It’s no wonder Amazon is crushing small business.

Our $250 range microwave broke. Repair guy came out and cracked it open and said it was a bad door switch. He wanted $389 to fix it. NFW. Besides, he already pointed out the bad switch, so I figure, how hard can it be. I take out the switch, and write down the four digit alpha numeric code on it. I go to a locally owned appliance parts distributor. The lady at the counter was very nice, but said that number means nothing to her or her computer. She says she needs more information. I tell her the make and we kind of come up something similar that will (probably) work. But... it’s not in stock and they are moving their warehouse, so two weeks minimum. I ask for suggestions, and she gives the name of three other places in town. I call. The first two are total assholes to me. Very condescending, and telling me I need the model number. Again, the 4 digit code means nothing to them. I give what’s in the confirmation email from the repair guy. Not enough. I figure I’ll try one last place. I call. Very nice woman answers. I give her the code. She says that identifies the manufacturer, but does she need the eight digit model number. I give her what I have, and she confirms that it what she needs. Fifteen minutes later, she has what I need in my hands. For $13. I’m pretty handy (especially for 57) and I get it done. <br><br>Now, if I went to Amazon, I would have put in the 4 digit code, and gotten 20 sellers with exactly what I needed. Likely with free delivery in two days. <br><br> KW3A. That is the code. Does anyone care? No. But Amazon does. <br><br>I’m not a fan of Amazon. But they are just just doing it way better than anyone else. <br><br>Edit - Ienkly be the asshole here. But I just can’t stand that so many people think they can just put “broken switch” in Amazon and get what they need. <br><br>Second edit - Thanks for the awards. I’ll try to reply to everyone, but I might not make it. Also, I totally understand that you can’t put just the four digit code is. That is the point. No one cares about the code. But...if you take that code and the eight digit model number, you can get exactly what you need. From 20 sellers. <br><br>I absolutely love the suggestion of a shared database that every retailer has access to.