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Amazon launches same day delivery for Prime customers

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141–150 of 253 posts

Re: Amazon launches same day delivery for Prime customers

#141
post #82

As a Amazon.com customer since the late nineties I don't get the "Prime" subscription model. I have a e-ink Kindle, I buy MP3s, electronics, many books there on their Market Place and I use AWS. But why should I care about "Prime"? Either Amazon cares about long term customers or not, but don't try to force me to Prime by showing full screen "Prime" advertisement (with a little "no thanks" link) at every purchase. I…

I would guess the slower shipping is a side-effect of shipping costs reduction at Amazon. I've seen them shift to using hybrid delivery services from FedEx+USPS in the US in many cases. I would assume the slower shipping and the introduction of Prime, while maybe marginally related, are mostly coincidental.

Re: Amazon launches same day delivery for Prime customers

#143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I don't need to drive to Costco anymore ...unless you care about price. Staples (detergent, drinks, etc) on Amazon easily cost 30% more than the comparable Costco purchase. I'm as lazy as the next guy, but I can't fill up that Pantry box without cringing at the prices, so off to Costco I go.

For some this may be a concern. I'd make more money working for 2 hours than the money I'd save from driving to Costco. Substantially more. It's worth it to me.

If you own your own company or are really bringing in real tangible money for every hour you work that's true. Otherwise it's just a way to justify spending more money.

Re: Amazon launches same day delivery for Prime customers

#144
As longtime Prime member and a resident of a metro area that doesn't make the cut (and is almost certainly not in the next round), I can't help feeling like I'm subsidizing this service for those who live in the right place.

In fact, every time Amazon adds a new benefit for Prime members that I can't use or don't want, it reminds me that I must be overpaying for Prime if I'm only using the two day shipping.

Re: Amazon launches same day delivery for Prime customers

#145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I don't need to drive to Costco anymore ...unless you care about price. Staples (detergent, drinks, etc) on Amazon easily cost 30% more than the comparable Costco purchase. I'm as lazy as the next guy, but I can't fill up that Pantry box without cringing at the prices, so off to Costco I go.

For some this may be a concern. I'd make more money working for 2 hours than the money I'd save from driving to Costco. Substantially more. It's worth it to me.

Have you factored in all the free samples and the $1.50 hot dog and soda combo? That might change your calculus. :)

Re: Amazon launches same day delivery for Prime customers

#146
post #60
post #42

This is anecdotal and not 100% related, but I had Prime for awhile for the fast shipments. When I signed up, Prime was substantially faster than the average standard ship times. When the cost of Prime went up, I cancelled because it wasn't worth it to me anymore. However, I noticed my stuff was still arriving fast. It wasn't marked as "Prime", and it wasn't guaranteed 2-day delivery, but it was much faster than I rem…

Prime really doesn't have anything to do with 2-day delivery. They wouldn't be able to afford to ship everything by air for free. The advantage of Prime is really that you can have everything shipped for free without worrying about minimums. Well that and all the other perks, like streaming video, photos, etc. They now have warehouses located within 1 day ground shipping distance of everywhere in the continental US.…

[deleted]

Re: Amazon launches same day delivery for Prime customers

#147

As longtime Prime member and a resident of a metro area that doesn't make the cut (and is almost certainly not in the next round), I can't help feeling like I'm subsidizing this service for those who live in the right place. In fact, every time Amazon adds a new benefit for Prime members that I can't use or don't want, it reminds me that I must be overpaying for Prime if I'm only using the two day shipping.

Meh, that seems a bit like complaining the guy who lives next to the post office gets his mail earlier. Amazon already had to build distribution centers near major markets - might as well deliver faster if it's possible anyways.

Re: Amazon launches same day delivery for Prime customers

#148
post #60
post #42

This is anecdotal and not 100% related, but I had Prime for awhile for the fast shipments. When I signed up, Prime was substantially faster than the average standard ship times. When the cost of Prime went up, I cancelled because it wasn't worth it to me anymore. However, I noticed my stuff was still arriving fast. It wasn't marked as "Prime", and it wasn't guaranteed 2-day delivery, but it was much faster than I rem…

Prime really doesn't have anything to do with 2-day delivery. They wouldn't be able to afford to ship everything by air for free. The advantage of Prime is really that you can have everything shipped for free without worrying about minimums. Well that and all the other perks, like streaming video, photos, etc. They now have warehouses located within 1 day ground shipping distance of everywhere in the continental US.…

> They now have warehouses located within 1 day ground shipping distance of everywhere in the continental US.

Amazon does not have a warehouse within 1 day ground shipping of me in Minneapolis, MN. I think the closest is Indiana which is 2 day ground shipping. There is a lot of the continental US that is not New York or California. Amazon still has more work to do cover all of if they want 1 day shipping everywhere. Now, they are planning on building a warehouse about 90 minutes of the Twin Cities so we will be within 1 day shipping in a couple years, but how many other metropolitan areas are outside of 1 day?

Here is nice little map from UPS to figure out shipping times. If you put in 55414 as the zip code (Minneapolis), UPS only considers Minnesota and Wisconsin as 1 day. Hell, If I am reading these maps right, Chicago is just at the border of 1 day and 2 day ground shipping from Indiana, the closest warehouse.

http://www.ups.com/maps?srch_pos=1&srch_phr=time+in+transit+...

Re: Amazon launches same day delivery for Prime customers

#149

As longtime Prime member and a resident of a metro area that doesn't make the cut (and is almost certainly not in the next round), I can't help feeling like I'm subsidizing this service for those who live in the right place. In fact, every time Amazon adds a new benefit for Prime members that I can't use or don't want, it reminds me that I must be overpaying for Prime if I'm only using the two day shipping.

Despite being a Prime member for years the only thing I've used it for is the two-day shipping but I don't mind the existence of the other perks because just in real dollar terms Prime still saves me a boatload of money versus shipping costs I'd have to pay for similar quick (and in a way more importantly: consistently arriving on the correct day) shipping when buying on other sites.

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm in San Diego so this new thing does actually benefit me... and I'm pretty excited about it. Sorry.

Re: Amazon launches same day delivery for Prime customers

#150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where free actually means: Prime members in selected areas now receive FREE Same-Day Delivery on qualifying orders over $35.

I'm always surprised at people's ability to spin positive things in negative light.

The reverse is true too. Prime shipping is never actually free, you're paying $99/year for it.
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