Other folks had good answers so I’ll just add a couple resources that don’t involve buying at all:
Depending on your location you may already have access to local Free Groups like Buy Nothing, Everything is Free, or Freecycle. These can be a great way to get good stuff for free or to get rid of working stuff you don’t need without throwing it away. The trade off is in the convenience factor -compared to a box store that’s always open and always has stocked shelves, it may take a while for the thing you’re looking for to become available (though I’ve honestly had good luck on In Search Of posts for everything from electronics and exercise equipment to cans of spray paint and lumber). These groups are also nice ways to get items that are only available from companies you’re avoiding because they’ve already been bought and might be thrown away if they’re not taken.
Alternatively if you’re very lucky you may be near an existing Free Store, Swap Shop, Swap Shed, or Stuff Swap. These places often operate a bit like a thrift store or flea market with no price tags, though some have limits on the total number of items you can take in one go. I’ve found them to be more convenient both for picking up and dropping off stuff than the online groups but they’re comparatively rare and may have limited hours when they’re open.
And if you are buying, thrift stores, consignment stores, flea markets, etc have some great stuff and can also help with boycots. Especially for tools, the older stuff is often better than whatever you can buy new anyways, but the range of items some secondhand shops sell frequently surprises me.
Other folks had good answers so I’ll just add a couple resources that don’t involve buying at all:
Depending on your location you may already have access to local Free Groups like Buy Nothing, Everything is Free, or Freecycle. These can be a great way to get good stuff for free or to get rid of working stuff you don’t need without throwing it away. The trade off is in the convenience factor -compared to a box store that’s always open and always has stocked shelves, it may take a while for the thing you’re looking for to become available (though I’ve honestly had good luck on In Search Of posts for everything from electronics and exercise equipment to cans of spray paint and lumber). These groups are also nice ways to get items that are only available from companies you’re avoiding because they’ve already been bought and might be thrown away if they’re not taken.
Alternatively if you’re very lucky you may be near an existing Free Store, Swap Shop, Swap Shed, or Stuff Swap. These places often operate a bit like a thrift store or flea market with no price tags, though some have limits on the total number of items you can take in one go. I’ve found them to be more convenient both for picking up and dropping off stuff than the online groups but they’re comparatively rare and may have limited hours when they’re open.
And if you are buying, thrift stores, consignment stores, flea markets, etc have some great stuff and can also help with boycots. Especially for tools, the older stuff is often better than whatever you can buy new anyways, but the range of items some secondhand shops sell frequently surprises me.