:35 pm
That bloody Kindle has me though.
Post by: FifeingEejit on 04 December, 2021, 07:49:45 pm
I think its worth having several debit/credit cards, from different banks. It can be rather inconvenient if they block your account, and stop all of your cards from working. Then it could take several days/weeks to get it sorted out.I've got 1 visa and 1 mastercard, with the mastercard as backup.
So might as well make sure you have a variety of Visa and Mastercard, to give you a choice of what to use where.
Or you could go to your local shop, and buy Amazon gift vouchers with cash.
My bank does visa, there is no benefit to switching to the other as my main card, in fact it creates more faff.
As I use a credit card as a budgeting device (read, I'm fucked I my work don't pay me 1 month but would rather have the plague than not pay it off) I'm hardly going to switch to buying on my visa debit card.
The prices aren't even all that competitive anymore so it's only their delivery offering I'll be missing.
That said I may flick myaatrrcard over to primary just to get the gift voucher but will then have to watch to make sure anything I do buy goes on the card I want it to
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Post by: ian on 04 December, 2021, 08:28:07 pm
Post by: perpetual dan on 04 December, 2021, 08:42:16 pm
Electronics from China are hard to avoid, but I find my modest habit can be satisfied without getting them via Amazon.
I only see things on Prime, via Mrs Dan, occasionally and don’t have a kindle.
But then I get to work, where we use AWS.
Post by: ian on 04 December, 2021, 08:47:33 pm
Buying Kindle books in the bath though is my thoroughly depraved pastime. Try going to Waterstones naked.
Post by: FifeingEejit on 04 December, 2021, 08:51:56 pm
Just because Amazon sells Naked books to naked people doesn't mean that's normal...
Post by: barakta on 04 December, 2021, 11:07:52 pm
I had about 3 years where I hardly read anything. I decided to try ebooks and I was back to 1-2 books a week on average...
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 December, 2021, 01:14:21 am
Post by: PaulF on 05 December, 2021, 06:40:07 am
Buying Kindle books in the bath though is my thoroughly depraved pastime. Try going to Waterstones naked.
Well I took your advice and they told me to go away and not come back.
Ever.
Last time I listen to advice on the internet.
Post by: MikeFromLFE on 05 December, 2021, 08:17:53 am
DRM may be removed from Kindle boks using Calibre and the DeDrm plugin, which is a Useful Thing even if all you want to do is make the Kindle titles consistent over, say, a series of crime novels in which the guilty party is nearly always the Scotsman.Which requires Windows, which I have on a laptop somewhere in the house, I think. So 8ve moved over to Kobo (after a flirtation with an Android ereader).
Back to cards- my main card is Amex for the cashback, with a Barclaycard Visa also giving me cashback (at a lower rate than Amex). So I buy as much as possible using these cards and pay them off weekly (yes, weekly, I never ever am in hock to them).
I've not yet had the situation where neither were accepted, but I do have my bank debit card which is Mastercard.
I buy very little from Amazon and am happy to watch the two bullies slug it out from the sidelines.
Post by: robgul on 05 December, 2021, 09:23:57 am
I guess there's little doubt that Visa will cave in to Amazon's demands at the 11th hour.
IIRC Visa sponsored the 2012 games and you could only buy tickets and stuff with that card . . . that caused some uproar at the time.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 05 December, 2021, 09:35:29 am
DRM may be removed from Kindle boks using Calibre and the DeDrm plugin, which is a Useful Thing even if all you want to do is make the Kindle titles consistent over, say, a series of crime novels in which the guilty party is nearly always the Scotsman.Which requires Windows, which I have on a laptop somewhere in the house, I think. So 8ve moved over to Kobo (after a flirtation with an Android ereader).
Works just fine on Linux...
J
Post by: Beardy on 05 December, 2021, 10:17:29 am
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 December, 2021, 11:06:35 am
DRM may be removed from Kindle boks using Calibre and the DeDrm plugin, which is a Useful Thing even if all you want to do is make the Kindle titles consistent over, say, a series of crime novels in which the guilty party is nearly always the Scotsman.Which requires Windows, which I have on a laptop somewhere in the house, I think. So 8ve moved over to Kobo (after a flirtation with an Android ereader).
Works just fine on Linux...
Windows-32, Windows-64, Linux, Mac-OS and “Portable” versions according to their webby SCIENCE (https://calibre-ebook.com/download) and somewhere in there is something about using it with Android and iOS which ICBA to investigate. Apprentice Alf tells you how to make DeDRM work on divers varieties of OS (https://apprenticealf.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/calibre-plugins-the-simplest-option-for-removing-most-ebook-drm/).
Post by: ian on 05 December, 2021, 11:29:32 am
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 December, 2021, 11:40:36 am
Post by: nuttycyclist on 05 December, 2021, 11:43:53 am
Only lasted a couple of years before the battery failed to hold a charge.
Post by: L CC on 05 December, 2021, 11:45:23 am
I've fallen for the 'I want it, and I want it now' and now get grumpy when my DMC cotton takes a week.
(and my bank does mastercard)
It's all shit and I'm paying for that baldy toss bucket to stick on a cowboy hat and fly into space.
Post by: ian on 05 December, 2021, 11:48:20 am
Same for that moon-faced über-tosser, Musk too. Get into space, the pair of you.
Post by: Mr Larrington on 05 December, 2021, 11:49:25 am
Post by: FifeingEejit on 06 December, 2021, 11:12:33 am
You'd think that if we all offered to pay a bit more they'd fire him into space and not bring him back.The way Musks going the feds somewhere in the world are going to have him eventually.
Same for that moon-faced über-tosser, Musk too. Get into space, the pair of you.
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Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 06 December, 2021, 11:25:47 am
SpaceX is achieving terrific things.You'd think that if we all offered to pay a bit more they'd fire him into space and not bring him back.The way Musks going the feds somewhere in the world are going to have him eventually.
Same for that moon-faced über-tosser, Musk too. Get into space, the pair of you.
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Musk is one of the most annoying people on the planet.
Post by: Kim on 06 December, 2021, 12:04:43 pm
Post by: ian on 06 December, 2021, 01:05:48 pm
Post by: T42 on 06 December, 2021, 02:02:59 pm
Unfortunately they don't carry the bike I'd like someone else to pay for (https://www.probikeshop.fr/velo-de-course-electrique-cbt-italia-artik-9-shimano-aa-5-r7-2-34-5-noir-bleu-2-2aa/218999.html).
Post by: John Stonebridge on 06 December, 2021, 02:18:38 pm
I suspect that part of their success is that once caught in their web, its very difficult to get out.
(*) I shared this fact recently with my colleagues at work, a number of whom simply failed to believe it possible - "that's like not breathing" I think one said (20 somethings, bless).
Post by: Ham on 06 December, 2021, 02:36:55 pm
DRM may be removed from Kindle boks using Calibre and the DeDrm plugin, which is a Useful Thing even if all you want to do is make the Kindle titles consistent over, say, a series of crime novels in which the guilty party is nearly always the Scotsman.
I'm purty certain that no longer applies to the latest encryption on recent Kindle OS.
Post by: hubner on 06 December, 2021, 02:40:48 pm
Or get a paper book.
Post by: rafletcher on 06 December, 2021, 02:53:37 pm
Or get a paper book.
Indeed. I order all my reading material from our local library*, and pay some 70p per book for the privedge. And the author gets a borrowing loyalty as well.
*ETA: That is the whole of Hertforshires libraries system. And if they don't have it I can go for an inter-library loan via the SELMS system for a mere £3. https://selms.spydus.co.uk/docs/SELMS/home.html
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 06 December, 2021, 02:55:09 pm
Post by: L CC on 06 December, 2021, 03:10:16 pm
I suspect that part of their success is that once caught in their web, its very difficult to get out.
Yes. I want a specific colouring book for a stocking. Where else am I going to get that? Google tells me I could get it at murdochbooks.com.au
O Rly
Post by: FifeingEejit on 06 December, 2021, 04:56:28 pm
I saw a headline suggesting amazon want to take Control of their own payment process, which would be an interesting move,presumably an amazon credit account with a direct debit payment, presumably also the glossy pages that formed many young adolescents wank bank back in the day...
Yes Mr bezos you just reinvent the clubby book.
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Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 December, 2021, 06:35:47 pm
DRM may be removed from Kindle boks using Calibre and the DeDrm plugin, which is a Useful Thing even if all you want to do is make the Kindle titles consistent over, say, a series of crime novels in which the guilty party is nearly always the Scotsman.
I'm purty certain that no longer applies to the latest encryption on recent Kindle OS.
Apprentice Harper, who maintains the DeDRM plugin, says:
Quote from: Apprentice Harper
It also now includes code that should handle the latest KFX encryption used by the latest Kindle for PC and Kindle for Mac. How long this code will work is anyone's guess. It may be that Amazon will update Kindle for PC/Mac very quickly. In which case, the existing work-arounds to get KF8 format should still work.
Post by: Beardy on 06 December, 2021, 06:47:46 pm
Post by: grams on 06 December, 2021, 07:27:53 pm
Anything one person can dream up anther person can dismantle.
DRM is a special case because you have to distribute the decryption key to everyone in order to read the book, which makes them ever more elaborate versions of hiding the front door key under the mat.
Actual encryption schemes are (to a first approximation) unbreakable, at least by conventional computing power.
Post by: Beardy on 06 December, 2021, 08:50:36 pm
yes perhaps sloppy language on my part. Anything with a front door can be accessed even if that mean stealing a vkeyAnything one person can dream up anther person can dismantle.
DRM is a special case because you have to distribute thedecryption key to everyone in order to read the book, which makes them ever more elaborate versions of hiding the front door key under the mat.
Actual encryption schemes are (to a first approximation) unbreakable, at least by conventional computing power.
Post by: TimO on 21 December, 2021, 03:48:17 pm
... I always try to have a visa card with one bank ( Santander have been spot on ) ...
My newest Santander card, issued in May of this year, is Mastercard, not Visa as it used to be. I believe that Santander have swapped over from Visa, so that's likely to change for you too.
Post by: citoyen on 21 December, 2021, 05:27:03 pm
I'm stuck with Audible. There isn't an alternative that works even vaguely as well.
The really annoying thing is that Audible used to be independent, but as is the way, it got bought up by Amazon. This inevitably happens to anything good.
Anyway, I was reminded of this thread by something I spotted while flicking through a recent Private Eye:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51761329141_c0c80eebc0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mRYkPk)
Amazon (https://flic.kr/p/2mRYkPk) by citoyen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/103760266@N08/), on Flickr
Post by: Beardy on 21 December, 2021, 05:32:39 pm
Post by: FifeingEejit on 21 December, 2021, 05:39:48 pm
I got my free 20 quid, then switched the visa card back
to default. If I ran an advertising campaign for a shop right now it would involve "we accept all major credit cards (Mc, visa no Amex sorry) "
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Post by: Moleman76 on 03 January, 2022, 04:54:56 am
Post by: Jaded on 03 January, 2022, 09:18:20 am
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 January, 2022, 11:41:32 am
I discussed the convenience of Amazon ordering with a friend who is a near-rabid fan of anything smacking of "free enterprise". Once we got that out of the way, I thought to take a look for how many items one could buy through Amazon. Mr. Google informed me that there are about 360 million stock keeping units (SKUs) in the Amazon system. I don't know if that is worldwide or not. It struck me that if no more items were added to that list, you could buy one unique item per day and go for a million years before repeating your order.Well there's a hobby you won't run out of!
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 11 January, 2022, 08:15:08 am
Got a month's free prime and just cancelled it. By eck it was giving it the hard sell and loads of screens saying yes I really want to lose all these benefits. Only just stopped short of saying babies would die if I cancelled.
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 11 January, 2022, 12:00:43 pm
Bezos loses another dime
Post by: robgul on 11 January, 2022, 04:13:48 pm
So for Christmas I got given an amazon gift card so had to use the amazon
Got a month's free prime and just cancelled it. By eck it was giving it the hard sell and loads of screens saying yes I really want to lose all these benefits. Only just stopped short of saying babies would die if I cancelled.
I was offered the usual free month before Christmas and took it, cancelling straightaway to kick in on 20 Dec - loads of "really" messages - and this week I have "a week for 99p" offer - my wife is tempted so she can binge watch some Amazon only TV stuff and then cancel.
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 11 January, 2022, 04:25:28 pm
I'll wait for them to offer me more to lure me back. The kids managed I think two series of just add magic
Post by: andrewc on 11 January, 2022, 04:47:14 pm
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 12 January, 2022, 05:34:07 pm
Post by: TimO on 15 January, 2022, 04:06:20 pm
Even more complicated ordered a reflective gillet from BTR via their website. Which amazon delivered this afternoon
I've had Amazon deliveries for various items ordered elsewhere, including eBay.
Post by: robgul on 15 January, 2022, 05:15:18 pm
Even more complicated ordered a reflective gillet from BTR via their website. Which amazon delivered this afternoon
I've had Amazon deliveries for various items ordered elsewhere, including eBay.
Ditto - quite a few items I've bought from ebay and direct from other stores have been delivered by Amazon - by the look of it either Amazon is doing the fulfilment or is just being the delivery service.
Amazon's
Post by: FifeingEejit on 15 January, 2022, 10:23:12 pm
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Post by: Beardy on 17 January, 2022, 11:13:41 am
1. FSVO surprising that don’t involve any surprises at all.
Post by: ian on 17 January, 2022, 11:55:32 am
Post by: citoyen on 17 January, 2022, 12:23:59 pm
Post by: quixoticgeek on 17 January, 2022, 01:10:09 pm
more on it from the bbc
J
Post by: FifeingEejit on 17 January, 2022, 01:26:07 pm
Post by: Beardy on 17 January, 2022, 01:55:45 pm