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Post by gianna on Sept 18, 2023 17:47:04 GMT -5
I like Amazon and have purchased lots of items through them. They make it easy. But of late there have been a couple things that I'm finding distasteful. At the moment, I do not have Amazon Prime. IMO, it's gotten too expensive, and I'm not ordering that much lately. I sure did at the beginning of the pandemic when I was avoiding leaving home as much as possible.
Without Prime, to get free shipping, a customer has to spend a minimum amount. They have just raised that (again) to $35 from $25. That used to be no problem - I used to just add catfood to get to the minimum. But the boys have more than enough. So it's been more difficult to reach that $35 minimum.
Second, without Prime, the time it takes to get one's order has increased greatly. Maybe it's just what I ordered, but my last two orders are projected to arrive 2 weeks after I ordered. And it's not holiday season yet.
This morning I ordered a new set of watercolor brushes. I reached the minimum amount without a problem, but I would have to wait 2 weeks to get them!! In the throws of a creative flurry, I was feeling impatient. Local shops didn;t carry these, so I looked around online and found a place (fortunately on the West Coast) that carried them not only for less, but with just a nominal shipping rate, and they are supposed to arrive earlier. So I cancelled my order on Amazon (and they did that very fast, bless their hearts) and then ordered from the new place.
I still like Amazon, and intend to shop from them - but in the future I'll certainly look around more carefully at alternatives.
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Amazon
Sept 18, 2023 18:05:46 GMT -5
Post by gardendmpls on Sept 18, 2023 18:05:46 GMT -5
With the supplies and things I order for my brother each month, plus some basic subscription orders for household supplies for me, it is well worth it for me to keep Prime. In fact, they may be losing money on my shipping costs, although the quantity ordered may offset that. Shipping costs- personnel, materials like boxes, trucks and fuel, warehouses, utilities and so forth are not free to a business, but part of their overhead, so if you are ordering a lot, you get a good deal. Otherwise it makes sense to shop around for the best cost plus shipping.
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Amazon
Sept 19, 2023 4:30:50 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by emmsmommy on Sept 19, 2023 4:30:50 GMT -5
Wow! I didn't realize the minimum for free shipping had changed. I keep prime because of the ability to download movies and series onto the tablet or phone for viewing later. Our Internet is limited and the free period is from midnight to 5am, so that's when most of the downloading happens. The free shipping perk is great but lately I haven't been ordering much. With the upcoming greenhouse build and upcoming holidays and birthdays, I know that will change. I have noticed that since the pandemic, shipping does take longer than it used to. Most of the time I'm not in a hurry and if there's a digital reward (usually a dollar or two) for picking a later shipping date I do.
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Amazon
Sept 19, 2023 16:51:14 GMT -5
Post by breezygardener on Sept 19, 2023 16:51:14 GMT -5
While not a fan of Amazon's company/working practices, I've been a Prime member for many years & wouldn't THINK about stopping. Mr. Breezy & I buy tons of stuff from them, & if we had to meet a minimum or pay for shipping, it would be a travesty. I'm definitely a comparison shopper, & very rarely do I find items I want/need from other venues that end up cheaper - especially when it comes to shipping. And its very rare when whatever I order isn't on my doorstep in just a day or two.
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Amazon
Sept 19, 2023 17:16:21 GMT -5
Post by datgirl on Sept 19, 2023 17:16:21 GMT -5
Hubby orders a lot from Amazon. Mostly parts for some tractor, boat or some vehicle he's working on. I will usually try to find what I'm looking for at a brick and mortar store. That being said, I really don't buy a lot of stuff anymore.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Sept 19, 2023 19:38:36 GMT -5
I still have Prime, and I buy a good number of small things where they probably lose money on it, due to the shipping, and I can't imagine trying to get $35 worth all the time. I'm another one that often gets more than one item, and let them use one box for both items a little later, for a digital reward. Seldom do I need anything immediately. I don't use many of those video things, but I listen to the free music, which I listen to all the time while outside! They did away with a lot of the freebies - trying to get people to sign onto the Prime, or whatever they call it, where you have to pay another monthly fee, but I won't do that. I still have over 700 of the old downloads I can listen to, so they deleted almost half of what I had, but I just find more that are still freebies!
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Post by desertwoman on Sept 19, 2023 22:38:43 GMT -5
First preference is to buy locally. and we do that for most of our shopping. It is rare that either of us need anything immediately, so the very occasional times we order from Amazon it's usually because we can't find it in town. We usually just add things to the cart and when it gets to $25 (or I guess it's now $35,) we take advantage of the free shipping. If it's a pricier item then it's a non issue to get to the $25/35 minimum. We've taken advantage of the free 30 day trial of Prime a couple of times but found it wouldn't be worth the monthly fee for us to sign up- we just didn't use it enough. Even during the height of the pandemic. As for movies, etc we still go to the local "Video Library" and rent DVDs (or the public library for free).
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Post by martywny on Sept 20, 2023 5:55:23 GMT -5
I like the variety available through Amazon but you need to price compare to make sure you're getting a good deal. I just priced bearing seals for one of my tractors at the dealer for $60 and found them on Amazon for $6, the trick was shopping for size and specification rather than brand. Organic fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides, etc. tend to be higher on Amazon than in the big box stores. Many times I'll do a search for something on Amazon and find it for several dollars less at Walmart. Usually, I don't need it immediately so I can include the Walmart stop in my grocery shopping excursion instead of making a special trip.
Another plus for me is Prime Video, I find many documentaries and other shows worth watching, plus I can pick up where I left off, and maintain a playlist.
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Amazon
Sept 20, 2023 6:10:24 GMT -5
Post by Mumsey on Sept 20, 2023 6:10:24 GMT -5
I think the delay on shipping of some items is that it's something NOT in their warehouse, it comes directly from the seller. So when you see something, look at who fulfills the order. On the flip side, I have had things lately arriving the next day from their warehouse in Bondurant, IA.
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Post by emmsmommy on Sept 20, 2023 16:14:03 GMT -5
Food is outrageous on Amazon! My dad likes a certain flavor of Jell-O and mom was unable to find it anywhere a few years ago. Bought a case of 24 for less than $1 per box. The next time price was $35 a case but I had $13 in credits and coupons so ended up about the same price as previously. Now the price ranges from $43-$48. Luckily she inquired with the manager of the local grocery store and he was able to special order a case at a reasonable price.
It's not just Jell-O either. I've looked numerous times and just can't beat the prices locally or at the bulk foods store when we're traveling by there.
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Post by martywny on Sept 20, 2023 17:52:21 GMT -5
My dad likes a certain flavor of Jell-O And you're not going to tell us what it is???
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Amazon
Sept 20, 2023 18:02:36 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by emmsmommy on Sept 20, 2023 18:02:36 GMT -5
And you're not going to tell us what it is??? Peach
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Post by desertwoman on Sept 20, 2023 18:30:18 GMT -5
I had no idea they make peach jello!
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Post by martywny on Sept 20, 2023 18:42:39 GMT -5
I also like peach and just for the record, I live a mere 30 miles from the birthplace of Jell-O! There is a Jell-O museum. Maybe we should have have Lat set up some peach Jell-O shots at the Tiki bar!
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Post by desertwoman on Sept 20, 2023 18:46:55 GMT -5
I did not know that. Consider me now jello educated
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