That was no trouble at all! Signed up from WL and got that invitation message with the Free6.
As an informed consumer, it pays to check the competition and one has to applaud when startups are bringing something new. Unfortunately, this one does NOT have the making of anything interesting, and there is already plenty of competition in the form of most retailers and specialists such as newegg.com (used to be better than Amazon in many regards but no longer.)
As always one has to weigh the possible differences in prices versus service. On that level, it is extremely hard to beat Amazon. Again, in a decade, I have never been left with an unresolved issue. I wish I could say that about any other merchant. Prices are clear, tracking shipping is better than great --safe and except when your items is caught in the Ontrac, the USPS idiots, or the Brown Clowns, and the refund/return policies are just amazing. As an example, I had a package misplaced. I reported it and Amazon sent me a new one overnight. Three days later the good ol’ post service delivered the goods. I emailed Amazon and they told me to keep it for the trouble. It was only 15 dollars but I got two sets of my favorite markers!
Fwiw, I am puzzled by the comment that Amazon needs to get its “act together” as I do not think there is a single company that is better at what they do and for the price they charge their good patrons. Please tell me one that is better?
I am all ears!
By the way, this week I am on a major shopping quest with a Vitamix, a large food processor, a dishwasher, a new Dyson, a computer, two monitors, and a couple of other kitchen deals! Trust me that I am interested in finding the best deal!
^^ It seems that Bezos knows this well too as it is assumed he collects 3-4 billion dollars from Prime and “spends” about 1.5 billion on subsidizing the free shipments and the various junior and abusive memberships. Amazon might reap a cool 1B more by raising the stakes. They learned that a small percentage dropped when they raised the price to 99 dollars. And the fight with the thieving local government (on the sales taxes) has not hurt their business at all.
By the way, the cost of Prime is much lower in Europe and the service are “almost” as good. My parents are ecstatic that Amazon landed in Mexico. The local retailers will have their hands full as most items can be imported from the US at about the US prices. And the delivery is almost free.
Jym, when I buy my undies at a store… They have been hanging on the rack, dropped on the floor, touched… I never wear any undies that I buy without washing them prior to wearing. Not even the stuff that comes in fancy boxes!
Fwiw, how different could jet be? Aren’t they supposed to act like middlemen and not be in charge of shipping themselves? Amazon has both warehouses and direct sales from vendors. There are indeed items that have been shipped via Amazon but send in plain envelopes when the goods are cheap commodities such as cables or refilled ink cartridges. In general, I can live with a cheap package that contains books or “crap” that costs a few dollars.
On the other hand, I think that most goods are shipped in the famous AZ boxes … the same I think you have in your garage. I am constantly recycling those sturdy boxes and love the protection part they rely on!
In my book, it is very hard to please everyone with everything, but I think that there are a few stores that have earned our business. My list includes AZ, newegg, TJs, and Costco, and a few specialty vendors such as Rapha and more unknown ones. The list of stores of hell is a lot longer!
I just one click purchased another one of the kid’s textbooks “very good” crisp like new condition for $7.69 with Prime shipping. I checked a couple other used sites and nothing came close. I have done very well on textbooks so far. I love the options searching for both new and used from other sellers. (and it will show up Friday not in 3 weeks)
When I saw the textbook for the class I was taking, I was not too enthused about having to lug this 7-lb brick on my back. Amazon, as it turns out, will sell a $3 Kindle version of some textbooks to buyers of the same paper book. Since I had to have the paper book anyway (no kindles on the exam!), I got the $3 electronic copy and read it on my Surface while commuting. Very handy!!
^^^ Are the undies that you get at a department store normally untouched by human hands? They have been boxed and shipped and unloaded and tagged and put on hangers and resorted many times from what I can tell.
I don’t buy off those rounder things. They are usually 3 packs, purchased together and all attached, or bought at Soma. . I did buy some on a “rounder” at a bali outlet store when I was out of town and forgot to pack… OK, TMI.
A Last thought for the time being-- it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that quite often when an amazon item is prime eligible, it costs a few dollars more than the identical item sold elsewhere on amazon that then adds shipping. So amazon rolls the shipping cost in and then calls it “free”. Thats like a marketer saying saying “free with a $5 donation”.
Cat feeder (and glucosamine supplements) came in - order was placed on Sunday. My cats are super excited! They know that food magically appears out of these machines.
What did you get. I should get a cat feeder for when we go on vacation. Normally I just leave her a couple mixing bowls full. She eats out of a dog dish left over from a Pyrenees and feels that she might starve if it isn’t full to overflowing. She is about 7 pounds wet, so doesn’t actually eat much.
