Amazon Prime

[Knobs]

I never pay for shipping at Amazon, and I am not a member of Amazon Prime.

I also avoid Amazon for items where I can get competitive pricing (and many times lower pricing) from local stores or other online merchants. Some local stores will even ship free to my house, so they are in effect, online retailers.

If I do order from Amazon, it is always above their free shipping threshold (currently $25) and their free shipping is typically 5-7 days and they more often than not, beat that.

For me, Amazon Prime is not worth paying for.

 

[Jim]

Yeah, I think I'm about done with the whole "Amazon Prime" thing. It was an amazing product when it first came out, and I've used it religiously for years. But times change, and while I'm sure it's not Amazon's fault, I'm just not getting my monies worth anymore.

I don't use Fire Stick anymore, replaced it with Apple TV. And I'm not getting 2-day shipping anymore, which was a big part of my paying for the membership. Case in point, my last order was made on March 9th and it's now March 19th. Still waiting.

In my area, Amazon has replaced UPS with their own Amazon delivery service, and it's not very reliable yet. Hopefully, it will get better.

Products that I buy on Amazon are not any less expensive through Amazon than they are most other places. Amazon just includes the shipping so sometimes it seems like a better deal. But I've shopped around and I'm finding that it's not the best deal anymore. Walmart is often kicking Amazon's butt. And Walmart offers the same return policy that made Amazon shine in the earlier days.

So about the only thing left is the 5% rebate on the Amazon card, and if the current batch of politicans have their way, that may go away too. And even if it doesn't, there are other credit cards available that offer just about the same thing, so again, Amazon is loosing its luster.

Just my $.02

 

[Ben]

Jim
I get your point, seems like I get less from Amazon every year and the price continues to go up. It is still the best deal for us as at home we are stuck with DSL and stores are not close. Just checked and our last Prime was $148.73. That is $139 plus the good ole tax of $9.73
Good luck
Ben

 

[Neal]

If you cancel please track your shipping costs for 365 days and see what that is. To me it's worth it for shipping costs alone.

 

[Knobs]

If you cancel please track your shipping costs for 365 days and see what that is. To me it's worth it for shipping costs alone.

I find free shipping almost everywhere these days. Walmart. Target. Home Depot. etc.

 

[J&JD]

If you cancel please track your shipping costs for 365 days and see what that is. To me it's worth it for shipping costs alone.

I still find free shipping helpful, but definitely slower. We live near a Whole Foods, and I do part of my shopping there. I get some decent discounts being a Prime customer. Every little bit helps these days. Judy D

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

We dropped Amazon a few years ago, then once we started full-timing we added it back.

But the ever increasing cost and the decreasing relative benefits has us reconsidering again. Like Jim said, other online merchant platforms typically have equal or cheaper pricing. Also, on Amazon or Walmart, even without member benefits, if the total order $ is over a certain threshold the shipping is free and usually 2-3 days.

We do use the Amazon Prime video some, but the music and Kindle book benefits are extremely limited and effectively function as a cheap/limited give away in order to entice you to buy the unlimited monthly plan.

 

[Rosy]

I doubt I'll ever convince my wife to give up Prime so I'm just trying to watch as many shows and movies as I can on Prime Video to try to try my money's worth.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I can't see any advantage to prime. As a full timer (off grid) I must know the shipper to give an address. Recently I had to go 15 miles out of my way to pick up a gift sent using Amazon. What an inconvenience, I don't look to complain when someone sends me something, but the facts are the facts.

I spend what it takes. I compare price including shipping. I then order local as long as the price is close.

What is the old saying? If you have to ask the price, you have told everyone you can't afford it!!!

 

[okievet]

I'm a member and have next day shipping most of the time.... It helps that we have a distribution center here.

-okievet

 

[Bigblockyeti]

I don't have prime and only choose the free shipping option, being close to a distribution center gets everything to me in 3 days most of the time.