Amazon's treatment of workers

[websynapse]

After finally getting my carousel widget to work, today I read this:

Revealed: Amazon staff punished for being ill
Revealed: Amazon staff punished for being ill - Times Online

I've removed all Amazon links from my blog as a result and won't support them again.

I'm just starting out blogging and looking for ways to make money without supporting squillion dollar companies who treat their workers like this. It would be nice to link to books people can buy from anywhere in the world, but not at the expense of their workers.

I'm not meaning to get political on here - I'm just looking for ethical money-making opportunities on my blog and I'm having trouble finding any.

[peteranswers]

That's certainly noble of you, but it does seem like an overreaction to me, particularly based off of a story from the Times - the Brits are notorious for crying into their milk about working and wage conditions.

I would suggest that the moral decisions be made by the purchaser - you can still post ads for Amazon and if someone has moral objections to them they can choose not to click on your ad.

[websynapse]

That's quite a cop-out really, I make the decision about what goes on my blog, not my readers.

[Bloggeries]

Do what you feel is right. It's all we can do in this world.

[myqute]

Originally Posted by websynapse

After finally getting my carousel widget to work, today I read this:

Revealed: Amazon staff punished for being ill
Revealed: Amazon staff punished for being ill - Times Online

I've removed all Amazon links from my blog as a result and won't support them again.

I'm just starting out blogging and looking for ways to make money without supporting squillion dollar companies who treat their workers like this. It would be nice to link to books people can buy from anywhere in the world, but not at the expense of their workers.

I'm not meaning to get political on here - I'm just looking for ethical money-making opportunities on my blog and I'm having trouble finding any.

haha Bravo! I am an Amazon affiliate but you won't find any links in my blog cos they don't allow easy online retrieval of affiliate's username/details. For all they can afford and for having the "best interactive ecommerce website" in the world, they are poor in "password retrieval" for affiliates!

And I am already thinking whether I should STOP "spinning" songs and music via Blip.fm (actually it's a very nice site to share your fav music with others without having to upload the music online). Because the BUY links on there link to Amazon.com without rewards back to us music-spinners or DJs.

What do you think? Should I stop using Blip.fm?

I DO NOT and WILL NOT support anyone or any business - big or small - if it is unethical in more ways than one. Ill-treatment of staff is at THE TOP OF MY LIST. I have been "mistreated" before (mentioned in my blog's ABOUT ME page) and I can fully understand!!!

Beware of companies selling you stuff that say they are safe when in fact they are not!!

[websynapse]

Originally Posted by myqute

And I am already thinking whether I should STOP "spinning" songs and music via Blip.fm (actually it's a very nice site to share your fav music with others without having to upload the music online). Because the BUY links on there link to Amazon.com without rewards back to us music-spinners or DJs.

What do you think? Should I stop using Blip.fm?

I don't know, does spinning mean it scrobbles the titles or embeds the song itself? If you just want to display the tracks you can use last.fm, the links on there go to iTunes if you want to buy the track and I'm pretty sure the artist gets a cut of that.

[myqute]

Originally Posted by websynapse

I don't know, does spinning mean it scrobbles the titles or embeds the song itself? If you just want to display the tracks you can use last.fm, the links on there go to iTunes if you want to buy the track and I'm pretty sure the artist gets a cut of that.

"Spinning" at Blip.fm means the song you choose (as a DJ) gets embedded in your profile page and visitors are able to play, pause or skip any piece of music they choose. Songs are sorta "twitted" to a public timeline (a lot like Twitter.com)

I have no doubt the artists get a cut whenever a song or full album is purchased. If someone is affiliated to Amazon.com (like Blip.fm is) would you still support them?

Wierd question but anyone else here also on a boybott (Amazon.com) ?

[websynapse]

Originally Posted by myqute

I have no doubt the artists get a cut whenever a song or full album is purchased. If someone is affiliated to Amazon.com (like Blip.fm is) would you still support them?
?

I'd probably email them and ask what they thought of it, and if they have a public forum I'd post about it on there. It depends on what their reaction is.

I should point out that I consider the Times Online to be a reputable source of information on this - I wouldn't just go and boycott a company based on an internet rumour.

[myqute]

Originally Posted by websynapse

I should point out that I consider the Times Online to be a reputable source of information on this - I wouldn't just go and boycott a company based on an internet rumour.

Yes, that's why i have alerted other bloggers about Amazon's treatment to staff who are sick and supposed to rest! I trust major news sites for their accuracy too.

P.S. Nope - there's no forum at Blip.fm!