It's possible, but i would rather spend a bit more and support HJE. They are truly an American company. Amazon is a faceless.
Depends, a lot of companies sell through Amazon's store front, but in the end you do support a smaller company. Amazon gets some off the top, but that is for the service they provide.
I like to support smaller businesses when possible and I do. The issue for me is they don't have what I want and/or need. Especially local ones. There usually is a small business you can find somewhere online that sells what you want but it takes a bit of time.
The number one reason I use Amazon is convenience and speed. One click and everything is done is much nicer than messing around filling out form after form after form at various companies. Free two day on some stuff and overnight for less than $10 is nice as well. If I don't need something that fast and a different smaller business has a better price I will try to deal with them. I don't tolerate terrible online stores though. Some of these places would generate a lot more income and happy customers if they stuck a few dollars or hours into a well setup online store. That is what brings people back, thats the reason Amazon is successful. Wal Mart is successful for being cheap and having everything under one roof. Amazon is not cheap, they are successful due to their online storefront and being a one stop shop. Some of these small businesses selling stuff online dont even have a true online store.
Everybody is different but for me if I'm going to support an online small business that I don't know from joe blow, they better have a decent price and a decent online store, otherwise I'm not going to waste my time. Many other people are the same way. It's not unfair either, you as the business owner have the power to create an intuitive store, or pay someone else to do it. It's not terribly expensive, this is 2014 not 2001. I don't feel compelled to support someone who doesn't believe in customer service. With a local brick and morter store customer service is having things in stock, being flexible and being nice. With an online store you are faceless, no customer interaction for most transactions and even if you don't stock it, you likely drop ship it anyways. Your only job is to give the customer a good online shopping experience at a fair price. I'll pay more locally because I can walk in, feel it, leave with it that day and the store has higher expenses due to being a brick and mortar establishment.
Being in small business myself I believe in supporting small businesses when possible but I am not going to support them just because they are a small business. Thats the whole everyone is equal BS again. Some companies should fail. If you do a good job you will succeed.
Anyways I got these today, through Amazon but not from Amazon. Been wanting a pair since they were talking about them last fall. Bit bigger than the others.