I actually think it's Amazon that has the poor business model, and I'm puzzled how it's working for them. They are usually not competitive on price compared to other sites, and sometimes it's the same price off the shelf at Best Buy. Big ticket items from Amazon usually have free shipping, but it's a 3-4 day wait unless you pay for "free" shipping by joining Prime. But I quit Prime a few years ago after 10 out of my last 10 orders arrived late. I can understand the convenience of using a single website, but when you can find the same items elsewhere for $30-$40 cheaper, I don't see why more people aren't shopping around.
For big ticket items, I'm usually shopping around for the best price. For little items I try to price shop but the convenience of having it delivered, saving time by not having to go to the store, simple returns (UPS will often pick up package for free), saving 5% on many items with the Amazon card, and their amazing customer service makes me forgive some higher prices.
Part of it is stock. When I built my last PC newegg was sold out of almost every part I needed. Amazon on the other hand had almost everything and the prices were only slightly higher.
> But I quit Prime a few years ago after 10 out of my last 10 orders arrived late
I have a hard time believing this. I've never had late shipments with amazon nor have any of my friends. Are you exaggerating or is there any omitted context?
Prime member for the last 8 years but I'm seriously considering canceling next year (mostly due to the price hike in Prime).
I've had plenty of items arrive late or not even at all, with stretches where I've had back-to-back-to-back issues with Amazon, so frustrating that I considered canceling Prime right then and there (~3 years ago).
A couple times they were delivered to our neighbors house next door (who dropped them off to us, thankfully) and a few times we had to contact Amazon Customer Service who just sent us a new one. In general, I trust Amazon to get me my item, but they're definitely not perfect and I wouldn't be surprised if OP isn't exaggerating...
BTW, I live in the Bay Area (and not out in the boonies).
I live in Los Angeles and have had the complete opposite experience. Been a prime member for 4 years now, I order from them all the time, and shipments always come on time with no problems whatsoever.
I live in LA as well. While most of my Amazon purchases arrive on time (and even occasionally early!), more of them have begun arriving late. My Prime Day purchases, for example, were originally supposed to arrive same day...but are currently on track for Saturday and Sunday. I could have just stopped by Best Buy on the way to work.
Honestly, the worst was DHL. I got so frustrated with them, I contacted Amazon's customer service and offered to pay extra to NOT have DHL deliver my items.
The agent offered her apologies and noted they couldn't offer that (did refund me delivery costs), but would note the preference. Not sure if that "note" actually did anything, however I started getting substantially less DHL deliveries, which was a plus.
These days, most problematic is Amazon's own deliverers. They tend to deliver the same day, but usually late in the day or to the wrong address.
USPS and UPS are the best, with UPS edging in delivery time. I've had two USPS packages marked "Delivered" but show up the next day. FedEx seems to miss delivery times a lot.
Interesting. I've had problems with all of the carriers (and some that are no longer around), but for the most part I'd be willing to "forgive" Amazon for the transgressions of a third party that's going to screw everyone equally. I've less sympathy for Amazon's own logistics company though.
Timing of residential deliveries are pretty unpredictable with FedEx and UPS in my experience. One of the nice things about having a PO box is that packages are available for retrieval by 10 AM.
Things arrive late all the item. Obviously, it depends on what you buy and where you live.
Before I started paying for Prime, I used to live somewhere (DC) where standard free shipping was always 2 days or less because I lived close to a fulfillment center. Now I live in a place (NYC) where things are late all the time, even with Prime.
No, this absolutely happened. Since I no longer actually bought many things from Amazon due to price, I would only buy something from there if I really needed it fast and couldn't buy it locally. They were usually cheap, fairly rare items. Looking at my order history, they're things like some transistors, tent stakes, and printer ink. I imagine that played a role in the fact that they arrived late. Since I needed them fast, and they cost more than elsewhere, and arrived late, it pretty much means I overpaid for an item that was useless to me, and I had to do without it when I really needed it.
They were. Specifically said things like "Get it Tuesday" which was a requirement for me ordering them since I needed them by a specific time.
I will add that even without Prime, a lot of shipments still arrive in one or two days even with standard shipping. But they're usually more expensive items like $100+ items.
