Re: Amazon raised free shipping minimum to $35
 

Prime definitely makes sense to have if you order from Amazon on a regular basis. The fact that you get packages in a day or two and don't have to worry about ordering a certain number of items to get free shipping is nice. Granted you pay $80 upfront but it pays off pretty fast if you ask me. Not to mention their streaming service is pretty nice. The new $35 minimum is a bit of a steep jump in price but I would be it's partially to entice more people into joining Prime.

Re: Amazon raised free shipping minimum to $35
 

And this is one reason I don't have Prime. Amazon does not have that many bargains and since BBY PMs anything they "might" have a bargain on, it's really a waste for me to get Prime. I try NOT to use Prime during BF week since the same BD/DVD bargains tend to pop up at every retailer with different pricing. Amazon usually gets the bargains first, then somebody else cheaper, etc. But they usually ship pretty fast (ever with FSSS) so people don't do that.

Also, since I am very bargain conscious, it is better sometimes for my orders to sit for a few days while Amazon jacks around with the price. It's very discouraging to me to see prices drop hours/days after I place an order. At least with a B&M, their price lasts for at least a week (most of the time.

I don't see my self ever paying for Prime. I guess if I didn't care about bargains and just bought what I wanted when I wanted it I might consider it, but this forum and BD.com has cured me of ever being like that.

Re: Amazon raised free shipping minimum to $35
 

A lot of it for me is that Amazon is also just really reliable. I always feel safe ordering from them that they won't mess something up and if they do that they'll correct it. I get my items from them in a timely manner all the time. Plus to be honest they may not always have the rock bottom prices on things but they usually are pretty fair on items that they offer. Sometimes the way prices fluctuate can be irritating but usually not that big of a deal to me.

Re: Amazon raised free shipping minimum to $35
 

Says the guy with 1,688 Blu-Rays and 3,824 DVDs ....

You're like an alcoholic that attends AA meetings in a bar. :)

Re: Amazon raised free shipping minimum to $35
 

Just ran into new min a few days ago. What's really crappy is I needed an "add on" item which was only $5, but they won't sell it unless the order is over $25. So I get the order to $25 so I can buy the $5 item I really want and find I need to add another $10 to get free shipping, otherwise shipping will be $11.

Re: Amazon raised free shipping minimum to $35
 

Yeah the add on items piss me off a bit too. Basically I can't get items under $5 unless I throw something else in with it. I ran into it just last week actually but luckily I had a Blu-ray on order that hadn't shipped so I just combined them. Probably a rare occurrence I order something under $5 but still irritating.

Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #5
 

I was wondering why we were being charged tax. Where is the DC going to be?

Re: Amazon raised free shipping minimum to $35
 

All of the Amazon tax dates were negotiated settlements with each state on a case-by-case basis. Amazon actually ended up making money on collecting state taxes, as states fell over themselves to get that revenue by making concessions to Amazon. The only losers were the consumers.

Re: Amazon raised free shipping minimum to $35
 

Right, they sold out to the states, and we, the consumers doubly lost out (we are forced to pay tax = extra 8 to 10% 'surcharge' while Amazon *profits* on this 'deal') . Shows Amazon is not customer-friendly, and is in bed with the politicians now. Hence, I no longer respect them as a company.

Re: Amazon raised free shipping minimum to $35
 

The taxes were coming one way or another, Amazon fought it off as long as they could. Once it was inevitable, clearly they were going to try to make it as advantageous for themselves as they could.

Re: Amazon raised free shipping minimum to $35
 

I was going to weigh in here, but this sums up my pre-Prime experience. :up: Obviously we all have to make our own decisions based on our buying patterns and budget.

Re: Amazon raised free shipping minimum to $35
 

What concessions are you referring to?

Re: Amazon raised free shipping minimum to $35
 

No offense intended but realistically how many places do you shop where you aren't charged tax of some sort? I realize it sucks and I'm not looking forward to it happening where I'm at (nothing has been announced thus far but you never know) but I'm pretty used to paying taxes just about any place that isn't Amazon. We've had the luxury of not being charged it for years so I can understand being upset but it was bound to happen sooner or later.

Re: Amazon raised free shipping minimum to $35
 

It's not Amazon' fault. They fought the sales tax state by state for years and at great expense. Now that they are losing the battle, they are making the best out of each situation.

Re: Amazon raised free shipping minimum to $35
 

Well, these days, since I live in CA, right about zero places online don't charge me sales tax. Seriously, I'm trying and can't think of a single one. Perhaps Deepdiscountdvd, but it has been years since I've shopped there, so I'll bet now they do charge Calif. tax.

It just seems rather unfair when, for 50+ years, we've not been charged tax on "mail-order" purchases when now, suddenly and not coincidently, we're forced to up the ante. Paying 18% state income tax, plus this Amazon 9.75% tax, on what used to be easilly circumvented, is a pain in the ass. Yeah, I know we were supposed to pay the tax on mail-order / internet purchases in the past, but no one I know ever did or felt the should have to.

Re: Amazon raised free shipping minimum to $35
 

Well this is Boolsheet. I just noticed this when I tried to check out with $25.49 in my cart. I guess I'll be waiting until I need something else. Farq that.

Plus, my bluer-than-blue state just forced Amazon to start charging sales tax on 11/1. I guess they needed more money to transfer to people who won't work, but keep squeezing out kids. Those, and the pampered state employees with their mandated annual raises, taxpayer-funded healthcare, and full retirement at 50.

Re: Amazon raised free shipping minimum to $35
 

You can just curse normally here.

Re: Amazon raised free shipping minimum to $35
 

So I got my order. One of the filler items I threw in was a Fender guitar string winder for $2.50. When I opened the box I found not 1 string winder, but a jug of about 100. I am now set for life on cheap string winders.