General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: How Amazon can offer free shipping to Prime members (hint: by charging them shipping) [View all]pipi_k
(21,020 posts)my vet isn't going to make the same mileage trip (25 miles) out to pick up what I need, then drive the 25 miles back to my house and then the 15 miles back to her home/office.
And it's not just the pet supplies.
I use a special laundry detergent. I have looked in the real stores for it...can't find it. Amazon carries it. Not only do they carry it, but it's cheaper there than some other online stores and I can have it sent to me on a subscription basis.
Water filters. Same thing. Subscription service, same price I can get them for in Walgreens.
Yes, I pay for "free shipping" via the cost of membership, but there are two of us here. Split down the middle, even the $99 yearly fee which will cost us each $50, is not even half of what each of us would pay for two day shipping because of what we buy from Amazon. Taken in that context, we are definitely getting the better deal here.
I just checked my account for 2013. I placed 59 orders last year. Two day air UPS is probably more than 5.99 but I'm just going to use that number for the hell of it. So, since I share Prime membership at my house, it only costs me $40 per year if I pay for half. Last year I got free shipping of $353.41. If I subtract my half of membership fee, I still got over $300.00 of absolutely FREE shipping.
Mr Pipi ordered at least as many times as I did...actually he ordered more, but let's just say it was the same...59 orders.
That's another $300.00 plus of FREE shipping.
So, the math is easy...my household pays $79.00 membership fee, gets over $600 in absolutely FREE shipping.
And people had jobs.