So what do you think of Amazon increasing the purchase minimum to $49 for it to ship free?
In the past it was $25 and then increased to $35 and now another increase.
I believe the minimum for books is still $25.
As a non prime member I will have to think twice before buying on Amazon.
http://money.cnn.com/2016/02/22/pf/amazon-free-shipping-increase/index.html
that stinks…
Its not really “free.” Doesn’t appear to apply to Prime. Will encourage people to become Prime members. I buy a lot from Amazon (first place I search generally). Having stuff there in 2 days is great.
Apparently they couldn’t make as much money as they wanted with it at $25 or $35. I’m surprised that’s the case, what with lower gas prices and higher online sales numbers, but I’m not privy to their finances. Maybe they want to push people into Prime? I have Prime (more for the television and music than for shipping), so it doesn’t effect me much. I’m kind of surprised and curious, but not upset.
I’m under the impression that the products sold on Amazon are not cheap.
You can get better deals if you shop sales at the store.
For me it is not worth it to pay for Prime membership.
I typically find Amazon cheaper. I still like shopping in stores, but it costs me more.
I do find Prime worth it, but not for the shipping. I like the massive music catalog for my phone and the Prime TV shows like Man in the High Castle and Alpha House.
Hasn’t been my experience. Things I buy are typically cheaper (or at least no more expensive) than they would be in the store. And I don’t have to leave my house and can have shipped anywhere (to kid at college, parents, etc). Plus we watch TV/movies.
It is all about how much you spend on gas driving around to get the deals and how much you value your time versus spending a few minutes to get the cat food and shampoo magically appear on your doorstep while you watch Amazon Prime videos. 
And I can buy guilty pleasures like Kraft Tangy Spaghetti, which isn’t available in our grocery store. I grew up on the stuff. My family doesn’t like it, so I just make it for me!
I don’t order all that much but I like Prime for the TV streaming … Anybody know if they’re going to make another season of Alpha House? Funniest show ever.
Amazon is often cheaper, but not always. If you’ve got some shopping savvy, it can work. I’ve gotten some amazing deals, some with Prime/free shipping and some even paying shipping. And i don’t have to load big items in my car. Also like the free streaming. Some of what I get isn’t available locally.
I agree with @saillakeerie … I think Amazon Prime is worth every penny! Especially for me, because I hate going shopping. It’s so much quicker and easier to have stuff delivered to me. It’s also easier to find out of the ordinary items. For example, my mom needed a clock that vibrates to wake her up (she’s hard of hearing). I wouldn’t even know what brick and mortar store to look for such an item, but I found plenty of them available on Amazon!
I’m thinking of trying it to send items to my mother, who is in assisted living 50 miles away and doesn’t have a computer.
Whether Amazon is cheaper depends in great part where you live. In the urban Northeast, quite likely not. In Alaska and Hawai’i, on the other hand, definitely cheaper. In utterly rural farm country, maybe not cheaper but there’s something to be said for selection. And so on.
I guess it depends on what you are using it for and how often you use it.
I tend to stock up when items are on sale and use coupons to get the best price on staples at the store.
@Bestfriendsgirl - I have used it to send things to my mother (also in assisted living), as well as my kids in college. And occasionally to others for gift giving occasions. My Amazon address book has lots of entries!
I live far away from any big box stores so Prime is a boon for me - the video/music service is a nice extra as well. I’d have to drive 3 hours round trip to find anywhere with prices as good as what I can find on Amazon, and nothing near the selection. Between Prime and Subscribe & Save, I do a LOT of Amazon shopping - definitely more than enough to make Prime a good deal.
I love having 40lb bags of dog food just show up at my door with no lugging or schlepping!
I also use it to send things to my parents who live 45 minutes away. I get there every couple of weeks but Prime gets there in two days. My niece doesn’t have prime so she emails me a link of what she needs, I use her card and send it to her. Takes less than 1 minute. I send it to my children in CT so I don’t have to mail it. Might cost 37 cents more than somewhere else, but I don’t have to leave the house, go to a store, wrap it and mail it.
I also needed a radio for my father. Tried Wal=Mart, K-Mart, Sears, Target and Best Buy. Gave up and bought it on Amazon. I find obscure books I would otherwise have to search the country for and they bring them to my doorstep.
I’m only annoyed they started charging sales tax in MI. Won’t stop me from using it though.
I do shop around though. Have bought things from Costco or even Target when I found it cheaper but I rarely do. And if it’s only a few cents cheaper, the free shipping makes up for it.
In general Amazon does have prices that are among the lowest. That said, lot of things on Amazon are a pig in a poke, that buying in person would eliminate. The reason Amazon is doing this is because shipping costs have ate into their revenue stream, Prime was part of that, as was the free shipping. The cost of shipping has risen as well (despite the drop in fuel prices), so it isn’t surprising Amazon has upped the ante with free shipping. Eventually, I think they are going to lose their sales tax advantage and be more on a level playing field.
On the other hand, Amazon has the convenience, it literally is a one stop place to look for things. I was buying a new set of speakers, and they had the set I wanted, even if there are stores like Best Buy around, they don’t carry the selection in store, and true audio stores have become pretty rare. I needed a new sump pump that matched the profile of my original one, I was able to get one on amazon and had it two days later, Home Depot and everyone else had pumps that would have required me redoing the the outlet portion of it. What is even worse is for example, with the speakers, the kind of audio store that might carry them locally is one of the idiots open 9-5 monday to Friday, when I am not home…
We’ve had to pay sales tax on Amazon here in California since I moved back to the state. Still cheaper than buying in store, and it doesn’t even annoy me.