FYI: Amazon free shipping threshold now at $49

[upgrading]

No worries for prime members.

Looks like it just happened today.
http://dealnews.com/Amazon-raises-free-shipping-minimum-to-49/1604717.html

Another nudge for people to get Prime I guess.

 

[Pansy]

Amazon is pushing itself into mediocrity. Which I don't mind. I can't bring myself to sympathize with a company whose goal is to undercut and put other companies out of business without turning a profit.

In the past couple of years I've noticed the prices on their products creeping up. Since Amazon never/rarely has sales a lot of the products they sell can now usually be found cheaper elsewhere. Their service is pretty good, but so are many other online retailers.

Their low free shipping threshold was one of the better things they had going for them, when you take that away they become just like everyone else.

 

[Sky Chief]

The crappy thing is that other retailers such as Sears/Kmart will likely follow. Walmart is already at $50 minimum.

 

[kunkernator]

I am starting to like my Prime membership less and less. For instance, i ordered brake pads late Tuesday night. Which would mean they ship out Wednesday, and arrive Friday, so i can do my brakes this weekend. The "guaranteed delivery date" even stated Friday. Well, they just shipped yesterday, wont be here till Tuesday! What is the point in offering two day shipping if you take 3 days to fulfill the order?

I used to be able to order, and they would ship it same day, and sometimes it would even arrive in one day instead of two!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Git]

Amazon prices are still hard to beat

As a Prime member - I run into their 'threshold', but it is to get same day shipping

If I order something before noon I will get it by 9 PM that night, but I have to spend $35 minimum. Also, if they are late, their normal procedure is to extend your Prime Membership by one month. My Prime renewal date has gone from April to August because of some snafu's over Christmas

 

[skamp]

I am starting to like my Prime membership less and less. For instance, i ordered brake pads late Tuesday night. Which would mean they ship out Wednesday, and arrive Friday, so i can do my brakes this weekend. The "guaranteed delivery date" even stated Friday. Well, they just shipped yesterday, wont be here till Tuesday! What is the point in offering two day shipping if you take 3 days to fulfill the order?

I used to be able to order, and they would ship it same day, and sometimes it would even arrive in one day instead of two!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If they miss a delivery date you get a free month. I normally do this 6-8 times a year so get a lot of extra months. Just send them an email saying the date was missed and request the free month. It does **** when you really need something and they miss a date.

Steve

 

[PoorOwner]

Amazon admitted their biggest profit loss is from shipping

But amazon shipping has recently been inconsistent in packaging and times with prime, more like 3 day shipping sometimes Instead of 2.

Sometimes they will just put the item without padding aka sears style. Chisels all fell out, paint lid popped open. Amazon employees are supposed to face strict reviews by their managers so I hope they find the guys doing subpar jobs packing.

I ordered a bench grinder from zoro it came completely floating inside a bigger box 360 degrees. Had I order from amazon it would probably arrive with some damage.

 

[rice rocket]

Amazon is pushing itself into mediocrity. Which I don't mind. I can't bring myself to sympathize with a company whose goal is to undercut and put other companies out of business without turning a profit.

lol. Hold up.

So bagging customers for tons of money is "more honorable" in your world view?

 

[Pansy]

lol. Hold up.

So bagging customers for tons of money is "more honorable" in your world view?

Is that what is happening? Or is that just what you think is happening?

 

[skipnay]

So for $99 a year or $8.25 a month you get maybe same day shipping and everything else is 2 day shipping? Is that business days or does it count Saturday and Sunday also?

 

[MattVette89]

I still like Amazon. I tried to get a sensor from the GM dealer (that they said they had in stock) two weeks ago and they said it would take four days. I ordered it from Amazon on Saturday at 9:30 am and had it Sunday at 4:00 pm.

Not every company/service is perfect, but I've had good luck with Amazon.

 

[rahrah12]

In Seattle they just started rolling out "treasure truck"...free two day and same day over $35...got some stuff yesterday I needed for today.

 

[WhiffySpark]

So for $99 a year or $8.25 a month you get maybe same day shipping and everything else is 2 day shipping? Is that business days or does it count Saturday and Sunday also?

Depends on where you are. I get deliveries on Sunday now

 

[Rick M]

In the past couple of years I've noticed the prices on their products creeping up.

You mean there somewhere this isn't happening?

 

[kneeman]

I am starting to like my Prime membership less and less. For instance, i ordered brake pads late Tuesday night. Which would mean they ship out Wednesday, and arrive Friday, so i can do my brakes this weekend. The "guaranteed delivery date" even stated Friday. Well, they just shipped yesterday, wont be here till Tuesday! What is the point in offering two day shipping if you take 3 days to fulfill the order?

I used to be able to order, and they would ship it same day, and sometimes it would even arrive in one day instead of two!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Rockauto

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

 

[PugetDude]

I can't bring myself to sympathize with a company whose goal is to undercut and put other companies out of business without turning a profit.

I bet you give yourself a headache every day.

 

[Pansy]

I bet you give yourself a headache every day.

Edited!

 

[rice rocket]

You mean there somewhere this isn't happening?

Inflation, how does it work?

Edited!

Reason: Not worth it!

Translation, cognitive dissonance.

 

[Git]

Sometimes they will just put the item without padding aka sears style. Chisels all fell out, paint lid popped open. Amazon employees are supposed to face strict reviews by their managers so I hope they find the guys doing subpar jobs packing.
.

Amazon couldn't be easier to deal with on returns. Something happened in shipping - send it back

OR, it is standard procedure to offer 15-20% off to cover these problems. Open up a live chat session and tell them your problems

I even have the "Contact Us" page bookmarked
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/contact-us?ie=UTF8&nodeId=508510&ref_=hp_gt_comp_cu&

 

[reader2580]

I generally never order from Amazon directly anymore with the crappy free shipping and the collection of sales tax. If you order from a third party on Amazon then Amazon doesn't collect sales tax. The third parties usually ship faster than Amazon's free shipping.

I have noticed that Amazon never ships free shipping items until the 2nd or 3rd business day consistently. Many others have reported the same thing.

 

[Pansy]

Inflation, how does it work?

Certainly you're aware that it is relative? I shouldn't have had to explain that, but here we are.


I'm am curious though, why are you attacking me? If you have a problem with the argument, show why it's wrong. If intellectually lazy posts/insults are your way of countering an argument then I'm sorry to have bothered you.

 

[PelicanPines]

Prime is doing other odd things... you can get very heavy items like 40pound boxes of cat litter for basically the same price as Target. They limit you to 3 boxes and won't let you reorder till some time has passed. The other odd thing... you can tell when you can reorder... the price jumps a dollar or two... but then drops a week later back to the original. So far... I have given my UPS driver an extra hernia ... with 5 separate shipments of the maximum allowed. Oh and it's 3 - 5 days for them.

Other than the cat litter... I have also noticed an extra day on some orders but... anytime I order on Friday... it has always arrived on SUNDAY... even if it's a holiday.

I have been a prime member since the first month it was offered. When they added the video streaming it has just replaced having Netflix so a savings there.

 

[kunkernator]

Heh, I remember when the shipping threshold used to be $25. Then $35. And now $49.

http://web.archive.org/web/20110301...r/display.html?ie=UTF8&nodeId=527692&pop-up=1

 

[PugetDude]

Certainly you're aware that it is relative? I shouldn't have had to explain that, but here we are.


I'm am curious though, why are you attacking me? If you have a problem with the argument, show why it's wrong. If intellectually lazy posts/insults are your way of countering an argument then I'm sorry to have bothered you.

http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm

 

[PelicanPines]

I generally never order from Amazon directly anymore with the crappy free shipping and the collection of sales tax. If you order from a third party on Amazon then Amazon doesn't collect sales tax. The third parties usually ship faster than Amazon's free shipping.

I have noticed that Amazon never ships free shipping items until the 2nd or 3rd business day consistently. Many others have reported the same thing.

My experience is different. I ALWAYS get a shipping notification rather quickly, usually the same day. While I have noticed the 2 day shipping does roll into 3 days once in a while but my "Friday" orders always arrive on Sunday. It's usually my Saturday and Sunday orders that roll a day late.

On a whole, if you include the video and now music streaming it's not a bad deal. Then again... I may be biased.

My worst experience is from 3rd party sellers. I ordered 3rd hand poles back on the 10th of February. Third party seller. Arrived today from FedEx ground.

 

[winlinmac]

Amazon is about to shatter into pieces. Their profits are largely accrued by impulse buyers, Amazon's Cloud services (Including Storage, Video, MP3 / Photos) and Prime Shipping, as well as Kindle / Streaming devices.

Amazon has really gone from customer-centric to the "The Other Side." A fraction of prime members apparently abuse the return policy and innocent prime members and non-members fall victim to increase in Prime membership fees as well as free shipping thresholds. Also, some innocent customers get banned from shopping on Amazon after they make a handful of returns for various legitimate reasons (defective, damaged in transit, and Item not as described); customers are truly affected, and I'm sure good number did not have the intention for abusing the return policy; it wouldn't be the customer's fault that the item received was inadequately packaged, or delivered by a shabby carrier.

It's pathetic that Amazon still exists, and their footprint is spreading across the globe. The "Idiocracy" continues...

 

[rice rocket]

Certainly you're aware that it is relative? I shouldn't have had to explain that, but here we are.


I'm am curious though, why are you attacking me? If you have a problem with the argument, show why it's wrong. If intellectually lazy posts/insults are your way of countering an argument then I'm sorry to have bothered you.

Nice red herring.

There are many complaints you could make against Amazon, that they don't treat their workers well, that their pricing engine is anti-social and is a cause for lowering consumer confidence in the economy, how they continue to dodge corporate and sales taxes, etc., but you chose to single out how they manage their working capital as your #1 complaint?

I don't think any of us are getting your argument, since you just chose to back into a corner rather than explain anything.

 

[PugetDude]

Amazon is about to shatter into pieces. Their profits are largely accrued by impulse buyers, Amazon's Cloud services (Including Storage, Video, MP3 / Photos) and Prime Shipping, as well as Kindle / Streaming devices.

Amazon has really gone from customer-centric to the "The Other Side." A fraction of prime members apparently abuse the return policy and innocent prime members and non-members fall victim to increase in Prime membership fees as well as free shipping thresholds. Also, some innocent customers get banned from shopping on Amazon after they make a handful of returns for various legitimate reasons (defective, damaged in transit, and Item not as described); customers are truly affected, and I'm sure good number did not have the intention for abusing the return policy; it wouldn't be the customer's fault that the item received was inadequately packaged, or delivered by a shabby carrier.

It's pathetic that Amazon still exists, and their footprint is spreading across the globe. The "Idiocracy" continues...

You really need to meet Pansy.. she's in posts 2, 9, 17, and 21 of this thread.

The Garage Journal, way better than farmersonly.com

 

[winlinmac]

Well, I'm shocked how Amazon doesn't assess each and every reason a customer has to return something. They flag virtually every customer return as if the customer had no intention of keeping the item. Why would the customer have to keep a defective item, when the item should have been appropriately sourced and packed? Item should have been new, but when a customer received it, he / she noticed the item had either been used before or was refurbished / repackaged, thus, not as described by the vendor Amazon sourced that item from the start. Not all item descriptions are even true on Amazon's website. They need smart programmers to keep the item database up to date from the manufacturers (as well as constantly synced and synchronized).

The advantages of Amazon the way I look at it, have been competitive pricing and mitigating the carbon footprint. Also, Prime Video and Music have been added bonuses.

I really have no comment as to how workers are treated and what Amazon's true intent is over their operation as I'm not physically present at their floor.

You really need to meet Pansy.. she's in posts 2, 9, 17, and 21 of this thread.

The Garage Journal, way better than farmersonly.com

 

[Rick M]

No doubt there are some "innocent" customers who mistakenly get banned but I suspect that most of the people crying into their hands are not as innocent as they claim. If I abruptly were banned from Amazon through no fault of my own then I would feel very hostile toward them; or if I were banned and it was my fault, I would still feel negative. But my personal experience with Amazon has been very positive. The customer service personnel are easy to contact, always polite and go overboard in making me happy. Having been responsible for making purchasing decisions professionally I can say that if you deal with any company long enough they will screw up. It isn't if, it's when. The important things are 1) How they handle mistakes, and 2) That they don't screw up too often.

 

[Pansy]

Nice red herring.

There are many complaints you could make against Amazon, that they don't treat their workers well, that their pricing engine is anti-social and is a cause for lowering consumer confidence in the economy, how they continue to dodge corporate and sales taxes, etc., but you chose to single out how they manage their working capital as your #1 complaint?

I don't think any of us are getting your argument, since you just chose to back into a corner rather than explain anything.

So you agree with the opinion but not the argument. You are apparently upset that it was abbreviated... that I didn't take the time to write an all inclusive essay that would satisfy your meticulous standards. Congratulations, you're the reason why people hate the internet.

 

[PelicanPines]

Amazon is about to shatter into pieces. Their profits are largely accrued by impulse buyers, Amazon's Cloud services (Including Storage, Video, MP3 / Photos) and Prime Shipping, as well as Kindle / Streaming devices.

Amazon has really gone from customer-centric to the "The Other Side." A fraction of prime members apparently abuse the return policy and innocent prime members and non-members fall victim to increase in Prime membership fees as well as free shipping thresholds. Also, some innocent customers get banned from shopping on Amazon after they make a handful of returns for various legitimate reasons (defective, damaged in transit, and Item not as described); customers are truly affected, and I'm sure good number did not have the intention for abusing the return policy; it wouldn't be the customer's fault that the item received was inadequately packaged, or delivered by a shabby carrier.

It's pathetic that Amazon still exists, and their footprint is spreading across the globe. The "Idiocracy" continues...

"Shatter into pieces". Sorry... can't stop laughing. Amazon will be around for decades to come. They are not hurting at all. They are even in the process of building their own delivery trucking system.

 

[rice rocket]

So you agree with the opinion but not the argument. You are apparently upset that it was abbreviated... that I didn't take the time to write an all inclusive essay that would satisfy your meticulous standards. Congratulations, you're the reason why people hate the internet.

I'm not sure how you derived that from my post. #1, because I'm not even sure what your argument is, but #2, because I didn't mention anything of the sorts. If Amazon chooses to drive the entirety of their net earnings back into the business instead of filling the coffers of their ownership, that is their prerogative, and it seems to be working for them, and millions of consumers.

But again, way to throw out insults, back into a corner and not explain anything, for a third or fourth time.

 

[winlinmac]

Sure, they'll be around. Shatter into pieces means, their current moto "the customer-centric company, which can be interpreted in different ways though ..."

They can try whatever they want to try with their own delivery system; bear in mind though Google is taking the same leap of faith as well.

"Shatter into pieces". Sorry... can't stop laughing. Amazon will be around for decades to come. They are not hurting at all. They are even in the process of building their own delivery trucking system.

 

[winlinmac]

BTW, where does it show the $49 free shipping threshold? Still shows $35 in my other web browser

 

[reader2580]

My experience is different. I ALWAYS get a shipping notification rather quickly, usually the same day. While I have noticed the 2 day shipping does roll into 3 days once in a while but my "Friday" orders always arrive on Sunday. It's usually my Saturday and Sunday orders that roll a day late.

You have Prime. I was talking about the free shipping without Prime. Many people, including myself, have noticed that for a number of years now Amazon intentionally delays shipping on free shipping orders.

There are a number of other retailers that ship faster for a similar price so I go there instead of Amazon.

 

[Pansy]

#1, because I'm not even sure what your argument is

Thank you for admitting that. I thought all of your clamoring was an attempt to counter my argument, but you don't even know what my argument is? You've shown a disconnect and this back and forth has moved beyond trivial, I think we're finished here.

 

[Spn1025]

My guess would be the increase is because of the recent USPS rates increase and that they dropped the click n ship discounts

 

[winlinmac]

Some of the posts in the following thread page are very relevant, but also open to debate,
http://slickdeals.net/f/8515261-psa...for-books?page=3&src=SiteSearchV2#commentsBox

 

[organ]

Amazon is about to shatter into pieces. Their profits are largely accrued by impulse buyers, Amazon's Cloud services (Including Storage, Video, MP3 / Photos) and Prime Shipping, as well as Kindle / Streaming devices.

Amazon has really gone from customer-centric to the "The Other Side." A fraction of prime members apparently abuse the return policy and innocent prime members and non-members fall victim to increase in Prime membership fees as well as free shipping thresholds. Also, some innocent customers get banned from shopping on Amazon after they make a handful of returns for various legitimate reasons (defective, damaged in transit, and Item not as described); customers are truly affected, and I'm sure good number did not have the intention for abusing the return policy; it wouldn't be the customer's fault that the item received was inadequately packaged, or delivered by a shabby carrier.

It's pathetic that Amazon still exists, and their footprint is spreading across the globe. The "Idiocracy" continues...

The "Idiocrocy" continues with your post... Amazon isn't gonna "shatter into pieces". You think Amazon Web Services is going anywhere? I guess Netflix should've conferred with you before jumping on board! What's your consulting fee? Also, it doesn't really matter how the Kindle's doing... it's a loss-leader... Amazon's e-book sales are up even while traditional publishers have seen a sharp decline. As to your blaspheming of Amazon's customer service... they're best in class. I have no doubt that scumbags abuse their absurdly lenient return policy. A Google search of "Amazon banned" turns up little more than hearsay with a handful of potentially legitimate claims shuffled in. If you have any substantive proof of your claims, please provide it...