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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Ben on August 31, 2022, 09:48:41 PM

Title: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on August 31, 2022, 09:48:41 PM
Is anyone else with Amazon Prime seeing this?

Suddenly, starting a week ago (23AUG), nothing I look at on Amazon with Prime delivery will arrive before 07SEP. My normal "Amazon day" delivery days are Wed and Fri, so several of the items should have been available before then. I'm not even getting an option for one day delivery.

I'm wondering if they are cutting rural delivery fleets? A few years ago, I would have to wait for several days to a week for a USPS or UPS delivery from Amazon Prime, then they got their own trucks out my way and I was getting one day options. Now this, which is strange, because we have a ginormous Amazon building in the area. I have noticed that my last several deliveries have all been either USPS or UPS.

Edit: I've been trying to gazoogle, but not much out there. I did find this:

https://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/amazon-no-longer-offers-2-day-shipping/

Edit#2:

I just did some experimenting, throwing random items into my cart, then going to checkout and changing the delivery address to my sister, who lives in a mid-size city in CA. Everything had a "next day" option.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Hawkmoon on August 31, 2022, 10:35:41 PM
Their delivery subcontractor's mule probably died.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: RocketMan on August 31, 2022, 11:51:00 PM
Amazon seems to have quit using contractors, UPS and FedEx in this area.  Our last five shipments from Amazon were delivered via USPS, and all were late.  Four deliveries were three days late, one delivery was two days late.  Each time USPS used the "attempted delivery" excuse.  Interesting how regular letters made it into our mailbox each time an "attempted delivery" of Amazon products didn't make it.
Late Amazon deliveries were starting to occur more frequently before these five consecutive ones happened.  Not sure where the problem resides, though I am leaning toward it being a USPS problem.  We've seen a lot of turnover among the postal carriers that serve our neighborhood.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: K Frame on September 01, 2022, 07:20:39 AM
Amazon is no longer servicing deplorables.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on September 01, 2022, 07:32:13 AM
Amazon is no longer servicing deplorables.

Probably one of the Amazon drivers reported the Gadsden flag in front of the house.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on September 01, 2022, 08:11:54 AM
More interesting experimentation.

I put a popular item that has always been available for the last few years with next day delivery in my cart. The fastest delivery option is one week out. Amazon day delivery is two weeks out. I then changed the delivery address to an Amazon locker 30 minutes away and everything is available tomorrow.

I also put in a random residential address in the town closest to my house, and that was also a week out.

It's looking more and more like they are cutting rural services - at least in my area.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: K Frame on September 01, 2022, 08:31:11 AM
Good to hear that they're holding up their end of the $139 a year prime 1 day delivery contract...
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: AZRedhawk44 on September 01, 2022, 12:58:37 PM
I've gotten the  impression that Amazon has been slowly downgrading the delivery efficiency of Prime services over the last few years.  Part of that might be because of the Coof, and outside of their control, but mostly I think they're just shuffling funds from Prime customers that bought Prime for shipping, towards SJW streaming programming.

I bought some automotive plastic rivet pullers from Amazon earlier this week, the same time that I bought some protective fuel tank and engine sump guards from a vendor in eastern Europe.  The European package is arriving before the Amazon one.

Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: HeroHog on September 01, 2022, 01:23:41 PM
Other than carp from <Trump>Chi-na</Trump>, our stuff gets here PDQ. There IS an Amazon Dist Center (https://www.ktbs.com/news/200m-shreveport-amazon-fulfillment-center-announced/article_561ff4cc-af09-11eb-a0fb-b36042f61225.html) here though so that helps and we do live in town. We are all thoroughly deplorable in this house though.
 ;)
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: MillCreek on September 01, 2022, 01:48:43 PM
I have noticed some slowing of shipping as well, and I think our local Amazon is having issues with the last mile deliveries.  Over the past few weeks, I have noticed fewer deliveries in the Amazon vans, and more deliveries by people in personal autos.  There is a new 2.5 million sq. ft. Amazon distribution center being built four miles from us, opening in a few months.  I will be interested to see if shipping speed improves with that, as opposed to coming from the Everett distribution center 20 miles away.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on September 01, 2022, 05:24:42 PM
Part of my current (going on an hour) chat with Amazon:

Quote
Thanks for the details.
Two day shipping does not means that the order will be delivered in two days it rather means that the order will take two days in transit, meaning the order will be delivered with in two days after it ships. This excludes weekends and any holidays.
That is why we call it two day shipping instead of two day delivery. Delivery dates are calculated on the basis of item availability, the quantity ordered, selected delivery speed, packaging time, distance between the fulfillment center where the item is available and the carrier service and then distance between the carrier service to your address.
We always try to deliver the order as early as possible and on maximum occasions we will even deliver your order in two days of placing it however it is not possible in every case basis of the above explanation. I hope you understand.
 
R2:52 PM
Yes but up until last week, any of these items were available as next day.
2:53 PM
RUPENDRA | Customer Service
Have you tried on any other address?
R2:54 PM
Yes, several. When I use an address in the closest town (I am rural) it now shows the same thing, but when I put an address in 10 miles further, or to an Amazon locker, one day shipping shows up again
2:55 PM
RUPENDRA | Customer Service
I understand your concern.
Please allow me a moment to check this for you.

Quote
Thank you so much  for waiting.
The items that you are looking for is not available in the nearest fulfillment center.To successfully fulfilling your order we try to ship item from other fulfillment center where the item is readily available and due to which it takes additional time to ship your package.

R3:10 PM
So my closest fulfillment center is empty of goods? I have tried literally dozens of things that have all come to me in one or two days prior to last week, and nothing is now showing available before sep 8. I guess my point is that if Amazon is curtailing rural prime deliveries so that they take a week, I could just cancel my prime membership and use regular shipping. Also, any of these items are available in one day just 20 miles from my house.
Also the order showed that if I use the Amazon locker 30min from my house, this order would be available for pickup tomorrow.
3:14 PM
RUPENDRA | Customer Service
Have you tried amazon locker?
R3:15 PM
That is what I just typed. A locker 30 min away shows the items available for pickup tomorrow, so they can't be unavailable at my fulfillment center. Amazon just seems to not be delivering them to my house.
3:16 PM
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: K Frame on September 01, 2022, 05:28:18 PM
And the entire time I was reading that I was thinking of Apu from the Simpsons...

Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on September 01, 2022, 05:39:44 PM
And the entire time I was reading that I was thinking of Apu from the Simpsons...

Yeah, me too. To finish:

Quote
RUPENDRA | Customer Service
I am sorry for the delay.
Currently we do not have any carrier to assign for your orders.
I kindly request you to place the order in your amazon locker.
I will help you with 50% discount.
Would that be fine?
R3:28 PM
Yes, that's fine. Thanks
3:29 PM
RUPENDRA | Customer Service
Thanks for your understanding.
R3:29 PM
Okay, thanks for your help
3:30 PM
RUPENDRA | Customer Service
You are most welcome.
Thank you for being a Prime member.
You can contact us back once you receive your order we will help you with discount.
R3:31 PM
okay
3:31 PM
RUPENDRA | Customer Service
Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Which, the above was a little frustrating, because to "help him track", I placed an order for a $10 item. If I knew they were gonna offer a 50% discount, I would have bought a $100 item.   :mad: :laugh:

They also gave me a $20 promo, which I wasn't able to post here, because interestingly, once you are done chatting with them, they wipe the whole conversation from their end. If I hadn't been copying the text to notepad for my own reference, I would have no evidence of the conversation.

Also, it took an hour of circular conversation to get to what I suspected in the first place: They don't have enough Amazon van drivers, so us yokels are getting our deliveries reduced. Now I'm stuck driving to an Amazon locker if I need something faster than a week out, at least until or of they get drivers back to work.

I also wonder if they might be trying to steer hicks like me to Amazon lockers anyway so that they don't have to cover all the redneck routes with 1/4 mile between addresses.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: K Frame on September 01, 2022, 05:57:35 PM
Dear Sahib Ben,

Thank you for being an Amazon Prime member of great importance! Your loyalty and rupees have helped fund our founder's flying space penis and for that we are very thankful!

To show how thankful we are that our founder has a flying space penis, we would like to off you 50% off an item of your choice ($1 or less in value).

We understand that our not having enough drivers to service you, the way the flying space penis services our founder, is frustrating, but we hope you'll take comfort in knowing that the money we save by not paying delivery drivers will go towards sending our founder up in his flying space penis.

Sincerely,

Apu
Amazon Flying Space Penis customer service department
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: WLJ on September 01, 2022, 06:00:49 PM
Dear Sahib Ben,

Thank you for being an Amazon Prime member of great importance! You have helped fund our founder's flying space penis and for that we are very thankful!

To show how thankful we are that our founder has a flying space penis, we would like to off you 50% off an item of your choice ($1 or less in value).

We understand that our not having enough drivers to service you, the way the flying space penis services our founder, is frustrating, but we hope you'll take comfort in knowing that the money we save by not paying delivery drivers will go towards sending our founder up in his flying space penis.

Sincerely,

Apu
Amazon Flying Space Penis customer service department

You forgot about the $1 off rides on the Flying Space Penis coupons
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: RocketMan on September 01, 2022, 06:09:22 PM
Had a nice chat with our mail carrier today, asking her why Amazon packages are not being delivered in a timely fashion when marked "Out for Delivery" by the USPS.  She was another new face, by the way, at least the fifth I've seen in the last couple of months.  Today was her 30th day on the job.  The poor lady has a 90 minute one-way commute from Charlotte to get to her job up here in Hickory, and she routinely works 14 hour days, six days a week.  The cost of gas for her commute is eating much of her income.
She told me Amazon is absolutely swamping the USPS.  Amazon does not appear to be using FedEx or UPS all that much in this area any more.  Couple that with Hickory USPS being seriously short staffed, Amazon deliveries are backing up, being miss-sorted at the USPS facility, and many are just being delivered late.
Another Amazon package marked "out for delivery" was not delivered today, and that's what prompted me to have the conversation with the carrier.  She was very nice about everything, and I could tell she genuinely wanted to provide good service.  She hoped that my package would be delivered by another carrier later tonight, but I expect it will be marked "delivery attempted" or "delivery failed" here shortly.
I really felt sorry for her as the job has to be pretty thankless.  I suspect she is frustrated with the job and likely won't stick with it much longer unless she can be transferred to a route in Charlotte.

Update:  My package did arrive at about 6:30 PM.  Quite surprised by this development as all five previous packages arrived days late.
It was just an envelope of eight dipped tantalum capacitors for a power supply project I'm working on for my amateur radio gear.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: MillCreek on September 01, 2022, 06:27:05 PM
^^^The local FB pages up here are full of stories about delayed USPS letter and package deliveries.  In some cases, people are encountering an empty mailbox for a week, and then one day it is stuffed full of letters and packages that have been in some sort of holding pattern.  The local USPS stations are begging for people to hire and deliver the mail.  Add to it that thieves have stolen/copies the mailbox master key for the zipcode, which means that they can open the mailbox stands for the entire zipcode just like the letter carrier does instead of prying or drilling out the individual locks. 
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on September 01, 2022, 06:55:04 PM
Add to it that thieves have stolen/copies the mailbox master key for the zipcode, which means that they can open the mailbox stands for the entire zipcode just like the letter carrier does instead of prying or drilling out the individual locks.

When I was in CA last year for my dad's funeral, I couldn't get his mail because a couple days prior, thieves had power sawed through (or something) the subdivision mailbox stand and pulled the whole thing out of the ground and took off with it. Apparently none of the neighbors didn't see nuthin'.  ;/
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Hawkmoon on September 01, 2022, 06:55:40 PM
Amazon seems to have quit using contractors, UPS and FedEx in this area.

Well, here too ... sort of, but not really. They have drastically cut back on UPS and FedEx, but ...

There are now several Amazon distribution centers around here, and fleets of "Amazon" branded delivery vans running hither and thither. However, those vans aren't operated by Amazon -- they are operated by captive subcontractors, generally who have been set up in business by Amazon. If you do some Internet surfing, you'll probably find that more of them fail than succeed, because (just like in their warehouses) Amazon imposes unrealistic performance metrics that have to be met if they want to keep the contract.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Devonai on September 01, 2022, 06:57:01 PM
I happen to live in Windsor, CT, the site of two huge Amazon facilities with a third on the way.  I always get my crap quickly, from all carriers, sometimes on the same day.

Have y'all considered moving to Windsor, CT?  The downside is that, uh... well, everything else about CT.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on September 01, 2022, 07:04:58 PM
Well, here too ... sort of, but not really. They have drastically cut back on UPS and FedEx, but ...

There are now several Amazon distribution centers around here, and fleets of "Amazon" branded delivery vans running hither and thither. However, those vans aren't operated by Amazon -- they are operated by captive subcontractors, generally who have been set up in business by Amazon. If you do some Internet surfing, you'll probably find that more of them fail than succeed, because (just like in their warehouses) Amazon imposes unrealistic performance metrics that have to be met if they want to keep the contract.

Yeah, I think I alluded above that when I first moved here, stuff was taking several days to arrive via UPS or USPS, then Amazon finished up a ginormous fulfillment center maybe an hour from my house, and suddenly Amazon vans were everywhere and I was getting next day options. It all went swimmingly until now. Though I noticed that in the last couple of months I was getting more UPS and USPS deliveries again, but the Amazon vans were still showing up too.

The funny thing is that I was actually using "Amazon Day" most of the time, which averaged 4-5 days delivery for me letting an order build up, and I was fine with it, figuring I didn't want them having to waste time and resources coming out here every day to deliver something like a wrench one day and some soap the next. Having two Amazon delivery days was fine with me.

Now that I'm getting this week wait (and Amazon Day is showing up as two weeks), I'm not collecting orders anymore. I'm just clicking whatever gets it here the fastest, even for just one item at a time. A two week wait for an order is practically going back to the days of catalog orders, where you mailed them the order form and a check.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: K Frame on September 01, 2022, 07:19:18 PM
"Add to it that thieves have stolen/copies the mailbox master key for the zipcode, which means that they can open the mailbox stands for the entire zipcode just like the letter carrier does instead of prying or drilling out the individual locks. "

Take a good look at the lock on your stand mailbox sometime... specifically the interior of the box and how the lock is held into your mail door.

The vast majority of them are held in with a spring clip.

We watched this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-sJozwsJyM

It was easier than that.

Those boxes are incredibly insecure.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: WLJ on September 01, 2022, 07:40:25 PM
"Add to it that thieves have stolen/copies the mailbox master key for the zipcode, which means that they can open the mailbox stands for the entire zipcode just like the letter carrier does instead of prying or drilling out the individual locks. "

Take a good look at the lock on your stand mailbox sometime... specifically the interior of the box and how the lock is held into your mail door.

The vast majority of them are held in with a spring clip.

We watched this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-sJozwsJyM

It was easier than that.

Those boxes are incredibly insecure.

Been noticing a lot of reports of mail carriers being held up and their keys taken lately
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Bogie on September 01, 2022, 09:11:10 PM
And... The fee for my post office box is now over $110 every six months.
 
I need to do some sort of mailbox, but I really don't want folks seeing mail sitting.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: K Frame on September 01, 2022, 10:08:04 PM
I get very little of any importance in my mail these days.

Occasionally I get a replacement credit card, I get checks for some dividend payments, and a few other things, but all of my bills are electronic these days so I don't have to worry about stuff like that being swiped.

We've never had a problem with mail theft in my community, though, so fingers crossed.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Hawkmoon on September 02, 2022, 02:34:00 AM
And... The fee for my post office box is now over $110 every six months.
 
I need to do some sort of mailbox, but I really don't want folks seeing mail sitting.

Is there a UPS Store near you? Most (if not all) of them rent private mailboxes. Don't know how the cost compares to the good old U.S. Postal Service.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Bogie on September 02, 2022, 10:33:49 AM
Back about 20 years ago, they were a LOT higher... I maintained a Clayton mailing address for business stuff...
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Bogie on September 02, 2022, 01:20:23 PM
And... There are a LOT of Amazon vans around my part of this metro area... I think that they're simply putting assets where they produce the most. And I also suspect that a lot of USPS folks have discovered that there is now more work involved...
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: K Frame on September 02, 2022, 01:38:00 PM
And... There are a LOT of Amazon vans around my part of this metro area... I think that they're simply putting assets where they produce the most. And I also suspect that a lot of USPS folks have discovered that there is now more work involved...


Same here in Northern Virginia just outside of DC.

There were THREE Amazon delivery vans in my community the other week.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on September 02, 2022, 02:55:01 PM
And I also suspect that a lot of USPS folks have discovered that there is now more work involved...

Just talked about that with my mail lady this morning. She's not real happy having all the Amazon boxes once again in her little Cherokee, plus having to drive down driveways and get out and walk to doors instead of putting mail into the road boxes.  =)
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on September 03, 2022, 10:13:53 AM
Hmm. This might be part of it as well:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-02/amazon-closes-abandons-plans-for-dozens-of-us-warehouses
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Bogie on September 03, 2022, 10:42:55 AM
They made a LOT of money off the 'vid.
 
But the business model changed when people started leaving their houses again. What could kick it back up? I wonder if they are throwing any cash at Chinese researchers... Seems like everyone else was...
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: zxcvbob on September 03, 2022, 11:50:10 AM
Amazon built a big warehouse/distribution center in my old hometown of Porter, Texas (just north of Houston) a couple of years ago, on what's probably the best property in the county.  They never did open it; it just sits empty.  No idea what they were thinking.  I could see buying the land and leaving it vacant.

Most Amazon Prime deliveries there are one or two days coming from Houston proper, usually in Amazon vans.  A year ago, it was all private vehicles.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: K Frame on September 03, 2022, 12:04:08 PM
That's the secret clubhouse for the flying space penis association.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Blakenzy on September 04, 2022, 03:45:18 AM
Thank you, come again!
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on September 08, 2022, 07:34:28 AM
So I guess this is nationwide, and like my conversation with Amazon chat, Amazon is calling people who point it out crazy:

https://www.vox.com/recode/2022/9/7/23333406/amazon-prime-2-day-shipping-delays-taking-long
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: K Frame on September 08, 2022, 07:51:34 AM
The last couple of orders I've made I've gotten a mix of whether I'll get it next day or 3 or 4 days.

Glad to know I'm getting what I paid an increased price for this year.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: dogmush on September 08, 2022, 08:06:06 AM
Mine still seem to be running next day or two day, but there's a fulfillment center literally down the road from my house.  Maybe 5 miles.

If I were to guess, Id say that Amazon is having issues finding people to work in warehouses and drive vans in the conditions they require for the pay they offer.  I wonder if the longer delivery times are inversely correlated to how wealthy an area is.  Lots of good jobs and no one wants to be a Fulfillment Center slave.  Poor places with less jobs, and they can find the people.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on September 08, 2022, 08:25:36 AM
Oh, also, I got neither the 50% off nor the $20 credit. It's not worth another hour on chat with these morons to call them on it.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: K Frame on September 08, 2022, 08:26:30 AM
Oh, also, I got neither the 50% off nor the $20 credit. It's not worth another hour on chat with these morons to call them on it.

 :rofl:

The modern day equivalent of "send him the bedbug letter!"
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on September 08, 2022, 07:42:18 PM
Yes I'm slightly obsessed with tracking this right now.  :laugh:

I have this week had three of the things that said they would take a week to get to me shipped. That is to say, I ordered them a week ago, and over the last two days plus today got a "shipped" notification, with the delivery day being the next day. So a bunch of this stuff appears to sit in the local warehouse for six days, gets packed on the sixth and dropped in the delivery queue, and arrives at my house a day later - essentially one day shipping, except I have to wait six days for it.

Though it is all still coming via UPS and USPS - I still haven't seen any Amazon vans around here for a couple of weeks.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: WLJ on September 08, 2022, 07:47:49 PM
Just recently had an order where
It said shipped Amazon
Had a UPS tracking number
Whenever you clicked on tracking it took me to USPS where it said not found
Tracking when entered in UPS also said not found.
After two weeks package appeared on front pouch.
Like an idiot i failed to take note what the actual tag on the box said.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on September 10, 2022, 10:55:47 AM
I'm not sure if it's related, but sure is coincidental: I ordered five things yesterday. Four of them were either sold or fulfilled by Amazon. The fifth was third party seller and shipper. Four all four Amazon items - I received a "courtesy credit" of $1.50 - $3.00 per item. Not like even numbers, but like $1.87, $2.43, etc.

I have to wonder if they are now doing some kind of Prime shipping "refund" given that these, as everything else for me, are a week out for delivery.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: K Frame on September 10, 2022, 01:58:48 PM
That's the bedbug payment!
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: MillCreek on September 11, 2022, 10:30:37 AM
https://www.vox.com/recode/2022/9/7/23333406/amazon-prime-2-day-shipping-delays-taking-long

I bet these results in Washington state can be extrapolated elsewhere, like Ben in Idaho.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Cliffh on September 12, 2022, 07:02:49 PM
Placed an Amazon order this morning, the first in at least a month.  I placed the order at ~0600, while setting up the order, it said if I ordered >$25 in the next 3 & change hours it'd be delivered today.  It's almost 1800 & I haven't seen the items.  I did receive an email saying it'd shipped to be delivered today.

We're about 50 miles from two large towns (Dallas & Tyler), 4 miles outside of a small town of ~850 souls.  Not sure where the closest distro center is, but it ain't nearby.  I do see Amazon vans cruising the area daily, sometimes more than one on a day.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: zxcvbob on September 12, 2022, 07:52:24 PM
I sent a secure email to Chase Bank today to see if I cancel my Amazon Prime membership, can I keep their Amazon rewards VISA and can I still use the points.  I placed an Amazon Prime order on August 31.  They said it would be here Saturday, and I wasn't paying attention to *which* Saturday, just assumed it was the one 3 days out.  Nope, 10 days, which has come and gone several days ago and there's no indication they've even shipped it yet.  They generated a USPS tracking number a week ago but USPS hasn't received it yet.  If it's not here by the 15th I can get a refund, but I don't really want a refund I want my damn merchandise.

I've moved stuff from my wish list to my cart and then started the checkout process just to see when it would allegedly be delivered.  It's always about a week now.  There's a big distribution center in Shakopee (near Minneapolis), but it must be empty.  Use to be I got most orders in two days, and every once-in-a-while I got them the next day.  I should try moving a big ticket item to my cart and see if that makes a difference.  Maybe they just screw you on small Prime orders...

ETA: Nope, I added a $600 camera to my cart and it still was going to be almost a week.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on September 12, 2022, 08:28:44 PM

I've moved stuff from my wish list to my cart and then started the checkout process just to see when it would allegedly be delivered.  It's always about a week now.  There's a big distribution center in Shakopee (near Minneapolis), but it must be empty.  Use to be I got most orders in two days, and every once-in-a-while I got them the next day.  I should try moving a big ticket item to my cart and see if that makes a difference.  Maybe they just screw you on small Prime orders...

I added temporary addresses (just picking random addresses off google maps) to my account from nearby cities when I was testing and they all had next day availability. Same with Amazon lockers. I was seeing some reddit threads showing that this is getting more and more widespread in the last couple of weeks. Same thing - going from reliable two day to 5-7 days out.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Cliffh on September 12, 2022, 08:47:53 PM
And I just walked in with the delivered package.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Hawkmoon on September 12, 2022, 08:49:00 PM
Hmm. This might be part of it as well:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-02/amazon-closes-abandons-plans-for-dozens-of-us-warehouses

Hmmm ...

Quote
Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy has pledged to unwind part of a pandemic-era expansion that saddled Amazon with a surfeit of warehouse space and too many employees. The company has typically weaned its ranks of hourly workers by leaving vacant positions open, slowing hiring and tightening disciplinary or productivity standards. But warehouse closings are also part of the mix, and workers are bracing for more. During the second quarter, Amazon’s workforce shrank by roughly 100,000 jobs to 1.52 million, the biggest quarter-to-quarter contraction in the company’s history.

According to many current and former Amazon warehouse workers, the productivity standards are already so strict that they get penalized in they need to pee any time other than their designated break time.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on September 13, 2022, 08:21:10 AM
It appears another issue is cropping up in the areas with delayed shipping. People not wanting to wait after they realize the extended shipping time are no longer able to cancel their orders because the items go into "ready to ship" status almost immediately, but still don't actually ship for a week or more.

https://www.reddit.com/r/amazonprime/comments/xcw4c3/been_trying_to_cancel_order_since_the_7th_they/

Something really seems to be going on with Amazon right now.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: dogmush on September 13, 2022, 08:54:53 AM
I just ordered an end table and some coffee filters.  They are scheduled to be delivered on Thursday, and I could have had the table tomorrow, but gave them a break and left it as one shipment.  I don't need the table that fast.

So far, anecdotally, it seems like the delays are mid-west or west coast.  Are east coast folks seeing delays?

Or maybe it's just Desantis's policies keeping trucks moving in FL.  >:D
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: RocketMan on September 13, 2022, 09:10:12 AM
I just ordered an end table and some coffee filters.  They are scheduled to be delivered on Thursday, and I could have had the table tomorrow, but gave them a break and left it as one shipment.  I don't need the table that fast.

So far, anecdotally, it seems like the delays are mid-west or west coast.  Are east coast folks seeing delays?

Or maybe it's just Desantis's policies keeping trucks moving in FL.  >:D

Seeing delays here in NC with nearly every shipment.  However, it seems to be the USPS delaying things here locally.  They are short staffed and being overwhelmed with Amazon shipments according to the mail carrier I talked to.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Cliffh on September 13, 2022, 03:49:46 PM
Amazon has been advertising on the radio for warehouse positions.  They go on about how you can work full or part time, good pay & working conditions.

I'll give them the first, but as far as pay & working conditions - nope.  Haven't had personal experience, but one of my nephews worked at one of their warehouses for a few months, he didn't have anything good to say about it.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on September 15, 2022, 09:51:46 AM
So this morning (Thursday) I was randomly putting items in my cart to see what the delivery window would be. Most everything serviced by Amazon is available Monday, which given the weekend and no more Amazon vans for weekend delivery, is nearly two day service. I saw that "Amazon Day" is no longer available as an option. In fact no options at all. They are providing the one date and that is it. If they are in fact having shipping issues, it's interesting that "no rush delivery" is no longer an option. Of course it has all been "no rush" lately.  =D
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: zxcvbob on September 15, 2022, 10:41:56 AM
So this morning (Thursday) I was randomly putting items in my cart to see what the delivery window would be. Most everything serviced by Amazon is available Monday, which given the weekend and no more Amazon vans for weekend delivery, is nearly two day service. I saw that "Amazon Day" is no longer available as an option. In fact no options at all. They are providing the one date and that is it. If they are in fact having shipping issues, it's interesting that "no rush delivery" is no longer an option. Of course it has all been "no rush" lately.  =D

I'm still waiting for a delivery that was supposed to get here Saturday.  (I have to wait until tomorrow to file a claim)  The tracking looks like they generated a USPS tracking number over a week ago but then never shipped it.  I chatted with someone at Amazon yesterday and they told me it was scheduled to be delivered that day at 7:00 PM.  I told them I hoped they were right but was skeptical since the package hasn't left New Jersey yet.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Cliffh on September 15, 2022, 07:29:27 PM
I've placed 4 orders in the last 3 days.  One arrived the same day, one the day after ordering (it was next day shipping), one arrived in 2 days (a day late, via USPS) and the 4th is still to be shipped (as expected, it isn't due for at least a week).
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on September 23, 2022, 07:59:56 AM
It looks like Amazon vans are off the table for my AO for the foreseeable future. Yesterday, I had a delivery of two packages with USPS as the carrier. My mail generally shows up between 0900-1000 like clockwork. In my mailbox was my mail and the small package. No sign of the larger package, so I figured maybe the tracking was off and it was stuck at the main USPS facility or something. Nope. Mid-afternoon, a dirty little Prius with Oregon plates shows up with the bigger package.

So it looks like either Amazon or USPS are doing private contractors for last mile delivery. While they were doing that in CA before I moved, I have never seen that here. I'm not real crazy about it, because in CA, a lot of those "last mile" people were just not the sharpest knives in the drawer, and kind of unreliable.

The fact that an Oregon vehicle delivered my package likely means they are ranging far and wide to find last mile drivers. In fairness, areas like mine are pretty big, sparsely populated delivery areas. With miles driven and the likely crap pay the contractors get, a lot of people are gonna say "no thanks" to that job.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on October 06, 2022, 08:41:36 AM
So suddenly this week I'm back to all kinds of next day options, as well as Amazon Day being available with now $2 credits for choosing it. Still no return of the Amazon vans though - everything is still USPS and UPS.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on January 05, 2024, 08:54:31 AM
Thread necro.

Suddenly I'm back to UPS delivering stuff instead of USPS (Amazon trucks have long left the area) and a minimum of five day delivery times. I'm curious if it's some contract thing since it started the first of the year. I was still getting USPS and next day or two day through Christmas.

My Prime renewal is next month. I have to think about that. Between now having to pay extra for no commercials on Prime Video, and if it's back to longer "prime" delivery times, it might be worth canceling.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: WLJ on January 05, 2024, 08:56:43 AM
I've been debating on canceling prime.
Been finding stuff cheaper on Walmart.com. Free shipping on orders of $35 or more and they offer a Prime shipping like plan.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: HankB on January 05, 2024, 09:43:16 AM
I've been debating on canceling prime.
Been finding stuff cheaper on Walmart.com. Free shipping on orders of $35 or more and they offer a Prime shipping like plan.
I've bought my preferred protein shake mix from Walmart.com a couple of times now - first time it was delivered in less than 24 hours, the second time it took 48 hours. Didn't pay for any extra shipping either time.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: zxcvbob on January 05, 2024, 12:28:08 PM
The last Prime order I made took over a week; part of it got here a few days ago and part is arriving by UPS today.  They sat on the order for several days and mailed half of it, then a few days later shipped the rest next-day service.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: Ben on April 11, 2024, 09:50:17 AM
I guess it's not really strangeness, but it's weird how the Amazon shipping (probably AI) logistics work. I needed a new dog brush for Steve. A $6 item that will easily fit in the mailbox, so instead of doing Amazon Day shipping or holding it in my cart until I had more items, I just hit "buy" figuring they would give it to USPS to deliver.

Nope. Being delivered tomorrow by the big ass UPS truck, which doesn't come to my sparsely populated area daily. I figure even if he's just driving the 5 miles from town to my place, the costs for UPS are well above the small $6 dog brush. I just thought it was interesting that there wouldn't be some kind of parameters that would automatically move an item like that to USPS, who drives by daily.
Title: Re: Amazon Prime Strangeness
Post by: JTHunter on April 14, 2024, 12:01:54 AM
"To err is Human.  To really foul it up takes a computer."