Quote:
Originally Posted by maxwang
When considering purchasing online, Amazon does not come to my mind.
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Well... it's basically the same in the Netherlands for many people. We have our own "Amazon" in the form of Bol.com, and they have been in operation since the late 90's. For electronics, we have Coolblue, and for specialized computer parts we have stores such as Azerty. Photography is done mostly by Kamera-Express nowadays.
Amazon can do all of it, but because they they sell a MASSIVE amount of tiny stuff (and junk...) through third-party sellers, many people regard Amazon as a website where you get "nick-nacks"; such as a cover for your iPhone 13, but very few people in the Netherlands would actually buy the iPhone itself at Amazon. To be honest, I think most people wouldn't even buy the KINDLE itself at Amazon itself. (Nowadays it is also available through some other stores.)
Paper books are often bough through Bol.com as well (that is how they primarily started), or Bruna.nl; even the English versions. I don't think many people will go to Amazon for their paper books, especially because the price in the Netherlands is regulated. This means that a paper book has a set price, and costs the same everywhere give or take €0.05 or a (very occasional) promotion.
So yeah, I can see where you're coming from. Even though I have been buying stuff from Amazon.de and Amazon.co.uk for a LONG time (almost 20 years now) and I occasionally buy somthing through Amazon.nl, I never bought anything substantial there. With "substantial" I mean stuff where I would maybe need the guarantee within the next two years after purchase. I doubt I'll ever buy a TV or a laptop (or phone/tablet/computer monitor...) through Amazon. The only things I buy either work (and then will probably work forever), don't work or aren't up to expectation (then they'll be sent back) or work, and I don't really care if they break in 5 years (cheap stuff such as a tablet stand).