Can I ask you about Prime in general? DH was contemplating it the other day, because he orders a fair lot of stuff for his business. But other than the shipping, we don't think we'd get much out of it. We're not interested in the streaming, music, photo storage or .. hmm .. whatever else they offered. And only about half of the order qualified, so the part that was free shipping about offset the effective monthly fee. We decided against it, but maybe we're missing something?

Shee, I would call Amazon and inquire, complain. Their customer service is excellent and responsive, they always seeem to have a fix especially for prime folks.

To answer your question, I'm not at all happy with the changes. The price when up and then they changed what qualified and what didn't when before everything "Prime" was a go regardless of price. I heard however that the practice was in essence putting them in the red, so I get why, I just don't think the price should have been raised as well.

From a friend with an Amazon storefront, Prime will no longer be 2-3 day free shipping starting in November. Will be 3-5 day free shipping - just in time for the holidays, and those last minute shoppers' need to pay shipping to get it on time.

In our state, Amazon is about to start charging 8% flat tax rate (Nov 1st). This irks me since I live in an unincorporated county and our tax is 5%.

I've never ordered anything from Prime Pantry, but find everything we need mostly in Prime w/free shipping.

I have also run into wanting something that is an add-on item only. If you order enough add-on items to meet the $25 minimum it will ship free with prime. I have a few staples I usually order from Amazon this way.

I usually just hold the add on items in my cart until I get enough for free shipping. My bone to pick with Prime is the fact that they deleted Prime badges from Kindle books on the website. I used to use Amazon to search out Prime eligible books from the lending library and then borrow them on the Kindle. Now the only way you can find a book to borrow is to scroll through endless, useless lists on the Kindle.

aok - At least for the things that I purchase, it is pretty easy to find a vendor that is selling it as a Prime product. You can check the Prime box in the column on the left and the sort will eliminate non Prime options. The free shipping and quicker shipping make it valuable for me. Plus we watch a few free movies each month and I borrow a book each month using my Prime benefits.

I've not run into many add-on items. I really haven't even checked out the pantry items. We do use Amazon a good bit and so far most everything we order is still the 2-day prime. We use prime strictly for the free shipping. We have not taken advantage of movies or books. It's extremely rare that I would order something I need in 2 days, so if they kept the free shipping I'd probably still order.

I am one who hates shopping. I do not shop at Walmart and there is not a Target that is convenient to me. On days I work I have gone to Target (I work in a bigger city). I started using Jet.com and so far the prices have been as good as Target (or other local places). You get 15% off your 1st 3 orders. Free shipping on over $25 orders. I have started buying paper products, some of my cleaning products, even bought my concealer on my most recent order. They have all kinds of stuff - not just pantry items. I've not really checked out all they have, but I believe they do have furniture, etc. I did look at steam mops - thought mine had died (it didn't) and was going to order one using my last 15% off. They had a pretty good variety.

Another who isn't happy with this Pantry thing. Plus they will start collecting state tax on our purchases soon, I think the first of November. Same here, Allison, so we'll get taxed at a higher rate too.

I don't always receive my purchases in 1-2 days with Prime either, especially around the holidays. No explanation, it just doesn't happen. I understand if I order on Friday or even Thursday since we live in a rural area, but these other forced changes on certain items they have put into Pantry really irks me.

I can see why they don't want to deliver a $3 cord to my house in 2 days for free. I do the same as above - hold them until I get an order tha t qualifies.

Usually another seller will offer the item plus shipping. You don't have the option of purchasing the Prime tagged item but if you back up one or two pages you can see the same item offered by other sellers and can make your decision there.

I use the heck out of streaming so for me it's a huge bonus.

The pantry thing I am not that fond of. But maybe it works for some people.

As for sales tax, I am 100% certain that Amazon would prefer not to have to collect it. But states are insisting so they comply.

Sorry some of the sentences don't make the most sense. I was tired when I wrote that.

Aok - We really don't use it for any of that other stuff. We order all kinds of things on there - presents/toys, books, vacuum, vitamins, diapers, etc. A lot of items are lower in price and I love being able to read reviews. I do typically try and wait until we have a large order even with the free shipping instead of a bunch of small random orders, but there are those times I want and need something fast and figure I paid Prime for a reason.

When it used to be free shipping on orders over $25 we seemed to have an easier time ordering enough stuff to qualify. Once it jumped to $35 we decided to try prime.

I don't always get things in the two day shipping either. We're due to renew soon and I'm not sure we will. That said I very much dislike paying shipping charges. I hope they'll at least keep that the same even if the wait is longer. Even when the cost is padded in somewhere I'd rather not see it. Kind of a goody way of thinking I suppose. There was something I was interested in on ebay the other day, discontinued toy, and the bids were around $30 and the shipping cost was listed at $40 something for the small, light weight toy. I'd rather see the price start high and keep the shipping low or, better yet, tell me it's 'free shipping'. Didn't bid on the item mainly because the price point in general is so crazy for what it is.

I am going to send them an email and explain my dissatisfaction regarding the add-on (that I can't purchase at all unless it qualifies!?!) and pantry items.

I've had Amazon Prime for years and probably use it enough to make the membership fee worth it. While I don't necessarily need things right away, I must admit that it does become very convenient when I do need something rather quickly. especially something that might be more time consuming to find locally. I also stream movies/shows occasionally. Most recently, I was able to buy used textbooks for my high schoolers much more inexpensively and being a Prime member, could get them in a timely manner rather than wait for the book rate shipping which can take three weeks. Most of the things that I buy are not add on or Pantry items but if I did want something like that, I'm sure I could easily wait until I was ordering something else. MD has required us to pay sales tax for at least a year now, but it is not on everything I purchase. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I'm guessing it depends on where the item is being shipped from. For example, one of the textbooks I ordered I had to pay tax, but another I didn't. But it was still WAY cheaper for me to buy through Amazon so paying the tax was not a big deal.

I think having a prime membership makes sense for someone like me, with four kids, but it doesn't make sense for people like my parents. My mother doesn't need to buy much online, has time to shop locally, and isn't buying random stuff like I am for my kids. She does, however, love to stream shows. She and my father have their own Netflix account, but it didn't really make sense cost wise for them to also get Amazon Prime. I logged her into my account from her iPad so she can watch movies/shows whenever she wants. And if she ever needs anything from Amazon that she can't get with free shipping, she just asks me to buy it for her. Her credit card number is stored in my account and have it shipped to her.

If they do away with the 2 day shipping, I will be irked and won't renew. We're primarily Netflix users, seldom use Amazon and have tons of other apps with better programming on Roku. Who needs prime w/3-5 day shipping? Not me.

I tend to find the exact same thing on an eBay Store with free shipping on pretty much anything no matter if it's a dollar item or 50 dollar item. Amazon has changed in a bad way. Now for regular customers the amount you have to buy before free shipping kicks in has increased a lot. I have my wish list so I can find extras to get to the free shipping amount. I always check eBay before buying on amazon. Many of the same stores have a storefront on eBay and Amazon and they will have the same item on both but the eBay one usually cost less and has free shipping.

"Amazon has changed in a bad way"

I have to agree and it's not just their shipping. There is a lot of product fraud, review fraud too.

With Prime, you can do Subscribe & Save - order 5 items and save an additional 15%. Diapers are 20%. Most other websites cannot beat those discounted prices. Now and then, with a coupon or special savings, you can beat some (but never all) on Jet, Thrive Market or Boxed.

Allison, I heard about the change in days for prime shipping. The last time I ordered anything (and I always check the box to search for Prime items only), it took over 2 days to deliver. I doubt I'll renew my Prime membership.

Raven - Ebay is usually the second place I look for an item. Occasionally I have run into some items I couldn't find or were overpriced, but it's rare.

Allison - Thanks, I'll have to look into the Subscribe and Save. I never really paid attention it.

Lukki - I've been hearing and seeing more about the product fraud and reviews lately too. Boo.

S&S was the only reason I got Prime. DH has a Kindle, so he likes it also.

I haven't had a problem not getting Prime items delivered in 2 days. I'm not a last minute shopper, so the change won't bother me. The S&S savings is worth paying for Prime.

I love Prime. I use it for everything...beauty items to dog food. I feel that I get my money's worth.

I'm not a last minute shopper either, but if shipping will be 3-5 days that is not Prime. Basically, the service will loose it's enitre appeal so why pay an annual premium? If I'm going to wait 5 days, I might as well wait 10, by pass Amazon and buy direct from the seller so I know I'm not getting a fraudulent product.

Instead, I'll just use the premium money to pay for quicker shipping as needed without Prime. I did that with Chewy.com for our pet needs and it's been great.

I think the change will be a big issue for Amazon and a lot of it's smaller sellers.