Amazon prime or not

[Smallsteps]

I am NOT a big fan of Amazon for many reasons but how fast does someone need something??
I was just looking on Amazon just to compare prices on a certain supplement and it popped up they could have it on my porch in 45 minutes.... Yes I am serious. My DH almost hurt himself laughing since this supplement is rumored to help with weight loss. he said Amazon must think I REALLY need it.

With all the package thieves in our area over half of the late shipments were not late just stolen. So now they have lockers at most local stores so you go put in a code to retrieve package.
If I can drive to the lockers in front of a store why can't I just walk in to store?

[Gailete]

As seller, you wouldn't believe how fast some folks WANT things. Often I get notes with payments asking me to send this ASAP as they need it by some day only 3-4 days away. Of course this is usually for a pattern that I have had up for sale for 6 years or something silly. Many want it fast but won't pay for fast shipping and I am not rich enough or making enough profit to upgrade to Priority unless they paid for it in the first place.

One of the things that ticks me off, and it happened again this week. Someone buys something, I ship, it gets to its address in three days and I get a message that they want to return it as they don't need it now! Of course, these folks also expect the seller to front them the shipping to them and back to the seller! So just shipping a pattern there and back we would be out $6 minimum out of our pockets and the 'buyer' expects to walk away without spending a penny. Maybe big companies can afford that but sellers like me, can't that is for sure. I take off the shipping and a restocking charge for things like that.

Of course now Amazon has convinced the PO to have Sunday deliveries. I do not want deliveries on a Sunday! And especially the Sunday drivers aren't my local folks and they deliver packages to the oddest locations and I have found soaking wet packages left in the rain that hadn't been there the day before, but tracking showed them delivered on Sunday and I found it on Tuesday! I get a lot of things from Amazon to review which is why I am way to used to these Sunday deliveries. Some of these 'rush' items are totally ridiculous - like a package of underwear for hubby to try. Not like he doesn't have any! Of all the things that have been delivered on Sundays to me, not a single one was something that needed a rush on it. My stuff that I send doesn't get delivered on Sunday and yes in some locations they do have delivery in 45 minutes or so. And you are right, just how fast do people need things? Some buyers it is like they expect us to have a Star Trek type transporter, otherwise I don't understand why someone clear across the country thinks something is running late if not there in 1-2 days on non-Prime orders.

All that being said, for the most part I like what I do and most pattern buyers aren't insane. But I do get a few that need the garment made by the weekend or they need the pattern for a sewing class that week. I ship all orders fast and no one gets special treatment.

[disneysteve]

I don't get why people get upset when shoppers want things shipped quickly. The alternative is to go to a physical store where you'd get your item immediately, so why is 1 or 2-day shipping thought to be such a luxury? If I was into instant gratification, I wouldn't use Amazon. I'd hop in the car and drive to the store.

But here's the thing. Let's say I get a pop up that my printer ink cartridge is running low. I can do 2 things:
1. Get dressed to go out, get in the car, drive to Staples, buy a cartridge, and drive home.
OR
2. Order a cartridge with a few clicks on my phone or desktop and have it delivered in a day or two.

Oh, and did I mention option 1 also means overpaying for the cartridge by several dollars. So not only does it waste time and gas it also wastes money.

As for Amazon Prime Now, I've never used it personally but I know people use it when they travel sometimes to have snacks and things delivered to their hotel. I think that's a neat use of the service.

Gailete, why is Sunday delivery a bad thing? Just because you don't check for packages until Tuesday isn't Amazon's fault. Plus, you can have them message you when your package is delivered. We do that and it's great. That way we know to go take in the package right away (or as soon as we get home if we're out) which greatly minimizes the chance of package theft occurring. They even send a photo showing where the package was left. 2-day shipping should mean 2-day shipping, not 3-day shipping if I happen to order on a Friday.

I've never requested expedited shipping for anything so I can't comment on that. To me, 1 or 2 days is perfectly fine. I guess expedited would mean same day or next day at the latest, since 2 days is the normal delivery time (and 1 day is becoming increasingly common).

I just don't get all of the Amazon hatred. We think it's a phenomenal service that saves us a ton of time and a ton of money. What's not to like?

[Gailete]

Steve, I certainly don't hate Amazon. It helps provide our bread and margarine. Why don't I like Sunday deliveries? Same reason I don't particularly like having stores open on Sunday, but that is my religious belief and I know that most don't follow that.

I usually have outgoing mail 6 days a week. On the day a package showed up soaking wet on a Tuesday, I had been out to the mailbox twice on Monday and there was NO package in evidence at the time. I walk out with my umbrella on Tuesday, and there sitting in the rain was a completely soaked package. Tracking showed it had been delivered on Sunday, but we would have seen it then. I suspect that the person who was supposed to do deliveries had scanned everything as delivered and then made some middle of the night deliveries. Many times, when my son comes to visit on a Sunday he finds things outside. One of my last Sunday deliveries they set a box on top of the mailbox for all the world to see and steal.

Many times, they deliver the package in front of the door and don't even bother ringing the doorbell. Because going to church is physically too much for me anymore, I rarely leave the house on Sunday, so we have been home, the scans show delivery at noon or so when I am up and would have heard the doorbell. Our doorbell my husband made. When it rings, it is a gong like from the Addams Family doorbell. Kids love ringing our door bell. But for some reason those Sunday mailmen, I guess figure it is too much effort. But that is all problems with the PO not Amazon. I just think it is silly to have Sunday delivery for most items and there is no definition of what should be delivered on Sundays - don't forget it is ONLY Amazon packages that get the special Sunday delivery! No other company.

Sure, people can want and order things any time they jolly want to, but on the back end when their item didn't have enough time to reasonably reach the buyer for someone's birthday, or a book for a class, etc. then they get mad at the seller and leave them bad feedback which these days can make or break a seller. They don’t see that the fault for it not being there in time could have been because they left it so late. Otherwise I wouldn't care. But people that procrastinate for whatever reason, shouldn't be taking it out on the seller. Or then returning the item after it got there within the delivery time that Amazon says it would/should but for them it was too 'late’, so they want ALL their money back including the shipping that the seller already spent to send it. Somehow, they never seem to think that they have cost a seller money that they should reimburse for. Now if the seller had taken two weeks to even send something that had been ordered with Priority shipping, then give the seller a negative feedback and you get a full refund – the seller deserves it!

Steve, I know you to be a reasonable man. I have been selling for over 16 years now and let me tell you there are lots of folks that buy things on line with multiple screws loose if not missing together! Reasonable people would see my original post as odd, but most other sellers don’t. I sell sewing patterns and have had two orders already this year that the buyers wanted returns because they didn’t get actual garments! One lady bought a designer Vogue pattern for a coat. The actual designer coats already made ran $2000+. She paid $25 for the pattern and then wanted a return because it wasn’t an actual coat!

I do the same thing you do, order my ink, packing envelopes, etc. from Amazon. It is easy and with Prime I no longer buy extra stuff to avoid the shipping fee. So Prime is probably saving me money! These days anything I can do to avoid wear and tear on my body I do and running out for a 40+ mile round trip to buy an ink cartridge isn’t on my list of favorite things to do.

[Smallsteps]

I just don't get all of the Amazon hatred. We think it's a phenomenal service that saves us a ton of time and a ton of money. What's not to like?

There are many reasons that people like or dislike a company or service.
Most of my reasons of dislike for AMAZON are from knowing inside corporate practices ( from both current and former employees ).
I could list example after example of some really odd (in my opinion- sleazy) actions from company but if it works for you … the next time you shop for something it will make no difference.
I used to work for another company that had MANY issues (they hid them very well) even after sharing the truth (with proof) some people who seemed shocked still shop there.
That is why I find the occasional (insert outrage) call to boycott any company on social media laughable . Even more laughable is the companies that freak about it, I mean in a week the sheeple are on to the next hashtag.
Many people resort to the blanket statements like " every company does that" or "that is corporate culture". Whatever makes them feel ok.
I just chose for myself what places to give my business to.

[disneysteve]

Why don't I like Sunday deliveries? Same reason I don't particularly like having stores open on Sunday, but that is my religious belief

Gotcha. I certainly respect that.

On the day a package showed up soaking wet on a Tuesday, I had been out to the mailbox twice on Monday and there was NO package in evidence at the time. I walk out with my umbrella on Tuesday, and there sitting in the rain was a completely soaked package. Tracking showed it had been delivered on Sunday, but we would have seen it then.

I certainly would have complained to Amazon about that one.

Many times, they deliver the package in front of the door and don't even bother ringing the doorbell.

This drives us crazy. I don't know why they can't knock on the door or ring the bell. They never do. Not a single time. They just leave the package and go. If we don't hear the truck pull up, we don't know it's there until either we get the email or happen to look outside.

I do the same thing you do, order my ink, packing envelopes, etc. from Amazon. It is easy and with Prime I no longer buy extra stuff to avoid the shipping fee. So Prime is probably saving me money!

Absolutely. I'm quite sure we have literally saved thousands of dollars over the years shopping on Amazon between the lower prices and the lack of browsing and impulse purchases that would happen in a physical store.

[disneysteve]

Most of my reasons of dislike for AMAZON are from knowing inside corporate practices

Ah, that's entirely different. If you dislike them for those sorts of reasons, I certainly wouldn't debate that issue.

I was referring more to the people who express dislike because "people are lazy and should just go to the store" or "who needs their stuff in 2 days" and that sort of thing.

[Gailete]

Generally, the only ones that get the delivery in one-two days are those that buy using Prime or they buy from someone like me that will at times have their order out within 20 minutes or so of ordering it. I sell sewing patterns for the most part. I also sew. I am aware that most sewists when they get an idea in our heads about something that we want to make, need to start on it ASAP or we will bounce over to a different project. We always have projects!!! One of the reasons why I ship so quick. My hubby does NOT understand my drive to get orders out in 24 hours or less, and much less in some instances. But then for someone with no Hispanic in his blood, he goes along with the idea of mañana most of the time! Trying to ship in less than 24 hours is too stressful for him. Well and good for somethings, NOT for online sales! I think my other reason for pushing to the less than 24 hours shipping, is if I can keep it up, I'm not giving into my physical problems! When I finally say 'uncle' to shipping that quick, I know I am completely kaput physically.

[disneysteve]

Generally, the only ones that get the delivery in one-two days are those that buy using Prime or they buy from someone like me that will at times have their order out within 20 minutes or so of ordering it.

If an item isn't Prime, I certainly don't expect it in 2 days, though it's a nice surprise when that happens.

As an online seller myself, I totally agree with shipping as soon as possible. Back when I sold on ebay big time (100 auctions running at all times), I went to the post office a minimum of once a day and usually twice. If I don't ship things out right away, orders start piling up and it quickly becomes an issue.

I've purposely not listed anything the past couple of days because we'll be away next weekend and I didn't want there to be any shipping delays with items that tended on Friday or Saturday.

[Gailete]

As much as I love my son and DIL and love talking to m a son about business, they have been in the area this week to see family and friends. Twice now we got into discussions about the business and with my hubby there, it stresses me out as he starts talking about the changes that will need to be made once HE is doing more [taking over in his head] the business. Talking today about all the things I do to process an order that he thinks doesn't need to be done as they are time wasters. Like I told them as each year goes by, I add more into the system to be sure that I have what I need come tax time. As I say this to the guys, my DIL sits there nodding her head in agreement with me as she also does the taxes for them. Whether they are a time wasters or not, our government doesn't care. Uncle Sam wants to see the paperwork if he comes calling. That on top of the fact that for many of the years that we have been married I have supported us, so I don't appreciate the implication that I'm too picky, too OCD, too dumb, too whatever and that I've being doing everything wrong in the business I build up and have handled now for 16 years and now hubby thinks he is somehow going to step in and take over and that frightens me. If my health had been better, the business would have been doing better. My son ships 3 days a week, I ship 6, but then he is actually busy running two businesses. I'm not.

[greenskeeper]

I don't have prime. Big Amazon distribution centers within short shipping distance from us (SEPA) so I generally get things in 2 days anyways. If I REALLY need something fast I'll use my BIL business account that has prime as he has no issue sharing his account.

[Tabs]

Like others have mentioned, I think we should all run our own numbers, and see if this is still a good value proposition for you. For me though, it still is.

For one, I still watch enough shows on Amazon Prime alone to currently justify the price. Also, I do nearly all of my non-grocery shopping exclusively through Amazon. Occasionally, when I want some background music, Amazon's music streaming is more than enough. Once in a while, some e-books are available for free to members that interest me as well. I also frequent Twitch.TV from time to time, and Amazon Prime gives me additional membership on there.

So, yes, despite the price hike, I still see it as a good value for me. However, I can certainly understand if it is not a good value for others.

[msomnipotent]

I don't have prime. Big Amazon distribution centers within short shipping distance from us (SEPA) so I generally get things in 2 days anyways. If I REALLY need something fast I'll use my BIL business account that has prime as he has no issue sharing his account.

I have centers near me as well. I used to get items in 2 days, but now they hold off on processing. Sometimes they wait a week to start processing and then drive it over here within a few hours.

[rob62521]

We aren't huge Amazon shoppers so no, we are not buying Prime. I think it is a lot like buying the membership to Sam's Club -- if you have it, you feel you have to use it to get your money's worth. Fortunately we can find other things as reasonably at other places and if Amazon depended on us to stay in business, they would be hard pressed. That's not to say we don't order from them. We do, but not a lot.

[Gailete]

Now that I know Walmart, at least for now, has free pick up at the store, I'll be checking out prices at WM and Amazon. I like the idea of getting non-perishables picked up for me. Anything to avoid the total exhaustion that shopping entails. But I know some of the things I buy on Amazon aren't available at WM and not stacking orders to get out of paying shipping is great for me and my son that is on my Prime account as well, currently it is worth it. I wasn't happy about the price increase however.