Addicted to Amazon

Tailgate

Tailgate

Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
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Jul 7, 2013
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Texas
I have just looked at my Prime orders this year and since RE and moving to a 'new to us' home in an active adult community, I think we've become addicted to Amazon Prime. Seems like we pretty much run the household on Prime, excluding groceries. Some household stuff recently:

dog food
smoke alarm
floor cleaner fluid
steam carpet cleaner
printer ink
water filters
door chime
dog leads
weed wacker
umbrellas

not including discretionary stuff like:

golf shag bag
golf gps watch
bottle cutter
book 'The Nightingale' (great book btw)
cellphone holder
meat thermometer
bluetooth speaker
coasters
water bottles

seems like every morning I wake up trying to remember what might be at the front door today... actually it's kind of fun.

However, I have learned: NEVER drink and Prime..

Sound familiar to anyone?
 
Haha, you ask this on a forum with a monster thread on what was the last thing you ordered from Amazon! :)

I actually let my Prime membership lapse a few months ago, because I was getting worried that I might also be addicted and thought it might be time to tone down the ordering. I have to admit that it did cure the impulse a bit to know that I now have to come up with $50 worth of stuff for free shipping AND wait a week for it to arrive!

It was the discretionary stuff that was getting me! :)
 
Their one touch purchasing makes it very easy to do business.

I'm not a shopper--rather a buyer. When I order something it's just one item and it's usually something I really need. Ordered pair of size 15 men's shoes yesterday--a bargain.

Now if I could just stay out of Harbor Freight Tools which is new to our community.
 
Tailgate said:
yep, I've contributed to that thread many times :D:D
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With 50-100 orders a year (well, only one in 1996), I don't touch that thread!

Just ordered two Memory-foam mattresses and a bed on Wednesday ....
 
Tailgate said:
yep, I've contributed to that thread many times :D:D
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So, just to be clear, are you saying that prior to Amazon P* you didn't buy all that kind of stuff?

Is there a word we can invent to describe shopping for stuff we really don't need on Amazon? Amazoning, perhaps? Priming would work, but that already has a meaning.

Q - what were you doing just now?
A - Amazoning.

If that works, then "drink and Prime" becomes AWI (Amazining while intoxicated) or PUI (Priming under the influence). :)
 
I was just trying to fill a Prime Pantry order last night but didn't find enough stuff to put in so emptied the cart. I know the addiction finding at times when not shopping just browsing products or reading the reviews. Oh yeah, reminds me that I go a few Prime movies in my video cue to watch :).
 
I had a growing feeling Amazon was trying to addict me. I noticed that things would go on sale after I researched them on the internet. It started to feel a little creepy. I decided to not look at Amazon during the week and only buy things and look around on the weekend. This has reduced my "on the spur of the moment" purchases.
 
I don't know that I would say I am addicted (I REFUSE to see how many orders I placed in the last year, though!) but it sure is convenient. Just yesterday, I went to Home Depot to get some door hardware. I figured that while I was there, I would pick up an OTA antenna since we just "cut the cord" for cable TV. They had a whopping TWO to select from. So...I came home and took a gander on Amazon instead...and yes, there were about 30 to pick from that were available through Prime and there were about 15 or so I could get the SAME DAY for no additional shipping charges. Plus, LOTS of reviews to see what works and what doesn't. Not only to mention, I really dislike leaving the house for ANY REASON, so getting stuff from Amazon is a win/win for me.
 
I don't find myself buying unneeded things on Amazon, merely items I would have purchased elsewhere. There's a reason the brick & mortar stores are suffering.
 
FlyBoy5 said:
I don't know that I would say I am addicted (I REFUSE to see how many orders I placed in the last year, though!) but it sure is convenient. Just yesterday, I went to Home Depot to get some door hardware. I figured that while I was there, I would pick up an OTA antenna since we just "cut the cord" for cable TV. They had a whopping TWO to select from. So...I came home and took a gander on Amazon instead...and yes, there were about 30 to pick from that were available through Prime and there were about 15 or so I could get the SAME DAY for no additional shipping charges. Plus, LOTS of reviews to see what works and what doesn't. Not only to mention, I really dislike leaving the house for ANY REASON, so getting stuff from Amazon is a win/win for me.
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I'll add that as for some electronic accessories like cables, big box stores might leave you screaming bloody murder if you compare the prices there versus online like from Amazon. Always good to have to power of browsing and comparing at your own pace instead of relying on what the stores stock at the time.
 
easysurfer said:
I'll add that as for some electronic accessories like cables, big box stores might leave you screaming bloody murder if you compare the prices there versus online like from Amazon. Always good to have to power of browsing and comparing at your own pace instead of relying on what the stores stock at the time.
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+1
 
Tailgate said:
I have just looked at my Prime orders this year and since RE and moving to a 'new to us' home in an active adult community, I think we've become addicted to Amazon Prime. Seems like we pretty much run the household on Prime, excluding groceries.
Click to expand...

I moved to my 'new to me" dream home last July, and then had a lot of work done (mostly on the yard) to make it just what I wanted. I was pretty much "bleeding money" for about a year, but that all ended in March or April I guess. So, my mission has been to cut back on purely discretionary purchases (other than fixing up my new house) if I can, to get my spending under control again. This year's Amazon purchases have been almost entirely items to meet health and hygiene needs, or to finish decorating/furnishing my new house. OK, I did buy a video game on sale! :LOL:

I was just looking at Amazon yesterday and wondering if I should order more items like detergent and coffee creamer that I usually get at the grocery store. Some of them are cheaper than what I pay at the grocery store, but only come in "Amazon Pantry" where there is a shipping charge per box full. I need to read more about that, and try assembling a box full to see how prices compare once shipping is added.

I don't think that Amazon Prime has negatively impacted my spending overall. I don't order blindly or unthinkingly. Sometimes the prices are higher, but sometimes lower as well so I keep that in mind. It is easy to see what I could have omitted (the video game?) just by looking at my orders.
 
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I've got a Prime membership, but for items that I don't need right away, I do a search to see who else sells it, then a search at Retailmenot for promo codes for those stores. I can frequently beat Amazon's price.
 
GrayHare said:
I don't find myself buying unneeded things on Amazon, merely items I would have purchased elsewhere. There's a reason the brick & mortar stores are suffering.
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+1....I only buy stuff I need or want..no drive by shopping on impulse
 
W2R said:
I moved to my 'new to me" dream home last July, and then had a lot of work done (mostly on the yard) to make it just what I wanted. I was pretty much "bleeding money" for about a year, but that all ended in March. So, my mission has been to cut back on purely discretionary purchases (other than fixing up my new house) if I can, to get my spending under control again. This year's Amazon purchases have been almost entirely items to meet health and hygiene needs, or to finish decorating/furnishing my new house. OK, I did buy a video game on sale! :LOL:

I love Amazon Prime, too. I was just looking at it yesterday and wondering if I should order more items like detergent and coffee creamer that I usually get at the grocery store. Some of them are cheaper than what I pay at the grocery store, but only come in "Amazon Pantry" where there is a shipping charge per box full. I need to read more about that.

I don't think that Amazon Prime has negatively impacted my spending overall. Sometimes the prices are higher, but sometimes lower as well so I keep that in mind. It is easy to see what I could have omitted (the video game?) just by looking at my orders.
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Something I do like about Pantry is that you can get quite a bit of stuff "for free." Many of the normal items for sale though Prime will let you get a $5.99 credit with Pantry if you elect the "no rush" shipping.
 
MichaelB said:
Is there a word we can invent to describe shopping for stuff we really don't need on Amazon?
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How about "Browsing and bookmarking, but not buying"? :D

I have a ton of Amazon stuff bookmarked in a favorites folder I call "Wish List". After something sits there a few months, I move it to a folder called "Maybe Later". Then once or twice a year I go through "Maybe Later" and delete stuff. It's amazing how much of that stuff seems really stupid after a few months have passed.
 
FlyBoy5 said:
Something I do like about Pantry is that you can get quite a bit of stuff "for free." Many of the normal items for sale though Prime will let you get a $5.99 credit with Pantry if you elect the "no rush" shipping.
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Oh thank you!!! I didn't know that. That's a great tip, for me. :)
 
I have to admit I really like Amazon Prime. They have me "hooked" on many levels. The free shipping is awesome and I also take advantage of Amazon Fire TV with all the free offerings and I dig the streaming music service as well. I don't *think* we purchase things we don't need, but boy it is super convenient. Yes, I know there is no such thing as a free lunch, but at least I'm filling up! :)
 
Whatever you do, don't get the Prime Now app! I've already ordered two things and had them delivered in under 2 hours. WAY too convenient...
 
FWIW, I have found that Prime products are often more expensive than Target (or similar store) prices. However, the cost in travel and time is usually enough to make the extra charge for Prime worth paying. So for purchases under about $40 Prime is best for me. Over about $70 a trip to Target (or other store) is probably the best deal. In between, who knows?
 
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Chuckanut said:
FWIW, I have found that Prime products are often more expensive than Target (or similar store) prices. However, the cost in travel and time is usually enough to make the extra charge for Prime worth paying. So for purchases under about $40 Prime is best for me. Over about $70 a trip to Target (or other store) is probably the best deal. In between, who knows?
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Like any other store, most frugal retirees would pay attention to the prices. I think we all try to fit in that category.

Often I find prices to be considerably lower on Amazon, even on expensive things. Often not. Here in my New Orleans suburb, we have a nearly 10% sales tax so that is an expense of shopping locally as well as the cost of gas and time spent.

I won't even mention the aches and pains of aging and the convenience of having some young, buff UPS driver gently set my package just outside my door for me so that I don't have to wrestle with it. I admit that once in a while, those factors enter into the equation too. :LOL:
 
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GrayHare said:
I don't find myself buying unneeded things on Amazon, merely items I would have purchased elsewhere. There's a reason the brick & mortar stores are suffering.
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I agree. I once ordered some guitar strings from Amazon...basically the same price as the local music store that's a 20 minute drive from my home. I actually felt guilty because I really do believe in supporting local business.

Music stores suffer due to Amazon...people come in and test drive gear, and then buy the $600 guitar for $550 from Amazon. Other than the one instance with guitar strings, I'm the opposite...I research gear online, but buy all my gear from the local store.
 
Brick and mortor is responsible for their own failure

GrayHare said:
I don't find myself buying unneeded things on Amazon, merely items I would have purchased elsewhere. There's a reason the brick & mortar stores are suffering.
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Brick and motor stores are failing b/c they no longer carry an adequate product selection and employ poorly-trained staff that merely repeat back your question with a blurry-eyed glance. I make 90% of my purchases on Amazon, usually receiving them the next day. On the few occasions I return an item I'm credited with a refund within an hour of taking the parcel to UPS.
 
Tailgate said:
However, I have learned: NEVER drink and Prime..

Sound familiar to anyone?
Click to expand...

Oh, yes, I learned that lesson decades ago. Actually it was well before Amazon went online and the drug wasn't alcohol, but Percocet. I'd had some surgery and the doc prescribed that for the pain. I found that Percocet, tool catalogs, a telephone, a Visa card and boredom are a very bad combination.:facepalm:

The UPS driver was dropping boxes on my porch every other day for about a month.

While I have an extensive wish list on Amazon it's a safe bet that I won't buy the majority of it. I'll see something that looks interesting and use that as a "bookmark" so I can find it again when I make up my mind about what to buy and what to let go.

Lately for me it's been getting back into radio control model airplane stuff. The small electrics are small enough that I can fly one in the back yard without all the hassle of having to drive somewhere, and they're so lightweight at ~2 oz. that they just don't have the mass to do any damage or injury. When I told DW that the new radio transmitter had enough memory for 250 different model setups, her first response was "Don't even think about it!" Ah, by now she knows me too well....:LOL:
 
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