I have to admit to using Amazon pretty heavily so I rarely need to shop anywhere beyond my local grocery.

But I more focus on buying less, buying choices that last, rather than where it comes from.

I’ve begun to think that the concept of the large general store is part of the problem. In the before times, we would shop around for individual items and discover new small businesses.

Now when I need something, I make my first search off of Amazon. I usually find a specialty shop that is more than happy to help. Sometimes a large retail store is the only place to find something. Sometimes I don’t find what I’m looking for and decide it was an impulse buy anyway. Sometimes I find a better option than what I was looking for.

I’ve found that individual items typically cost slightly more but overall I’m spending less; I’m skipping more frivolous purchases and averaging better quality choices that require fewer replacements.

One general online retailer I’ve found useful for good deals is Mercari. It’s more like eBay than Amazon I think.

Look up “hardware store” I looked some up near me and there are a few locally owned small businesses that are pretty helpful.

Aldi has some good stuff for food. Not sure specifically what you need.

For Amazon, I use eBay a ton and find most electronics and other random items from there.

Depends on what you need. My local Ace hardware has a surprising selection of household stuff and decor.

Grocery store for other stuff. I’m a big fan of Costco.

as far as “national” chains go, Costco is pretty good if you have space to buy things in bulk. You can stock up on essentials that last forever, and if you have freezer space you can save a ton on various food products by purchasing bulk and freezing. They also have some pretty killer deals on electronics and other stuff. Yes it’s membership based, but it’s not too hard to get your value out of that if most of what you buy and use is from Costco.

Depending on where you live, there may be second hand/thrift stores you can check out. Especially places like a Goodwill or arc Thrift stores in Colorado.

People constantly donate stuff they don’t want to throw away. If you’re in a bigger city, they’ll have just about anything you can get at a Walmart or Target, minus the consumable products: furniture, kitchen supplies, clothes, books, lamps, small appliances. The price is better than bougie thrift stores, bonus if the store/donation station is near a wealthy area.

all the plastic tat on amazon comes from aliexpress anyway, so just go to the source. You might be adding to a surveillance state, but it’s not your state.

Main alternative to Amazon that I’ve found is Ebay. Physical retail is fine for regular household stuff but if you need a weird or specialized item, you can’t buy it in person any more. You’re stuck with online. Like I needed some clear heat-shrink tubing recently, and it’s impossible to find retail as far as I can tell. I guess digi-key has it but I was able to find it way more affordably on ebay when shipping is considered. I need an inner tube for my bike in an apparently unusual size and it’s the same thing, have to order it. Bah.

Not sure this is an option in the USA, but I’ve reduced ordering online, instead I support physical stores in the city center, to purchase locally produced products. In addition I simply consume less.