Amazon Is Having Supply Chain Issues. Here Are Some Trustworthy Alternatives.

The coronavirus continues to disrupt our lives in more than a few ways. As we face mandatory shelter-in-place directives, school closures, and empty supermarket shelves, many folks are turning to online ordering to secure the essentials they need to get through these uncertain times. But what happens when the one-stop shop you’ve relied on for years—the retailer that was always there when you needed something in a pinch—suddenly can’t deliver?

That’s the reality currently facing a lot of shoppers. Amazon’s supply chain is struggling to meet demand as more people look to the online retail behemoth for the things they need but can’t find at their local grocery store (and the things they want but hesitate to pick up in person). The New York Times, Wirecutter’s parent company, reports that as the outbreak continues to shut down and slow factories in China, “Amazon is likely to feel potential shortages of goods earlier than its American peers because it usually keeps fewer items on hand than they do.”

For shoppers across the country, this means waiting longer for orders to arrive—and that’s if what you’re searching for is even in stock.

Before you immediately turn to another big-box retailer, check with locally owned shops. Supporting small businesses is especially important right now, and many stores continue to fulfill online orders. If you don’t know where to start, use Locally to search the real-time inventory at retailers that are still open in your area. And keep an eye on their social media accounts, which are likely to be updated more frequently than their main websites.

But if you still can’t find what you’re looking for at your local haunts, the Wirecutter Deals team has created a master list of reliable retailers you can turn to when “the everything store” no longer has, well, everything. We’ve vetted each seller, taking a close look at the precautions they’re taking, their shipping costs and stipulations, their current return policies, and the possibility of future disruptions. (Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that these stores will have toilet paper, cleaning supplies, or other products that have become particularly hard to get ahold of.)

Another alternative is purchasing items directly from the manufacturer, if the price is right. There’s a greater likelihood that it’ll have enough supply, though the cost is typically higher than what you’ll find at the stores linked below. We also think it’s perfectly fine to make purchases from a manufacturer’s dedicated storefront on eBay, Newegg, and Rakuten. (Just be sure to check the return policy first.)

Appliances

Small appliances and vacuums

• Abt: Abt offers free standard shipping and scheduled delivery in the Chicagoland area with PPE and minimized contact. White glove service is presently suspended.
• Target: Free shipping is included on orders of $35 or more. Target REDcard holders get free two-day shipping on most purchases (some lower-cost items only ship with a $25 minimum order, though). Stores open with more rigorous cleaning and safety protocols.
• JCPenney: Orders of $49 and up qualify for free shipping. All brick-and-mortar stores are currently closed.
• Best Buy: Best Buy’s shipping policy remains unchanged, with free shipping on online orders of $35 or more. All physical stores are closed, though contactless curbside pickup is available at some locations. Purchases made March 1, 2020 through May 17, 2020 have an extended return period through May 31, 2020

Large appliances

• Abt: Abt offers free standard shipping and scheduled delivery in the Chicagoland area with PPE and minimized contact. Its white-glove delivery service has been temporarily suspended due to the coronavirus.
• Home Depot: Orders of $45 or more qualify for free shipping. Physical stores are still open, albeit with shortened operating hours (all locations currently close at 6 p.m. local time). Free Curbside pickup is now available at most stores for online order pickup through the end of April.
• Best Buy: Best Buy’s shipping policy remains unchanged, with free shipping on online orders of $35 or more. All physical stores are closed, though contactless curbside pickup is available at some locations. Purchases made March 1, 2020 through May 17, 2020 have an extended return period through May 31, 2020

Baby and kid

• BuyBuy Baby: Free shipping is offered on orders over $39. Stores are open, but with the modified hours of 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. with special shopping hours between 9-10 a.m. for expectant mothers, seniors, and high-risk individuals
• Pottery Barn: Pottery Barn’s shipping policy remains unchanged. Though physical stores are closed, store pickup is still available in some areas. Returns will be processed remotely.
• Hanna Andersson: Store locations remain closed. In response to the coronavirus, Hanna Andersson is offering free shipping on all orders when you use the code FAMILY.

Automotive

• Best Buy: Best Buy’s shipping policy remains unchanged, with free shipping on online orders of $35 or more. All physical stores are closed, though contactless curbside pickup is available at some locations. Purchases made March 1, 2020 through May 17, 2020 have an extended return period through May 31, 2020
• Walmart: Walmart offers free shipping on orders over $35. The chain is currently offering extended hours (6 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time), but we suggest ordering ahead of time and picking up in (or even outside of) store. No-contact pickup is now available.

Electronics

• Best Buy: Best Buy’s shipping policy remains unchanged, with free shipping on online orders of $35 or more. All physical stores are closed, though contactless curbside pickup is available at some locations. Purchases made March 1, 2020 through May 17, 2020 have an extended return period through May 31, 2020
• Newegg: Newegg offers free shipping on most items (check the product page to confirm). Like Amazon, Newegg hosts third-party sellers with varying degrees of reliability—look for the “sold by” language, which is usually located near the price listing, to verify that Newegg is the seller.
• B&H Photo: Though the physical store is closed, store pickup is still available. Free expedited shipping is included on most orders over $49.
• BuyDig: Free shipping is still available on most items within the contiguous 48 states.
• Adorama: The store’s physical location has closed, but its online stores are still operational. Contactless store pickup is also available at the Manhattan location. Free shipping is offered on thousands of items.

Health and fitness

• Dick’s Sporting Goods: Orders over $49 qualify for free shipping, excluding oversized and overweight items. Contactless curbside pickup is available between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. at many locations, with a few stores reopening. The retailer’s 60-day return policy has been extended to 90 days for most items.
• REI: REI is offering free shipping on all orders in response to COVID-19. (It usually offers free shipping on orders of $50 or more.) All physical locations are currently closed and REI is not offering store/curbside pickup yet. Online returns are still available, with the return window extended to once the stores have reopened.

Hobby and crafts

• Target: Free shipping is included on orders of $35 or more. Target REDcard holders get free two-day shipping on most purchases (some lower-cost items only ship with a $25 minimum order, though). Stores are open with more rigorous cleaning and safety protocols
• Walmart: Walmart offers free shipping on orders over $35. The chain is currently offering extended hours (6 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time), but we suggest ordering ahead of time and picking up in store.
• Guitar Center: Store locations are closed. Some items qualify for free ground shipping. Two-day express shipping is available for $10, while next-day shipping costs $15. (A minimum $25 purchase is required.) Return windows have been extended to 180 days.
• Best Buy: Best Buy’s shipping policy remains unchanged, with free shipping on online orders of $35 or more. All physical stores are closed, though contactless curbside pickup is available at some locations. Purchases made March 1, 2020 through May 17, 2020 have an extended return period through May 31, 2020

Home and garden

• Target: Free shipping is included on orders of $35 or more. Target REDcard holders get free two-day shipping on most purchases (some lower-cost items only ship with a $25 minimum order, though). Stores remain open with more rigorous cleaning and safety protocols.
• Home Depot: Orders of $45 or more qualify for free shipping. Physical stores are still open, albeit with shortened operating hours (all locations currently close at 6 p.m. local time). Free Curbside pickup is now available at most stores for online order pickup through the end of April. Offering limited in-home services for essential maintenance and repair
• Bed Bath & Beyond: Shipping is free on orders over $39. All locations are closed indefinitely. Returns extended by an additional 60 days for all eligible purchases made on or after February 20, 2020.
• JCPenney: Purchases of $49 and more qualify for free shipping. All physical stores are currently closed.
• IKEA: IKEA’s normal shipping policies remain unchanged. As all US stores are temporarily closed, the retailer is currently unable to accept returns or exchanges.
• Ace Hardware: Stores remain open. Shipping is free for most online orders over $50 when you sign up for a (complimentary) membership. The retailer is also offering curbside pickup.
• Lowe’s: Free shipping applies to orders of $45 or more. Physical locations are open with enhanced cleaning measures, implementing CDC guidelines for social distancing, shortened operating hours, and PPE equipment available for all workers. Limited contact curbside pickup is available. Lowe's is still offering delivery and installation of new appliances as well as repairs for appliances through our extended service plans and old appliance haul-away with delivery of large appliances.
• Kohl’s: All physical locations closed, but limited-contact curbside pickup is available at most locations. Orders over $75 qualify for free shipping. Returns outside of the normal return window will be accepted for the first 30 days after stores re-open.

Kitchen and dining

• Williams Sonoma: Free shipping is available for orders over $49. All brick-and-mortar locations are currently closed.
• Crate & Barrel: Though Crate & Barrel charges for shipping on all orders, it periodically offers free shipping on select items. (Check the website for details.) All physical stores are currently closed.
• Sur La Table: Stores remain closed, but online ordering is still an option. Free shipping is offered for orders over $59.
• Nordstrom: All store locations closed, contactless curbside services for online orders as local regulations permit. Ships most items for free in the US.
• IKEA: IKEA’s normal shipping policies remain unchanged. As all US stores are temporarily closed, the retailer is currently unable to accept returns or exchanges.
• Bed Bath & Beyond: Shipping is free on orders over $39. All locations are closed indefinitely. Returns extended by an additional 60 days for all purchases made on or after February 20, 2020.
• Kohl’s: Physical locations closed, limited-contact curbside pickup available at most locations. Orders over $75 qualify for free shipping. Returns outside of the normal return window will be accepted for the first 30 days after stores reopen.

Home-office essentials

• Staples: In response to COVID-19, Staples is offering free shipping on all orders.
• Office Depot/OfficeMax: Orders over $35 qualify for free shipping; some orders over $45 are eligible for next-day delivery. It has stopped accepting returns until May 3rd, but they are extending the normal return deadline by two weeks to accomodate for that.
• Walmart: Walmart offers free shipping on orders over $35. The chain is currently offering extended hours (6 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time), but we suggest ordering ahead of time and picking up in (or even outside of) the store. No-contact pickup is now available.
• IKEA: IKEA’s normal shipping policies remain unchanged. As all US stores are temporarily closed, the retailer is currently unable to accept returns or exchanges, with no date to reestablish them announced yet. IKEA has extended it’s return window to 365 days, with special consideration for receipts expiring soon. Removal services have been suspended.

Outdoor gear

• REI: REI is offering free shipping on all orders in response to COVID-19. (It usually offers free shipping on orders of $50 or more.) All physical locations are currently closed. Certain limitations apply, but most merchandise can be returned once stores reopen.
• Backcountry: Orders of $50 or more qualify for free shipping, but shipping may be delayed as Salt Lake City recovers from the recent earthquake. Returns are only given in the form of store credit if returned within 30 days of delivery.
• Huckberry: Orders of $75 and up qualify for free shipping. Return window has been extended to 60 days.
• L.L.Bean: All L.L.Bean stores are currently closed. Online orders over $50 qualify for free shipping.
• Moosejaw: Moosejaw’s brick-and-mortar locations have closed. Online orders of $49 and up qualify for free shipping.

Pets

• Chewy: Orders over $50 qualify for free shipping, though high order volumes may cause delays.
• PetSmart: PetSmart stores are still open to the public, but we recommend buying online if possible. Orders over $49 qualify for free shipping when you join Treats, the retailer’s free loyalty program.
• Petco: Orders $35 and up qualify for free shipping with some exclusions. Though stores are still open from 10 am to 6pm, we recommend ordering online unless absolutely necessary. Curbside pickup is also available. In-store returns are currently unavailable, but Petco will honor the original time window once returns are accepted again. Returns can also be done by mail for online orders.

Travel gear

• eBags: The company is offering free shipping on orders over $49 with returns accepted within 30 days or order delivery date.
• Nordstrom: The department store ships most items for free in the US, though arrival times are delayed. Returns, however, are handled on a case-by-case basis with no return window deadline.
• Huckberry: Orders of $75 and up qualify for free shipping, otherwise shipping is $5 flat rate within the US. Shipments take longer than usual as expected, but its return window has doubled to 60 days from date of delivery to account for that.