[justinsb]

I agree that Amazon is often the most convenient option. But their prices simply aren't the best any more (at least for things other than books). Try a price comparison next time and see if you agree! (Another change is that Google Shopping has improved a lot over the last few years, so price comparison is less painful as well.)

One thing Amazon still does best: their deliveries arrive on time, and seem a lot less likely to get stuck in UPS limbo.

[ekianjo]

Yeah, even in Japan, they are not the cheapest option anymore, there are usually smaller retailers for specific items that get you better deals, but think about the following cost: - cost to register on a different website - cost to "trust" a minor player you have never used before - cost of time lost because of delay in delivery - cost of how they handle returns

Most of the time, I think a few seconds about the difference in price between amazon and that minor retailer, and unless the difference is huge (which is usually not the case), I'll go for Amazon. Even when I had issues with what I got from Amazon they sent me the replacement item BEFORE I even send back the defectuous item. Who else does that?

[mrcharles]

Possibly true in the US; but in Canada where we get stuck paying bullshit exchange rate premiums all the time, I can still usually save a bit of money. Just recently I bought some audio equipment from amazon.com, which, with duties and taxes prepaid, still came to less than the pre-tax price of anything local. And I live in Toronto; it's not like stuff is hard to find around here.