We were talking at lunch and I was saying how much I love amazon prime, blah blah blah.
CW: Oh I couldn't imagine doing all that online shopping. CW2: Like, what do you buy? CW3: I don't like shopping online b/c someone could steal your credit card info.
CW4 (voice of reason): I don't have prime, but their lightning deals were great for Christmas gifts.
I just said "I have a toddler, I work full time. I would rather order it and have it on my porch in 2 days than waste the 2 days a week I have to do family stuff."
I just wish I could do groceries online around here.
Amazon Prime is amazing. I can't stomach much "store" shopping these days. I'd rather browse from my couch, read reviews, and one-click purchase. Plus getting Amazon boxes in the mail is strangely addictive, even if it's just diaper genie refills or whatever.
My mom also doesn't really "get" Amazon. "What would I buy there?"
Ironically, there was just a great article today about Amazon's potential vulnerabilities and how these new companies who "shop locally and deliver locally" could undercut Amazon's model.
I went to the mall ONCE this December (actually, I can't remember the last time I was there before that) and it was awful. It's hot, crowded, the people in line are indecisive and slow, it's a pain to sift through stuff...I was wondering why in the world anyone shops in person when it's so much easier online.
Post by bostonmichelle on Dec 17, 2014 17:20:15 GMT -5
I love online shopping. It is amazing.
I remember when my dad was all like that's crazy you're going to get your information stolen. Now he refuses to go to any store to buy stuff (Besides groceries) and loves Amazon.
CW3: I don't like shopping online b/c someone could steal your credit card info.
People are dumb.
My former boss used to say things like this. He refused to do online banking or automatic billpay with his checking account because he thought that it was "giving everyone" his money and personal info, once you buy something online, your credit card info is "out there" forever. I told him his info was already "out there" in the digital world whether he liked it or not, but he didn't believe me. He thought he was 100% in control of all that data. I asked him "what do you think the teller does with your money when you go to the bank, puts it in a shoebox under the counter?" He was a hillbilly millionaire.
It seems like there are really a couple of schools of people - those who love online shopping and those it doesn't even occur to - and I am still flabbergasted that more people haven't come over to my school. I don't know how many conversations I've had with friends, family, and coworkers about finding time to go to the store and start/continue/finish Christmas shopping. It's usually in the context of "I'm so busy and it sucks that I have to find time or give up my evening to go buy gifts! Ugh the holidays are so stressful!"
I'm like - huh? I ordered all of my gifts so they showed up at my door. I didn't have to go anywhere. Granted I don't buy 50 gifts like some people, but I can't think of anything I couldn't order online (from Amazon or elsewhere) that I'd find at a mall or whatever. Do people just wander around looking for something to jump out at them?
It's one thing if people enjoy shopping in the store, but I just don't get it why people who seemingly find it stressful don't just order things online.
What's better than coming home at the end of the day to find packages waiting for you? Nothing. It's a sad day when the UPS man doesn't stop by my house.
On the other hand, it does create more trips to the recycle center to dispose of boxes.
I don't really get it either. I mean, I order from Amazon, but not enough to need Prime. My sister loves it. Are there any Prime lovers who are not parents of young children? I don't really know anyone else with it.
We had it before we had kids. Since Amazon is Target, Best Buy, Home Depot, Petsmart, etc., it still saves a lot of running around. We didn't live very close to a mall or any other big box shopping, and our nearest grocery store didn't have enough of the non-food everyday stuff.
We definitely do more online shopping now, but we still got our money's worth back then.
I don't really get it either. I mean, I order from Amazon, but not enough to need Prime. My sister loves it. Are there any Prime lovers who are not parents of young children? I don't really know anyone else with it.
I don't have kids (yet) and I only work part-time, but I still love Prime. It's definitely worth it to me, especially for buying gifts.
I don't have young children. Mine are between 8-15.
But I just really hate shopping in stores. Especially when it's cold!
We ordered a ton of Amazon before we had kids. All it takes is about 10 orders a year for it to pay for itself in shipping (assuming you were to pay for shipping on every order, and not use super-saver, and we order big/heavy things. This year I think H and I have made about 100 orders between us -- a lot of it was stuff for the baby, but we also use it to buy gifts and have them shipped to the recipient.
Are there any Prime lovers who are not parents of young children? I don't really know anyone else with it.
Yes, I have it and love it. We use it for free shipping of course. But also Amazon music on our phones, streaming TV and movies, and occasional free Kindle books.
CW3: I don't like shopping online b/c someone could steal your credit card info.
... because people would never hack Target/Neiman Marcus/Home Depot to steal credit card info.
I'm sure my bank account would feel much better if Amazon impulse purchases were eliminated, I can't deal with the headache that shopping for most mundane things in real stores gives me. Some stuff I still like to see in person or I have to have same day.
ETA -- the non parent of small children having prime
We don't have kids. I use it for streaming video, music, shipping etc -- I had a student account before we got adult prime. My dad got when it was introduced - my sister had just graduated HS at the time.
I love Prime. I have to drive almost an hour if I want to shop somewhere other than Wal-Mart or the farm supply store. I'd much rather click a button and have stuff appear on my doorstep than try to make time to trek all the way to "the city" during the week.
Post by awkwardpenguin on Dec 17, 2014 22:39:57 GMT -5
We don't have kids yet but have Prime. We live in the city and don't like to shop, so Prime saves us trips to random stores and Target. The last few things I've ordered were envelopes, Christmas presents for my niece and nephew, vitamins, underwear, a pair of sneakers, and books.
Love Prime. We live in the sticks, there are no stores here. The closest Target is 20 minutes away and always sucks. Items are out of stock, misplaced, CS sucks. WHY would I go to all the trouble of a store when everything I want arrives at my door in 2 days? Christmas shopping hasn't been stressful for me at all.
Post by crashgizmo on Dec 17, 2014 23:54:32 GMT -5
We have prime, no kids. We both work FT and I see prime as a great alternative to grocery or home supply shopping. Most of the I remember that we need toilet paper, batteries, shampoo, ziploc bags, (fill in the blank) at either 11pm or in the middle of my work day. It's easier to just order right then and be done with it.
I don't really get it either. I mean, I order from Amazon, but not enough to need Prime. My sister loves it. Are there any Prime lovers who are not parents of young children? I don't really know anyone else with it.
I teach and quite often I need things for school like books, craft supplies and anything under the sun really. And it shows up two days later, right when I need it.
Post by FrozenSunshine on Dec 18, 2014 0:35:05 GMT -5
No kids here, we both work full time and H has a 2 hour commute a day. We live in Chicago, so weather and traffic play a huge role.
With using Prime it reduces errands on the weekend, we can hit up the grocery store and butcher and be done with our weekly shopping in less than an hour.
I would cry if Amazon went bankrupt. We buy a ton of items that you can't even get at local stores plus I use it locally to price match. I only wish they would have a ton more hit movies on instant video.
What's better than coming home at the end of the day to find packages waiting for you? Nothing. It's a sad day when the UPS man doesn't stop by my house.
On the other hand, it does create more trips to the recycle center to dispose of boxes.
Between the excessive amounts of boxes and paper and bubble wrap plus the gas for the delivery trucks, I just can't get into "order everything online!" when I get 90% of it at Costco/BJs on a regular grocery trip. I order gifts online, but I can't deal with a gigantic box and a ton of brown paper to carefully pack toilet paper.
I understand about the packaging....though we get "frustration free" on just about everything, and either reuse or recycle all the boxes. But the carbon footprint really isn't that different than each item being shipped by truck to the retailer, then all of us having to drive all around town to multiple retailers to get all the things we need.
Also, I find this cool, we live in a big subdivision and our UPS guy delivers packages in our subdivision using a golf cart. Way more efficient than my 19 mpg Pilot.
Post by emilyinchile on Dec 18, 2014 9:08:53 GMT -5
Online shopping and free, fast shipping are the greatest things about America. Zappo's is like crack to me when I'm home - I can buy a million things, they arrive in 1 business day, and then I send back whatever I don't like without any cost or hassle on my part. GOD BLESS AMERICA, you people don't know how good you've got it!
Post by caddywompus on Dec 18, 2014 9:42:48 GMT -5
I don't get the whole Amazon thing... maybe you all can help me. A lot of the items I would buy (Cat food, litter, cleaning supplies, cd's, etc) all seem to be MORE expensive on Amazon than at Target or Walmart- plus if I buy it in the store I can use coupons! Do you find that you save MONEY using Amazon- or is it just the TIME factor?
We were talking at lunch and I was saying how much I love amazon prime, blah blah blah.
CW: Oh I couldn't imagine doing all that online shopping. CW2: Like, what do you buy? CW3: I don't like shopping online b/c someone could steal your credit card info.
CW4 (voice of reason): I don't have prime, but their lightning deals were great for Christmas gifts.
I just said "I have a toddler, I work full time. I would rather order it and have it on my porch in 2 days than waste the 2 days a week I have to do family stuff."
I just wish I could do groceries online around here.
This was my parents. So I introduced them to purchasing and using gift cards. the $5 fee is worth the hassle or they just use store brand gift cards. Now my dad has random gift cards lying around everywhere.
What's better than coming home at the end of the day to find packages waiting for you? Nothing. It's a sad day when the UPS man doesn't stop by my house.
THIS!!! <3
My new obsession, however, is the "buy online and pick up in store at Target" thing. I mean hello, like I could use a new excuse to go to target. lol
Prime is great. I just ventured out to the mall this past week to return some online items and finish up some Christmas shopping and it was horrible. I had to search through racks for items in the right size (as opposed to just clicking at my computer). Long lines too. And then spend too much in Target just going through the aisles looking for the one item I wanted.
Time is also an important factor - I only have Sat/Sun to run my errands. I get more time at home with my kids with Prime.