topic Re: Amazon Prime in Community Chat

Amazon Prime

Mistreatedbycs — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 04:52:38 GMT

I was a member for a year and just recently got my money back for an automatic renewal.

I didn't use it, don't have a Kindle, and when I read the owner bought a secondary house for over 22 million I decided I wasn't going to support him.

If I order something online, I will wait, it will come, it's not like I need anything the same or next day.

I have really changed my spending habits and just analyzing everything, what I really need, want and would like.

Just taking a breather and prioritizing.

Anyone else? It doesn't have to be Amazon, could be anything else and maybe I missed something.

Re: Amazon Prime

Kachina624 — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 05:09:08 GMT

Due to physical limitations, I cannot browse in stores. Just going to CVS and selecting a tube of lipstick would be a painful and exhausting major chore. So Amazon Prime has been a Godsend for me. It's worth every penny I pay for it... and more. The speedy shipping is not an issue for me as I'm in no hurry; it's the convenience.

I'm able to get my dog food delivered right to my front door. I've placed 4 or 5 orders in the last week. Last month I ordered a large, very heavy bakers rack which I intend to use in my kitchen. At Amazon it was $40. less than at Overstock for the exact same thing, and of course there was no shipping charge. I'm a fan.

Re: Amazon Prime

mdmc — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 05:20:14 GMT

I love Amazon Prime. The have anything you might want. If I can't find it in the store......Amazon has it, including food. I also send things to my kids who live in Alaska. Worth it for me.

Re: Amazon Prime

SydneyH — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 05:27:07 GMT

I find Prime to be a good deal, I really like the music streaming option and don't really care about the spending habits of the CEO.

Re: Amazon Prime

Noel7 — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 05:34:47 GMT

@Mistreatedbycs wrote:
I was a member for a year and just recently got my money back for an automatic renewal.

I didn't use it, don't have a Kindle, and when I read the owner bought a secondary house for over 22 million I decided I wasn't going to support him.

If I order something online, I will wait, it will come, it's not like I need anything the same or next day.

I have really changed my spending habits and just analyzing everything, what I really need, want and would like.

Just taking a breather and prioritizing.

Anyone else? It doesn't have to be Amazon, could be anything else and maybe I missed something.

**********************************************

@Mistreatedbycs

But you are supporting the millionaire owners of wherever you do shop. What difference does it make?

Regarding the time factor: We had a tough winter in my family, one virus after another. Too sick to go to the store and not wanting to infect others, I ordered tissues online, delivery in two days. That's one good reason, enough for me.

Re: Amazon Prime

NYC Susan — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 05:44:39 GMT

@Mistreatedbycs wrote:
I was a member for a year and just recently got my money back for an automatic renewal.

I didn't use it, don't have a Kindle, and when I read the owner bought a secondary house for over 22 million I decided I wasn't going to support him.

If I order something online, I will wait, it will come, it's not like I need anything the same or next day.

I have really changed my spending habits and just analyzing everything, what I really need, want and would like.

Just taking a breather and prioritizing.

Anyone else? It doesn't have to be Amazon, could be anything else and maybe I missed something.

Of course we all have to make our own decisions, but I'm not sure what a $22 million dollar house has to do with anything. If someone provides a service that has become successful, I have no problem with them reaping the benefits. It's not as though he held up people at gunpoint and ran straight to a realtor with the cash.

Nearly every successful business has wealthy owners. Unless they're a friend, I never view buying their products as supporting them. I see it as taking advantage of getting products I want at prices that are fair. Boycotting them because they're wealthy would only be hurting myself. Amazon is one of the best-run companies I've ever done business with, and I wish others would follow their model.

I know you said that you have other reasons also, but it jumped out at me when you said the owner's second home was your deciding factor. If you feel that way (which is of course your right), then you might want to take a look at the owners of other companies as well because many of them live very nicely too.

Re: Amazon Prime

excpa — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 05:47:32 GMT

I just discovered Jet. A lot of stuff, including fresh food. Free 2 day shipping (my fresh stuff came next day) with $35 order and the prices really do come down as you buy more. They have some things Amazon and Walmart don't, but, then again, the others have some things Jet doesn't carry. And you get a 0.8% reduction for using a debit card. I've placed 2 orders: one for ordinary groceries and one for fresh food. Both came as promised. Both were a little heavy on the paper packing, but my own recycles. I don't know what the next stage in the competition will bring, but I'm looking forward to it. ( If you order frozen stuff, be careful of the dry ice. It isn't as fully labeled as it could be.)

Re: Amazon Prime

chessylady — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 05:59:29 GMT

I occasionally order from Amazon but I really prefer to support local businesses. I also read an expose of how they treat their employees. The employees have difficult time quotas for each item, some warehouses have no temperature controls and bathroom breaks count against the quotas. So good prices and convenience come at a price. Yes I know that they are not forced to work there, one employee described the relief he felt when he was fired for not making quotas.

Re: Amazon Prime

Moonchilde — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 06:01:44 GMT

Nope - not me. I love Prime.

When I lived in The Big City, although I had Kindles I didn't order enough other things, or use enough other things, to be worth it for me to pay the yearly fee; almost anything I might have wanted, I could wait for.

Within the past year I've moved to a semi-rural area; all of the stores, even the chain stores and those in larger nearby towns, do not stock many household things I need. My wifi stinks. I bought Prime and those household and drug items as well as other needed-but-not-stocked items are at my house in 2-4 days. I can download Prime videos to my heart's content without needing to stream. I bought an Echo Dot. I have free games, free or inexpensive books and free/inexpensive music if I want it. I don't use all of the Amazon infrastructure, but just the delivery & the video makes it worth it for me. It all depends on what you need or want Prime for. Some people don't need it; for many it saves a multi-hour drive hunting down things they can't get locally - or for some, couldn't get home (think 30 lb sacks of dog food).

I don't love everything about Jeff Bezos, but he's long been a strong supporter of LGBT rights, and for that I applaud and support him.

Re: Amazon Prime

Nuttmeg — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 06:21:30 GMT

@excpa wrote:
I just discovered Jet. A lot of stuff, including fresh food. Free 2 day shipping (my fresh stuff came next day) with $35 order and the prices really do come down as you buy more. They have some things Amazon and Walmart don't, but, then again, the others have some things Jet doesn't carry. And you get a 0.8% reduction for using a debit card. I've placed 2 orders: one for ordinary groceries and one for fresh food. Both came as promised. Both were a little heavy on the paper packing, but my own recycles. I don't know what the next stage in the competition will bring, but I'm looking forward to it. ( If you order frozen stuff, be careful of the dry ice. It isn't as fully labeled as it could be.)

I like this company. It is a NJ business. Walmart brought it last year.

I hope you complained about the dry ice.

Re: Amazon Prime

rustee — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 09:40:58 GMT

I have been a Prime member for about three years. I am very happy with the product selection and the service. I recently finished watching the first season of Amazon's "Z" series on Amazon Video. I am looking forward to watching the third season of the Bosch series very soon. When I first joined Prime, I watched 95 free episodes of the Good Wife within about a six week period (I never watched it on CBS).

Jeff bought/saved the Washington Post a few years ago. He is a very civic-minded billionaire. I enjoy using Amazon Smile which allows me to direct some of Amazon's money to charities of my choice via my product purchases. His love for the printed word brought e-Books into our everyday lives. I bought a Kindle when it was first introduced, and I now use the Kindle app on all of my devices. I'm glad he bought Audible a few years ago (Kindle-Audible combos are great). B&N had an audiobook download service, but they dropped that a while back.

Re: Amazon Prime

ID2 — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 10:24:32 GMT

I really don't believe the stories going around that Amazon treats their employee so bad. They'd have no one working there if this was true! They are opening a distribution center here in downstate Michigan soo. I'll find out firsthand if this myth is true. That being said I couldn't live without my Amazon Prime! I live rural now, don't have much shopping around me. Of course I shop locally, I'll always give my locals my business first but if I still can't find what I'm looking for....Amazon it is! 2 days later its at my doorstep!

Re: Amazon Prime

Pook — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 14:03:56 GMT

WOW! So OP won't buy from Amazon because the company is a success and the owner can afford an expensive second house??!! Does OP check on every company owner she buys from to make sure they don't make a lot of money and to see how they spend it. Prime doesn't work for her and it's her choice not to resubscribe but that one sentence doesn't make sense. Why should how any successful person spends their money that they worked hard for be anyone's business??

Re: Amazon Prime

QVCkitty1 — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 11:01:33 GMT

You have to do what is best for your budget, but for me Prime has become essential. I live in a small town without a lot of stores, so getting items quickly is so helpful. I use the music and video streaming, and I can get free magazines and books for my iPad and kindle.

Re: Amazon Prime

gidgetgh — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 18:04:59 GMT

Amazon Prime is well worth it to me. I've had it for about as long as they've offered it. I order from Amazon very often. Ok, all the time often, LOL.

It's a business for profit, just like millions of others. If the company head wants to buy an expensive house, it's fine with me. I don't research where CEO's are going to spend their money when I make a purchase from their company.

I either like shopping somewhere or I don't and THAT dictates whether I shop there or not.

Re: Amazon Prime

Nataliesgramma — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 11:33:08 GMT

I had a free month of Prime and decided to get the membership.......good prices and fast shipping.

Re: Amazon Prime

I am still oxox — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 11:52:51 GMT

I love Amazon I have been prime for years, I order many different things from them from sweatpants for my Dad to cookies and all sort of things in between

Re: Amazon Prime

World Traveler — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 12:27:06 GMT

I have to chime in too, about the expensive home. That is no one's business how much a person spends on a home, or for that fact, how much they spend on anything. If they can afford it, that is just wonderful! Deciding to not shop at a place because of the owner's buying habits is something I cannot understand.

There are many very expensive (in my opinion) homes not too far from me. One is what many town folk consider out of place because of its size, amount of land around it, and the fact that it is only a family of three. When it was found out that the family was using it so they would have room to help others who needed help getting back up on their feet, to use it also for day camps for physically challenged kids, and to host charity and fundraising parties for many good causes in the area, every shut up!

But even if they hadn't done that, it was not our business on how they spent their money. Since they were new in the area, no one knew until later the WHY of their desire and means to spend that money. Everyone has embraced them now. But the people should have embraced them BEFORE they knew of the good works they were doing and the struggle it took them to arrive at their new status.

By the way, they made their money thru a company whose products we all try to use in our area so we, in our own small way, may support their way of helping others.

And another by the way........they never charge anyone to use their showcase home and property if a charity is involved. I believe there is just a "clean up when you leave" or "leave everything as you found it" type of fee.

By choosing not to support someone based upon their good fortune/ability to make money or how they spend it, in many cases, only hurts you.

I love Amazon Prime. I sometimes think they use drones to deliver my products. I order, they deliver the next day or two. I never, ever see the product delivered. It's like they know exactly when I am not looking and then plop the box down by my front door just to play games with me. The best thing for me is that they seem to have everything. So if I can't find a certain product, have looked everywhere, I check it out on Amazon and there it is. Finally got smart and now check Amazon first; saves a lot of time and effort on my part. ha!

Re: Amazon Prime

Krimpette — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 12:51:24 GMT

I'm not sure I could live without Amazon Prime!!!!!!!!!! I love it!!!!!! I use it mainly for the shopping convenience of usually finding what I want in one place, without traveling around to find it.

Re: Amazon Prime

momtochloe — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 13:10:56 GMT

When I had a good job and was also working long hours I loved having Amazon Prime but now that my lifestyle has changed I dropped it over a year ago along with my Costco membership. I do miss both but my credit card bill really dropped. I did recently place an order from Amazon utilizing their free shipping over $49 and boy did it take a long time to get here (please know I am not complaining but if you love the two day Prime shipping I wouldn't give it up).