Amazon indirectly forcing you to use "Amazon Prime"?

[Deleted member 473940]

'Sup
I am not sure if the title is misleading, but I have a genuine question.
Guess what? I have been an Amazon customer since 2006 and I have literally ordered over 1000's of items. I am not talking about their marketplace, but directly from Amazon themselves.
One thing I always loved about buying stuff from them: Fast shipping! Even when you didnt pick express shipping and if the item was in stock, it was dispatched almost immediately and would arrive between 1-3 working days. Delivery estimates were way off, IN A GOOD WAY! Items would arrive way before the estimated delivery date.
BUT, BUT BUT...
Since beginning of last year(2012), I have noticed its getting worse by days. I purchase an item, which is in stock, I get a delivery estimate of at least a week(to 10 days) after the date of purchase. So, I am sitting here thinking, no worries as the item would come way before it. BUT, no.. they dispatch it about 4-5 days after the initial order date and the item comes around the estimated delivery date.

I have done a few test purchases. Ordered a pair of headphones with normal free shipping delivery AND ordered the same headphones with amazon prime shipping option. The prime was almost dispatched immediately. Not the case with the other one. It was dispatched 4 days later and arrived on the 5th day. KEEP IN MIND, THEY USED THE SAME DELIVERY SERVICE! JUST SHIPPED LATE!

I have always been using amazon, firstly they have amazing prices and secondly they were super fast. Not anymore.. I feel as if I am forced to be a amazon prime member or select express shipping every time. Simply because they arent as fast anymore.. only way to receive quickly is when selecting express delivery or Prime.

What do you think?

 

[GameWinner]

Not sure about forcing you but I have Prime and it's amazing.

 

[Deleted member 473940]

Not sure about forcing you but I have Prime and it's amazing.

I know it is. Why woudnt it be. But my point is, IF they use the same courier service, why should the people use amazon prime for deliveries? And why should the people who dont use amazon prime get their items shipped later and receive later?
When the item is available, ship it immediately? Thats what they do with prime only...

 

[Hells Malice]

Amazon still offers free shipping that is fairly fast (not the typical 22-30 day shit some places offer for free).

No one is forcing you to be impatient. Any regular of Amazon SHOULD get prime though, because it is an amazing deal.

I know it is. Why woudnt it be. But my point is, IF they use the same courier service, why should the people use amazon prime for deliveries? And why should the people who dont use amazon prime get their items shipped later and receive later?
When the item is available, ship it immediately? Thats what they do with prime only...

Why should the paying customer be prioritized over the non-paying?...is that a serious question?

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

Not sure if that's just a UK thing, but whenever I buy stuff from Amazon here without Prime I usually get my deliveries after 2-3 days

 

[Deleted member 473940]

Amazon still offers free shipping that is fairly fast (not the typical 22-30 day shit some places offer for free).

No one is forcing you to be impatient. Any regular of Amazon SHOULD get prime though, because it is an amazing deal.



Why should the paying customer be prioritized over the non-paying?...is that a serious question?

Lol it is a serious question. I am just comparing from what it used to be and how it is now since prime came out. I am not sure about the US, but down here amazon uses 'amazon logistics'(courier service) for both prime and normal customers. I am quite sure when people pay for express delivery, they pay for the courier service and not for the item to be dispatched from the warehouse faster.

 

[anon3536]

Amazon still offers free shipping that is fairly fast (not the typical 22-30 day shit some places offer for free).

No one is forcing you to be impatient. Any regular of Amazon SHOULD get prime though, because it is an amazing deal.



Why should the paying customer be prioritized over the non-paying?...is that a serious question?

non-paying? dont think thats quite the right wording id use but i do agree, if you pay the extra of course you get what you want when you want it, thats one of the selling points behind the prime membership, and @OP i do think the whole point in getting prime is to get it sooner, if they sent it out normal same as prime they would lose tons of prime membership because i doubt many people would get prime to just do some of amazon's other features with it unless of course they have a kindle fire

 

[Hells Malice]

Lol it is a serious question. I am just comparing from what it used to be and how it is now since prime came out. I am not sure about the US, but down here amazon uses 'amazon logistics'(courier service) for both prime and normal customers. I am quite sure when people pay for express delivery, they pay for the courier service and not for the item to be dispatched from the warehouse faster.

If orders are being prepared for shipping, prime orders will very likely be prioritized and pushed ahead of non-prime orders. This makes perfect sense and would explain the delay.

 

[cearp]

i've noticed the same too, it's annoying...

 

[Deleted member 473940]

If orders are being prepared for shipping, prime orders will very likely be prioritized and pushed ahead of non-prime orders. This makes perfect sense and would explain the delay.

Well, as I have mentioned, I am just comparing. I used amazon for their free shipping, which always used to be just as fast as prime in most cases. But ever since prime is out, free shipping products get shipped out much later than prime, even though before that was never the case. Well, I guess I will get prime.. because as you mentioned, a regular amazon customer should have prime. Nothing ever stays the same I guess

 

[T-hug]

This is definitely happening, my stuff used to get dispatched next day but now the standard delivery dispatch is always a few days later with a delivery estimate date of 1 to 2 weeks later. 99% of the time the stuff comes the day after the dispatch email so they are delaying the picks when you choose free, and picking right away if you use prime.

 

[pwsincd]

we use prime all the time , but its annoyed me a little the price increase to accomodate video streams.

 

[cracker]

The shipping companies do the same thing too. They force some packages to wait at a facility for days so it doesn't get there too early.

 

[FAST6191]

One thing I always loved about buying stuff from them: Fast shipping! Even when you didnt pick express shipping and if the item was in stock, it was dispatched almost immediately and would arrive between 1-3 working days. Delivery estimates were way off, IN A GOOD WAY! Items would arrive way before the estimated delivery date.

For the record that is a concept known as "under promise, over deliver". People seem to like it so a lot of places will do such things.

Tying your warehouse operations to a premium, even a hidden one, does seem to be the main thing to do in modern logistics too (and give or take EC2 amazon is nothing but a logistics service with a nice frontend).

Anyway my bad experiences with Amazon are mainly my fault or when their DVD rental thing was going down the tubes. Compared to most other auction/tat buying services that is a stellar record.

 

[JoostinOnline]

That's not them forcing you to do anything (directly or indirectly), it's just how shipping works. People who pay extra get to "cut in line", so to speak. Flat rate customers have to either wait till there are no other packages, or the maximum date for dispatch has been reached. That's why you will sometimes get packages early on flat rates; there's nothing else in front of it.

 

[tatripp]

hmmmmm... Maybe it is your location. Amazon recently opened another shipping location (or something like that) about 40 miles away from my house and I get everything very quickly. I always have gotten things quickly but it remains the same now. Maybe they are tweaking the logistics of their company and you are feeling the effect. I live in Southern California in the Inland Empire btw.

 

[jalaneme]

uk amazon are quite fast when it comes to delivery, imo i think it's depends on how much you spend i've spent a lot at amazon and always get my games and goods on time, add to that the courier deport near me is not that far so that is why i get items quicker too so it's a lot of factors why people get things slower than others.