amazon prime. what a scam

[Rick Lee]

If you need it faster than Amazon can deliver it, a lot of big box retail locations places use Amazon as a reference for price matching. I've gotten some pretty good deals at Best Buy and Fry's doing this.

[widebody911]

The free shipping scam isn't limited to Amazon, but it's not as bad as the "Next Day" shipping from certain parts sites, where they indeed ship it "next day" - a week later when they actually get the part.

Last spring when I was building my deck, I needed to buy joist wrap. Neither Home Depot or Lowes carried in the store; I would have to order it online and according to the website, it would be here sometime in the next two weeks. I went on amazon, no only did I find it, it was cheaper, I got same-day delivery, on a Sunday - on Easter Sunday no less.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

If you need it faster than Amazon can deliver it, a lot of big box retail locations places use Amazon as a reference for price matching. I've gotten some pretty good deals at Best Buy and Fry's doing this.

Yeah but the frustration these days is the big boxes have adopted the Amazon model.

Go on any of their websites and search for a product.

Seems like 80% of their "inventory" is not in stock at the retail locations but "can be available for pickup in X days"

Eve Frys is going down the ****ter these days.

The customer service in my local Frys has gone from barely average to nonexistent.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Yeah but the frustration these days is the big boxes have adopted the Amazon model.

Go on any of their websites and search for a product.

Seems like 80% of their "inventory" is not in stock at the retail locations but "can be available for pickup in X days"

Eve Frys is going down the ****ter these days.

The customer service in my local Frys has gone from barely average to nonexistent.

Well, I can't imagine the store employees are real thrilled about price matching requests that eat into any commission they might earn.

[Gogar]

I buy so much schit from amazon that it’s worth it. You just have to price shop and make sure you’re not ordering something that’s priced way out of whack. “Sold by and ships from amazon” is pretty important too, for easy returns.

[red-beard]

I use PRIME for a lot, if not most of my purchases. Convenience. I don't have to drive to the store to buy the sneakers I already know will fit. You do have to watch the quality. Some stores like Macy's carry the same brands, but the merchandise is higher quality. A lot of the Amazon stuff is the "outlet" quality.

[Steve Carlton]

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I use Prime for shopping at Whole Foods and watching Dr. Who and documentaries. The shipping thing is nice.

[cabmandone]

What I find is that if you're patient you can find better deals not using Prime. The two day shipping is what really drives Prime. If you don't need it in two days and can wait an extra day or two you'll typically save money.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by cabmando

What I find is that if you're patient you can find better deals not using Prime.

Uh yeah. Amazon Prime, by definition, is not for the folks with lots of patience.

[GH85Carrera]

I watch a lot of Amazon prime movies, and old TV shows. For a Star Trek fan, they have all the different series, and even the original is remastered in high definition. I could watch every episode of all the series in order. Then there is Grand Tour, movies, and lots more.

We order a lot from Amazon. I needed a single ream of paper and I prefer the high quality, smooth surface Hammermill paper. Yea, I can get in my car, drive several miles to a Staples or Office Depot, and pay the same basic price or have it delivered to my door.

I have had some weird things in a single order. A new 6 TB hard drive, parts to rebuild my outdoor faucet, Oil filters for my El Camino, and filter for the water well.

[Steve Carlton]

via GIPHY

[Shadetree930]

<------ Prime addict.

I will not even bother to start the car if I can buy from Prime.

My time has value.

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

For a Star Trek fan, they have all the different series, and even the original is remastered in high definition.

What's your favorite ones from the original series?

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Uh yeah. Amazon Prime, by definition, is not for the folks with lots of patience.

Which is why it strikes me as funny that they have that checkbox for if you don't need it in two days you can use a slower shipping method.. If I didn't want or need it in two days, I wouldn't have used Prime.

[Steve Carlton]

Hey, if Amazon Prime isn't for you, more power to you. A lot of reasons to use it are identified here and tons of people like it.

If you check the box, they give you credits to use elsewhere on their site.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

What's your favorite ones from the original series?

Actually I really liked Enterprise. The prequel to the original series. It explains some of the formation of the "The Federation" and other things. It was actually shot many years later, and the special effects are orders of magnitude better.

As for a favorite series, hard to say. All of em!

[cabmandone]

Obviously I use it or I wouldn't know about that crazy checkbox for slower shipping. As the OP pointed out, there is savings in buying from a vendor and not using prime and in a lot of cases I have found that I can buy it cheaper and have it here in two days if I pay attention to where the seller is shipping from.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing Prime, I use the hell out of it and rarely do I visit my previous favorite online shopping store... ebay because I can get it new with a better return policy through Amazon.

[Neilk]

I just bought an orbital polisher kit from Chemical Guys. Their shipping time was going to be 5-7 days.

I looked on Amazon and for the same price, I could get the same kit in 2 days. When I went to purchase it, Amazon offered a 10% discount if I ordered it and subscribed to their monthly subscription program that you can cancel at anytime. So will be cancelling that shortly.

Got a set of wipers delivered to my door in 5 days from a BMW dealer for $14. I could have gotten them quicker, but Amazon then offered me a $5 discount at WF to forgo 2 day shipping. SOLD

Not sure how these third party sellers make money in these situations, kind of scary in a way for bricks and mortar retailers.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

What's your favorite ones from the original series?

The ones where Kirk bangs the blue-haired alien chick and all the red shirts die.