Amazon Prime

[angry_geek]

This is just a discussion and opinion thread.

Here's the deal: I've been using prime since it was in beta, one of the first prime members. I love it. I always try to shop local when I can because I want to support local businesses like mine, and I want those tax dollars helping my community. However, when it comes to electronics and parts and other items, I can't buy those locally. I could go through Ingram or another distributor (I do have accounts with several), but their sites suck, they're often much higher than Amazon, and I don't buy enough volume in new machines to get the great deals. For most new machine purchases, I'm a Dell partner and reseller. I love making a call and saying I need ten machines by Friday; here are the specs. I digress. I got an email today stating prime membership was going to $99/year. I don't renew until December. Big deal, I thought. I estimated quick in my head that I saved about $2,500 at least last year in shipping costs. Then I heard on the news about two lawsuits against Amazon because, supposedly, they artificially inflate prices of prime items to cover shipping costs. Bulls@@@, I thought. I've noticed memory or hdds being a couple bucks higher than newegg or other similar things. So, the memory is two dollars more. I'm buying ten kits. I get it free shipping within a couple of days. Newegg gives me free shipping if I am willing to put the fate of my products in the hands of the post office and wait ten days without the possibility to track my package. Otherwise, I'm paying them money for ground shipping. The way I look at it, overall, I'm saving tons of money. On some items, probably not. But at least I know where it is. On other stuff, it's a no-brainer. Replacement batteries for ups units. I did go ahead and sign up for the newegg version of prime. We'll see how it goes. For now, I don't mind paying a few dollars more per year for prime. Fuel is off the charts, and I have definitely utilized my membership.

What do you guys think of prime?

 

[nlinecomputers]

This is just a discussion and opinion thread.

Here's the deal: I've been using prime since it was in beta, one of the first prime members. I love it. I always try to shop local when I can because I want to support local businesses like mine, and I want those tax dollars helping my community. However, when it comes to electronics and parts and other items, I can't buy those locally. I could go through Ingram or another distributor (I do have accounts with several), but their sites suck, they're often much higher than Amazon, and I don't buy enough volume in new machines to get the great deals. For most new machine purchases, I'm a Dell partner and reseller. I love making a call and saying I need ten machines by Friday; here are the specs. I digress. I got an email today stating prime membership was going to $99/year. I don't renew until December. Big deal, I thought. I estimated quick in my head that I saved about $2,500 at least last year in shipping costs. Then I heard on the news about two lawsuits against Amazon because, supposedly, they artificially inflate prices of prime items to cover shipping costs. Bulls@@@, I thought. I've noticed memory or hdds being a couple bucks higher than newegg or other similar things. So, the memory is two dollars more. I'm buying ten kits. I get it free shipping within a couple of days. Newegg gives me free shipping if I am willing to put the fate of my products in the hands of the post office and wait ten days without the possibility to track my package. Otherwise, I'm paying them money for ground shipping. The way I look at it, overall, I'm saving tons of money. On some items, probably not. But at least I know where it is. On other stuff, it's a no-brainer. Replacement batteries for ups units. I did go ahead and sign up for the newegg version of prime. We'll see how it goes. For now, I don't mind paying a few dollars more per year for prime. Fuel is off the charts, and I have definitely utilized my membership.

What do you guys think of prime?

That sums it up for me. Plus there are some movies and TV shows that are only on Prime so that is a bonus for me. Sucks that it is going up but still a good deal. Just bought a Belt pouch for my new Leatherman. It would cost $5 or $6 most places but it was $12 with amazon. To get two day shipping at most places the cost is about $15 total.

 

[codegreen]

I love Prime. When it finally came to Canada and there was a free trial, I jumped all over it and never looked back. Prices are about as good as Newegg.ca and TigerDirect.ca, but with two-day shipping. I've drastically reduced my parts inventory because of this. If they actually mark up Prime items by a couple of bucks to cover shipping costs, I'm all for it.

No instant video streaming in Canada, sadly.

 

[JustInspired]

I have saved a lot in shipping costs by being a Prime member. I don't need or want the streaming thingamajigs so if there's a cheaper option without that, I'm all for it. No? Ok, still saving money so I'll keep using it.

 

[MotzTech]

I have saved a lot in shipping costs by being a Prime member. I don't need or want the streaming thingamajigs so if there's a cheaper option without that, I'm all for it. No? Ok, still saving money so I'll keep using it.

It's funny, I'm the complete opposite. Either I'm streaming something during lunch at the office, or the family is streaming via a roku at home. I don't think a day has gone by that we have not streamed something!

I do like not having to worry about shipping costs or waiting 7 days to get parts via "free" shipping though! Not have to keep parts in stock has really helped keep costs down. Even if I need something quick the next day upgrade price is what, like 3 bucks? Next to a paying job, that's chump change.

 

[coffee]

Got a prime account myself and read the article about pricing also. I would have to revisit the article to comment on that. I just breezed it when I read it last.

However, If your saving buko-bucks with prime and they up it 20 bucks then that shouldnt be an issue really. Especially when you look at it over a year period.

When I get some more free time I will revisit the article.


coffee

 

[altrenda]

This is a lesson in how to do a price increase. The amount of people not renewing will be more than offset by the increase.

Many times on Prime items it says This item is available for a lower price from other sellers and lists them. Usually the lower price doesn't include shipping.

No one place can have the lowest price on everything, you can't sustain a business that way. When you add in the convenience plus the $3.99 next day option, it's still worth it to me at $99.

 

[Krynn72]

No doubt in my mind that its still worth it. I don't do a lot of business related shipping on it, but there's no way I'm not getting a good value even at this new price. I started last year, so I only got one year of $79, but I've been using the Prime Video streaming stuff like mad, I even cancelled my Hulu+ and Netflix accounts because more of what I want is on Amazon Prime Streaming. I order a lot of specific items I cant find locally, and I still almost always compare prices online and find Amazon to still be cheaper than other online retailers even before the free 2 day shipping. $99 is a very modest price increase in my opinion, and very justifiable (btw, Justified is an awesome show I discovered thanks to Amazon Prime haha).

 

[MotzTech]

I've been using the Prime Video streaming stuff like mad, I even cancelled my Hulu+ and Netflix accounts because more of what I want is on Amazon Prime Streaming.

Plus they keep adding more and more stuff to the streaming. I was so exited when I saw they added every episode of the The Unit!

 

[altrenda]

Some people are reporting that their email announcing the price increase gives them the opportunity to renew at the original price. Mine says my renewal charge is $99 in May.

Anyone else get the renewal offer?

 

[gunslinger]

Some people are reporting that their email announcing the price increase gives them the opportunity to renew at the original price. Mine says my renewal charge is $99 in May.

Anyone else get the renewal offer?

Mine says $99 also.

Funny this should come up today. I just tweated out to newegg a little while ago how a year or two ago I would order something with FREE shipping on Monday and have said item by Wednesday. Now it takes a week for an item to go from Memphis to where I am in cookeville TN. About 300 miles. Newegg has gotten really shity on their shipping. Amazon prime was the only game left in town and now this?

 

[SprinterTech-WI]

Not in teo

 

[MotzTech]

Mine just says $99 when it renews. Maybe they are extending that deal for long time members or something.

 

[MauiTechGuy]

The money I save on shipping is well worth the price increase, not to mention the video streaming. Netflix $7.99 per month = $95.88 per year, cant buy batteries, psu's, cables ect. With prime, even at $99 per year, I get the streaming movies + the majority of the parts and supplies I need, and since I use my prime primarily for my business, I write it off at years end.

 

[Tekguy]

Price increases suck, but Prime is still a great deal. I'll have to take a look at the streaming videos, I thought they just had garbage.

 

[jft135]

we order 5 - 10 items a day on amazon... I would pay up to $500/yr for free 2 day and $4 next day shipping..... we sell alot of Anker batteries for cell phones.... can have it here tomorrow instead of stocking it... and have it in the right store.... awesome!

Shut up before you give them any more ideas.

I don't mind the price increase, but I think that at that price, they'd sell a lot more memberships if they let you break it up a bit. For someone who isn't an Amazon addict, $99 all at once can be a bit steep.

 

[HCHTech]

I'm wondering how you folks justify breaking the TOS.

=====================
Other Limitations
We reserve the right to accept or refuse membership in our discretion.
You may not transfer or assign your Prime membership or any Prime benefits, except as part of our invitee program described above.
Prime members are not permitted to purchase products for the purpose of resale, rental, or to ship to their customers or potential customers using Prime benefits.
From time to time, Amazon may choose in its sole discretion to add or remove Prime membership benefits from paid or free promotional programs.
=====================

Is it ok until you get caught? I'm not being facetious here, I'm serious. I try hard to do things right, and don't see any difference between this and reusing OEM COAs. Where do you draw the line? It's ok to cheat Amazon but not Microsoft?

I'd LOVE to have this service as a business and would certainly pay for it. Trouble is, they don't offer that choice.

 

[nlinecomputers]

I'm wondering how you folks justify breaking the TOS.

=====================
Other Limitations
We reserve the right to accept or refuse membership in our discretion.
You may not transfer or assign your Prime membership or any Prime benefits, except as part of our invitee program described above.
Prime members are not permitted to purchase products for the purpose of resale, rental, or to ship to their customers or potential customers using Prime benefits.
From time to time, Amazon may choose in its sole discretion to add or remove Prime membership benefits from paid or free promotional programs.
=====================

Is it ok until you get caught? I'm not being facetious here, I'm serious. I try hard to do things right, and don't see any difference between this and reusing OEM COAs. Where do you draw the line? It's ok to cheat Amazon but not Microsoft?

I'd LOVE to have this service as a business and would certainly pay for it. Trouble is, they don't offer that choice.

And just how are they legally able to enforce that? Amazon has NO right to tell me what I do what what I buy from them. Just because Amazon puts it in there TOS doesn't mean it is legal. Amazon can bite me.

 

[jft135]

I'm wondering how you folks justify breaking the TOS.

=====================
Other Limitations
We reserve the right to accept or refuse membership in our discretion.
You may not transfer or assign your Prime membership or any Prime benefits, except as part of our invitee program described above.
Prime members are not permitted to purchase products for the purpose of resale, rental, or to ship to their customers or potential customers using Prime benefits.
From time to time, Amazon may choose in its sole discretion to add or remove Prime membership benefits from paid or free promotional programs.
=====================

Is it ok until you get caught? I'm not being facetious here, I'm serious. I try hard to do things right, and don't see any difference between this and reusing OEM COAs. Where do you draw the line? It's ok to cheat Amazon but not Microsoft?

I'd LOVE to have this service as a business and would certainly pay for it. Trouble is, they don't offer that choice.

From what I understand, they are mainly trying to stop people from selling things on eBay or elsewhere and then using Prime as a drop-shipping service. As long as you always ship to a handful of the same addresses, you'll probably never get caught, nor will they particularly care if they do catch you.

 

[MobileTechie]

The price is getting too high especially when you consider that the price of many of the Prime items is high to begin with - you can often find the same product cheaper but with the postage to pay. So it's not really "free delivery". The attraction is the speed of delivery for me.

However the inclusion of the Prime video makes it easier to swallow.