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Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35

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Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35

#151

Post by limejuice »

codegeek wrote: post #17

I 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…

I used to be an Amazon fanboy, too, but I don't buy much from them anymore after (1) Target, Best Buy, and other retailers started pricematching amazon prices. Since Target gives you 5% off for using Target card, Target is now almost always cheaper than amazon. and (2) Amazon started charging sales tax. That was a HUGE reason I ordered items from them.

I still like amazon, and still have Amazon Prime, and I am still looking forward to their Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals.

Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35

#152

Post by VMG »

marincounty wrote: post #90
VMG wrote: post #51

Earlier 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

Oh they are passing on most of the tax for now, but what will happen when they really dominate? I saw what happened to Home Depot. They concored the market on prices. Competition folded. They raised their prices. It's now just an expensive big store with unhappy help.

So we should punish successful companies that provide services people want through taxes because they might become too powerful? Increase the incentive for the company to influence politics? Feed the entity that has no competition by definition?

Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35

#153

Post by AsymetricCom »

twistedpair wrote: post #109
enscr wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This. Amazon has done almost everything right for the customer (as Bezos emphasizes in all his interviews). For me, the primary weak point is the dubious quality of third part sellers sometimes. Other than that, it's an awesome place to shop.

Crazy, a company that uses its economy of scale to drive down costs, cut prices across the board (TV's, books, AWS) and reinvest those profits in new services and products, continuously. Quite different from the rent seeking companies in the hardware and telco spaces. If Apple and TWC were Amazon, you're iPhone would cost $150 without a contract and you're cable internet would be $10/mo.

Amazon doesn't have the... 'Washington Infrastructure' to be able to compete at a regulatory level, so they have to compete on price like any other homeless vagabond.

Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35

#154

Post by auctiontheory »

john61 wrote: post #46
codegeek wrote: post #17

I 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…

Reasons not to buy from amazon: https://stallman.org/amazon.html

Pick any big company, certainly including all the big tech companies, any company with a brand you've heard of, and any government, and I could put together a dozen compelling "reasons" not to do business with them.

You need to decide whether a company offends your values on balance. Both as a customer of Amazon and as a supplier (author/publisher), I've found them better then average to deal with.

How are they as an employer? No personal experience, but better than WalMart and FoxConn, I'm sure.

Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35

#155

Post by massysett »

swalsh wrote: post #22

As a prime member, I didn't even realize there was a minimum... Anyways, if I need to buy something I usually buy it on amazon both because its cheaper, but also i love seeing the box on my porch :D

I've come to dislike the boxes because I then have to discard them. When I didn't have a car I just dealt with them. Now that I have a car and I go to the grocery store every week, I don't get things like toiletries or paper towels on Amazon; they are never cheaper for these things and if I get them on Amazon that's more boxes I have to move out of my house.

Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35

#156

Post by mynewwork »

icebraining wrote: post #119
unsigner wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 (who apparently was not "sufficiently left" - or maybe you're just ignorant of what the Left defends. Protip: the Democrats are not "left" by any reasonable standard)

Better tip - 99% of America would without hesitation agree with a statement like "The Democrat party is the main left-wing party in America". (Similar with 'right' and 'Republican').

Would the terms "left" and "right" have the same meaning in all parts of the world at all points in history? Of course not. But when people make a statement without context, you can assume they mean the terms as the majority of their contemporaries use them.

Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35

#157

Post by PhasmaFelis »

criley2 wrote: post #54
john61 wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reasons not to buy from amazon: https://stallman.org/amazon.html

This is ridiculous. "Reasons you shouldn't buy products from Amazon:" - They sell e-books which are bad inherently - They don't pay taxes everywhere That's 80% of the list. You should have noted that this list was for people who avoid stuff like Ubuntu for not being F/OSS enough, because this list is clearly intended for the hardcore anti-capitalist pro-freedom types.

Stallman is a terrible spokesperson for anything, but I'd like to think that "enforce restrictive DRM" and "systematically mistreat their hardest-working employees" are pretty legit points.

Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35

#158

Post by ivv »

wtvanhest wrote: post #136
Spooky23 wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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 live in downtown Boston which seems to have no convenient shopping like DC or Florida. Very overpriced CVS is where I must buy stuff. When I buy things like you describe, I price check at walmart.com. typically amazon is less after shipping.

A Zipcar to Everett's Costco and Target had been a solution for us for a couple of years until we moved.

Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35

#159

Post by waylandsmithers »

hyperbovine wrote: post #114
blisterpeanuts wrote: post #96

Sales 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.

New Hampshire's State Liquor store, just over the border, seems to enjoy tons of business from thirsty Bostonians who don't want to pay sales tax.

Re: Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping is now $35

#160

Post by pbreit »

codegeek wrote: post #17

I 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…

Amazon could raise prices negligibly and/or curtail capital expenditures and become insanely profitable. But why would it do that?
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