I stopped Prime because I was buying stuff I didn't need.
If someone comments under me, "Oh, I just order household
items"; I guarantee this board has been sprinkled with
paid commenters.
Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35
111–120 of 212 posts
Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35
#112I am amazed at how amazon remains doing business with so low margins or no profits. We love amazon at my house and being Prime members, we are almost ordering everything under the sun from Amazon that we possibly can. Here is why we love it: - The reviews are actually useful. I just bought a 70 inch TV through amazon and the critical and helpful reviews really helped me get going with settings on the TV that would ha…
> Also we compared the prices and it is almost impossible to beat amazon for these things as well. Huh? Where did you look? For formula, diapers, wipes, etc. Amazon didn't come close to Target, even without coupons. Amazon was like $23 for diapers that were $19.99 at Target. I've been a prime member forever, and wanted to use Amazon, but it easily cost 10-20% more, even with automatic ordering. Combine Target retail…
I agree. Items are no longer, consistently cheaper. (ex:Horizon 8oz Milk packs, are at least 2x more than our local grocery stores.) Even their Subscribe and Save program changed to introduce a 5 item minimum. Seems like, they are finally able to charge a (small)premium for the 'Amazon Shopping Experience'.
Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35
#113I am amazed at how amazon remains doing business with so low margins or no profits. We love amazon at my house and being Prime members, we are almost ordering everything under the sun from Amazon that we possibly can. Here is why we love it: - The reviews are actually useful. I just bought a 70 inch TV through amazon and the critical and helpful reviews really helped me get going with settings on the TV that would ha…
> Also we compared the prices and it is almost impossible to beat amazon for these things as well. Huh? Where did you look? For formula, diapers, wipes, etc. Amazon didn't come close to Target, even without coupons. Amazon was like $23 for diapers that were $19.99 at Target. I've been a prime member forever, and wanted to use Amazon, but it easily cost 10-20% more, even with automatic ordering. Combine Target retail…
Costco.
Even if all you bought at Costco was formula and diapers, you'd more than subsidize the $50 membership over the course of a year vs. what you'd pay basically anywhere else.
Of course the economy of scale applies to that membership fee. Scaling across more kids makes a better value prop.
Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35
#114Sales taxes are going to bite into their business. My state (Massachusetts) has forced them to charge sales tax starting some time later this year, and that's bound to affect sales. Tax-free New Hampshire is 45 minutes away from Boston, and I suspect that once the sales tax kicks in, all those malls and outlets up north are going to see an uptick in business. In fact, probably that's why they're squeezing the shippin…
For a $2000 plasma, maybe. But you're going to drive 45 minutes to avoid paying $7 in taxes on a pair of shoes? I really doubt that. The scenario you outline would be true if people did a large amount of shopping once a month, but Amazon customers are now accustomed to making hundreds of little purchases throughout the year.
Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35
#115I am amazed at how amazon remains doing business with so low margins or no profits. We love amazon at my house and being Prime members, we are almost ordering everything under the sun from Amazon that we possibly can. Here is why we love it: - The reviews are actually useful. I just bought a 70 inch TV through amazon and the critical and helpful reviews really helped me get going with settings on the TV that would ha…
Note that sellers can have any review deleted. So lack of negative reviews is meaningless on Amazon.
Is that true? Then why isn't everything 5 stars?
Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35
#116I am amazed at how amazon remains doing business with so low margins or no profits. We love amazon at my house and being Prime members, we are almost ordering everything under the sun from Amazon that we possibly can. Here is why we love it: - The reviews are actually useful. I just bought a 70 inch TV through amazon and the critical and helpful reviews really helped me get going with settings on the TV that would ha…
Note that sellers can have any review deleted. So lack of negative reviews is meaningless on Amazon.
I don't think this is true -- it sounds completely antithetical to Amazon's values. Do you have something to back it up?
Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35
#117"This is the first time in more than a decade that Amazon has altered the minimum order for free shipping in the US."
The BLS's Transportation Services urban CPI has increased 29% since August 2003, or 2.6% annually. Amazon would need to have offered the free-shipping-for-orders-over-twenty-five deal for the last 13.3 years, or since before June 2000, for this threshold increase to be on par with inflation.
Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35
#118Earlier quoted context omitted.
There are things bought on Amazon which leave me wondering how they can possibly be making money on them. I recently bought 4kg of cat litter from Amazon, which was shipped to me next day for free - I may be utterly out of touch with how much they're paying for shipping, but I can't see the purchase price even covering that side, never mind the product itself.
I have 20kg of cat liter shipped to me automatically each month, for free, next day. Mail carrier might kill the cat if he ever figures out which one is mine.
That's nuts, the free shipping on something with such a low $/# ratio I mean. Loss leaders I guess.
If you really don't like your mailman, start ordering water too.
Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35
#119Earlier quoted context omitted.
tl;dr because it's not a commune I specifically find the argument funny that amazon "steals" from me because it doesn't pay "enough" taxes, even though they pass their savings to me more directly than the state ever will
In the sufficiently left mind, you are unworthy to spend your own money, the state will spend them better; thus, passing savings to you is bad for you.
The existence of the state is inseparable from the existence of slavery.
-- Marx
Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35
#120Earlier quoted context omitted.
Same here. My girlfriend and I both buy basically all non food items from Amazon because we live in a small town and we are a 20 minute interstate drive away from any stores other than krogers. This has saved us a ton of money on gas and lots of time that easily makes up for the prime cost each year. The one time I have had to return a package was very easy as well. I can't imagine ever going back to spending gas mon…
Ugh, I have Amazon prime in Canada and use it constantly, but amazon.ca has an incredibly smaller selection of items than .com. Amazon seems to be slowly expanding it, but still only 25% of the inventory of it's American counterpart. So jealous. Border/customs tariffs from American websites ruins any cost savings (like paying $20 in fees for a shipping a $40 item [1]). That is the root problem, given the geographic n…
I've been shipping to a US drop location at the border, and crossing by car. Paying duties and taxes that way still makes it worth me while. :-)
(I use Ship Happens, but there are many more)