Amazon is one of the most popular websites in the world for online shopping, same day delivery and unlimited next day delivery on thousands of products.
They have everything you could possibly want to buy.
But what if, for some reason, you don’t want to shop on Amazon? What are your other options?
This article will explore alternatives to Amazon UK that are available in the UK right now!
I use Amazon myself – and subscribe to Prime. It’s an incredibly convenient way to shop – and more often than not, you’ll get a great price for any goods you want to buy.
But do we really want to live in a world where there are no more book shops to browse, no more local hardware stores to drop into, only Amazon? There are alternatives to the online marketplace – and in this article, we’ll go through them.
The best alternatives to Amazon at a glance
Amazon gives customers the opportunity to score points for their products through low pricing and an easy ordering experience.
As Britain’s biggest internet retailer, this makes it harder for its rivals to find a customer. Amazon, however, is not well known by many media observers: its Seattle-area firm faces countless critics worldwide.
It has also criticised conditions for working in its mailing centers. The industry also believes the company is utilising its authority as a pricing force. If this article doesn’t put you off, you’ll quickly realise there’s a lot of alternative to Amazon UK.
Alternatives to Amazon For Books
One of life’s great pleasures, for me at least, is browsing in a book shop, looking for something great to read. Amazon started out as a book shop, and have of course branched out massively. But Amazon can’t offer the same experience as a book shop – and they don’t even try.
Amazon doesn’t snap up all the books, of course. There are lots of alternatives to Amazon for finding new books: Waterstones is one such example; their website has millions of titles available on it at reasonable prices, and you can find them in your local high street too. I’ve always found Waterstone’s employees to be helpful, well informed and very knowledgeable.
There are other independent book shops too – also offering great alternatives to Amazon for finding new books, and you can find them in your local high street as well. The challenge with these is that they don’t have the same range of titles available, but there are still thousands of different options to choose from on their websites or in-store. And it’s more than likely that the owner will be able to recommend something to suit your tastes.
I think it’s important that Amazon doesn’t become the only place you can buy books – there are lots of other alternatives out there if you want something more bespoke than what Amazon offers.
Alternatives to Amazon For Music
In recent years, the sales of CDs have gone into rapid decline. The popularity of music streaming on apps such as Spotify and Amazon Music Unlimited has meant that fewer people are buying CDs these days, and it’s a trend that looks set to continue.
However, vinyl records have seen a resurgence of popularity in recent years, and there are more records being sold than CDs for the first time in years. A lot of this has been attributed to younger people rediscovering an interest in physical music formats after a long time listening to digital files through streaming services.
Many independent record shops have sprung up that offer an alternative to Amazon for buying vinyl records – and once again, you’ll often find that the owner will be happy to recommend a record based on your tastes.
Try some of the stores for more of a traditional record buying experience:
https://www.recordstore.co.uk/
https://www.hmv.com/music/hmv-loves-vinyl
Alternatives To Amazon For Electronics
From earphones to laptops, Amazon is a great place to find electronics at affordable prices. But what if you want something bespoke?
The first alternative I’d like to look at here is the independent electrical retailer – places such as Richer Sounds. This is an independent UK specialist offering an excellent service in terms of customer care and fitting out your home with the latest gadgets: The prices on offer in this store are generally extremely competitive. And if you go into one of the many high street stores throughout the UK, you will find knowledgeable experts on hand to offer advice and tips as well as great prices.
If you are looking for an online service, there are a whole host of options such as the stores below:
John Lewis
Alternatives to Amazon For Toys & Games
Looking for a more traditional gift?
Here are some of the best alternatives to Amazon for finding toys and games:
First up, Toys R Us is my number one choice when I’m shopping for toys. Their website also provides a very useful service whereby parents can browse products by age rather than looking at all of the different categories out there. The range of toys and games on this site is also very extensive. https://www.toysrus.com/
Next up is Hamleys: This is one of the best-known toy stores in the UK and is always a great place to find something unique. The staff are very helpful, so if you have any questions about anything they will be able to point you in the right direction.
The online store is very good and also has a helpful section where you can shop by the child’s age.
https://www.hamleys.com/
Smyths Toys is another great option. As well as having a number of physical stores around the UK, they also have an amazing online store where you can find all sorts of toys and games:
And there are so many others out there – here’s just a few more to consider:
The Entertainer – Great range of different products, from arts & crafts to train sets.
Boys Stuff Co Uk – More for older children (over the age of 12).
Alternatives To Amazon For After Shave, Perfumes etc
The classic Christmas gifts. Aftershave for him, perfume for her. Yup, Amazon has got that too!
But what about the alternatives?
There are a whole host of stores out there that specialise in toiletries and have high street stores where you can try the scents and online stores where you can order easily.
For example, the Body Shop have a huge range of high-quality products that are all vegan and cruelty-free:
This is also true for Lush – who you’ll find in cities up and down the UK. They sell bath bombs, shower gels etc as well as perfumes online: There’s always something fun to buy from Lush!
And there are plenty of other places to look too:
The Fragrance Shop – this is a great place to buy designer perfumes online. They also have some exclusive fragrances that you won’t be able to get anywhere else. Very competitive prices as well, so worth having a browse around their website before making any purchases.
Aromas – A great place to buy aftershave and perfumes online, with a huge range of products. They also have some exclusive fragrances that you won’t be able to get anywhere else. Very competitive prices as well, so worth having a browse around their website before making any purchases.
Superdrug – Superdrug are a well-established high street store with a great website that frequently runs special offers and discounts.
If you’re looking for a more unique gift, why not try something like an aftershave or perfume subscription? This means that the lucky recipient will receive a different fragrance every month. The Fragrance Shop – They also do this as an ongoing service where they send out fragrances on a monthly basis!
Amazon alternatives for household and grocery shopping
Some people do not always have time to go shopping. It saves lives. You can order your washing machine detergent or coffee online!
Iceland
Morrisons – best UK alternative, especially you can already buy Morrisons products on the online retailer already
Ocado
Tesco
Ethical and environmentally friendly alternatives to Amazon in the UK
Many people are looking for ways to purchase their products online. These ethical and sustainable online marketplaces offer products which support local businesses and artisans while providing support for environmental sustainability, as well as supporting their community and providing support to the community.
Etsy – helps promote small businesses
FAQs
Is there another company similar to Amazon?
Amazon competes for various markets. Its biggest rival companies include eBay, Amazon and eBay. Amazon’s streaming products rival Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV and Netflix+.
Is there a UK version of Amazon?
Amazon: Low prices for electronic devices, books and sports gear.
Conclusion
Jeff Bezos already has a monopoly on a lot of the retail market, but that doesn’t mean you have to shop with him. There are plenty of great alternatives out there – you just need to know where to look!
Do your research and find a store that offers what you’re looking for, whether it’s toys & games, aftershave or perfume.
There are lots of great alternatives to Amazon in the UK. We hope you enjoyed this post!