Amazon is facing a serious downturn

After being with Amazon for many years it seems the giant is going to slay itself soon. Gone are the days of damn near everything being cheaper than retail and with free shipping to boot. Many sellers and especially the Chinese are no longer shipping as much product for Prime fulfillment. This means most items are now priced the same or even cheaper in some cases on eBay.

And on top of all the minor issues Prime is going up in cost. They boot customers who return to many items without saying how much is to much. Customer service is now sourced to India and the selection of goods actually worth buying to save a buck is shrinking by the week. I can barely find what I need without having to wait a week or more for Amazon to actually get new stock.

Plus they want customers to pay a higher premium to be a Prime member but they don't want to offer increased benefits. I used to love/support Amazon and spent so much money there. But I can no longer see that added value in paying to be a customer anymore. If they had the same benefits as Costco for example it would be different. In most cases however even Walmart now has better deals along with dirt cheap shipping.

I just bought a 70D and a 35 f/2 IS lens from Amazon. I haven't had a problem with them. In both cases, their prices were as good as anyone I could find other places: $150 off list for the 70D and $40 off the lens.

I buy their kindle books for books with no colored photographs as I use their paperwhite model. I like the convenience of a smaller device instead of adding to buy already too full bookshelves. I do buy actual photography books, for instance.

Last year, I think I paid $89 for their Prime membership. This year, it will increase $10. That's less than one order's two day shipping cost. I can't manage to get upset about it. I did make an effort for a few milliseconds.

That being said, I am going to make an effort to use both B&H and Adorama more often.

I agree they are losing my love, but I'm not bailing on them yet. Stock is drying up and their CS quality is eroding IMO.

I preordered an item. On the day it was supposed to ship, the stock went to backorder with no expected ship date. I chatted with customer service. They informed me that they didn't know why my order wasn't filled and then said they have no idea when they would receive stock.

They asked me if they answered my questions. I said no. Then they asked what I thought they should do to fix the problem. I said find out when you expect to stock the item. They said they didn't no. Then they asked me if they answered my questions. I said no and hung up.

isoMorphic wrote in post #16803638
If they had the same benefits as Costco for example it would be different. In most cases however even Walmart now has better deals along with dirt cheap shipping.

+1 on the Costco suggestion. I wish they'd give out little samples of food as we shop, maybe use those drones to deliver it.

Most everything I've needed and wanted in the last 3-4 years has been Prime eligible.

This has been the case for a while. eBay always has good deals. But it doesn't have 2-day shipping or Amazon CS.

It's called inflation. Everything increases in cost eventually. I'm surprised it took Amazon this long to increase the cost of Prime.

They boot customers that abuse the return policy. I don't see anything wrong with that.

I deal with their CS about once a month and have never had an issue.

Maybe because actually more people are turning to Amazon and buying up the stock before you?

Gas prices have gone up and up...no increased benefits, yet I still buy gas.

I'm sure Amazon will survive without you.

Still mainly an Amazon shopper. I bought a very nice APC Back-UPS the other day for $30 or so less than most other retailers and got 2-day shipping with Prime. Not bad for a 28lb package. The main thing that will hurt Amazon sales will be if Congress passes an internet sales tax. But even then, we'll still be using Amazon because out here in the boonies we have very few other choices. Nearest Sam's Club is an hour away. No Costco here.

Amazon customer service has done right by me several times in the past few months, I'm sticking with them for items which I can't find easily or as cheaply over here.

I know someone who got a camera and lenses from Amazon, took them to Europe for a week, then returned them when they got home. Basically they "borrowed" the stuff from Amazon. I have no problem with Amazon booting the return policy abusers. They should do it more often.

My other favorite shopping place is LL Bean. But if you order something from them and it doesn't fit, you eat the return shipping.

Is it that Amazon is getting more expensive or others have gotten the message and are competing with them. All in all it's good for costumers and an example of competition at it's finest. Now it's Amazons turn to innovate once again driving prices even lower.

M_Six wrote in post #16803930
Still mainly an Amazon shopper. I bought a very nice APC Back-UPS the other day for $30 or so less than most other retailers and got 2-day shipping with Prime. Not bad for a 28lb package. The main thing that will hurt Amazon sales will be if Congress passes an internet sales tax. But even then, we'll still be using Amazon because out here in the boonies we have very few other choices. Nearest Sam's Club is an hour away. No Costco here.

In states where Amazon has some type of presence, the sales tax alone has already made buying some items (particularly items which are essentially priced the same as local retailers) not worth the hassle of waiting for shipping and whatnot because it essentially comes out to being the same price locally, and if you buy it local you can walk away with the item in hand vs waiting 2 days. Mind you I still use Amazon to buy a lot of things, but I have definitely become much more selective recently.

my only complaint with amazon is their increasing usage of USPS-based fulfillment

outmywindow wrote in post #16803971
In states where Amazon has some type of presence, the sales tax alone has already made buying some items (particularly items which are essentially priced the same as local retailers) not worth the hassle of waiting for shipping and whatnot because it essentially comes out to being the same price locally, and if you buy it local you can walk away with the item in hand vs waiting 2 days. Mind you I still use Amazon to buy a lot of things, but I have definitely become much more selective recently.

I'm sure if they pass the internet sales tax or Amazon develops a presence here I'll be more choosy as well, but as I said, there aren't a lot of options here. I'm seriously into instant gratification and if could drive down the street to buy a lens I would, even if it cost a bit more.

ekinnyc wrote in post #16803984
my only complaint with amazon is their increasing usage of USPS-based fulfillment

I hate that. Sometimes I'll have UPS hold it for pickup so I can get it a day or two earlier. The UPS depot is 10 minutes away.

I don't think it is an issue with Amazon no longer offering low prices and free shipping, I think that the competition is finally catching up and competing successfully. I hate driving to the store only to find something not in stock so 2 day prime is good for me. Not sitting in traffic and dealing with the stress of that is worth the prime fee.

The competition is offering similar shipping options but not at the level amazon is with tracking, easy returns, customer service, etc. I will give it another year on my membership then reevaluate.

Eventually, all 50 states will pass legislation that forces online retailers to collect their sales tax. As was mentioned earlier, it's already automatic if the online retailer has a distribution center in the state.

This will open up the door for brick and mortar store restarts. We had a great photo shop here until they could no longer compete due to the sales tax issue. They could get their prices the same as Amazon, B&H and Adorama, but they couldn't compete when they had to add 6% sales tax to the order.