wrote

| The same could be said about any online site. Users have reported
| problems with Newegg, and Amazon, and Walmart (all of which operate
| storefronts for other sellers so you may not be buying from the site you
| visit, especially Amazon who doesn't sell anything themself).

Another problem is that things change a lot. Tom's
toothpaste used to be made by Tom. Now it's
made by Colgate. Likewise, Ben and Jerry's was bought
out. The amazingly good Smart Food popcorn was
bought by Frito-Lay and that was the end of amazingly
good. (I read that all but one of the "idealists" who
started Smart Food agreed to sell out.)
American cars are made in Haiti while Japanese cars
are made in the US, perhaps with Chinese parts.

Since companies, names and trademarks can be sold,
it's hard to depend on reputations.

I used to buy all computer parts from TigerDirect. I
loved them. Then they sold out to PCMall and my last
order was just like Amazon: TG was just middlemanning.
Each part came from a different dealer, with the result
that I had to track 6-8 packages instead of 1. If Acme
in Ohio is going to sell me a motherboard, then why not
just cut out the TG middleman and buy direct from
Acme? Isn't that the kind of thing the Internet is
supposed to be good for?

Similarly, I used to buy all software from
Buycheapsoftware.com. I bought Visual Studio 6 from
them. I bought several Windows disks to build computers
for friends. I bought Linux disks.... Now they're gone.

I don't know what I'll do next time I decide to build
a computer. I prefer not to deal with Amazon, out of
principle and have never actually bought anything from
them.

Lately I've been trying to avoid Whole Foods
as I get a taste of how Amazon works. TheAmazon
takeover of WF started out with an advertising blitz
about how amazon would usher in cheaper prices.
A few prices were a little cheaper for awhile. Then
that ended. For instance, organic raisins had been
$4.29/#. Amazon put the price down and added a little
sign about how WF + Amazon will save money. That
lasted a couple of months. Now the same raisins are
back to the old price, with a sign that says,
"Everyday Low Price!".

Today I stocked up on fruit from Star
Market, which was selling the same stuff for an average
of half what WF is charging! The only reasonable prices
now are a few sale items that only Prime members can
buy. One example of WF price gouging: Eastern peaches
from the exact same distributor at both stores.
WF: $3.49/#. Star: $1.59/#.

WF grapes from Mexico: $5-6/#. Star organic grapes from
California: $3.49/#.

It's nuts. The WF prices under Amazon jump all over,
clearly with no relation to their costs.

People might like the temporary good deals at Amazon,
but it's a deal with the devil. The more they take over,
the worse it will get. Last I heard, they're still losing money
on sales. They make their profit from web services. They're
not going to keep losing money. Once they establish a
monopoly, Amazon will start milking the suckers who though
they were a great deal.

..... And that's not even getting into their maltreatment of
employees. If people don't hold these companies accountable
then they won't be accountable.