Technology

I cancelled my prime because free "2 day" was actually 3-4 day shipping despite living 8 minutes from a distribution center. Among other reasons too but my shipping times haven't changed much. Maybe an extra day or two now since their probably creating an artificial delay for non prime members.

I'm really stingy when it comes to subscriptions and honestly paying for anything at all that I don't have to. But the few things that I and the wife are happy to drop a dime on are Prime, Netflix and unlimited cable and cell data. I got the Verizon NF and Starz deal last year, 1 year for both for $74 and I watch NF constantly. Every day. I'd pay $20/month for it easily. Similarly I'm always buying shrapnel on Prime. I know I could live without it but it's essential enough to us to warrant the outlay.

Maybe it’s buying a new PC, but it’s been awhile since I am excited to get a package. I got most of the parts off other websites, and did get a new monitor on Amazon and was nowhere near excited about it.

There was no build up in waiting for it to come in. With Amazon I just like “it’ll come in in two days”, but with my other parts I’m repeatedly checking the delivery time, planning out what to do when X part comes in, etc.

I kind of live without it by paying for it once a year and then you know, that's it. What's all the fuss about.

My family holds a prime membership and recently I've been seeing how long I could go for without needing to use it. Most things I was able to purchase on eBay. Most recently, I decided to buy pen stuff and JetPens was a good option. However they needed like $50 or something for free shipping so I splurged a little. The one pen ink refill I needed (Jetstream Prime SXR 600 0.5) was way too expensive on both jetpens and ebay so I had to purchase it on Amazon. Nonetheless, I think you can still buy on amazon without a membership so maybe deal with the longer shipping times but that's no biggie.

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.

Amazon moved a distribution center near me and now I basically get what prime delivery used to get me without prime. I can still get free shipping so long as my cart total is high enough, and I think that will remain because even independent retail websites and shippers offer that, so Amazon doesn't want to give people more reason to use them less. Getting rid of prime was easier than soooooo much other stuff I've ditched.