Amazon shipping, a vent disguised as a question

[athomeontheprairie]

EVERY time I order from Amazon, I order enough to get free shipping. (I'm not a prime member) EVERY time, I select "free shipping 5-7 days". EVERY time, it takes them "5-7days" to "prepare my shipment". And since I live way out, another 5-7 days to ship.

It's really starting to tick me off. If it's going to take 2 weeks, be up front about it. Does this happen to anyone else?

[Julie Smith]

Never happens to me. Usually amazon.ca gets me my 5 to 7 day shipping stuff in less than five days.

[Guest]

Yes, but I figured some of that was just my location and the fact that I refuse to pay for prime?

[AngieC]

I live very close to a warehouse and I find that my orders take several days to ship and then often arrive quickly once they leave the warehouse. I have always assumed the delay was to encourage people to pay for upgraded shipping because why would I pay for expedited shipping if i knew it would arrive quickly at no extra charge.

[Guest]

I have prime and I can count on one hand the number of times my order hasn't been at my door in 2 days. All the heart eyes for prime.

[Zinnia]

Even before we had prime, our stuff came in 1-2 days, no matter what the site says.

 

My neighborhood does have a dedicated amazon delivery van, though.

[QueenCat]

Even before we had prime, our stuff came in 1-2 days, no matter what the site says.

 

My neighborhood does have a dedicated amazon delivery van, though.

 

Your neighborhood has a dedicated amazon delivery van? Wow!

[wendyroo]

While we are one the topic of Amazon shipping...

 

I placed a Prime order on Friday, April 14th.  They said it would get here in 2 days, but I didn't put much stock in that because that would have meant delivery not only on a Sunday, but on Easter Sunday.

 

Lo and behold, there the USPS truck came to deliver the package during our egg hunt.

 

Really, truly, there was nothing in that package so urgent that it needed to be delivered on Easter, so now I always consider holidays when placing Prime orders.  I'm currently making sure I have everything I need for Spencer's birthday and for the start of school (we are starting in about 10 days), because I really don't want anyone stuck driving a mail truck on the Fourth of July on my account.

 

Wendy

[cjzimmer1]

I guess I never paid any attention to what the free non prime shipping time was but my experience it that it will sit in the not shipped/preparing for shipping status for a long time (and order a couple of weeks ago sat in that state for 10 days and there wasn't anything out of stock or backordered even) but once it actually leaves Amazon I get it in 2-3 days (which is exactly the same time frame I would get things with Prime, it was very hit or miss if I actually had things in 2 days).  It makes me wonder if everything is shipped at the same speed but prime members just faster processing/packaging.  But I just plan for it to be at least 7-14 days from the time I order something until I receive it.  Walmart's prices are very similar and their shipping is much faster for me so I will order from Walmart before I do from Amazon.

[nixpix5]

I have never had that happen even when I select the option under prime to take however long they need and I get credits. It still shows up in a couple of days. My kids now have an unrealistic time table in their head for shipping thanks to Amazon. They think everything should show up within a day or two :)

[eternalsummer]

While we are one the topic of Amazon shipping...

 

I placed a Prime order on Friday, April 14th.  They said it would get here in 2 days, but I didn't put much stock in that because that would have meant delivery not only on a Sunday, but on Easter Sunday.

 

Lo and behold, there the USPS truck came to deliver the package during our egg hunt.

 

Really, truly, there was nothing in that package so urgent that it needed to be delivered on Easter, so now I always consider holidays when placing Prime orders.  I'm currently making sure I have everything I need for Spencer's birthday and for the start of school (we are starting in about 10 days), because I really don't want anyone stuck driving a mail truck on the Fourth of July on my account.

 

Wendy

 

I dunno, I don't celebrate Easter, and if I worked for USPS I'd be happy to work for double on Easter (or whatever the holiday rate is).  I assume they can get someone who doesn't celebrate. (but maybe not always)

[Carrie12345]

I *am a Prime member, and I get jerked around on times.  The answer is always "2-Day shipping is time from when it goes out, not from the time of ordering."

 

It probably only happens to about 10% of my orders, but I order a lot.

[Cindy in FL.]

I think it sometimes has to do with the items being in different warehouses and having to be brought together to ship. At least that is what has happened to me in the past. I know it can be frustrating!

[wendyroo]

I *am a Prime member, and I get jerked around on times.  The answer is always "2-Day shipping is time from when it goes out, not from the time of ordering."

 

It probably only happens to about 10% of my orders, but I order a lot.

 

I used to have that problem.  About a year ago, we went through a phase of "2 day shipping" almost always meaning packages arrived 3-4 days later.  We are not out in the boonies, we are 15 minutes from a medium-large city, so there was no excuse.

 

In the past year, however, things have really swung to the other extreme.  "2 day" now seems to mean 2 days, come hell or high water.  Recently I ordered a big, heavy canopy tent for the backyard.  I ordered on Saturday, it was scheduled to arrive on Monday, but the post man did not have it when he came around at the usual time (~11 am).  But then, the door bell rang at 6:30pm.  It was the post man.  He said my package must have gotten in on a late truck, because he got back to the post office after his route and there it was.  So he threw it in his truck and made a special delivery.

 

Wendy

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

I just placed an order on amazon, which ended up subdivided into 4 boxes for some reason.  I had them shipped to a relative in the US in order to get free shipping (not prime).  Everything was there within a week form the time I placed the order (6 days in total.  The fastest box arrived on the third day).  

[elegantlion]

Does it give you the option to have things shipped as soon as possible with free shipping? I know sometimes when I don't check that box with prime, it may take longer because one item has to be shipped to another warehouse.

 

As far as shipping time, I rarely do not get things within 2 days, there may have been one recently, maybe 3 days from ordering. I am now getting Sunday deliveries as well. I ordered something Friday night and thought it wouldn't be here until Monday. It was delivered on Sunday. Sometimes the Sunday delivery time shows up on the order.  

[Mama Geek]

Even being a prime member there are a few times that it will take several days before shipping.  It doesn't happen very often though.

[Katy]

While we are one the topic of Amazon shipping...

 

I placed a Prime order on Friday, April 14th.  They said it would get here in 2 days, but I didn't put much stock in that because that would have meant delivery not only on a Sunday, but on Easter Sunday.

 

Lo and behold, there the USPS truck came to deliver the package during our egg hunt.

 

Really, truly, there was nothing in that package so urgent that it needed to be delivered on Easter, so now I always consider holidays when placing Prime orders.  I'm currently making sure I have everything I need for Spencer's birthday and for the start of school (we are starting in about 10 days), because I really don't want anyone stuck driving a mail truck on the Fourth of July on my account.

 

I wouldn't worry about that.  We've had family who worked for postal service, and DH worked for UPS through college.  They are covered by union rules and are making double or triple time for stuff like that.  The people who volunteer to do it are happy for the pay.

[Butter]

I've only ever, in many years of having Prime, had things take longer two or three times.  That was in southern MD, northern VA, AND San Antonio Texas.  I often get things sooner than the 5-7 days if I choose that option, but I still get the perk for being willing to wait.  Now they have same day shipping on some items here and I've done that, too (we've got PrimeNOW as well - which we've also done - but the same day shipping is different).  Most Amazon deliveries are made in cars or vans here now.  That has only been a little inconvenient because we live in a gated community with live security (they call, we let them in) so sometimes, if no one they are delivering to is home, it's a little harder for them to get into the neighborhood.

[My4arrows]

Yes, it used to happen all the time. And I finally caved in and got prime again and no issues since then. Not sure if we wil renew again, but for now it works well as I'm more rural and a treat to get things here fast without having to shop.

[Word Nerd]

Even being a prime member there are a few times that it will take several days before shipping.  It doesn't happen very often though.

 

It's happened a few times for us too, but usually they indicate that the item won't be shipped immediately while you're placing the order. Once or twice they've even canceled the order altogether because the item was unavailable even though it was supposedly in stock at the time of the order. At least once we got a two-day Prime order almost two weeks after we placed it, and there was no explanation for the long delay.

[Julie Smith]

I'm not sure why, but today I keep reading, "Prime member" as "Prime Minister".

[EmilyGF]

I think they do this on purpose. Mail is so fast now that they want to make sure only prime members get things quickly, so they process non-prime orders at the latest possible moment.

 

Emily

[zoobie]

If I select the free super saver shipping to get whatever bonus they're offering Prime members, they hold the order for 5 days then ship it and it comes overnight because we live so close to a distribution center. It's very bizarre.

[Word Nerd]

Prime is worth the extra cost. You get much more than fast shipping.

[Word Nerd]

I think they do this on purpose. Mail is so fast now that they want to make sure only prime members get things quickly, so they process non-prime orders at the latest possible moment.

 

Emily

 

They have a lot of orders to process. The customers who pay more get priority and are bumped ahead in the line for shipping/handling.

Edited June 27, 2017 by Word Nerd

[Kassia]

Yes, regular Amazon shipping seems to take forever!  Don't choose it if you need something soon.

[wapiti]

I have prime.  Before I put an item in my cart, I can usually see exactly what day it would arrive (not two days from when I order, because it often depends on what time of day I place the order, for certain sellers or warehouses).  That depends on which seller - sometimes there's more than one prime offer.  Only rarely have I not received orders when they said they were going to arrive from the info I saw before I ordered.

Edited June 27, 2017 by wapiti

[historically accurate]

While we are one the topic of Amazon shipping...

 

I placed a Prime order on Friday, April 14th.  They said it would get here in 2 days, but I didn't put much stock in that because that would have meant delivery not only on a Sunday, but on Easter Sunday.

 

Lo and behold, there the USPS truck came to deliver the package during our egg hunt.

 

Really, truly, there was nothing in that package so urgent that it needed to be delivered on Easter, so now I always consider holidays when placing Prime orders.  I'm currently making sure I have everything I need for Spencer's birthday and for the start of school (we are starting in about 10 days), because I really don't want anyone stuck driving a mail truck on the Fourth of July on my account.

 

Wendy

 

I placed an order for my mother a few weeks ago and told her it would arrive on Monday. She said, it'll be Tuesday, Monday is Memorial Day. I told her in my experience Amazon delivers no matter what - she didn't believe me. It arrived Monday morning bright and early. 

[Zinnia]

Prime is worth the extra cost. You get much more than fast shipping.

 

I haven't really taken advantage of much, and I've thought about (gasp!) cancelling.

 

Today I discovered audible has channels with rotating audio books for free.  Ahhhh!!  Heaven!  Totally worth it.  :)

[cjzimmer1]

Prime is worth the extra cost. You get much more than fast shipping.

 

Other than faster shipping, I haven't found any use to it.  I don't watch movies or listen to music.  I don't listen to books (I struggle with auditory processing so anything that requires me to listen requires intense focus and I just skip it).  I don't even like to read much because I hate to sit still that long.  I'm not techy so I don't really use electronics much.  So yeah, I'm definitely not their target audience.

[Dmmetler]

I think it depends on where you are. Mail order tends to be fast to us, but we're in tge middle of everything. Even if a given company doesn't have a distribution center here, it's probably one hop to get here.

 

I love Prime, but it's more for free shipping than for fast shipping.

[EmilyGF]

I actually think prime is a bad deal because Amazon up prices small items they assume you won't price shop on. The free, fast shipping them makes it easy to reflexively buy those things from amazon. I was shocked at how cheap a bunch of small things were at Office Depot when I went in there recently.

 

Emily

[athomeontheprairie]

OP here...

Just a couple additional thoughts. In this case it was ONE item. They did not need to group items from multiple warehouses.

They almost ALWAYS change the delivery date-so I can't go by that. This order has already been changed 3 times.

It doesn't help that, unless it comes usps (which this is not), we don't get Saturday service. UPS and Fedex only come to my house M-F, and then only if the weather is good (no rain/snow). My current delivery date is on a Saturday-which means Monday. That's not their fault, but it IS annoying.

I agree with whomever upthread indicated Prime orders move to the front of the line and get shipped faster. This causes more people to buy prime, I get it. What I don't get is DON'T offer me 5-7 days shipping when that really isn't what you mean. If FREE shipping is 10-14, say it. Be honest about the time frame.

 

Thanks for letting me vent :)

[Katy]

I actually think prime is a bad deal because Amazon up prices small items they assume you won't price shop on. The free, fast shipping them makes it easy to reflexively buy those things from amazon. I was shocked at how cheap a bunch of small things were at Office Depot when I went in there recently.

 

Emily

 

Those items are generally not things sold by Amazon itself, but by a 3rd party seller using Amazon, whose entire business is selling things like that to people who are home bound or do not go shopping.

 

Amazon itself has mostly been sticking to media things, though recently has started adding fashion.

[wendyroo]

Those items are generally not things sold by Amazon itself, but by a 3rd party seller using Amazon, whose entire business is selling things like that to people who are home bound or do not go shopping.

 

Amazon itself has mostly been sticking to media things, though recently has started adding fashion.

 

:confused1:  :confused1:  :confused1:

 

And aspirin and razors and turtle food and ...

 

Amazon has its own brand name (AmazonBasics) that sells nigh on everything.

[greenbeanmama]

Yes, it's done on purpose to "encourage" (ahem...punish?) non-Prime members. I actually ordered something on May 14th that isn't here yet -it is now out of stock, but I dare not cancel the item because I got a really good price (half) what it is now selling for. Granted, it was a Father's Day gift...

 

My sister works at Amazon corporate. Learning about their business practices had caused me to order less from them. But we are in a small town, and have very limited options, so that's difficult.

[bettyandbob]

for me it is usually 4 days (used to be 3). Sometimes 2 days. Sometimes 7. During October through the first, maybe second week of December I can count on 2-3 days. 

[ktgrok]

Even being a prime member there are a few times that it will take several days before shipping.  It doesn't happen very often though.

 

Yes. But pretty much always it says on the item details somewhere that it may take so and so long to ship. "Usually ships in 2-4 days" or something. 

[kwickimom]

I had the same problem with Prime shipping. Call or chat with customer service and complain EVERYTIME. Each time I got one free month of Prime and after calling 6 times in a row on late shipments, they magically started coming on time. I argue with them that they are running a scam and false advertising shipping time. Its a game they play.