General Discussion

William769

(56,490 posts) Thu Jan 16, 2025, 10:36 AM Jan 16

160

A friend of mine who says his party affiliation is Independent [View all]

Had given me a $100.00 gift certificate from Amazon as a Christmas gift. I have never used Amazon & never will. I have been debating on what to do with this gift. He came by this morning to have coffee & I had decided yesterday to return the gift to him.

I gave him back the gift certificate & said thanks but no thanks and explained to him that I could not in good conscious do business Amazon because of the CEO & what he stands for.

His feelings were hurt & said that's just fucking stupid. He also stated to me that using my political affiliation to try to hurt a company is really fucking stupid.

We never talk politics because of our friendship and he has been a really good friend. I don't know how he voted in the election but I will say this, nearly all Independent's I know are closeted republicans and are ashamed of their party, but not ashamed enough to stop giving them their vote.

In closing I will say this, not not shopping at Amazon may not hurt the bottom line but at least I feel better about myself. Also I have another thread where Symbolism has been talked about and the it doesn't really matter attitude doesn't sit right with me, especially now.

Thanks for listening.

146 replies

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Highlight:

A friend of mine who says his party affiliation is Independent [View all] William769 Jan 16 OP

I would have just donated the card to a local charity.There are better ways to make politcal points to friends. n/t FSogol Jan 16 #1

Good point. William769 Jan 16 #4

I understand Marthe48 Jan 16 #115

Thank you for that. William769 Jan 16 #116

I think our "friends" need to understand what we find acceptable and not acceptable... Trueblue Texan Jan 16 #127

What part of the county is this OP? ThePartyThatListens Jan 16 #2

Lee county Florida. William769 Jan 16 #3

A red state I see ThePartyThatListens Jan 16 #5

Blood red. William769 Jan 16 #6

Why did you choose to live there? in the stacks Jan 17 #134

Oh this is rich William769 Jan 17 #136

Thank you for answering my question. in the stacks Jan 17 #137

I hope you enjoyed the pizza you were served. William769 Jan 17 #139

What you did will certainly give your friend,... magicarpet Jan 16 #7

I know sometimes hindsight is better ...... Diamond_Dog Jan 16 #8

I'm curious what you do for shopping. Happy Hoosier Jan 16 #9

Depends on what I'm buying. William769 Jan 16 #10

Hey HH DENVERPOPS Jan 16 #52

Great Advice cjoki4 Jan 16 #74

I've done that and it works well...nt mitch96 Jan 17 #129

It used to be that Amazon had better prices than the manufacturers Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 17 #130

I buy local, when I can. We have a hardware store, so I try there first. But I sometimes just cannot find what I need In CTyankee Jan 17 #141

Sadly DENVERPOPS Jan 17 #142

we are also old and don't drive very far (I don't even drive at night). CTyankee Jan 17 #143

I hear you !!!!!!!!!!! DENVERPOPS Jan 17 #144

SMH CTyankee Jan 17 #145

I distract myself DENVERPOPS Jan 17 #146

I think DU people DeepWinter Jan 16 #11

I'd guess that most of the people I've worked with over the years are like that. Xavier Breath Jan 16 #63

Amazon bromeando Jan 16 #12

I need to buy a birthday gift... Cherrycheeks Jan 16 #17

A middle aged male. 🙃 rubbersole Jan 16 #31

Lol! Cherrycheeks Jan 16 #101

Thanks! Cherrycheeks Jan 16 #102

etsy hurl Jan 16 #68

a couple things from bath & body works, hand cream, hand soap, body soap for the shower, orleans Jan 16 #99

Thanks. I will check it out Cherrycheeks Jan 16 #103

or... dinner and a show, a novel throw pillow, a special order from hickory farms. lol. good luck! nt orleans Jan 16 #106

Thanks Cherrycheeks Jan 17 #140

This company mercuryblues Jan 17 #138

I didn't know that there was an Independent Party. Squaredeal Jan 16 #13

There's an Independent Party in Florida, where this took place. CaptainTruth Jan 16 #18

Maybe you have heard of Senator Bernie Sanders who is independent and caucuses with Democrats. Maggiemayhem Jan 16 #75

William.........the person gave you $100.00 for Christmas and instead of saying thank you and disposing of it in a Srkdqltr Jan 16 #14

I cannot undo what I did. William769 Jan 16 #16

Yes, you can. ancianita Jan 16 #48

You could--next time--come to DU and ask for suggestions what to do mnhtnbb Jan 17 #135

Sorry, but in today's 'Murika maxrandb Jan 16 #20

Thank you for that. William769 Jan 16 #23

This is ridiculous Mountainguy Jan 16 #87

Tell me where Musk, Bezos, Zuckerberg and Donnie Dipshit "don't" fit in the below definition? maxrandb Jan 16 #89

They fit none of that. Littlered Jan 16 #109

Equating the receipt of a gift card with the Holocaust is an interesting perspective. egduj Jan 16 #91

I'm not promising a "new" Holocaust maxrandb Jan 16 #93

I'm not saying giving back the card will NOT stop another Holocaust... egduj Jan 16 #94

It takes more than one card maxrandb Jan 16 #100

Wow AKwannabe Jan 16 #38

i agree andy_smalls Jan 16 #97

What's "stupid" is using political afiliation to hurt innocent people maxrandb Jan 16 #15

Don't know who he voted for. William769 Jan 16 #19

Many people will do that and it's probably not a bad idea. BannonsLiver Jan 16 #25

I just figured out I'm on your naughty list. William769 Jan 16 #28

Standing on principal matters. nt Prairie_Seagull Jan 16 #36

You're just as moldy as the rest of us/humanity. rubbersole Jan 16 #40

Best answer in the thread. Scrivener7 Jan 16 #90

I have not ordered anything from Amazon since the election kimbutgar Jan 16 #21

Amazon has created a real problem for all of us. They've managed to run small, local stores out of Vinca Jan 16 #22

Support Small Business RetiredRNIowa Jan 16 #24

How many of those mom and pops Mountainguy Jan 16 #85

Good for you Bill, we need to educate stupid voters KS Toronado Jan 16 #26

Thank you, I needed that just about now William769 Jan 16 #29

It's already paid for so you should either use it JI7 Jan 16 #27

I was given an Amazon gift card too. LisaM Jan 16 #30

The money had already been spent, not by you, and Amazon will most probably not return the money. Escurumbele Jan 16 #32

Your thought is greatly appreciated. Thank you. William769 Jan 16 #34

And people wonder why I just ask for plain money for my birthday or holidays sakabatou Jan 16 #33

Principles count AKwannabe Jan 16 #35

Thank you. William769 Jan 16 #37

Principles that divide friendships or parties or countries or other humans are not principles. ancianita Jan 16 #61

that seems like a ridiculous statement to me NoRethugFriends Jan 16 #82

Division is ridiculous, imo. In the "United" States of America. ancianita Jan 16 #96

A person also has principles AKwannabe Jan 16 #98

Strongly disagree. NoRethugFriends Jan 16 #123

What is your beef with Andy Jazzy? Jazzy is the CEO of Amazon and has been for years. nt kelly1mm Jan 16 #39

Truth be known, it's Alex Dunlap now. Emile Jan 16 #42

Certainly seem like he is being groomed for the position but it is as of yet, not official. Still Jazzy for now. kelly1mm Jan 16 #47

99% of independent callers to CSpan are Republicans. Emile Jan 16 #41

Amazon was good during Covid. Silent Type Jan 16 #43

You could give it to a left-leaning charity. louis-t Jan 16 #44

I respect you for that, Bill. brer cat Jan 16 #45

Thank you my friend. William769 Jan 16 #76

You do know lots of small companies use Amazon Historic NY Jan 16 #46

Which makes them part of "the industrial complex". William769 Jan 16 #53

Yeah, Ive yet to meet an "independent" Cosmocat Jan 16 #49

I've often wondered over the years if it's effective TBF Jan 16 #50

I value your opinion & thank you. William769 Jan 16 #55

But your plumber is very different from Amazon. Scrivener7 Jan 17 #131

I admire and appreciate your discipline. Unfortunately, Ilsa Jan 16 #51

I understand & respect that of you. William769 Jan 16 #56

Pretty much anyone who has a mutual fund in their IRA has AMZN. Gore1FL Jan 16 #54

Seems like needless drama and a shitty thing to do to a supposed friend. thebigidea Jan 16 #57

Yet I did it and after reading many post here including yours William769 Jan 16 #62

For the past 4 years Republicans have run campaigns on banning companies Owens Jan 16 #58

I understand your stance, but... LudwigPastorius Jan 16 #59

Exactly why claudette Jan 16 #60

I just hope those of you who won't shop Amazon PoindexterOglethorpe Jan 16 #64

Isn't it exhausting? PennRalphie Jan 16 #65

After the past several years with companies targeting me just because I'm a Gay man William769 Jan 16 #71

That's a different story PennRalphie Jan 16 #88

Spoiler alert: They don't target gay men BannonsLiver Jan 16 #108

... William769 Jan 16 #118

This message was self-deleted by its author BannonsLiver Jan 16 #119

Not referring to Amazon William769 Jan 16 #117

So you know the political affiliation PennRalphie Jan 16 #120

I'm not going to parse with you. William769 Jan 16 #124

No ulterior motive. PennRalphie Jan 16 #125

Gift cards are a bad gift Envirogal Jan 16 #66

A lot of people nowforever Jan 16 #67

If this ever happens again, donate to a local DV shelter or pet rescue obamanut2012 Jan 16 #69

I agree with your assessment of "independents"... Wounded Bear Jan 16 #70

Honestly I would have given the gift certificate to a needy person dsc Jan 16 #72

being a member of Florida's Independent Party is completely different from being an independent Native Jan 16 #73

I may have worded it better. He says he's an Independent. William769 Jan 16 #77

In that case, he's likely not affiliated with our Independent Party here in Florida. Native Jan 16 #84

I've done the same for walmart cards... Bluethroughu Jan 16 #78

Unfortunately we no longer have the luxury... Think. Again. Jan 16 #79

Yea. I disagree with Andy Jassy as well. (CEO of amazon) fescuerescue Jan 16 #80

Where I work I receive many gift cards peacebuzzard Jan 16 #81

Well done Nigrum Cattus Jan 16 #83

Yes BannonsLiver Jan 16 #95

Something to Ponder RecoveringJournalist Jan 16 #86

I would have... Mike Nelson Jan 16 #92

My feeling about receiving an amazon gift card soldierant Jan 16 #104

Once the card is purchased then Amazon has their money townie Jan 16 #105

The purchase was already made; Bezos was already paid. patphil Jan 16 #107

Yes, my Republican people changed to Libertarian or Independent with the stupidity of Trump LizBeth Jan 16 #110

The "it doesn't really matter attitude" doesn't sit right with me, either. calimary Jan 16 #111

Anything that pisses off a Libertarian or an "Independent" is a pure good Orrex Jan 16 #112

Apologies if I offend Roy Rolling Jan 16 #113

I think you're probably right about most "Independents" PatSeg Jan 16 #114

What does your friend's independent status have to do with anything here? Bristlecone Jan 16 #121

I thought Bezos DownriverDem Jan 16 #122

It's not about putting Amazon out of business . . . SarcasticSatyr Jan 16 #126

Not all independents are "closet Republicans" FakeNoose Jan 16 #128

"closeted republicans and are ashamed of their party" ... indeed. Oopsie Daisy Jan 17 #132

Boycotting Amazon is great if you want to, but they don't make their money from selling stuff. sir pball Jan 17 #133