Amazon Prime Sheninigans

gangolfus

Gawd
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
924
Has anyone else noticed some shenanigans going on with Amazon Prime in the last several months? Up until about 6mo ago, everything used to ship via UPS ground. Almost everything I ordered came from a warehouse one state over and was delivered the next day. 6mo ago they started using a local shipping company that I had never heard of, but still had pretty close to the same service level. No issues with that. Just this Monday I ordered some items via Prime, that shipped from that same warehouse via USPS Priority Mail and are due to arrive today.

Also, what is with this Add-On program they recently added? Now, even with prime I have to spend $25 to get free 2-day shipping on cheaper items? If I know have to save up my small purchases until I can bundle them with something else, it makes making the trip to Target more attractive.

I've been a Prime member for almost 5 years now and have been beyond completely satisfied with it until recently. If this keeps up I will have to re-evaluate renewal when it expires in November.

</rant>
 
I got the Fedex/USPS horseshit for the first time a couple weeks ago, box finally showed up two days late from one state away. Best advice I can give you is to call and bitch. They get enough complaints they may end this stupidity.
 
I had something ship last month using a shipping company called 'Prestige'. It didn't arrive within two days. I checked the tracking information and it said they tried to deliver it at 4pm and 8pm. The delivery address was my office which is open until 6:30 so I know this was a lie. I contacted amazon support chat on the morning of the third day and they told me that the shipment had been lost. I had to get a refund and re-order one of the items and the other one was re-ordered (they bumped me to next day shipping on both to make up for it).
About an hour after this took place the 'lost' shipment arrived! So I then had to cancel all the re-orders and the refund. I was not pleased :)
 
I haven't had any issues like that. My problems are:
1) Prime labeled items handled by third parties on Amazon. Sure you get two day shipping, but if they don't even send it out for two days, you're screwed. This has now happened twice.

2) Amazon used to almost always use rediculously oversized boxes with prodigious amounts of protection for the item inside. I think I ordered a pen once and it came in a box big enough to fit a small dog. Now though, they have started using the absolute tiniest boxes imaginable, and all three of my last canned orders (cat food) have had at least two very severely dented cans (the 12oz have tall soft walls, and with no bubble wrap or bubble wrap only on one or two sides of the tiny form-fit box, you're screwed. Harddrive shipments have also been very inadquate on protection.

One extreme to another!
 
Also, what is with this Add-On program they recently added? Now, even with prime I have to spend $25 to get free 2-day shipping on cheaper items? If I know have to save up my small purchases until I can bundle them with something else, it makes making the trip to Target more attractive.

I noticed that too. I was gonna make a thread but decided against it.

What kinda shit is this? I can understand that small items are cost-prohibitive to ship, but I paid for Prime and I don't give two shits about that, I want my free two-day on all Prime-eligible items.
 
I haven't had any issues like that. My problems are:
1) Prime labeled items handled by third parties on Amazon. Sure you get two day shipping, but if they don't even send it out for two days, you're screwed. This has now happened twice.


This is what I've experienced as well. Also, I've ordered ink twice and both times packs are basically exploded all over the box. Inadequate packing. I've also noticed that those times that I get items that are messed up are labeled from "Return Center". Now these are brand new items I'm paying for. Maybe it's just a warehouse but they are doing a shitty job.
 
I order 3-4 times a week via Amazon Prime and up until 3-4 months ago everything was delivered via FedEx. Now everything comes via UPS and is always late or doesn't ship for 2 days after I order it even though it says in stock.

FedEx was always here in the morning, now with UPS its between 3-6PM every time. Large packages too, I got a laptop keyboard yesterday in a box big enough for a PC case....
 
I haven't had any problems yet, knock on wood. In fact, on more than one occasion they shipped my package next day overnight for free even though I selected 2-day. :)
 
As far as shipping times, I think I've only had one instance where 2-day shipping did not get delivered in two days (it was only one day late IIRC), so I'm still satisfied there for now. Also, packaging has been adequate so far.

Mine almost always come UPS.

*knocks on wood*
 
I used to always get UPS, which came either one or two days after it was shipped, depending on shipping location. Then Amazon began to use OnTrac, which I love as I nearly always get the package one day after it has shipped and early in the morning rather than at 6PM. Nowadays it is either UPS, OnTrac, FedEx (always takes the full two days), and USPS. I still haven't received any late or beaten up packages so I'm fine with how it is.
 
I have had great experiences with Amazon Prime in NY. As far as the add-on thing, my understanding is they are now offering singles of items they only used to offer as bulk pack. Like a single jar of spices for 69c, whereas they used to only have the 20 pack. But in order to do this they have to be able to ship with something else.

I think for prime members this should be any other prime eligible item, the $25 thing is stupid.
 
As far as the add-on thing, my understanding is they are now offering singles of items they only used to offer as bulk pack.

Except I noticed that a ~$3 item i bought a few months ago with prime shipping is now in the add-on program. So while they are probably also adding items, they are also taking the opportunity to push other low price items down to that program.
 
Except I noticed that a ~$3 item i bought a few months ago with prime shipping is now in the add-on program. So while they are probably also adding items, they are also taking the opportunity to push other low price items down to that program.

Yeah, it's not just previously bundled items, which is super lame.
 
I have had this happen a few times, that fedex/usps hand off that shows up 3-4 days instead of 2 - I have also had prime items show up next day with the free 2-day shipping. 6 of one..half dozen of the other...all in all it works out.
 
The only issue I've noticed with Prime recently (and I've just learned to avoid it, or cancel orders when I notice it) is that sometimes an item will be prime eligible but will say "usually ships in 1-2 weeks" or something like that.

So when it ships it will be 2nd day, but it won't ship right away.
I almost invariably avoid buying such items.
 
I used and loved a 12-month free student trial of Prime that ended this spring. Since it ended, I've been meaning to re-sign for the $39.99 student rate, but figured to wait until the next time I needed to buy something from them.

Then last week I noticed this "Add-On Item" horseshit, and am thanking my lucky stars I didn't get suckered in beforehand. The entire point of Prime is (was) to get cheap shit (less than $25) quickly without paying twice the item's cost for shipping. Sure, getting free 2-day vs. regular USPS on expensive stuff is nice too, but I wouldn't pay $40/year for just that privilege.

I like how they're trying to pass off the "Add-On" program as simply expanding their inventory to new items they otherwise wouldn't carry. BS. I went to look for a $3.00 audio cable and found that --none-- were available with regular Amazon shipping arrangements (Prime eligible). I'd bet the farm that wasn't the case earlier this year.
 
Wow. I just read in the Newegg thread that Amazon will be collecting sales tax in my state in September, and now there's this crap with the "Add-On" program.

If I had known about either of those in April, I wouldn't have renewed my membership.
 
Wow. I just read in the Newegg thread that Amazon will be collecting sales tax in my state in September, and now there's this crap with the "Add-On" program.

If I had known about either of those in April, I wouldn't have renewed my membership.

Yup, I love amazon but sadly I will not be renewing my membership either.
 
I have been with the majority here for the most part, but I have to point something out here.

I went to look for a $3.00 audio cable and found that --none-- were available with regular Amazon shipping arrangements (Prime eligible).

Seriously? You are wanting an item (that sells for $10-30 at your local B&M) to be the same price as a China-made good, AND have free shipping? C'mon man, think about it. That $3 already has to cover the cost of buying it, storing it, sorting it, and a ton of other overhead. I think a plane ride, second sort process, and truck driver probably can't be covered as well, regardless of Amazon's buying power.
 
Seriously? You are wanting an item (that sells for $10-30 at your local B&M) to be the same price as a China-made good, AND have free shipping? C'mon man, think about it. That $3 already has to cover the cost of buying it, storing it, sorting it, and a ton of other overhead. I think a plane ride, second sort process, and truck driver probably can't be covered as well, regardless of Amazon's buying power.
Oh, I'm not saying they'll make a profit on such a sale, or even that it's reasonable to expect in the abstract. But the reality is, Prime members have grown accustomed to that level of service over the past several years, so they're not going to give it up so easily. Plus, especially for non-students looking at an $80/yr. subscription rate, there has to be an impressive array of benefits to justify the cost. To me, getting the 3-5 expensive items a year I'd buy from Amazon a couple days faster doesn't quite live up to that standard.

I needed a $2.50 tri-wing screwdriver to open up my phone last year, and had it on my doorstep 2 days later at no cost. Obviously, there's no way that particular sale was profitable for Amazon. My assumption was that they'd calculated the increase in overall sales (including expensive items, a couple of which I also bought during my trial) from Prime memberships would offset guys like me nickel-and-diming them from time to time. Perhaps that calculus has changed; wouldn't be the least bit surprising. Still, it sucks for existing Prime members who handed over their hard-earned cash expecting a certain set of benefits which have been rather fundamentally (IMO) changed.

All I know is that as a college student, I was strongly considering paying up for membership *IF* it entitled me to 2-day shipping on everything they sell (Marketplace excepted, of course). Most of the point, in fact, would be to avoid shipping charges on cheap shit that I wanted/needed quickly and couldn't find locally. Most people I know see it the same way, and I'd be shocked if Prime memberships don't fall sharply soon.
 
I really dislike amazon for a couple of reasons.

1. They charge Tax where newegg does not
2. Amazons shipping is to slow even for free
3. Gotta pay for Amazon prime to get Free shipping

I have been a huge newegg fan since forever. They charge no Tax & everything is almost Free shipping. My orders even for FREE shipping are always here the next day at my door.
 
I really dislike amazon for a couple of reasons.

1. They charge Tax where newegg does not
2. Amazons shipping is to slow even for free
3. Gotta pay for Amazon prime to get Free shipping

I have been a huge newegg fan since forever. They charge no Tax & everything is almost Free shipping. My orders even for FREE shipping are always here the next day at my door.

1) Newegg charges tax in states that have offices and/or distribution centers (just ask anyone from CA). Amazon does the same thing, they are opening many more distribution centers which means more states are getting charged sales tax.

2) I haven't noticed a difference in shipping time between the two. I'm sure your location relative the nearest distribution center will effect this on a case-by-case basis.

3) False. Amazon offers Super Saver Shipping for most orders over $25. Really heavy stuff is excluded for obvious reasons.
 
I have been a huge newegg fan since forever. They charge no Tax & everything is almost Free shipping. My orders even for FREE shipping are always here the next day at my door.

Newegg isn't a replacement for me for Amazon. I buy everyday goods like toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, olive oil, kitchen gadgets, toilet bowl cleaner, and much more than just computer goods. For me Amazon replaces Newegg, Target, Office Max, Grocery store, Sears and a whole bunch of other places. Name another web store that can do that. If it were as simple as moving 2 computer part purchases a year from Amazon to Newegg, I wouldn't have even bothered to start this thread. I placed 73 Amazon orders last year and am on pace to beat that this year. They are my go-to place for anything I need because I know they have good prices and it will be at my door within 2 business days. If this is no longer going to be the case then I will start doing my shopping at those other places again.
 
Waiting on a USB drive and SSD drive that should have showed up Friday (with the rest of my order), but those two items got shipped by PRESTIGE. Never showed up. Tracked it online and Prestige's website says:

Paperwork received - did not receive shipment

Ugh. Why didn't they just use UPS like they usually do.
 
I've been a Prime member for a little over 3 years now and I have always had packages shipped with both UPS and FedEx. In the past year or so I have noticed more items coming with USPS but those are typically small items shipping in envelopes from only the two closest warehouses, or our subscribe and save items.

The biggest Shenanigans about Amazon has been the continual changes to the Amazon MOM and Subscribe and Save programs.

As far as having to spend more than $25 for 2-day eligibility as a prime member, I thought that only applied to Hawaii and Alaska?
 
I too have had plenty of shipping issues with Amazon sending alot of my crap out through some group called Ensenda...evil evil people..

I swear they make fake delivery attempts to make it look like they tried to keep up their agreement for providing overnight shipping. Shady Shady people.

I've had stuff delivered by them to my place of work which has a 24/7/365 shipping/receiving dept and ensenda claimed for multiple attempts that no one was available. Total BS. People have similar experiences with them being home all day and all of a sudden ensenda tracking showing a failed delivery attempt. Horse$hit...

I make it a point for every time I don't get a real shipping company I put in a complaint to amazon. I doubt they really give a crap about me but I'll see to it that I waste their time with my complaint each and every time they send me something through Ensenda.
 
It is odd that different people are getting different carriers. I think amazon figured out some way to sort the cheapest shipper or make them bid on individual areas or even packages. I too felt everything was wonderful for years, then last week I ordered a phone from amazon wireless and it was very important that it make it here before tuesday. I became worried when for the first time ever I noticed it was being shipped by somene I had not heard of called prestige shipping. Anyhow the stuff arrived on time but I was genuinely worried because online alot of people complained about this company or lack thereof. Apparently they dont have employees just all independant contractors so any random person might show up at your house in their personal car and a wife beater, not exactly the type of person your woman wants to open the door for.
 
Oh, I'm not saying they'll make a profit on such a sale, or even that it's reasonable to expect in the abstract. But the reality is, Prime members have grown accustomed to that level of service over the past several years, so they're not going to give it up so easily. Plus, especially for non-students looking at an $80/yr. subscription rate, there has to be an impressive array of benefits to justify the cost. To me, getting the 3-5 expensive items a year I'd buy from Amazon a couple days faster doesn't quite live up to that standard.

I needed a $2.50 tri-wing screwdriver to open up my phone last year, and had it on my doorstep 2 days later at no cost. Obviously, there's no way that particular sale was profitable for Amazon. My assumption was that they'd calculated the increase in overall sales (including expensive items, a couple of which I also bought during my trial) from Prime memberships would offset guys like me nickel-and-diming them from time to time. Perhaps that calculus has changed; wouldn't be the least bit surprising. Still, it sucks for existing Prime members who handed over their hard-earned cash expecting a certain set of benefits which have been rather fundamentally (IMO) changed.

All I know is that as a college student, I was strongly considering paying up for membership *IF* it entitled me to 2-day shipping on everything they sell (Marketplace excepted, of course). Most of the point, in fact, would be to avoid shipping charges on cheap shit that I wanted/needed quickly and couldn't find locally. Most people I know see it the same way, and I'd be shocked if Prime memberships don't fall sharply soon.

Yeah, I see where you are coming from here. I guess I just buy so much stuff (due to the wide selection) that I get the better end of the stick every year. The add-on program kind of irks me a little, but at the same time, I can always add trashbags, laundry detergent, and other stuff I would buy anyway (since its usually cheaper on amazon) so it doesn't bother me too much.
 
lately I have ordered prime stuff and after you pay for it. There have been 2 things that are really pissing me off.
3 day shipping delay and the WORST IS after you pay it becomes unprimed or whatever I don't know what to say but its prime when you buy but the next day you look and its no longer prime. WTF

but they are pulling all kinds of stuff.
last week (tuesday) its thursday now I ordered one item prime.
I got an email on monday of this week saying it had shipped.
its thursday and still no item. SHIPPED USPS ???????????\
 
Well, I had been knocking on wood after reading this thread initially. The few things I had purchased were still all shipped UPS or FedEx. Today, however, I ordered a new mouse with the regular 2-day Prime shipping, and it is showing as being shipped by Lasership. I have never heard of this before outside of:

Just pray you don't get your package tendered to "lasership".

A quick Google search of the company does not look promising either :(. It claims my expected delivery is still Wednesday, so we shall see how accurate that is. If it's not here Wednesday, I'm calling Amazon and complaining. 2-day shipping is really the main reason I pay for Prime, and I refuse to pay for a service that does not meet what it claims to offer.
 
Just a thought, folks... it would be nice if those of you getting these odd shipping companies could state what metro area you're in. So far all my stuff has been through FedEx / UPS and occasionally USPS. OnTrac is fine with me, provided it's being shipped to my work; they've had trouble finding my house before! :p
 
OnTrac is fine with me, provided it's being shipped to my work; they've had trouble finding my house before! :p
I had an Amazon/OnTrac package delivered the other day (Los Angeles) and they literally threw it at my door. After hearing the thud, I got up to see the OnTrac truck driving away.
 
Amazon has been pretty good to me. But a few times i've come home to have my items lying on the driveway where I could have easily ran it over if I didn't see it or if it was dark. Another time the item was just on my car's hood. Wtf? Granted this has only happened twice, but I found it really weird that the delivery service would do this.
 
I had an Amazon/OnTrac package delivered the other day (Los Angeles) and they literally threw it at my door. After hearing the thud, I got up to see the OnTrac truck driving away.

Not making excuses (I have zero interest in any shipping company), but they're all guilty of that. Best thing you can do is call the customer service line and rat out the asshole driver. Lots of people out there need work that'll do the job properly and sounds like this driver doesn't give a shit.

Amazon has been pretty good to me. But a few times i've come home to have my items lying on the driveway where I could have easily ran it over if I didn't see it or if it was dark. Another time the item was just on my car's hood. Wtf? Granted this has only happened twice, but I found it really weird that the delivery service would do this.

I had DHL (Driver Hopelessly Lost) leave an expensive (at the time, this was YEARS ago) Dell 20" IPS widescreen right in the middle of my driveway just past the crest. Thankfully no one else drove in before I happened to walk outside and see it; because there's NO WAY in hell that you would know the box was there until you heard something underneath your vehicle. I was younger and more lenient then, because I didn't follow my advice above; am older and grouchier now, so that won't be happening again.
 
My last package I used Super Saver shipping and it took almost 2 weeks to arrive. Everyone raves about prime, and I wanted to see if it really is that good. I started a Prime trial and selected one-day shipping for $3.99 for my order.

Then my heart sank when they gave me an ontrac tracking number. I honestly hadn't heard about that company before then. It will be interesting to see if they actually deliver the package today but i don't like that all my research so far as turned up only negative feedback about them. :(
 
Other than mixed results at my home, I've had good luck with OnTrac everywhere else. They're not a small fly-by-night outfit like some of these outfits mentioned; so am hopeful you'll be just fine. :)
 
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