What's going on at Amazon?

[Oldpath05]

This is another rant I have with Amazon. They do not require their sellers to clearly state where items will be shipped from. I ordered a battery 4/2 because it stated arrival to be between 4/4 to 4/7. Got a shipping update on it today saying it just mailed from china.

Probably won't see it for a month.

Location location location.....Be interesting to see how long your battery takes, but really dont see it meeting the 4/7 time schedule, unless they sent it by a drone, I did here Amazon is getting in the drone shipping business. I also think ebay sellers are more competitive with each other to help keep prices low.

 

[Pixguy]

I bought a new module on eBay for my Bluetooth headphones and it's being shipped from China. In the past anything that I've ordered from China has generally taken 2-3 weeks and if I can live with that, then I order it. I always look at the eBay feedback and if their numbers are in the thousands and they're about 98%+ then I feel safe.
Amazon has been pretty good for me but I don't like Jeff Bezos and I always look for other sources.

 

[Zerk]

Most really be ripping off copyright if even the Chinese won't sell it in America.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Amazon seems to have developed a cult following, but the cult followers are paying MORE!

It's not a cult, it's just that a lot of us have found out that you really do get what you pay for, especially with Amazon Prime. When buying mail order, there's frequently some doubt if what is displayed on the web page will be what shows up in the box. Prime means free return shipping, and no questions asked refunds. Try that with ebay.

But I have been doing more shopping around for big ticket items to avoid paying sales tax. Combined with free shipping, that can quickly add up to a hundred bux on a single purchase. If the item comes through ebay, I always make sure it's a brick'n'mortar store that has excellent reviews, a telephone number to call if there are problems, free shipping and unconditional returns. That pretty much rules out Chinese sellers.

 

[CajunRider]

Amazon starts to charge sale tax for my state. That's the beginning of the end of my dealing with Amazon.

 

[Dadnatron]

From China? There was nothing odd about it? I have never got anything, directly from China. The battery cost $1, might have been a hint. Ha.

I've never even seen anything on Amazon shipped from China. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but I've never seen it personally. I, however, almost exclusively purchase things on Amazon Prime.

But I agree with other posters, Amazon is certainly not always the cheapest. I check tool costs, etc often, while I'm in the brick and mortar stores, and they are about 50/50 as to cost. However, quite often, I will need something and know that it will take me an hour to go get it, at a minimum, if I have to go to the store to purchase it. I pull out my phone, find it on Amazon, and in 2 days maximum, its on my doorstep. This has made me much more efficient, and if it costs me a bit more occasionally, I guarantee it doesn't cost me my 'my hourly wage' more. Those 2 things are worth gold to me.

 

[CajunRider]

I've never even seen anything on Amazon shipped from China. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but I've never seen it personally. I, however, almost exclusively purchase things on Amazon Prime.

But I agree with other posters, Amazon is certainly not always the cheapest. I check tool costs, etc often, while I'm in the brick and mortar stores, and they are about 50/50 as to cost. However, quite often, I will need something and know that it will take me an hour to go get it, at a minimum, if I have to go to the store to purchase it. I pull out my phone, find it on Amazon, and in 2 days maximum, its on my doorstep. This has made me much more efficient, and if it costs me a bit more occasionally, I guarantee it doesn't cost me my 'my hourly wage' more. Those 2 things are worth gold to me.

This is where Amazon prime make itself worth while. At the end of a long work day, I pull my notes out, see what I need and order it. Then I change my schedule of things to do to match expected delivery. Most of the time, things will be there for me on time to keep my schedule straight.

 

[rekees4300]

Amazon starts to charge sale tax for my state. That's the beginning of the end of my dealing with Amazon.

I thought the same thing for Indiana couple years ago but then realized it isn't Amazon charging the tax it's your state's greedy politicians. What is Amazon suppose to do, either collect the tax or stop doing business in your state.

 

[Dadnatron]

I thought the same thing for Indiana couple years ago but then realized it isn't Amazon charging the tax it's your state's greedy politicians. What is Amazon suppose to do, either collect the tax or stop doing business in your state.

Amazon is required to charge sales tax if the purchase is fulfilled by a facility that is located in your state or, in some states, that have ANY Amazon facility in your state. As rekees states, it is a local/state thing, not an Amazon thing. There was a big push several years ago, and the Democrats keep pushing it every once in a while at the Federal level, to have ALL internet purchases pay the sales tax. Anything to 'find money' that has already been spent.

 

[CajunRider]

I thought the same thing for Indiana couple years ago but then realized it isn't Amazon charging the tax it's your state's greedy politicians. What is Amazon suppose to do, either collect the tax or stop doing business in your state.

I'm not blaming Amazon. I know it's my greedy politicians that are the source. I ain't fighting Amazon! Notice that I said Amazon prime makes itself worthwhile by helping me stay on schedule.