[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by La lamy

I like shopping on Amazon whenever I can, but not being a fan of Amazon Prime for $14.99 or whatever it is these days, the delivery cost can be absurd. I was quoted $7 delivery for a $10 item this week. I opted for the free 30 day trial of Prime to avoid the delivery cost and will have to remember to cancel it before the 30 days is up. I find their return policy convenient and trustworthy, which is not the case with other online shopping. Brick and mortar is usually just for Home Depot or Lowes, even though I've often had to be referred to online shopping with them too for specific items they didn't carry in the store. Patience grasshopper...

Amazon Prime is $139 per year, which is about $11.60 per month. In 2022, I placed 115 orders, so, for me, it is a real bargain. So far in 2023, I have placed 30 orders, and my order frequency is always increasing. Also, you can share your membership with another adult. The only possible negative to sharing is that you will both have access to your stored payment methods. There are other Prime benefits, such as a free streaming video channel, free streaming music, and free kindle books to read. There is also a list of other benefits and discounts that I don't use.

[jamorela]

Originally Posted by La lamy

I like shopping on Amazon whenever I can, but not being a fan of Amazon Prime for $14.99 or whatever it is these days, the delivery cost can be absurd. I was quoted $7 delivery for a $10 item this week. I opted for the free 30 day trial of Prime to avoid the delivery cost and will have to remember to cancel it before the 30 days is up. I find their return policy convenient and trustworthy, which is not the case with other online shopping. Brick and mortar is usually just for Home Depot or Lowes, even though I've often had to be referred to online shopping with them too for specific items they didn't carry in the store. Patience grasshopper...

There is always something i can add to my order to make it total $25 and get free shipping.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by midiwiz

only sometimes, unfortunately Amazon began with products that are familiar and what you would find in the store..... it has evolved to be nothing more than a sales channel for the asian (specifically China) marketplace. The quality has gone way down, I find myself using it for only a handfull of product. I'd rather buy local, however to do that around here takes a 90 minute round trip.

That has not been my experience at all. For example, I cannot remember the last time I went to Lowes or Home Depot. I think Amazon sells almost every product that those two stores carry and most are delivered the next day. They also sell most non-food items that Publix, Winn-Dixie, and Walgreens carry. I recently bought toilet paper, shampoo, paper plates, Kleenex, non-prescription drugs, cleaning supplies, beverages, spices, and many other items. All of them were name brand products that you will pay more for in the stores. I also buy clothing items and shoes from Amazon.

[airstreamingypsy]

Originally Posted by La lamy

I like shopping on Amazon whenever I can, but not being a fan of Amazon Prime for $14.99 or whatever it is these days, the delivery cost can be absurd. I was quoted $7 delivery for a $10 item this week. I opted for the free 30 day trial of Prime to avoid the delivery cost and will have to remember to cancel it before the 30 days is up. I find their return policy convenient and trustworthy, which is not the case with other online shopping. Brick and mortar is usually just for Home Depot or Lowes, even though I've often had to be referred to online shopping with them too for specific items they didn't carry in the store. Patience grasshopper...

I resisted but finally went with Prime. I love "free" delivery..... I know its not free, but it seems to be once Prime is paid for <g> I also use Prime Video and stream shows. I also pay to stream music on my Amazon Echos.

[NoMo50]

We have been using Amazon since its early days, when it was primarily an online bookseller. While we love Amazon and use it often, it is not always the best deal going. Two examples from just yesterday: We were at Rustic Rose in Brownwood, and saw a very nice doormat. My wife thought the price was a little high, so she checks Amazon, and finds the same rug on Amazon for $10 more than the brick & mortar. Back at home, I discover I'm running low on my fave BBQ sauce from Kansas City. On Amazon, they wanted $24 for 2 bottles with free shipping. I checked the restaurant's website, and found the same sauce from them at $69 for a case of 12, with free shipping. While I didn't really need 12 bottles, I have two friends who wanted some. So, we each get 4 bottles at less than 6 bucks per bottle. Bottom line...Amazon is, for sure, convenient, but not always the best way to go.

[Djean1981]

No contest. I don't enjoy shopping.. Except for groceries, it's mainly online.

[Villages Kahuna]

I haven’t purchased anything in a brick and mortar store in well over a year. There’s nothing that I wanted to purchase that I couldn’t find on Amazon. I love being able to get what I purchase in two days, sometimes on the next day.

Returns are free and easy. Just drop them off at a UPS store, or even easier at Kohl’s on 441, where they have a large, well-staffed Amazon only returns department just inside the front door usually with no waiting line like at UPS. If you return at either, your credit card will be credited before you get home.

While Amazon’s prices aren’t necessarily the cheapest, usually just MSRP, I find that I actually save money shopping with them because I’m not tempted to buy products I don’t need as the result of wandering up and down store aisles. I think I save a lot actually!

I would only suggest that you take care to purchase from Amazon and not third party sellers that list their products. If you have any difficulties with the quality, delivery or returns, Amazon will not stand behind transactions with third parties. , Third party transactions can be a horror show. They’re clearly identified in the product listings. Often they’re the cheapest price, but often have 7-10 day deliveries because they are, foreign businesses or individuals, often in the Far East. Because Amazon won’t offer the same service as they do on their own listings, you discover there’s no phone contact or even email for the third party and very difficult or no return policies. There aren’t that many third party sellers and Amazon constantly weeds out the “bad” ones. Just be careful.

[ThirdOfFive]

As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. A lot of the big-box stores have online service similar to Amazon: Home Depot for example has online shopping and home delivery service that (except for speed of delivery) is every bit as good as Amazon, and I do order from them from time to time. The difference of course is that Home Depot carries home improvement products. Amazon carries virtually everything.

That’s not to say Amazon is perfect. Far from it. One of the major headaches in my estimation is the plethora of Chinese junk sold there under (often very obvious) false or deceiving advertising. Another thing is their return process. They offer a more-or-less instant refund if you take it in the form of an Amazon Prime credit. The other option is that they will refund it to your credit card, which can take quite a long time—once, for me, two months.

I also use Amazon Prime to stream movies. While the service is good technically the selection is rather limited. Not a big deal—not the primary reason I subscribe to Prime anyway—but the selection seems more limited than even, say, two years ago.

[retiredguy123]

Note that, if you see a product advertised on television, and they give you a website to order it, you should always check Amazon for the same product. Often, you can buy the exact same product from Amazon for a lower price and with free and faster shipping. Sometimes, it is even being sold by the same company.

Another use for Amazon is that, if you are buying an in-stock electronic product or appliance from Best Buy, you can check the price on Amazon, and Best Buy will match the Amazon price. I have done that several times.

[MrFlorida]

Amazon, Large selection of products, free shipping (with prime) , delivered to your door, and simple no hassle returns....

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Note that, if you see a product advertised on television, and they give you a website to order it, you should always check Amazon for the same product. Often, you can buy the exact same product from Amazon for a lower price and with free and faster shipping. Sometimes, it is even being sold by the same company.

Another use for Amazon is that, if you are buying an in-stock electronic product or appliance from Best Buy, you can check the price on Amazon, and Best Buy will match the Amazon price. I have done that several times.

One of Best Buy’s biggest headaches (at least up north before I moved here) was “showrooming”. People would go there to see the electronics and ask questions, then go home and order the product they wanted from Amazon for less money than Best Buy would charge.

Is Amazon becoming a monopoly? They’ve forced substantial changes in marketing which for the most part have benefited the consumer, but if they become the only game in town, so to speak, those “bargains” might not be quite as attractive. I saw an example of this during the height of the pandemic. I’ve dabbled in amateur astronomy and sold a telescope about two years back for about the same price I paid for it, but like for a lot of other items, telescopes were getting hard to come by. The same telescope, on Amazon, which originally listed for $299.00 was later being sold for more than twice that amount on Amazon. Price came down again when more telescopes were available.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

One of Best Buy’s biggest headaches (at least up north before I moved here) was “showrooming”. People would go there to see the electronics and ask questions, then go home and order the product they wanted from Amazon for less money than Best Buy would charge.

Is Amazon becoming a monopoly? They’ve forced substantial changes in marketing which for the most part have benefited the consumer, but if they become the only game in town, so to speak, those “bargains” might not be quite as attractive. I saw an example of this during the height of the pandemic. I’ve dabbled in amateur astronomy and sold a telescope about two years back for about the same price I paid for it, but like for a lot of other items, telescopes were getting hard to come by. The same telescope, on Amazon, which originally listed for $299.00 was later being sold for more than twice that amount on Amazon. Price came down again when more telescopes were available.

I don't feel sorry for Best Buy. The employees who sell the products are not trained to provide unbiased, helpful, or technically accurate answers to questions. They are trained to sell the products that will make the most profit for the store. But, I will often buy a product from Best Buy if it is in stock, and they will match the Amazon price.

[RedChariot]

Amazon rocks! So many perks with Amazon Prime! Why would I go store to store in this awful traffic searching for a product? Just a click away on Amazon.

[ithos]

I highly recommend checking with Home Depot and Lowes online before ordering from Amazon. Usually no shipping charge.

If they have it in stock locally, you will probably get it quicker than from Amazon.

[Tom M]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

One of Best Buy’s biggest headaches (at least up north before I moved here) was “showrooming”. People would go there to see the electronics and ask questions, then go home and order the product they wanted from Amazon for less money than Best Buy would charge.

I believe many places (Walmart, Best Buy, etc. will price match whatever you see on Amazon). If you're in the store and see it on Amazon for lower, bring your phone to a manager and they'll price match.