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 17 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.

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 17 points 9 months ago (1 children)

But how will I recycle 3 tons of cardboard a year?

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[–] MaxPower@feddit.de 17 points 9 months ago

I agree. Unsubscribed to Prime and Netflix. I'm not missing anything. Good riddance.

[–] Yerbouti@lemmy.ml 16 points 9 months ago (1 children)

What do you people need prime for? Like, how many times a year do you order on amazon, and what products? Its really a mystery to me.

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[–] Retrograde@lemmy.world 16 points 9 months ago (1 children)
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[–] 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

[–] robocall@lemmy.world 15 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.

[–] PrettyFlyForAFatGuy@lemmy.ml 14 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

[–] punkwalrus@lemmy.world 14 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.

[–] 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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[–] tonyravioli@lemm.ee 13 points 9 months ago (1 children)
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[–] Upsidedownturtle@lemmy.world 12 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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[–] 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.

[–] Talaraine@kbin.social 11 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Cancelled two weeks ago, and while it's too early for me to have a fully informed opinion, so far I've noticed that if you just hold items in your cart until you reach some kind of threshold (and I admittedly don't know what that is) you can get free shipping anyway.

It's almost like I was paying all that money just so I could one off order anything on a whim. I'm an adult, I can exercise impulse control and stick it to Amazon in some small way by doing it. Win/Win.

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[–] 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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[–] blazera@kbin.social 11 points 9 months ago

Ive never understood the dependence on Amazon. It's not even a monopoly, I've never bought anything online that somewhere else didnt also offer the product, usually an online store specializing in that product.

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

Shop local, it's actually quite fun

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

It actually makes your life better!

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