U.S. member inquiry

[Skanky Vamp]

Just a little question I am having to think about.. so I thought let me see what people here do..

For the America BB'ers... how many of you have Amazon Prime accounts?
If you don't have amazon prime, but still have an amazon account, let me know also, please.

 

[brinkster130]

I have Prime. I'm not sure if I actually use it enough to make it worth the cost, but damn that quick free shipping is convenient!

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Which is more important to you- the free shipping, or the two-day shipping?

 

[white avenger]

I do have a regular account, not Prime. Amazon and Ebay are my two biggest online shopping sites.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I do have a regular account, not Prime. Amazon and Ebay are my two biggest online shopping sites.

If you saw, say a knife you liked (i figure hit you in the sweet spot) and you could buy it direct from the manufacturer for one price, but could get it from a third party vendor on amazon for a few bucks cheaper, would you buy direct or through a third party on amazon to save a few bucks?

 

[white avenger]

If you saw, say a knife you liked (i figure hit you in the sweet spot) and you could buy it direct from the manufacturer for one price, but could get it from a third party vendor on amazon for a few bucks cheaper, would you buy direct or through a third party on amazon to save a few bucks?

Actually, I would compare the price of the knife on Amazon with the same model, if available, on Ebay, simply because you can get it there with no shipping charge (Knives aren't that much of a bargain on Amazon, anyhow, so that's not really a good example) and usually faster shipping. Ebay almost always beats Amazon's prices on some things, knives and computer parts (hard drives, usb accessories, and assorted gadgets) being the two that I am most often looking for. Of course, buying from Ebay is often a crap shoot, but so far, I've been pretty lucky with the stuff that I buy there.

Most of what I buy from Amazon is books and audiobooks, especially those currently out of print, and DVD's, and some supplies for my paracord bracelet business.

If your primary question is whether or not to buy from the manufacturer direct or from Amazon or Ebay, I would go with wherever the total price is lowest, all other factors being equal.

 

[Fuffy Baith]

I do have a regular Amazon account. I don't have Prime because I order enough stuff off of there. Maybe every few months for a school book but that' about it. I just don't but a lot of stuff online, unless I can't find it anywhere else. But if I did, I would totally get it. Maybe someday when I get enough money to buy stuff. lol

 

[Buffy Summers]

I have Prime. I originally got it at the half-price student rate but I don't think I could go back lol - most everything I buy I get on there lol. I don't use the movies as much as I should (probably because I have Netflix), but I do use the Prime music which is really nice.

The two-day shipping is awesome. Amazon actually offers free shipping to anyone, but it takes longer. So it's not really the freeness but the two-day ness.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

So it's not really the freeness but the two-day ness.

Aha. That was the next question. It's more about prompt delivery than inexpensive shipping prices.

As an aside- have you tried their same-day delivery? it's epic. And getting deliveries on Sunday.

 

[Buffy Summers]

A couple times I've gotten a Sunday delivery (I didn't pay more for it) and it was weird - and I felt bad for the delivery person having to come on a Sunday.

I don't think they have the same-day where I live now but that's not something I feel the need to pay more for (I wouldn't pay for 2-day either if it wasn't part of prime). I never used the same-day that Barnes & Noble had when I lived in NY or LA - didn't think it was worth the expense.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I wouldn't pay for 2-day either if it wasn't part of prime

Oh... hang on then.. you said before "it's not really the freeness but the two-day ness" so if 2-day wasnt free you wouldnt use it? if they charged $3 (the same for next day or same day) you wouldnt use it? 
I am going back and forth between offering a free, we ship it within 5 days shipping or a $5 we ship it same day for my business.. that's the barrage of questions.

 

[Buffy Summers]

Nope, I wouldn't use it for the $3. I order a lot more knowing that in two days it will be here, at no charge, than I would if it was just free and would come in a week though.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

@brinkster130 "could your business offer both of those options?"
not right now.. that would take a second fulfillment package and until I get more sales I cant afford the monthly costs for that option.

 

[JCoatsworth]

I had a free one-month membership, only because I wanted to watch Bosch. But pretty much all of the other movies and series are dubbed on amazon.de. I hate that, so I won't be getting amazon prime any time soon. But since you asked about people in the US, I didn't participate in your poll.
Oh, and the free shipping wouldn't be worth the monthly charge because I don't order from amazon very often. I try to support smaller businesses.

 

[laianna]

I have Amazon Prime with the student discount. I use it mostly for free shipping but 2-day shipping is a godsend for buying books at the beginning of the semester!