4 ms·

It sounds like you get something out of this more than stuff, you get the fun of gaming the system. > Another key is to order stuff that weighs a lot (40lbs+).

It sounds like you get something out of this more than stuff, you get the fun of gaming the system. > Another key is to order stuff that weighs a lot (40lbs+). Last time I did FBA the UPS rate for Amazon shipping was ~50 cents / lb . So if you're getting a 40lb item (especially if it has weird dimensions) they're likely not paying much lower than $15-20 to get that to your door in 2 days. This is like overeating at a buffet to feel like you got your money’s worth.

kibwen 8y ago
When companies become openly consumer-hostile, we should expect consumers to become company-hostile. It's true that this leads to an antagonistic race to the bottom, but the alternative is a leisurely stroll to the bottom as one party pulls the other along by the neck. I don't know of any way to really reconcile this; trust is easy to lose and hard to earn, and in an environment of perpetual betrayal no party is eager to be the first to risk having their trust be taken advantage of.
- chickenfries 8y ago
  My point is that Amazon or the buffet owner will not be brought down by a few customers who are a net loss to them shipping wise. They have already done the math. You can either use amazon because you’ve decided you need it or you can actually stop giving them money and recommend others do so. That is a much bigger threat to them. Continuing to use prime and buying things you don’t need from Amazon isn’t being “hostile” to Amazon.
  - eganist 8y ago
    Well it's even easier than that. They'll just ban you. http://time.com/money/5288702/amazon-return-policy-ban/ http://time.com/money/5288702/amazon-return-policy-ban/ It's like card counting at a casino. Even if you're technically within the rules, you'll still get walked to the door. As an aside: I canceled prime long ago. Couldn't be happier. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16937290 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16937290

kibwen 8y ago

When companies become openly consumer-hostile, we should expect consumers to become company-hostile. It's true that this leads to an antagonistic race to the bottom, but the alternative is a leisurely stroll to the bottom as one party pulls the other along by the neck. I don't know of any way to really reconcile this; trust is easy to lose and hard to earn, and in an environment of perpetual betrayal no party is eager to be the first to risk having their trust be taken advantage of.

chickenfries 8y ago
My point is that Amazon or the buffet owner will not be brought down by a few customers who are a net loss to them shipping wise. They have already done the math. You can either use amazon because you’ve decided you need it or you can actually stop giving them money and recommend others do so. That is a much bigger threat to them. Continuing to use prime and buying things you don’t need from Amazon isn’t being “hostile” to Amazon.
- eganist 8y ago
  Well it's even easier than that. They'll just ban you. http://time.com/money/5288702/amazon-return-policy-ban/ http://time.com/money/5288702/amazon-return-policy-ban/ It's like card counting at a casino. Even if you're technically within the rules, you'll still get walked to the door. As an aside: I canceled prime long ago. Couldn't be happier. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16937290 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16937290