If you live near a regional transportation hub it probably won’t make a difference on your delivery times. We dropped prime when our “1 day” deliveries kept turning in 3 day deliveries and never saw a difference.
And honestly a lot of the stuff I used to get on there isn’t even cheaper on Amazon anymore. Half the time if I check the manufacturer website they’re having a sale or have no shipping costs or cover returns longer, something like that. YMMV, you know your situation and needs better than me.
Electronics too (like LEDs, microcontrollers, and sensors not phones and TVs). Often brands have a store on both Ali and Amazon but Ali is cheaper with longer shipping times of basically a week to a week and a half.
I’m about 6 years completely Amazon-free. A key component of the switch was realizing a lot of the random stuff I’d buy (mostly cycling equipment) is cheaper on eBay with faster shipping. The irony is that the seller is likely the same one on Amazon and the items would be delivered by Amazon Fulfillment Services.
I’ve been going back to eBay more recently as well! If anything I feel more confident that what I get on eBay is going to actually match the listing, since AFAIK they don’t do the same insane “jumble all items with the same ID code together in a bin and hope all the sellers were honest about it being real” system Amazon uses.
The only reason I don’t is that I can buy a bunch of stuff from Amazon and get it in one or two boxes, instead of a bunch of stuff from all over the country in a bunch of boxes. It’s about saving a little bit of carbon emissions.
Does it make a significant difference? Absolutely not. But it makes me feel better. (Also Amazon packages are more often reusable. The boxes and paper packing are better than eBay bubble envelopes and bubble wrap encased in packing tape.)
For me its kinda worth it. I can can next day or same day delivery, which is kinda nice when Im an impatient ass. Also I share it with my family, so we all make use of it.
If it were just me, definitely would not be worth it.
This doesn’t work for me. Regional hub is 20 miles from me. Two day shipping is now just "free shipping over $35 and takes a week to arrive.
I agree with your other points though. Amazon isn’t the cheapest option anymore. My local Walmart is actually better. I know Walmart is still a shit company but still…better in terms of getting what I need.
Same, and even that is getting worse. I feel like I have to fight with the search algorithm to actually find what I want for the best price. Most of the time, I could order something better from another retailer for a better price and still get free shipping. They don’t even do free returns anymore.
Yep, you have to filter for free shipping. You also have to filter for fast shipping, or you might get some “Two day shipping (ships in two weeks)” bullshit. And then you have to mentally filter out the “sponsored” results which may not be what you’re looking for at all. Searching for a hard to find hat size? Top result is perfect, has free same day shipping, and is a reasonable price. Oops, except when you click on it, you have to pick a different size, which isn’t available in that color, costs more, snd ships out of Mongolia.
I only have it because I have prime for shopping. If they were separate fees, I would not have streaming.
If you live near a regional transportation hub it probably won’t make a difference on your delivery times. We dropped prime when our “1 day” deliveries kept turning in 3 day deliveries and never saw a difference.
And honestly a lot of the stuff I used to get on there isn’t even cheaper on Amazon anymore. Half the time if I check the manufacturer website they’re having a sale or have no shipping costs or cover returns longer, something like that. YMMV, you know your situation and needs better than me.
You may as well buy from Aliexpress if you are shopping on Amazon. The only difference is the price and the transit time.
Aliexpress is great for the cheap useful stuff for around the house.
Electronics too (like LEDs, microcontrollers, and sensors not phones and TVs). Often brands have a store on both Ali and Amazon but Ali is cheaper with longer shipping times of basically a week to a week and a half.
Yeah, aliexpress is where I go to buy random PCBs for projects.
…and the fact that if you’re straight-up scammed on Ali, no one cares? Whereas Amazon always refunds with no questions asked…
I’m about 6 years completely Amazon-free. A key component of the switch was realizing a lot of the random stuff I’d buy (mostly cycling equipment) is cheaper on eBay with faster shipping. The irony is that the seller is likely the same one on Amazon and the items would be delivered by Amazon Fulfillment Services.
I’ve been going back to eBay more recently as well! If anything I feel more confident that what I get on eBay is going to actually match the listing, since AFAIK they don’t do the same insane “jumble all items with the same ID code together in a bin and hope all the sellers were honest about it being real” system Amazon uses.
The only reason I don’t is that I can buy a bunch of stuff from Amazon and get it in one or two boxes, instead of a bunch of stuff from all over the country in a bunch of boxes. It’s about saving a little bit of carbon emissions.
Does it make a significant difference? Absolutely not. But it makes me feel better. (Also Amazon packages are more often reusable. The boxes and paper packing are better than eBay bubble envelopes and bubble wrap encased in packing tape.)
Decades of retro game collecting experience leads me to agree :)
For me its kinda worth it. I can can next day or same day delivery, which is kinda nice when Im an impatient ass. Also I share it with my family, so we all make use of it.
If it were just me, definitely would not be worth it.
This doesn’t work for me. Regional hub is 20 miles from me. Two day shipping is now just "free shipping over $35 and takes a week to arrive.
I agree with your other points though. Amazon isn’t the cheapest option anymore. My local Walmart is actually better. I know Walmart is still a shit company but still…better in terms of getting what I need.
I live near multiple regional hubs. I have no subscription myself. It takes them 4-7 days to get my package to me.
My friends who live on the same block as me gets them in 1-2 days with their prime memberships
This includes if we both order the same exact things.
So yeah, YMMV
Yep I still get my orders in 2 days, free shipping. Haven’t had prime in 2 years
Same, and even that is getting worse. I feel like I have to fight with the search algorithm to actually find what I want for the best price. Most of the time, I could order something better from another retailer for a better price and still get free shipping. They don’t even do free returns anymore.
I notice a lot of stuff has paid shipping if you dont order the correct stuff.
Yep, you have to filter for free shipping. You also have to filter for fast shipping, or you might get some “Two day shipping (ships in two weeks)” bullshit. And then you have to mentally filter out the “sponsored” results which may not be what you’re looking for at all. Searching for a hard to find hat size? Top result is perfect, has free same day shipping, and is a reasonable price. Oops, except when you click on it, you have to pick a different size, which isn’t available in that color, costs more, snd ships out of Mongolia.
Fuck Amazon Prime.
Although Fallout was good.
I hope they know I’m not watching anything on their platform.
Same. And I still steal Prime videos. Why hassle?
Just because I have the service doesn’t mean I don’t also have backups some items.