I will not be buying these 7 tech products on Amazon

It’s tempting to turn directly to Amazon whenever I need something. Book, Blu-ray, Game. I have a Prima so they will be at my door in no time. However, there are some things I can’t get from Amazon, and almost all of them are tech products.

1 Phone chargers

It would be really convenient to buy replacement chargers and phone cables from Amazon, but I always resist the temptation. I’ve seen too many reports of fakes not working and exploding. Sometimes it can be extremely dangerous and cause burns, fires and electric shocks.

If the product is defective, the best case scenario is that it will damage my phone. There is no point in thinking about the worst case scenario.

Even the ones that look official probably aren’t. When you buy a phone charger from Amazon, you’re taking a risk—and that bet could be your life. In 2023, The Mirror reported how a fake charger ignited and burnt down a house within minutes. I’d rather not risk it to save some money.

2 Keyboard

As a writer, I use keyboards every day. You probably use them all the time too. And no, I don’t mean your smartphone keyboard; I’m talking about the one you use for your PC. Of course you can connect them to tablets and laptops, but I won’t buy them from Amazon. Or anywhere online really.

How the keyboard feels is important. It completely puts me off writing if it doesn’t feel right. I want hands-on experience before I buy, and that means going to a brick-and-mortar store and trying it on.

The same can be said for my PC mouse. I’ve lost track of the number of mice and keyboards I’ve bought online, only to send them back because they feel weird in my hand. Ergonomics is important, so I won’t make the same mistake again.

3 Apple products

Apple products can be expensive. However, I admit I prefer them over anything Android, so I admit I stuck with iOS. I could save some money by buying iPhones and iPads online, but I never do.

Why? I don’t like to risk refurbished tech from unofficial sources. I simply cannot guarantee that the goods I receive will be of good quality. Tablets and smartphones cost a lot so I might spend a little extra to make sure I get a decent product. Unfortunately, there are more than enough stories of high-tech products being exchanged at Amazon’s warehouse before arriving at your home, and it’s an issue I don’t want to address.

4 Solar panels

For many, the jury is still out on solar panels. Nevertheless, I want to protect the environment as much as possible, so I discussed the possibility of using this renewable energy source. But I won’t be buying them from Amazon.

Especially, again there are potential security issues. In 2022, CNBC reported that Amazon had taken all of its solar panel inventory offline following a series of fires that affected facilities across North America. The audit revealed problems with mismatched connectors and water damage that Amazon blamed on third parties. However, most of the solar panels available after these incidents still come from other vendors.

Additionally, purchasing through Amazon may not include important warranties that official parties offer. If I really want to invest in renewables, I want professional advice and reassurance first.

5 Televisions and monitors

There is a reason why stores selling TV screens and computer monitors have them all on display, playing a TV channel or showing off a game. This is so you can see the graphics and resolution in person.

TV fads come in peaks and troughs. Plasma TVs were huge for a while; now people prefer LCD and OLED. I know they do, simply because they look better! You can’t get an accurate impression of what a screen looks like from Amazon, no matter how many photos the listing contains or how many reviews the product has saying it looks good.

In addition to aesthetic reasons, of course I have to worry about postage and packaging. If your TV screen arrives badly damaged, not only is it a hassle to send it back, but the shipping company may not take responsibility.

6 pc

I’m on the lookout for new PCs fairly regularly, at least to keep up with the latest technology. Unfortunately, I’m not talented enough to make one myself, and buying a PC is cheaper in the end. But I can’t get it from Amazon.

First, I need answers to a lot of questions. On a superficial level, I want to take a good look at the PC because photos can be deceiving. Seeing one in a store means I can actually imagine it in situ. I also want to know how loud it is under normal working conditions and feel how much heat it emits. From personal experience of PCs failing after overheating, I don’t want that to happen again.

Then of course there are the specs – true I can find them online, but I prefer to go to my local computer store and talk to their experts to narrow down what’s best for me. I also enjoy doing it because supporting independent shops means more to me than throwing money at a massive, faceless corporation.

As with Apple products, I feel that if I’m really splurging and buying something expensive, it’s better to spend a little more to make sure I’m getting what I really want.

7 SD cards

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SD cards are expensive. It’s only natural to look for cheaper online; Amazon always has many of them. But you have to be very careful when buying them.

Amazon is more reliable than sites like Temu or AliExpress, at least when it comes to SD cards. However, you can still come across fake SD cards that put your data at risk and can also, like many other fraudulent items, cause electrical damage.

Stick to reputable brands like Samsung and SanDisk that supply cards directly from Amazon, not third parties. However, counterfeit products can still be confused with legitimate SD cards. Fraudulent and fraudulent SD cards are a pandemic, so be careful. And remember, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.