As a side note, a good friend of mine recently took on a part time job in the Amazon fulfillment center. He says it's hell on earth for working conditions.
Low wages, no music or headphones allowed, very few breaks and short ones. He said most people don't last a week. They see about a 80% turnover rate monthly.
Most other people who work there are like him, out of work after years in a in a highly specialized job that has vanished. He's miserable.
Basically he urges anyone to think twice about shopping with amazon.
One doesn't need to look very far to see the localized impact of Amazon. I'm fairly biased as I own a small, independent retail store and I know so many others who do the same.
I am sad to see the downswing or early end in local retail. I like interacting with a local expert and actually touching, feeling, smelling something before I make a purchase. In the last few years, i've made an effort when contemplating any purchase to look for super durable, long lasting products that will be around for years. The whole amazon concept is gross to me.
