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The original idea with prime (for the consumer) was that they would get free two day shipping. Amazon already had free shipping for Amazon sold items starting

by beezle 5y ago

The original idea with prime (for the consumer) was that they would get free two day shipping. Amazon already had free shipping for Amazon sold items starting at like $25 total (is it 35 now?) but back then it could take 3-7 days to arrive. I can't claim to know the average amount of orders but it is not that hard to meet the hurdle for free 'standard' shipping and (pre-covid) most deliveries now are already in a two to three day window. Think it will be difficult to prove that the existence of Prime actually inflates the price of goods, net net, absent Prime.

chrisseaton 5y ago
Isn’t the point of Prime next-day? Normal shipping was already around two days.
- Klinky 5y ago
  No, it was free two-day shipping with cheap one-day, but that has morphed a bit over time, as sometimes stuff is eligible for free one-day shipping or is eligible for same-day delivery, if you buy at least $35. Also sometimes it takes longer than two days. Their normal ship time was up to 7 days in the past, and even using their non-prime shipping today that is still true.
  - caturopath 5y ago
    > sometimes stuff is eligible for free one-day shipping or is eligible for same-day delivery, if you buy at least $35 Even cheap items alone on an order are often available same/next in many markets -- it has to do with where the inventory is and how they're going to get it to your home.
- WarOnPrivacy 5y ago
  > Normal shipping was already around two days. As the OP noted, 3-7 days is common. Amazon shopping in an unauthenticated/private window is an easy way to see shipping differences.
- jimktrains2 5y ago
  Not anymore. My prime orders take multiple days to even ship and then 2-4 days to be delivered.
- caturopath 5y ago
  US prime is marketed as "two day", though in many markets free next-day arrival is common. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qanMpnYsjk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qanMpnYsjk is a pretty good Youtube video about Amazon's shipping system. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3qfeoqErtY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3qfeoqErtY is a good Youtube video that discusses how overnight shipping systems like Fedex etc. have works.
- Spooky23 5y ago
  It was two. Now it’s anything from next day to a week for oversized or limited stock items.

by beezle 5y ago

chrisseaton 5y ago

Isn’t the point of Prime next-day? Normal shipping was already around two days.

Klinky 5y ago
No, it was free two-day shipping with cheap one-day, but that has morphed a bit over time, as sometimes stuff is eligible for free one-day shipping or is eligible for same-day delivery, if you buy at least $35. Also sometimes it takes longer than two days. Their normal ship time was up to 7 days in the past, and even using their non-prime shipping today that is still true.
- caturopath 5y ago
  > sometimes stuff is eligible for free one-day shipping or is eligible for same-day delivery, if you buy at least $35 Even cheap items alone on an order are often available same/next in many markets -- it has to do with where the inventory is and how they're going to get it to your home.
WarOnPrivacy 5y ago
> Normal shipping was already around two days. As the OP noted, 3-7 days is common. Amazon shopping in an unauthenticated/private window is an easy way to see shipping differences.
jimktrains2 5y ago
Not anymore. My prime orders take multiple days to even ship and then 2-4 days to be delivered.
caturopath 5y ago
US prime is marketed as "two day", though in many markets free next-day arrival is common. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qanMpnYsjk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qanMpnYsjk is a pretty good Youtube video about Amazon's shipping system. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3qfeoqErtY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3qfeoqErtY is a good Youtube video that discusses how overnight shipping systems like Fedex etc. have works.
Spooky23 5y ago
It was two. Now it’s anything from next day to a week for oversized or limited stock items.