Online shopping without Amazon, Temu & Co.

10 min Very easy
Go to recipe
Sieben große Stücke einer Pizza, das achte fehlt. Die Stücke symbolisieren unterschiedliche Segmente des Online-Handels symbolisiert. Von 12 Uhr im Uhrzeigersinn Fahrräder (aus Zwiebeln auf Tomatensauce), Elektronik (Käasestücke), Bücher (Gemüsestücke), Kleidung (Wurst), Schuhe (Pilze), Möbel (wie Käse) und Reisen (Wolken und Flugzeuge). Illustration von Florian Biege

Let’s take back control of our consumption! Because with global monopolies and fast-fashion platforms such as Amazon from the U.S. or Temu and Shein from China, we find ourselves trapped in closed systems driven by algorithms. These are designed to trigger buying impulses (“dopamine shopping”) and often rely on exploitative and climate-damaging supply chains – and our data ends up in the U.S. or China. If you feel like safe online shopping from the comfort of your own home, this is the recipe for you.

Different ways to cook

Our digital switch recipes provide an easy, simple way to give Big Tech the push, but there are other options available. We have tried to make it easy by focusing on a single approach and a small number of options, but there are other alternatives that are just as good. After all, what we mean by ‘good’, ‘not so good’ and ‘bad’ is open to debate: DI.DAY is about easy ways to give Big Tech the push (without getting into purism or being preachy). Our decisions are based on advice from our advisory panel.

An overview of the alternatives is available on the next page:

Alternatives to Big Tech

Ingredients

1 pinch of discovery spirit

for diversity beyond the one-size-fits-all-approach.

1 decision

Couldn’t you just pop into the shop around the corner and have a nice chat while you’re there?

1 more decision

Could your broken device be repaired, for example at one of the many repair cafés (you can find a list on the Network of Open Workshops or the Repair Initiative)?

1 bookmark

for the Consumer Advice Centre’s “Fake Shop Finder” (Your digital shield, see Topping).

Preparation

The goal of Digital Independence Day is to reduce dependence on large U.S. or Chinese corporations. When it comes to retail, Amazon, Temu and Shein dominate many markets – and we want to show you online retailers that operate outside these monopolies.

Of course, there are far more shops than the ones we suggest. And, of course, one can always ask the fundamental question: does it really have to be an online purchase? Or, taking it a step further: do you even need a new pot? DI.DAY doesn’t solve all the world’s problems (sadly) – but with this recipe (as with all the others), our aim is to say goodbye to the big tech monopolies.

1 Search for product

Before you automatically open the Amazon website (or app), use an independent comparison tool: Idealo.de is a good place to start as a European price comparison portal (other comparison portals include billiger.de, check24 or guenstiger.de).

Be careful: algorithms could influence the result here too – for example, the amount of commission a comparison platform receives from the retailer. So: stay alert and compare.

Search for what you’d like to buy. You’ll be surprised by how many independent German and European online shops stock the product – often at lower price points or on fairer terms. This way, you can avoid monopolies and directly support free trade.

2 Select shop

Say goodbye to the “one-stop-shop” giants and rely on strong European marketplaces: many European retailers offer a wide range of products with good customer service and relatively fair data protection standards, including Otto.de, Galaxus.de and Kaufland.de. Zalando and AboutYou are also based in Germany.

For books we wrote our own recipe.

Strengthening regional value creation in the DACH region and supporting local retailers shöpping.at and Regionalis.shop (Austria) or Ricardo.ch (Switzerland).

You can buy locally sourced food online via the OpenFoodNetwork, amongst other places.

3 A circular economy rather than the throwaway culture

Let your heart beat for the local circular economy with Kleinanzeigen.de: before you have new stuff flown in from overseas, have a look for second-hand items in your neighbourhood! It saves resources, is easy on the wallet, and brings people together.

There are also self-organised digital flea markets in the Fediverse (see also our guide to the Fediverse service Mastodon). A list of flea markets guides you to a range of regional or specialised second-hand marketplaces, such as those for role-playing games.

Medimops sells second-hand books, CDs and board games – you can cash in on your second-hand classics at momox.

AfB Shop: When it comes to technology, “refurbished” is the new new! At the AfB cooperative, you can buy refurbished laptops and smartphones, support jobs for people with disabilities, and take a powerful stand against electronic waste. Backmarket and Refurbed also offer refurbished electronics.

Dessert

Delete the big-name apps from your smartphone (if you absolutely have to, you can still order from them via your browser – this way, at least you'll keep more of your data to yourself). Once the app is no longer just a click away, the alternatives have a real chance. Maybe you start with a trial week and see what shopping without Amazon & Co. tastes like? And if it works out, cancel your Prime subscription right away – after all, you’ll now be using different retailers and won’t need it any more

Enjoy your meal! You have just taken a big step towards a more independent digital existence.

Once you #DIDit – share our post about the digital switch and inspire others to take control of their own digital lives!

Topping

The safety net – independent and secure: If, for example, you come across a new online shop via idealo.de or social media, you can easily check it using the Fake Shop Finder from the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Centre: Copy the shop’s web address, paste it into fakeshop-finder.de and let the traffic light system check whether the shop is safe. If the traffic light turns green, you can enjoy the wide variety of European retail with complete peace of mind! idealo.de

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