Shopping local vs Amazon: what’s the difference?

Updated June 12, 2026 · Good Circles

When you buy on Amazon, most of your dollar leaves your community immediately. When you buy from a local business, a much larger share stays — supporting local jobs, taxes, and causes. Good Circles adds local-first convenience: you shop local online, save about 10%, and fund a nonprofit you choose.

Where the money goes

National platforms are built to move dollars out of local economies and up to shareholders. Independent businesses recirculate far more of each dollar locally — paying local staff, local suppliers, and local taxes. The difference compounds across a whole community over a year.

Convenience without the cost

The usual trade-off is convenience versus keeping it local. Good Circles is designed to remove that trade-off: a local-first marketplace where prices already run about 10% lower and a share of every sale funds a cause you pick — so the easy choice is also the local one. See how it works for shoppers »

When there’s no local option

If no local merchant carries what you need, Good Circles still shows a clearly labeled external option so you’re never stuck — and about half of any commission on those items funds a shared nonprofit pool. More on the model »

Shop local without giving up convenience

Save about 10% and fund a cause you choose — same stuff, different math.

For shoppers

FAQ

Is shopping local better than shopping on Amazon?

For your community, yes — far more of each dollar stays local when you buy from independent businesses. Good Circles adds local-first convenience plus about 10% savings and funding for a cause you choose.

Can I shop local online and still save money?

Yes. With Good Circles, local prices already run about 10% lower at checkout, and a share of every sale funds a nonprofit you pick — at no extra cost.