Amazon making some items prime only purchases

[Raymond Lin]

I didn't subscribe

I'm just interested in how subscribers think and how the Prime membership appeals to them

Don't get so edgy buddy, chill out.

Sorry, I read that back and it does come across a little hostile, for that I apologise.

Other reasons to use Amazon besides the normal Prime benefits

1. I think it is the only retailer where there is a live tracker of their products made by a 3rd Party that send you instant email so you know it has hit a price that you want
2. You know their site is as secured as it could be and yes all online transaction carries an element of risk but I would say Amazon is on the lower end
3. Easy to navigate website
4. Lots of user reviews and does not appeared to be censored
5. Decent packaging, sometimes a bit over the top but you know it will arrive in 1 piece. If it arrives damaged, use the great customer CS
6. They do not take your money until shipping. Just remember how annoying it is when other places do that
7. Real time live stock system
8. Offer shipping to other addresses, some sites restrict you to the billing address
9. Great customer service, when was the last time you have seen a thread that someone complaint about Amazon's CS and can't get something resolved?
10. Re Customer service, plenty of ways to contact, email, telephone, live chat
11. Offer drop box service for items so handy if you know you are not in, have it drop off near you

And then there is Prime with its own benefits.

I mean the most thing people here complaint about is

1 – They sell garbage; and
2 – Not the cheapest

Then they are doing something right if that's the major complaint because:-

1 – What is garbage to you is gold to someone else.
2 – Use camelcamelcamel and buy it when it’s the cheapest; or suck it up and pay that extra £1.25 or something and knowing the 11 points above applies.

And the best part is that Amazon makes shopping easy.

 

[neil_g]

i always find amazon overpriced compared to their competitors, certainly for electronic and sporting goods.

used my free prime trial to get some memory cards on the saturday before going on hols. otherwise completely pointless for me personally.

prime having exclusivity on certain items is going to lose them my custom for those items.

 

[platypus]

And the best part is that Amazon makes shopping easy.

Well obviously. Their entire business model revolves around making it easier for people to part with their money .

 

[drs101]

I had an experience with their customer support yesterday, I have a 6 month old high ended 144 hrz Acer monitor that has started to play up,

had a chat with customer support and within 5 minutes had a return label and full refund when they receive the monitor that dpd will pick up for free on Monday, very impressed, dont know if me being a prime member had anything to do with it but they could have just said contact Acer as its six months old.

 

[joeyjojo]

5. Decent packaging, sometimes a bit over the top but you know it will arrive in 1 piece. If it arrives damaged, use the great customer CS

Got to disagree with this one. Won't go into the details but I find myself sorting 20-30 pieces of amazon post each week and there's usually 1 or 2 where the packet isn't sealed up properly and has popped open, and a further few small items sent in ludicrously large boxes. The amount of packaging waste they're responsible for must be colossal.

I mean the most thing people here complaint about is

1 – They sell garbage; and
2 – Not the cheapest

Then they are doing something right if that's the major complaint

Again not me, my biggest complaint with them is their dreadful treatment of their workers and tax avoidance strategies driving small businesses up and down the country out of business. I stopped shopping with them in 2012 for this reason.

/offtopic

 

[UTmaniac]

Well obviously. Their entire business model revolves around making it easier for people to part with their money .

If only Amazon parted with the tax on these products as easy.

 

[Guest2]

1 hour delivery in Leeds. God knows how

 

[Raymond Lin]

Got to disagree with this one. Won't go into the details but I find myself sorting 20-30 pieces of amazon post each week and there's usually 1 or 2 where the packet isn't sealed up properly and has popped open, and a further few small items sent in ludicrously large boxes. The amount of packaging waste they're responsible for must be colossal.



Again not me, my biggest complaint with them is their dreadful treatment of their workers and tax avoidance strategies driving small businesses up and down the country out of business. I stopped shopping with them in 2012 for this reason.

/offtopic

Well, out of my 11 points you only picked out one for which I already pointed out the OTT element and the other thing is irrelevant to the topic at hand as an end user.

That's pretty good!

 

[Dynix]

The amount I've saved in delivery charges alone must have paid for Prime four times over! I'm too impatient to wait 3-4 days for delivery.

 

[hyperseven]

If only Amazon parted with the tax on these products as easy.

Not Amazons fault our taxation system is outdated and riddled with legal loopholes.

 

[chaparral]

If only Amazon parted with the tax on these products as easy.

Yes it great not having to pay any VAT on all my items I buy from amazon...

 

[UTmaniac]

Yes it great not having to pay any VAT on all my items I buy from amazon...

Tax avoidance right there.

 

[malachi]

had a chat with customer support and within 5 minutes had a return label and full refund when they receive the monitor that dpd will pick up for free on Monday, very impressed, dont know if me being a prime member had anything to do with it but they could have just said contact Acer as its six months old.

Nope, that's just Amazons very good CS. Always spot on when it comes to returns. Not enough for me to sign upto prime though.

 

[weringo]

I don't really get Amazon Prime, most stuff I order turns up in 1-2 days anyway and of that, 90% I don't need urgently. Add to that if you shop around (especially for things like video games) there's usually better value to be had elsewhere. The video service isn't as good as its competitors and neither is the music service.

The one thing which could make it more tempting for me is if they offered free scheduled evening/weekend delivery which frankly, I would expect to be included for £80/year.

 

[Raymond Lin]

I don't really get Amazon Prime, most stuff I order turns up in 1-2 days anyway and of that, 90% I don't need urgently. Add to that if you shop around (especially for things like video games) there's usually better value to be had elsewhere. The video service isn't as good as its competitors and neither is the music service.

The one thing which could make it more tempting for me is if they offered free scheduled evening/weekend delivery which frankly, I would expect to be included for £80/year.

Prime does include weekend delivery, granted it is not a time slot that you can pick but it's also not your local supermarket.

However, if you are in an area with Prime Now, you can get it within 2 hours, which is as good as scheduled.

 

[Amp34]

Support your local business and buy independent...

Amazon is good and I use it for certain items but I am well aware it is a race to the bottom if it monopolises everything.

That involves going to the high street, with all the pitfalls and tribulations that leads to.

Billions of people aimlessly wandering around, much higher prices, smaller selections and above all the shops being shut when you can actually shop in them. Finish work at 5:30? Great, just as all the shops shut!

Much easier to just browse the net, wider choice, near instant price comparison, quick access to reviews an comparable products, all while you prepare/eat your dinner or watch a film. All available for next day delivery, which is such a positive - it drives me nuts now I have to wait a week here, but most of the stuff I buy online I can't get in local stores (even in a big city) anyway.

It is rather annoying that prime isn't internationally transferrable though. I'm still paying for prime UK to get Amazon Video, but can't use if for free two day delivery here. I begrudge paying for it in two different countries.

I don't really get Amazon Prime, most stuff I order turns up in 1-2 days anyway and of that, 90% I don't need urgently. Add to that if you shop around (especially for things like video games) there's usually better value to be had elsewhere. The video service isn't as good as its competitors and neither is the music service.

The one thing which could make it more tempting for me is if they offered free scheduled evening/weekend delivery which frankly, I would expect to be included for £80/year.

Out of interest what video services are better? Other than Netflix, which is pretty much exactly the same price and offers a similar range I'm a bit stuck for what else there is available.

 

[flowrider99]

Thought this might be of interest to people.

Basically if you try and buy say Captain America Winter Solider on blu ray or GTA5 on PS4 through Amazon direct (so not via marketplace) you can't anymore without being a Prime member (which is £80 a year)

I presume the range changes dependent to what's in demand or what's on offer etc...

http://www.videogamer.com/ps4/gta_5..._members_from_buying_certain_video_games.html

What madness is this?!? Surely this isn't enough to make people go and buy Prime, but just shop elsewhere?

ps3ud0

Amazon lets me order it without having Prime.

 

[Calo]

Amazon are going the ultra controlling route. You cant even boolean search their website because they want to control what results come your way. Ever tried searching for a specific GPU there? Its a joke and helps set good old OCUK apart in good light.

This prime business is pure money making on the backs of overworked employees. I already boycotted Sports Direct, Amazon will be next if they keep it up, although they are already trying hard to stop me buying from there as it is.

 

[weringo]

Prime does include weekend delivery, granted it is not a time slot that you can pick but it's also not your local supermarket.

However, if you are in an area with Prime Now, you can get it within 2 hours, which is as good as scheduled.

Isn't Prime Now only available on a small amount of items?

 

[Jono8]

i find it hard to believe you can't buy a blu ray of captain america winter solider without being a prime member (i cant check as i have prime but it seems bizarre).

Crazy of true though.