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Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by fumanstan
(Post 12733928)
I've been a Prime user for years too so while the free shipping hike doesn't affect me directly, I certainly think it's extraordinarily high. If I weren't on Prime, I would certainly be spending more time purchasing at local stores whenever possible, at least the way I buy single items frequently under $50 or even $35.
The complaints about being "loyal" to Amazon are pretty silly to me though, even though it is coming from zyzzle so I shouldn't be surprised. I support Amazon as long as they're of value to me; Prime for $99 and getting access to Amazon Instant Video, buying one off items frequently like I mentioned previously with free shipping (which is also shared with a few others based on their old sharing options), and now video games being an extra 20% off are great for me and make up the $99 cost easily. If Prime were priced in a way that I didn't get that value, I'd simply look elsewhere. Likewise but going on 13 years it doesn't seem like I won't be getting value for $99 anytime soon. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by Why So Blu?
(Post 12733765)
I don't have an issue with it. I've been PRIME and proud since like 2003. It's the only way I roll and I see at getting PRIME streaming for $8.25 a month per year if it's divided up. It's a bargain. I guess people don't really like paying $99 at a clip as opposed to being charged per month. Yeah, yeah, I'm sure we'll get some folks that don't care for the streaming and vice versa but you get a shitload of options for $99 a year.
Originally Posted by bsmith
(Post 12733872)
Hey, if Prime works for you great. But for me it is nothing but paying $99 upfront to cover shipping costs when I can get it free. Why would I want to do that, especially given that I'm in no hurry for anything since i have plenty to watch that i can wait a few extra days here and there. Now we just have to wait and see how many others could care less about Prime, aren't interested in getting pushed into something we don't want or need, and are willing to go elsewhere if need be. I generally spend a few thousand a year on Amazon, if they don't want that business that is fine with me.
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Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by Why So Blu?
(Post 12734172)
Time is money. I would rather hit a couple of buttons and have my order arrive the same day or within 2 days and not have to drive and explore some lame store. Amazon and their systems are efficient as hell. I like that. Prime Music/Video/Reading/Shipping - all for $99 a year? Hell yeah, it pays itself.
No one is saying Prime doesn't have benefits for those that utilize its services because I know it does. But these moves by Amazon appear to be nothing more than an attempt to punish non-Prime users in hopes that they will conform. I have no plans to do so and will happily take my business elsewhere. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by fumanstan
(Post 12733928)
The complaints about being "loyal" to Amazon are pretty silly to me though, even though it is coming from zyzzle so I shouldn't be surprised. I support Amazon as long as they're of value to me; Prime for $99 and getting access to Amazon Instant Video, buying one off items frequently like I mentioned previously with free shipping (which is also shared with a few others based on their old sharing options), and now video games being an extra 20% off are great for me and make up the $99 cost easily. If Prime were priced in a way that I didn't get that value, I'd simply look elsewhere.
I use Prime shipping and the streaming, and have dabbled a bit in the music. And yes, I can often wait on my shipments because they're not urgent. So in that case, I select slow shipping and get a $1 digital credit. I've done that probably a dozen times over the first two months of the year, and since I actually use the credits for music, I consider it a defraying of the Prime charge. :shrug: |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by davidh777
(Post 12734766)
I use Prime shipping and the streaming, and have dabbled a bit in the music. And yes, I can often wait on my shipments because they're not urgent. So in that case, I select slow shipping and get a $1 digital credit. I've done that probably a dozen times over the first two months of the year, and since I actually use the credits for music, I consider it a defraying of the Prime charge. :shrug:
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Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by Trevor
(Post 12734948)
Yep. And actually, between groceries, books, games, movies, and everything else, we place about 200 orders a year thru Amazon. We always use the slow shipping for the free $1, so I actually make money with Prime.
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Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by kd5
(Post 12733974)
I don't order enough from Amazon to justify the $99 for Prime, even $79 is too much. But raising the minimum for free shipping to $50 insures I'll be ordering far less from Amazon from now on. Not that long ago it was $25, then $35, now $50 in a relatively short period of time. Have they lost their fucking minds?
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Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
How does one not order enough from Amazon to justify the $99?
So most who are complaining here spend less than $100 in 1 calendar year at Amazon? If that's really truly the case that those complaining spend less than $100 in 12 months, then fine. This past Holiday season I spent close to $1,000 on gifts for friends and family alone. Everything was shipped fast and prompt within 2 days with my Prime Membership. Prime has made Christmas shopping so much easier for me than trying to go to B&M's, attempt to gift wrap and then trying to find a time to get together to give the gifts. That paid for Prime alone. In addition to gifts, I purchase most of my home office supplies, movies and music and digital media. That's in addition to the Original shows and movies for streaming. So much added convenience. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by DJariya
(Post 12735013)
How does one not order enough from Amazon to justify the $99?
So most who are complaining here spend less than $100 in 1 calendar year at Amazon? If that's really truly the case that those complaining spend less than $100 in 12 months, then fine. This past Holiday season I spent close to $1,000 on gifts for friends and family alone. Everything was shipped fast and prompt within 2 days with my Prime Membership. Prime has made Christmas shopping so much easier for me than trying to go to B&M's, attempt to gift wrap and then trying to find a time to get together to give the gifts. That paid for Prime alone. In addition to gifts, I purchase most of my home office supplies, movies and music and digital media. That's in addition to the Original shows and movies for streaming. So much added convenience. :thumbsup: |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by DJariya
(Post 12735013)
How does one not order enough from Amazon to justify the $99?
So most who are complaining here spend less than $100 in 1 calendar year at Amazon? If that's really truly the case that those complaining spend less than $100 in 12 months, then fine. This past Holiday season I spent close to $1,000 on gifts for friends and family alone. Everything was shipped fast and prompt within 2 days with my Prime Membership. Prime has made Christmas shopping so much easier for me than trying to go to B&M's, attempt to gift wrap and then trying to find a time to get together to give the gifts. That paid for Prime alone. In addition to gifts, I purchase most of my home office supplies, movies and music and digital media. That's in addition to the Original shows and movies for streaming. So much added convenience. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by SterlingBen
(Post 12735039)
I spend a lot as well but I never pay for shipping, I am patient.
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Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by DJariya
(Post 12735013)
How does one not order enough from Amazon to justify the $99?
So most who are complaining here spend less than $100 in 1 calendar year at Amazon? If that's really truly the case that those complaining spend less than $100 in 12 months, then fine. I don't really order much from Amazon because they're a shitty place to buy from. One, their prices aren't that great. Two, their packaging sucks. A good percentage of the stuff I order from them arrives with some kind of damage incurred during shipping. This means I also do a fair number of exchanges, and run the risk of getting banned. Three, I've noticed that a not insignificant amount of the things I get from Amazon will arrive to me shelf-worn. Books will be creased and scuffed. DVD digipaks will be dented, scratched, and scuffed. These also get returned. If I wanted a bunch of beat-up used shit, I'd buy used from their Marketplace sellers. If Amazon was a more reliable company I'd be more inclined to become a Prime member, but as it stands I probably don't place more than fifteen orders per year. I'd love to be able to order books from them, but since it's a crapshoot I rarely do. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by SterlingBen
(Post 12735039)
I spend a lot as well but I never pay for shipping, I am patient.
Originally Posted by bsmith
(Post 12735104)
Same here. I spent $6000 at Amazon last year, but used free shipping all the way. I just preferred to use that $100 Prime cost to buy more items instead.
Last year I bought the now oop Marvel Universe Phase I set for $99 as the DotD instead. The cheapest new one right now at Amazon is $364 shipped, with a warning that one feature at least might be defective. I'm really not regretting that decision. It's like signing up and paying to get a mani/pedi every week for a year. Yeah, I could do that, but no. No. And still no. Some people do, great for them, but nope. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Also he's strapped for cash.
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Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Everyone's buying habits and needs are going to differ, so I don't necessarily see the point in picking apart non-Prime users who don't find a benefit in it. Nothing wrong with that and I can see why folks don't want to put $100 down. Shipping costs suck.
That said, for me I don't really see my purchases fitting that mani/pedi example; back when I used to buy a lot more media it was beneficial because individual movies cost less then the free shipping threshold and it was convenient to buy a single movie at a time at release weak when they were cheaper rather then wait to try and group up purchases. This is less of an issue now with Amazon no longer beating retailers and the fact that I buy less media, but the same thing applies for other purchases I regularly make on Amazon; the last few months i've bought random items like household items, dog food, cheap headphones, random gifts, various cables, Blu-rays, video games etc. The Prime cost is still more convenient then the amount of time/gas/price difference that it would to buy these items elsewhere at retail stores collectively so for me the value isn't just about upfront shipping costs. And that's before whatever value you might get out of Amazon Instant Video, Kindle Lending Library, Prime Music, etc. if any. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by fumanstan
(Post 12735687)
Everyone's buying habits and needs are going to differ, so I don't necessarily see the point in picking apart non-Prime users who don't find a benefit in it. Nothing wrong with that and I can see why folks don't want to put $100 down. Shipping costs suck.
That said, for me I don't really see my purchases fitting that mani/pedi example; back when I used to buy a lot more media it was beneficial because individual movies cost less then the free shipping threshold and it was convenient to buy a single movie at a time at release weak when they were cheaper rather then wait to try and group up purchases. This is less of an issue now with Amazon no longer beating retailers and the fact that I buy less media, but the same thing applies for other purchases I regularly make on Amazon; the last few months i've bought random items like household items, dog food, cheap headphones, random gifts, various cables, Blu-rays, video games etc. The Prime cost is still more convenient then the amount of time/gas/price difference that it would to buy these items elsewhere at retail stores collectively so for me the value isn't just about upfront shipping costs. And that's before whatever value you might get out of Amazon Instant Video, Kindle Lending Library, Prime Music, etc. if any. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Assuming the old $35 free shipping minimum...
For me, my Amazon shopping habits during the non-Christmas season included ordering something like a birthday gift (a $30 picture frame for example), and ordering an additional household item to meet the $35 free shipping minimum. I'll review my Wishlist and grab a household item that seems relatively inexpensive at that particular time. For example, I would get Lysol Disinfecting Wipes for $7. I always use those, so I don't mind using it as a filler item. And that's a competitive price compared to Target and Walmart. A $35+ total wasn't too hard to achieve. $25 was easy to meet. Now, $49 is a bit much and requires too much extra time trying to find filler products just to meet the free shipping minimum. As a result, I find it easier to go to Target and price match, which I did yesterday for a carbon monoxide detector. But that's just my shopping habits, since I don't purchase enough on Amazon to warrant paying the Prime membership. I understand Prime has benefits, just not for my shopping habits. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
I spent about $900 at Amazon in 2015, and that was a big increase over 2014. I'm not interested in streaming video, so paying for Prime to get free shipping would add more than 10% to my cost.
The prices at Walmart.com are competitive, and there is free delivery to a mini Walmart two miles from the house. I'm already going there for my prescription drugs. I see a lot more Walmart purchases in my future. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
I don't stream, don't have a Kindle, and don't mind waiting an extra week for my stuff. I would much rather have another hundred bucks worth of books, movies, and whatnot instead.
I bought a ton from Amazon when the free shipping threshold was $25 and a lot less when it bumped to $35. In fact, I cut way down on my blind buys of new releases (especially after Amazon reserved some discounts for Prime members) and it turns out that was a smart decision. I suspect I will buy even less now that the free shipping threshold is $50.
Originally Posted by Nick Danger
(Post 12736202)
I see a lot more Walmart purchases in my future.
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Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by Viper187
(Post 12733885)
It's that kind of bullshit that keeps terrible outfits like DD in business. When I spend money on something, I want it in my hands within a week. Prime is awesome for this reason. It's the 21st century. Anything less than shipping in stock items within 24 hours of ordering and using first class mail should be unacceptable, and it would be if other people stopped being so damn patient.
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Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by Why So Blu?
(Post 12733765)
I don't have an issue with it. I've been PRIME and proud since like 2003. It's the only way I roll and I see at getting PRIME streaming for $8.25 a month per year if it's divided up. It's a bargain. I guess people don't really like paying $99 at a clip as opposed to being charged per month. Yeah, yeah, I'm sure we'll get some folks that don't care for the streaming and vice versa but you get a shitload of options for $99 a year.
there are plenty of ways to watch all the tv i could ever want online, and i have so much unopened crap from them already i don't really need to be buying too much anymore I see my future and it is named Alan Smithee. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by Ropes Pierre
(Post 12736542)
to me if they want to act like Costco and charge me to shop there, they better give me some free Rocher chocolate and an occasional thimble of Naked Juice. Maybe prime would make sense for me if i had a Fire or something.
there are plenty of ways to watch all the tv i could ever want online, and i have so much unopened crap from them already i don't really need to be buying too much anymore I see my future and it is named Alan Smithee. Hmm, outside of the tangible goods Amazon offers - the bonus shit like Prime Music/Video, etc., it's all digital. There's no clutter there. Believe me, you don't have to be Alan Smithee in order to enjoy the spoils of Prime. I get it's a personal choice and that's fine, too. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by DJariya
(Post 12735013)
How does one not order enough from Amazon to justify the $99?
In 2014 I placed 21 orders for the entire year. If I pay $99 for Prime it will take me quite awhile just to break even before I actually start to save anything. By that time the year is up and it's time to shell out another $99. And so on and so forth. Just because you order 1000's of $$$ worth of merchandise from Amazon every year doesn't mean everyone does. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Amazon's mobile app is... interesting.
-A backordered item shows as "Delivered" in my order history right along with all my items that were really delivered (those show as "Delivered on [date]" so there is a difference in display). I was so confused I had to click through to the order just to make sure it was still backordered as I thought, and sure enough they can't even give me a date estimate yet. -I got a notification this morning that an order was going to be delayed... even though it arrived yesterday. :lol: :hscratch: |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
I wanted to share this, but wasn't sure where it should go.
I noticed that Amazon had the "Hats off to Dr. Seuss" Blu-Ray collection on sale for their cheapest price ever, $23.99...but I wasn't keen on spending $49 for free shipping, so I called Wal-Mart to price match. All seemed well until they left me on hold for nearly half an hour (maybe they do that when they don't want to honor the price, lol) and noticed that Deep Discount had it for $17.98. Theirs is out of stock, but I have little doubt it will be back soon. Added two reasonably-priced CD's and I'm a happy camper. This brings my Deep Discount buys over the last 30 days to roughly $200, which is unprecedented. I'm sure Amazon is still good for some things, but I'm fast getting over them. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by DJariya
(Post 12735013)
How does one not order enough from Amazon to justify the $99?
To get me on the Prime bandwagon, Amazon would have to offer something that I would actually pay for in real life. I live in an area where Comcast is the only source of unlimited high-speed Internet, and I hate Comcast with such a passion that I won't do business with them. So offering me a streaming service is pointless, because I don't stream. I don't need my merchandise tomorrow (or the day after that) so offering me free two-day shipping is also pointless. Something like this might be helpful around Christmas, but that's it. I either meet their free shipping minimum, buy from somebody else, or don't buy anything. Now what might entice me is a lesser fee in exchange for a discount on Marketplace purchases...but Amazon's execs either haven't thought of this yet, or don't want to steer too many people to their Marketplace. Until they come up with something that's actually enticing, I'll spend my next $99 on tangible goods. But to each their own. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
If I was a casual collector, the $99 would be hard for me to swallow. It would be different if Amazon was routinely the cheapest seller for any given product, but that hasn't been true in virtually any category since 2010.
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Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by davidh777
(Post 12750711)
Amazon's mobile app is... interesting.
-A backordered item shows as "Delivered" in my order history right along with all my items that were really delivered (those show as "Delivered on [date]" so there is a difference in display). I was so confused I had to click through to the order just to make sure it was still backordered as I thought, and sure enough they can't even give me a date estimate yet. -I got a notification this morning that an order was going to be delayed... even though it arrived yesterday. :lol: :hscratch: Notifications for me have been accurate. I am using the ios app. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by PhantomStranger
(Post 12751407)
If I was a casual collector, the $99 would be hard for me to swallow. It would be different if Amazon was routinely the cheapest seller for any given product, but that hasn't been true in virtually any category since 2010.
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Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
It was around 2010 that Amazon shifted strategies from being a pure Internet retail play.
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Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by PhantomStranger
(Post 12752321)
It was around 2010 that Amazon shifted strategies from being a pure Internet retail play.
It seems like something drastic happened to Amazon around 2010 where they changed strategies from being competitive to being cavalier, arrogant and "too big for their britches." |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Amazon still generally has the lowest prices (comparatively with local retail stores) on a large number of goods that I buy; they may no longer be a couple dollars cheaper with home media on release day, but it's usually the misc items that I need that are still priced better then going to Target/Walmart. Whether it's grabbing a misc cable, a random gift, some books, home appliance, dog food, etc. It's these items that help make my Prime membership worth it more then buying blu-rays or dvds now.
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Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Well, I went ahead and got Prime today. It's just too expensive to try and find something to fill the $49 threshold. At that threshold, I figured I would have paid for $100 worth of stuff I didn't need in only 3 orders, making Prime an obvious choice.
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Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by zyzzle
(Post 12754097)
What does that mean?
It seems like something drastic happened to Amazon around 2010 where they changed strategies from being competitive to being cavalier, arrogant and "too big for their britches." What I think he meant is that Amazon jumped more heavily into non-retail activities: Their storage hosting, building their own e-devices, Prime video streaming, video content creation, etc. Sort of like Google becoming more than a search engine. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by davidh777
(Post 12754776)
I don't think that's what he meant, but thanks for being reliable. :lol:
What I think he meant is that Amazon jumped more heavily into non-retail activities: Their storage hosting, building their own e-devices, Prime video streaming, video content creation, etc. Sort of like Google becoming more than a search engine. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by zyzzle
(Post 12754884)
Makes sense. So around that time is when prices across the board were raised, in order to pay for their increased overhead and expense that moving into that space required... Other ways of "absorbing" that increased overhead followed, like charging sales tax, increasing shipping of media items to $3.99, now $4.99, and increasing the free shipping threshold.
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Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Amazon doesn't need to offer the lowest prices anymore because they offer value - and that value is convenience. One stop shop for thousands of items (SKUs) and prime shipping. From a business standpoint, it's smart.
From my consumer standpoint, I like to shop around for the best price (at reputable merchants). |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Originally Posted by MLBFan24
(Post 12755037)
Amazon doesn't need to offer the lowest prices anymore because they offer value - and that value is convenience. One stop shop for thousands of items (SKUs) and prime shipping. From a business standpoint, it's smart.
I'll take value every time over convenience because I don't have a two-second attention span, am not OCD, am patient, and don't mind going out of my way a little for things. No wonder everybody seems to be walking on eggshells these days scampering and scampering like little ants... Corporate America actually encourages us to do so with their God being convenience. |
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Amazon doesn't offer value? I order stuff that is the lowest price there all the time. Do I sometimes pay a little more because of convenience? Of course! Everyone does! Do you drive to 6 different grocery stores to buy what is cheapest at each? That's not a good use of time and gas in my opinion.
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Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
"Convenience" to me does not mean waiting for something to arrive in the mail.
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