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Peter · Nov 3, 2008, 11:57 AM

bit of an odd topic ... but quite an interesting one!
Does anyone use this service? what are your thoughts? FYI:

Amazon Prime offers customers unlimited expedited shipping with no minimum purchase amount for a flat annual fee. The service also offers discounted priority shipping rates. Amazon launched the program in the continental United States in 2005, in Japan in June 2007, in the United Kingdom and Germany in November 2007, and in France (as "Amazon Premium") in October 2008.

I order all my DVDs/Books/Games from amazon and I think it paid for itself after the ~10th order. Usually next day costs £3 - £5 ... with prime its £0 -- but with a £50 upfront cost.

ort888 · Nov 3, 2008, 12:31 PM

I generally just use their free shipping on anything over $25 option. If I need something quickly, I just buy it locally.

However, I am just about to end my 1 month trial period for Amazon Prime, and it has been pretty cool. I've ordered about 4 things this month and the shipping has ben very fast.

Still, $79 a year is a lot to pay for shipping. Especially when you can get most of it for free. Sometimes the free super saver shipping is ridiculously fast also. Although lately it seems to have been slowing down a lot.

Dakar V · Nov 3, 2008, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by ort888

Sometimes the free super saver shipping is ridiculously fast also. Although lately it seems to have been slowing down a lot.

Without a doubt. Seems like they're sitting on stuff for the sake of it.

I don't think I order enough during the year to justify Prime, but even if I did, I'm not a big fan of UPS. They seem to think leaving stuff on my front doorstep is the way to go.

Laminar · Nov 3, 2008, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by ort888

Sometimes the free super saver shipping is ridiculously fast also..

Agreed. I ordered a couple things with Super Saver and had them in 3 days or so.

ort888 · Nov 3, 2008, 01:09 PM

I order everything through super saver and I've sometimes gotten things in one day. It's usually 2 or 3 days though.

Again though, like I said earlier... in the last 2 months or so, it's started taking a week or more. It's slowed down a lot. I think they might be doing it on purpose.

Dakar V · Nov 3, 2008, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by ort888

I order everything through super saver and I've sometimes gotten things in one day. It's usually 2 or 3 days though.

Again though, like I said earlier... in the last 2 months or so, it's started taking a week or more. It's slowed down a lot. I think they might be doing it on purpose.

I think they pay attention to how often they use it. I got majorly screwed in the beginning of the year, but things have picked back up the past few months, Not same day shipping anymore, but good enough.

ort888 · Nov 3, 2008, 01:23 PM

Here's the thing though. I don't think it's them holding the stuff. All of my delays are happening at UPS. It gets shipped out and then sits in a warehouse for a week.

I think Amazon has a special deal with UPS where they flag certain packages as complete non-priorities and UPS treats them accordingly. I've had a few packages sit in a holding pattern at UPS for a week or more.

Dakar V · Nov 3, 2008, 01:26 PM

Wait a second, they're sitting on stuff with you're prime account?!

I was referring to Amazon sitting on stuff. Once it hits the USPS it's here within 1 - 3 days.

ort888 · Nov 3, 2008, 01:33 PM

No. Not with Prime. Prime has been ridiculously fast.

Dakar V · Nov 3, 2008, 01:36 PM

Yeah, but you make it sound like UPS is ****ing you.

ort888 · Nov 3, 2008, 01:40 PM

Well, before my one month trial with Prime, they kind of were.

I would say at least three or four of my packages would sit at Amazon for a few days, then get shipped out to UPS where they would sit for 3 to 6 days or so. It was very weird.

But, it was the free shipping, so it was hard to get upset. I don't order anything with super saver shipping that I need right away.

Dakar V · Nov 3, 2008, 01:41 PM

Your free shipping (non-prime) goes through UPS? Odd, other than a large package all of mine goes through the USPS.

ort888 · Nov 3, 2008, 01:50 PM

No, it is the good old USPS. I mistyped.

This is a nice little conversation we're having. How's the weather where you are? ...and/or local sports teams?

Dakar V · Nov 3, 2008, 01:52 PM

Perhaps we should continue using google translator. We might understand each other better.

"The weather here. Warmer than expected at this time."

Laminar · Nov 3, 2008, 02:00 PM

Dakar V · Nov 3, 2008, 02:01 PM

"Hi laminar. Thank you for your contribution to the stream."

RAILhead · Nov 3, 2008, 03:31 PM

I use it and have since its inception. I'm also an associate, so I get 6% back on all my purchases, and with the volume I order -- coupled with those who use my link -- it pays for itself.

memento · Nov 3, 2008, 04:57 PM

I signed up for prime and love it. Since I can't get to a local store without a 40 minute round trip at the quickest, and local music stores don't even come close to stocking my taste in music, it's been well worth it. Sure, $25 super saver is nice, but in my case it usually takes the full 14 days to ship those items out, and then another 7-10 to receive them. With prime I get them within 2 days.

subego · Nov 3, 2008, 08:57 PM

If you're even remotely addicted to Amazon, and have some way to make sure you don't miss UPS deliveries, it's a spectacular deal. Even the overnight isn't too bad.

I built a computer recently, and was impatient, so I had everything overnighted. They do charge you 4 bucks per item, which seems ridiculous, but even though that project had a lot of individual parts, the total shipping cost was only $40, and I got it the next day.

This included the 50 pound (!) case. I can't think of another place where the shipping on the case alone would be less $40, and getting it overnighted would have easily cost $100.

Highly recommended.

Ghoser777 · Nov 3, 2008, 09:03 PM

My only prime is Optimus.