Has anyone else stopped using Amazon because of shipping charges?

I don't see anyone complaining about the wait times. I see people saying it is not in their best interest. You seem to be offended that others do not view your $90 Prime purchase with as much enthusiasm as you. Are you this defensive about all of your purchases?

In some cases, I purchase elsewhere now that Amazon collects sales tax from MA residents.

As an alternative, you can surf on eBay often times for the same item where you may find it for the same price with no shipping nor sales tax.

Sometimes but not always wrote:

As an alternative, you can surf on eBay often times for the same item where you may find it for the same price with no shipping nor sales tax.

oh really, there's another place to buy stuff on the internet?

Used to be Rono wrote:

In some cases, I purchase elsewhere now that Amazon collects sales tax from MA residents.

I assume your declaring your non-taxed items on your state income tax return so that they maybe properly accounted for

irony killed the cat wrote:

You get Prime Video

.

It's far more expensive to consume netflix-available content at Amazon. Their own content isn't amazing.

Amazon's purchase process has jumped the shark. I only buy from them as a last resort. Plenty of brick-and-mortar places have good online prices and very low cost shipping or even free in-store pickup with a pretty painless purchase experience.

pop_pop!_v2.2.1 wrote:

irony killed the cat wrote:

You get Prime Video

.

It's far more expensive to consume netflix-available content at Amazon. Their own content isn't amazing.

Amazon's purchase process has jumped the shark. I only buy from them as a last resort. Plenty of brick-and-mortar places have good online prices and very low cost shipping or even free in-store pickup with a pretty painless purchase experience.

talk about taking something out of context....you left out that I thought Netflix was better than Amazon Video. That being said I enjoy Amazon Video, overall movie selection I think is better, they have their own content that's good (Hand of God, Catastrophe) and there are tons of shows on Amazon that you can't find on Netflix (pretty much any series from HBO or SHO, The Americans, Downton Abby, iRobot).

And yes, there are other places to get stuff cheaper (many that allows you to pay thru Amazon) but it's not worth it to me to have multiple accounts or spend time researching to save 50 cents and I don't want to pick anything up at a brick and mortar, that's kind of the point of having it delivered to my front door. If I am going to make a big purchase I'm searching 10 different sites before I pull the trigger. Amazon never questions a return...just box it up, slap on a label and send it off. I've made it too far in life to ever stand in that return line at Walmart.

2 questions:

How has Amazon's purchase progress jumped the shark? Seems simple for me and it's simple for my 82 year old dad.

Why is it more expensive to stream Netflix on Amazon (or do you mean FireTV)?

would objectify men too wrote:

Used to be Rono wrote:

In some cases, I purchase elsewhere now that Amazon collects sales tax from MA residents.

I assume your declaring your non-taxed items on your state income tax return so that they maybe properly accounted for

Naturally. Right after I come clean to my wife about my porn addiction.

My issue with Amazon is that the counterfeit goods issue has gotten totally out of control. You can't tell if something is real or not because even though it shows up as a single item in the storefront, it might be fulfilled by any of dozens of retailers, many of whom are super shady. I've largely stopped purchasing anything that's name brand and relatively simple (and hence easy to counterfeit).

netflix is definitely better unless you're into watching certain specific things (like 1% of the population falls in this category)

netflix original content is better than amazon

Amazon is still the best for used books, or new books you don't mind not getting until a week after release day. I don't know why you'd order anything besides books or media from them though, everything else is retail or over. For used books, you still get it cheaper with shipping than the Amazon approved saler with free shippping (the only one with prime shipping).

All the "amazon exclusives" like hbo shows you can watch elsewhere before they're up on amazon, besides amazon original content.

kvothe wrote:

All the "amazon exclusives" like hbo shows you can watch elsewhere before they're up on amazon, besides amazon original content.

Since the The Wire played on HBO 20 years ago it doesn't count as an Amazon exclusive? Isn't pretty much every movie or TV show ever made available somewhere else before it's available to be streamed? Netflix pretty much counts every british series (other than Downton Abby) as exclusive content. Netflix does not have Suits, Justified, Orphan Black, Grimm, Doctor Who and about another 1000 shows. Netflix has some really good shows right now but pound for pound Netflix and Amazon are equals but when you figure you stream Amazon free with a Prime membership means Amazon is better. The truth is most people who watch TV have both (and Hulu).

Returning things is also what won me over. 2 minutes on the computer, place box on my porch the next morning, done!

We've all been ripped off by New York City computer and camera vendors who send a used, previously returned item, when we ordered a NEW, unopened item. Because of the ease of returns, previously 'returned' electronics and cameras, repacked and illegally sold as 'NEW" by vendors can be sent back to the vendor quickly and a refund obtained.

I have basically quit using Amazon entirely.

-shipping minimum went up > I started comparing prices elsewhere on the internet. Amazon is not always cheapest, and if it is, it may be by a few cents but nothing substantial. (Heck, the other day I was looking for a specific phone case.... found it at BestBuy.com for half of what amazon wanted!)

- I live in a huge city, so it's easy to get to brick and mortar stores when I need things on demand.

- Another challenge of living in a city - deliveries on your doorstep are not necessarily going to be waiting when you get home. Any item of value I order I have shipped is sent to my PO Box so it can be waiting safely for me behind a lock. That means even when something is shipped super quickly (think running warehouse) I still have an extra day before I go pick it up at the post office usually.

I'm assuming the number of people who pay for prime and use amazon almost exclusively exceed those of us who won't pay for prime and have taken our shopping elsewhere. It must make sense for them from a business sense... all I can say is, I really don't miss Amazon.

Flamingosis wrote:

[quote]amazon wrote:

Of note, I often select slow shipping for shyt I don't need immediately.

Maybe you should connect with the poster who buys crap: you might like his crap and he might like your shyt.

Sometimes but not always wrote:

As an alternative, you can surf on eBay often times for the same item where you may find it for the same price with no shipping nor sales tax.

I started buying stuff on eBay, and I was surprised I could often get better deals than Amazon. You do have to wade through some crap though.

I share Prime with my sister. Last I heard, you can put 4 people on one account.

irony killed the cat wrote:

How has Amazon's purchase progress jumped the shark? Seems simple for me and it's simple for my 82 year old dad.

Why is it more expensive to stream Netflix on Amazon (or do you mean FireTV)?

Posted the Amazon employee. (It's a joke)

Seriously though, SHO and HBO content is not rolled into the $90/yr. You pay a subscription rate for those two distributors each month. At another $100/yr for EACH subscription It's hardly a deal.

Tons of the better content is an extra fee. We've spent way more on Amazon's content than we did at Netflix. Overall, it is a terrible consuming experience.

Regarding your Dad, I'm assuming he's using your account and doesn't have to deal with Amazon's ridiculous upsells when you are not a Prime member.

I don't use Amazon ever, specifically due to them not showing shipping charges up front, the high minimum for free shipping, and the constant scam pushing of prime. I don't like being taken, but apparently some people do.

I find much better deals to purchase through Ebay, although I do look at the Amazon ratings.