Amazon Prime is a Scam!

[+JHBrown Subscriber¹]

You won't be getting that package tonight.  :cry:

[badb0y]

Obviously OP doesn't understand that Amazon is a marketplace with various vendors charging different prices for items and shipping. And if you want something Shipped and Sold, Shipped from Amazon or Fulfillment by Amazon it falls under Prime shipping. Don't like it, fine, go pay less for the item and more for shipping and sit and wait for it.

 

And as pointed out, the book you are comparing is USED compared to Amazon's NEW copy. So.. Apples and Oranges

 

 

May be you didn't took out time to see and read properly. Being a Global Mod, you should have had...just saying.

I was and I am Comparing New vs New (Regular vs Prime respectively)

 

 

Its not about choosing "other option" If the prime price is higher. Well Why? Cause Prime users pay $99/ Year... that's where's the main problem persists.

[+Raze Subscriber²]

May be you didn't took out time to see and read properly. Being a Global Mod, you should have had...just saying.

I was and I am Comparing New vs New (Regular vs Prime respectively)

 

 

Its not about choosing "other option" If the prime price is higher. Well Why? Cause Prime users pay $99/ Year... that's where's the main problem persists.

 

 

Again maybe YOU should do better at looking things over, those prices are from TWO different vendors!  You can see that in the 2 images I posted.

 

No scam going on.  :rolleyes:

[badb0y]

Your 'proof' is one item? 

 

Comedy at its best.

 

Because I need that book. I cannot replace it with any other book as required by my class?

Again maybe YOU should do better at looking things over, those prices are from TWO different vendors!  You can see that in the 2 images I posted.

 

No scam going on.  :rolleyes:

 

:) and the prime is only showing me that option. where's my 2 day free shipping on this item? oh yeah. I'll get it after I pay some hefty cash.

BTW this is just one example about Amazon Prime. You can see and compare any item on Amazon and you'll always find that Prime has higher price than other "sellers" or "vendors". Again, who cares who is selling? Since the item is manufactured by single company, why must one pay big price for the same thing sold at much cheaper price somewhere else?

[+Raze Subscriber²]

Because I need that book. I cannot replace it with any other book as required by my class?

 

:) and the prime is only showing me that option. where's my 2 day free shipping on this item? oh yeah. I'll get it after I pay some hefty cash.

 

What in the world is wrong with you?   Look at my 2nd image, you can see you can get it with Prime for $94.   And it's a different vendor.  You can even get it for $88.99 though that is without Prime, and the shipping cost is very reasonable.There is NO scam, you have multiple choices to select from.  You are, for some insane reason, making something out of nothing.  Though you do have a reputation for doing that very thing.  So knock it off!  :angry:

[+Raze Subscriber²]

Because I need that book. I cannot replace it with any other book as required by my class?

 

:) and the prime is only showing me that option. where's my 2 day free shipping on this item? oh yeah. I'll get it after I pay some hefty cash.

BTW this is just one example about Amazon Prime. You can see and compare any item on Amazon and you'll always find that Prime has higher price than other "sellers" or "vendors". Again, who cares who is selling? Since the item is manufactured by single company, why must one pay big price for the same thing sold at much cheaper price somewhere else?

 

No one is forcing you to buy it at the premium price.  Amazon clearly shows you the prices from other vendors, Amazon isn't hiding anything.  And if you don't like Amazon then take your business elsewhere.  Simple.  (Well it is for most people.)  

[Mr. Gibs]

1. Costs $99/year. ( So you are paying your shipping charges In Advance).

2. When you select the "Prime Option", the Price of an item increases significantly.

Lets take a look at a real example. Here's a book that I wanted to Buy:

http://www.amazon.co...ting/0133009793

Click on New from $85.00 and You see its prices? The top most is: $85.00 + $3.99 shipping + $0.00 estimated tax. Now if we check "Prime" option next to Show only, we see a price increase of this book to whopping $113.17 + $10.04 estimated tax AND its "Eligible for free shipping with Amazon Prime" Yeah Right! So it becomes $113.17 +$10.04 + previously paid in advance $99.00. So how does it makes your life comfortable and how does one gains from this service?

3. I know you can always choose a shipping method and select from other buying sources but the point is why people are spending $99/ year and on top of that paying much higher price for an item which would otherwise cost way less than "Amazon Prime"?

Um you need to re look at that.

1. Yes it costs $99 a year. You can get it cheaper if you know how (ie amazon student if you have a .edu email, amazon mom etc) but for most new people it would be $99. No argument there.

2. Prime shipping ONLY applies to orders that are sold / fulfilled by amazon. That $85 one ISN'T. It's sold by a private seller hence NO prime shipping benefits.

3. Because the vast majority of the time the items I buy either cost the same or are cheaper if sold by amazon (yes even against private sellers). And I save on shipping because I buy a ton of stuff through them. I've calculated this out several times too. Then amazons customer service is superb, I've never had them argue with me about anything. If I need to return or replace something they've always done it. For example, I ordered a book and it came damaged (looked like something really sharp during shipping that cut through the packaging and the cover of the book)...so I called up Amazon and two mins later they overnighted another copy to me. They didn't have to overnight it especially since I used the free 2 day shipping, but they did.

4. There are other benefits to prime like the instant video too.

I'm sure you can find items that sometimes are sold by private sellers that are cheaper, and if so thats great...but it doesn't mean amazon prime is a scam.

[Doli]

May be you didn't took out time to see and read properly. Being a Global Mod, you should have had...just saying.

I was and I am Comparing New vs New (Regular vs Prime respectively)

 

 

Its not about choosing "other option" If the prime price is higher. Well Why? Cause Prime users pay $99/ Year... that's where's the main problem persists.

 

 

The $85 book is NOT SOLD BY AMAZON! The seller is saulmep, listed by saulmep and shipped by saulmep from NY not Amazon.

[Xilo]

Op needs to learn to read.

[Mandosis]

I have never had issues with prime and I love it

[DocM]

prime is only good with the trial version... one you start paying for that, you are wasting your money.

It depends on.if you stream a lot. $99/yr = $8.25/mo, which is a tiny bit more than Netflix or Hulu+. We cut the cable 2 years ago and have only streaming services and a big damned OTA antenna that brings in over 30 channels counting subchannels.

After that any free shipping we get is sauce for the goose, and we ship a lot of items free a year considering Christmas, birthdays, the wife's craft supplies, subscription ordered items etc.

[neufuse Veteran]

ugh.. if you don't know how the system works, don't complain.. you are using the site wrong basically

[Praetor]

It's pretty clear that OP just sees the price and doesn't understand the benefits, like DocM just posted.

[SledgeNZ]

As a sidenote I use Prime here in the UK.

 

My renewal was last week and the cost had gone up from ?49 to ?79 as it now includes instant video etc.

 

Went onto their online chat and explained I didn't use instant video so I would pay ?49 to continue using Amazon but not ?79. If there was no middle ground then I would stop using Amazon. Instant ?30 rebate.

 

Regularly using prime for next day delivery and they always hit their targets, will leave at a neighbours if I'm not home or safe place when designated.

 

Good stuff!

 

(I didn't feel bad when I started watching Crossing Lines via instant video) : D

[mulligan2k]

As a sidenote I use Prime here in the UK.

 

My renewal was last week and the cost had gone up from ?49 to ?79 as it now includes instant video etc.

 

Went onto their online chat and explained I didn't use instant video so I would pay ?49 to continue using Amazon but not ?79. If there was no middle ground then I would stop using Amazon. Instant ?30 rebate.

 

Regularly using prime for next day delivery and they always hit their targets, will leave at a neighbours if I'm not home or safe place when designated.

 

Good stuff!

 

(I didn't feel bad when I started watching Crossing Lines via instant video) : D

 

 

Good to know, my prime renewal is Jan, got it this year for ?49 with the free streaming as that was introduced after my renewal date. I won't order enough to make the price of ?79 a year worthwhile so I'm going to do the same as you: ask to be renewed for ?49 or cancel, been a prime user for 5 years so hopefully that will help too

[episode]

Because I need that book. I cannot replace it with any other book as required by my class?

 

That doesn't matter. Just because one item is priced higher doesn't make it scam.

 

I order enough through Prime to make the free shipping well worth it. Heck, I ordered two sets of shelves this year that weighed over 100lbs each. Those would have cost most of the $100 just to ship.

 

And they were 40% cheaper than buying locally.

[tsupersonic]

I use Amazon Prime Student ($49/year) - I'm not a student, but I work at a .edu institution, so I think the benefits are well worth $49/year. Amazon is not only cheaper than most B&M's for many things, but 2 day shipping has never failed me. I've had things even delivered on Saturday through Fedex/USPS, so I'm a happy camper. For the things I don't need instantly, they now offer no rush shipping, which gives you a $1 in promo credit. Just to voice what others have said, it's not any more expensive, you can buy from other retailers (w/o Prime shipping) - just read your options. Also, search other sites if you want the best deals!

[+LogicalApex MVC]

May be you didn't took out time to see and read properly. Being a Global Mod, you should have had...just saying.

I was and I am Comparing New vs New (Regular vs Prime respectively)

 

 

Its not about choosing "other option" If the prime price is higher. Well Why? Cause Prime users pay $99/ Year... that's where's the main problem persists.

Others have pointed out the basic problems you have with your side, but I'll add another point of clarification.

 

The book you listed as prime is sold by Amazon. Keep in mind that Amazon is often required to charge the price set by the manufacturer. This rule doesn't apply to third party vendors who sell on Amazon. So often a third party vendor can undercut Amazon on price (which is where you'll often see "Fulfilled by Amazon" being prime eligible and cheaper than Amazon). This is why you won't find a price difference between Amazon, Best Buy, Home Depot, etc. for the Nest Thermostat with all priced solidly at $249.99 even though Amazon is generally cheaper than brick and mortar.

 

I have had prime for years and I stand by it. I buy enough from Amazon for it to be worth the value and the shipping is next day more often than not. The basic way I can quantify that speed of Prime shipping is simple. Do you live in a major US city? If so, Prime will be lightening fast. If not, it won't be all that great. It isn't uncommon for me to order products as late as midnight and get essentially same day delivery for free with Prime. But I also live in Philadelphia, PA.

 

Also, I notice Amazon is doing delivery with their own fleet of trucks and throwing in grocery delivery with prime as well. Another added value.

[30075]

One thing I have noticed since they introduced Prime: delays in shipping items for those of us who choose not to subscribe. Another family member commented on the same thing. It used to be the case that when buying items sold & shipped by Amazon, if you ordered early in the day, it was on its way that afternoon. Now, they always let it sit for a couple of days in 'processing'; I've had them wait as many as four. And always on 'in stock' items. 

 

The problem for Amazon is I used to get everything in a couple of days. So now for those of who did, they need to introduce a delay. They only started with the artificial delays in the past year or two. It appears Newegg may be trying to follow the model, but I'm guessing there's debate there over good customer service since they have nothing else like streaming to offer. I'm still getting timely deliveries from them.

[+LogicalApex MVC]

One thing I have noticed since they introduced Prime: delays in shipping items for those of us who choose not to subscribe. Another family member commented on the same thing. It used to be the case that when buying items sold & shipped by Amazon, if you ordered early in the day, it was on its way that afternoon. Now, they always let it sit for a couple of days in 'processing'; I've had them wait as many as four. And always on 'in stock' items.

 

The problem for Amazon is I used to get everything in a couple of days. So now for those of who did, they need to introduce a delay. It appears Newegg may be trying to follow the model, but I'm guessing there's debate there over good customer service since they have nothing else like streaming to offer. I'm still getting timely deliveries from them.

It is a complicated issue where Amazon could intentionally introduce delays without any way for us to know for certain...

 

My gut feeling is that Amazon isn't introducing any delays in your order to entice you to jump up to Prime. I have had days where my Prime order would appear delayed and instead of shipping immediately and getting me a free next day upgrade it would ship a day later and get here on time. Delays like this aren't motivated by anything other than realistic forces working on the back-end. Amazon can only ship a certain number of packages per day with the staff and machines they have at given warehouses. So, prime orders will get priority as those have a solid guarantee on delivery time. As more users move over to Prime they put a heavier load on staff to get more priority packages out leading to longer lead times for non-priority packages. This is more apparent during peak seasons and you'll notice it ebbs and flows depending on your Amazon shopping frequency.

[MikeChipshop Member]

OP is not the sort of person who should be using Prime then.

 

I have prime, i share it with my parents and my other half, so that's already only ?20 p/a each. 

 

Amazon Prime items are not more expensive, in fact i find Prime items heavily discounted compared to the same items non-prime.

 

I've had late deliveries (only with UPS mind you), but Amazon is always quick to make this up to you. On every occasion i've been credited a months Prime, on one occasion i was refunded and allowed to keep the item when it arrived and on another occasion i contacted them on the day the item was to be delivered as the UPS tracking site showed it was to be delivered the next day, they contacted UPS and UPS said it wouldn't get to me that day and indeed would turn up tomorrow, Amazon then put their foot down and organised a UPS courier to come out and make the delivery within the hour, that there is good service.

 

I mainly use Prime for business use, 1 - 2 packages a week. In normal shipping fees this easily can reach the high hundreds of pounds, so is Amazon Prime a scam? Not at all, it's just not for you OP.

[Shadrack]

I can find lots of similar examples as the OP, but it isn't always true (some items actually do save with Prime). As much stuff as my wife and I order off of Amazon throughout the year anyway, I feel like we get our money's worth.

 

I'll also point out that the Used and New Marketplace options typically try and at least "match" the Prime rates or do better. Remember, they are competing against Amazon so it makes sense that they would adjust with Prime membership in mind.

 

One more point: Amazon Prime shipping is ridiculously fast. I rarely receive a package delayed more than 2 days.

 

Their television and movie selection is OK, but they do not update it often enough. My family primarily watches Netflix as that service is updated with new content we want more regularly.

[xendrome]

The problem for Amazon is I used to get everything in a couple of days. So now for those of who did, they need to introduce a delay. They only started with the artificial delays in the past year or two. It appears Newegg may be trying to follow the model, but I'm guessing there's debate there over good customer service since they have nothing else like streaming to offer. I'm still getting timely deliveries from them.

 

Are you just using standard Super Saver shipping or are you paying for 2nd day or overnight? If you are using Super Saver Shipping then usually the items show a 3-7 day delivery. That all depends on which warehouse the item is in and where it is going to.

 

If you want to pay 2nd day or overnight then you would have it more quickly. Amazon isn't plotting something to try to get you to upgrade to Prime.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

For me Amazon Prime is definitely worth it. Fast, reliable shipping, good customer support. And I'm ordering a lot via Amazon. All of the christmas presents I plan on buying this year will be purchased via them for example.

Oh and: I find Amazon cheaper than other retailers for many goods.

[eddman]

This thread is STILL going on?!!!!

 

There is nothing further to add. He was falsely comparing a NON-prime cheaper item to a PRIME, more expensive item from different sellers and somehow decided that it's "proof" that the whole thing is a scam.

 

P.S. @OP; you go to university, right? I hope this isn't how you do your research there too.