this post was submitted on 31 Jan 2024
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  • The author canceled their Amazon Prime subscription on a whim and realized they didn't really need it.
  • Leaving Prime meant slower shipping but the author was happy to wait and still found the selection and delivery speed satisfactory.
  • Many people love Prime for its fast shipping and convenience, but some readers expressed ambivalence and considered canceling.

Archive link: https://archive.ph/3M27c

(page 2) 50 comments
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[–] LarmyOfLone@lemm.ee 16 points 9 months ago

Who the hell has a prime subscription? Bigger question is how to live without using amazon at all. We need some kind of improved

In my country I can finally start to pay vendors by wiring money instantly without the need for third party payment services. Fucking banks took their sweet time. All this inefficiency basically leads to a tax on all internet commerce that empowers people like Musk or Thiel via paypal.

[–] pwalker@discuss.tchncs.de 15 points 9 months ago

I found out that even without prime the delivery speed is sometimes the same here in Germany. They say it would take 1-2 days longer but quite often my amazon packages arrived early. Same for packaging cost. Sometime they adverdise the 0€ shipping costs with prime but it literally is also 0 without prime. I mean they are not lying, just not telling the whole truth xD

[–] fine_sandy_bottom@discuss.tchncs.de 14 points 9 months ago (7 children)

I've never really understood what prime actually is. They nag me about it on the occasion I might buy something from amazon. weird to think someone perhaps couldn't live without it.

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[–] PrettyFlyForAFatGuy@lemmy.ml 13 points 9 months ago

dropped it when they sent me the emails about adding ads, gf was halfway through a season of supernatural though so set it to expire at the end of the month.

they just took the next payment anyway and carried on my subscription. i had to go on again, cancel... again, and get a refund.

slimey sneaky bezos had his fingers in my wallet

[–] robocall@lemmy.world 13 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I decided to not renew my amazon prime account when it expired in November. I did end up using Amazon once since then. Products on Amazon are overpriced, in addition to the annual fee. I didn't feel like I was getting my money's worth. I didn't like that there were ads on prime video, or fees for grocery delivery that used to be included in the annual fee.

I found a bento box at Marshall's for about $6-7, and the exact same one on amazon for $20-25. Also fuck Bezos and the exploitation of workers, and Amazon's aggressive union busting. and they stole Amazon fresh delivery peoples tip money.

[–] tonyravioli@lemm.ee 13 points 9 months ago (1 children)
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[–] demesisx@slrpnk.net 12 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Pro-Tip: If you’re already signed up for prime, you can go to your membership details and cancel auto-renewal OR they allow you to cancel now and will refund whatever they owe you before the renewal date.

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[–] JackFromWisconsin@midwest.social 12 points 9 months ago

I have never used amazon, much less paid for a subscription service for the pleasure of using it. I was hoping that the author atleast stopped using amazon alltogether. Ah well. Little victories I guess.

[–] punkwalrus@lemmy.world 12 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I hate to be honest, but I used Amazon Prime a lot because:

  1. I cannot drive. Thus, getting to the store is difficult.
  2. I must bring in 3-4 items a week, so yeah, I save on shipping.
  3. Auto-subscriptions save a little.
  4. I have priced a lot of stuff over the years, and while Amazon is not always the best, the convenience is impressive.
  5. They have, multiple times, been incredibly helpful with customer service. Like above and beyond.
  6. COVID and nobody masks around here. I have an autoimmune condition, so it's important that I not leave unless it's a medical appointment or similar need.
  7. They just have stuff I can't find anywhere. Yes, as some have said, caveat emptor, but that's true for all the stores.

I also save a shit ton of money. When I used to browse Walmart or Target, I used to buy a lot of shit I didn't need. I don't get as distracted with focused buying. I also order from Aliexpress if I can wait 30 days, and I have only been ripped off three times in several years, for a total of maybe $35.

I'm not saying my way is better, and certainly not if it's better for you, but it's been a godsend to the house-bound.

[–] smotherlove@sh.itjust.works 14 points 9 months ago

If Amazon genuinely fits your use case, more power to you. I think the problem is the average person being duped into thinking they need Amazon Prime as the default position.

[–] ramsgrl909@lemmy.world 11 points 9 months ago (6 children)

I just genuinely don't understand why people think it's necessary. I use Prime once a year and it's when my boss gives me a gift card for Christmas. I guess I just don't understand what the typical person is buying every single month from Amazon to warrant a subscription - I know 1 or 2 people buying cat litter every month and having it delivered, but why? Just go to the store! I love in a rural town and I still trek to the store. Maybe if you have mobility issues or something but I just don't get it. Probably just the anti-consumer in me.

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[–] Upsidedownturtle@lemmy.world 11 points 9 months ago (3 children)

I have prime for the no rush shipping. Every time I delay my same day or next day shipping to the 3-4 day no rush shipping I get a few dollars of digital credits which I use to buy ebooks. Over the course of a year it essentially pays for the cost of prime with free books I would have bought anyway.

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[–] bitwolf@lemmy.one 10 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

I cancelled Amazon prime a few years ago. Amazon was never able to honor the next day or even two day shipping so I cancelled.

Technically, for me, there was no change in shipping speed for me cancelling prime

[–] Mamertine@lemmy.world 8 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Amazon was never able to honor the next day or even two day shipping

I used to travel a lot for work and needed deliveries on specific days. Amazon guaranteed delivery days were crap.

I know a guy who actually got an official response from Amazon about that. Their response was "We guarantee 2 day shipping once the items are shipped. We may not start shipping for a day or two depending on how busy we are."

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[–] rab@lemmy.ca 10 points 9 months ago (14 children)

Shop local, it's actually quite fun

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[–] kworpy@lemm.ee 10 points 9 months ago

It actually makes your life better!

[–] J12@lemmy.world 9 points 9 months ago

I deleted my Prime! So many good points on this post. My last 2 purchase from Amazon took 2 weeks to get here, which is fine but prime is advertised as 2 days. Amazon prime’s TV selection is for the most part trash & finally Amazon can burn in hell. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to cancel it.

[–] aceshigh@lemmy.world 9 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The shipping time never bothered me. If I need something urgent I’ll go to the store and get it. Otherwise a week or 2 won’t make a difference.

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[–] LifeOfChance@lemmy.world 8 points 9 months ago

I haven't used prime in idk how long. 2 day shipping hasn't been 2 days or even 4 days in years now. Every order with or without prime is at least a week. The only reason I use Amazon is ordering odd ball stuff you can't find in a store or the price difference is substantial enough to justify. I never need to pay for shipping since if I'm ordering it's a bulk order of stuff I need and it's free shipping over $25. I hate Amazon but i also gotta get by some how

[–] Patch@feddit.uk 8 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

No shit that it's easy to live with marginally slower (but still really pretty fast) shipping and access to a second-tier streaming service.

It's pretty much the definition of a luxury purchase.

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 8 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

I've cancelled several years ago because I rarely buy anything online outside of games so it's just not worth it (also Prime Video's selection sucks ass)

The bastards still try to charge me about 4 times a year and I have to do a charge back with my bank.

Also if I ever have to actually buy something through amazon, even if I specifically tell the fuckers not to add prime to my account, they do it anyway.

Fuck Amazon.

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[–] rmuk@feddit.uk 8 points 9 months ago

I buy from Bezoco maybe once or twice a year, if I really can't find something anywhere else, and they always, always offer a free Prime trial.

If you don't know this already: you can cancel the Prime trial immediately and still get the full 30 days (or week or whatever) out of it.

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