Amazon Prime

[Vagabound]

Mods:  Not sure where this thread belongs, but Amazon deliveries are a type of mail delivery, so I put it in here.  Please let me know if you move it.  In any case, please delete this statement.

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In a way, having been overseas for several years, I've been living under a rock.  Kept up with news daily, etc., know of many things available in the U.S., like Amazon Prime, Netflix, etc., but couldn't take advantage of them.  Until now.  So, I'm late to the party, so to speak, and trying to get up to speed.

Regarding Amazon Prime (AP) ... the short definition, as far as I can tell from their website, is free 2-day delivery of whatever you buy.  Free that is, after paying the $100 a year it costs to set it up.

When I try to plan for what's important living full-time mobile, it seems to me that lots of things would be purchased from Amazon.  I hear people in these forums talking about that all the time.  So, it seems logical that AP would almost be a mandatory tool of the lifestyle.  After the first five purchases or so, the $100 would be recouped compared to no AP and regular shipping.  After that, fast free shipping for the rest of the year.

I started this forum to find out if I'm looking at this the right way, prior to signing up for AP.

Any thoughts or feedback on buying, using, liking, or hating AP?

Thanks,

Vagabound

 

[Almost There]

I've never bothered with it. A lot of the vendors, if you're buying larger items or multiple things, will include free shipping anyways if they get to choose the carrier and the shipping time.

I guess if you're in a real hurry for something then 2 day shipping works. I just bought the majority of my purchases when I was either going to be in the area for a couple of weeks or could plan ahead as to where I'd be.

 

[jimindenver]

AP has other advantages like movies doesn't it?

 

[Gunny]

I've used Amazon Prime for about a year now, I shop Amazon regularly. I don't know if I save any money with the free shipping (and some items don't ship free) but I figure it's about a wash. There are a lot of features to Prime I don't use but if you read all the features that come with it some may appeal to you.

I'm not sure how it would work being "full time mobile" but when you buy something you do have the choice of shipping addresses, it could work.

As for Amazon, their customer service has been outstanding in the two times, out of many, that something screwed up. I ordered a camera lens from Adorama thru Amazon and somewhere in cyberspace my payment was not sent to the seller. After speaking to customer service at 9 pm I was told they found the glitch and would upgrade my shipping to next day. I have no idea how they did it but at 2 pm the next day my lens was delivered.

I recommend them, but read all the benefits and decide. Rob...

 

[Vagabound]

...
I guess if you're in a real hurry for something then 2 day shipping works. I just bought the majority of my purchases when I was either going to be in the area for a couple of weeks or could plan ahead as to where I'd be.

From a different perspective, that would actually be an unlisted benefit of AP -- less of a concern about how long you're going to be somewhere, and more freedom to just buy and hang around a couple days to get it.

Vagabound

 

[mayble]

I've had Amazon Prime for years.  I use it as much for the movies and books on my kindle as for the free shipping, which is the opposite of what I expected (but then I don't buy as much stuff as I use to)
For me, the price is comparable to Netflix and while Amazon doesn't have as many movies/shows, it does have the Kindle library and the option of downloading video to watch later, which Netflix doesn't.
The free shipping is the bonus at this point.

 

[Sabatical]

Vagabound, there are many more benefits to AP beyond the shipping, which is only free 2 day for those things marked with the Prime logo. Extra benefits include Prime Music, Prime instant video, Prime book lending library.
The music app allows downloads as well as streaming. Personally I download all of the music on my phone when on wi fi. As long as you are a prime member, the music stays where you store it.

The video app allows streaming amd downloads of some prime videos.

The lending library allows one free book download per month. Also you can sign up for kindle first books which is a selection of 6 books that you can pick one from to download and own for free.

YMMV but in my life the prime benefits could take care of 100% of my listening, viewing, and reading needs. When you factor in the free shipping it really feels like i'm getting one over on them!

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[jimindenver]

I checked because I have a T-Mobile hotspot, Amazon prime video is on the Binge on list and will not count against my data allotment.

 

[Oopslala]

I used it for getting ready to set out. I bought all my solar stuff and really everything I got for this life style came from Amazon. I'm the type of person that's spontaneous with little stuff and want it asap when I snap and buy it so I loved it. Like mentioned above most big stuff you buy will have free shipping, you'll just have to wait a little longer for it.

 

[Sabatical]

I checked because I have a T-Mobile hotspot, Amazon prime video is on the Binge on list and will not count against my data allotment.

Wow! That is an awesome benefit for T mobile users. Wishing Verizon would follow suit.

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[LeeRevell]

I have been an Amazon Prime member a couple years, and generally like it. But there are a couple points I will point out.
Not all items are available for Prime shipping. Many do have a separate shipping cost. They might ship in a couple days, but usually not. Items coming from overseas will not be Prime, and could take weeks to arrive.
Next, even Prime items can sometimes take three or four days to arrive, though not often. Holidays can cause this. Once in awhile, an item comes in one day.
Whether the annual fee is worthwhile to you is for you to decide.
On rare occasions, the item I receive is not what I ordered. Amazon has a good return process. On a couple occasions I never received the item, though I get a "delivered" notice. I blame the USPS for this, and have never gotten satisfaction from them. They consider it was delivered. It never reached ME. USPS doesn't care.
These have been my experiences.

 

[BradKW]

I held off getting it because I would usually get deliveries in 2-3 days anyway. But then I became convinced that they were slowing non-prime deliveries. I got it and will renew... easily 50 shipments this year, many small items, never yet paid shipping. Both Amazon and Walmart have sent me items when it shows delivered but I never got it...

 

[SternWake]

I had it for years and cancelled it only because I am a moneyless surfbum with too much pride to take uninteresting jobs

there is more to it than 2 day shipping. I watched many a movie on prime, and they have free music streaming.

If I ever get my shit together I'll probably renew it.

 

[cyndi]

I've had AP for about 6 years and have enjoyed many of it's advantages.

Recently, I've found myself talking to someone in a foriegn country when I've had a problem. This happened three times, in the recent past. It could be a deal breaker. They read off their scripts, can't answer a question and talk over you just to get their non-point across.

I was told just last week that I can ask to speak to a CSR in the US. If that's the case I might continue. I'm still pretty upset at outsourcing all those jobs. We'll see.

 

[jimindenver]

I've been trying to figure out how to get it working on the Amazon fireTV stick.

 

[Sabatical]

It should just be a matter of signing into your amazon account, so long as the device is connected to the internet.

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[jimindenver]

Thank you. I was driving myself nuts until I remembered that I needed to restart the stick. once I did that it all showed up. I'm not seeing a lot that would make the AP worth it considering a lot of what is on there is also on Netflix and Crackle. I'll try the 30 day trial since I need to order some stuff anyways.

 

[frater secessus]

Multi-year Prime member here. I use it a great deal but there is no way to reliably force delivery to go by a given carrier (like USPS if you are using General Delivery).
If you are around a major city Amazon has lockers they will ship to where you can pick stuff up.

Seems to me doing Walmart store transfers might be easier for nomads. Order what you want online and they aggregate it at one store for you (like maybe where you are heading next week). Pick up the prepared bundle in the old Lay-a-way dept and walk out.

 

[ColdBrook]

I have Amazon Prime and loved it at first.  When I tried the free one month membership in December a few years ago everything came in two days.  However since then it's changed -you only receive the item in two days if you order on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or/and maybe Wednesday.  Otherwise now the weekend interferes so items don't come in 2 days if you forget and order on Thursday or later in the week.   That change has really bothered me- especially last December. 
You do get access to lots of free movies etc and not all are on netflix. (I actually prefer Netflix's choices of movies and tv shows.)  Before placing a order on amazon be sure it has that little Prime emblem next to it or it won't have the free shipping.  I do love to be able to order one small inexpensive item and not having to pay shipping or I used to end up spending more just to get free shipping. I spend less this way.  I have had excellent responses from Amazon with a few items that arrived damaged. They replaced them with no problems.

 

[highdesertranger]

I just signed up for prime because of the large number of parts I have been ordering for my truck rebuild. I just received an order today(Sunday). I never had anything delivered on a Sunday. I haven't looked at the music or movies yet, so we will see if I keep it after my buying spree. highdesertranger