pay an additional monthly fee. I predict a LOT of blowback, but who knows whether Amazon is capable of getting the message? The problem with companies that are allowed to become a near-monopoly...

I like being able to get critical items delivered promptly, but if anyone else has been watching the prices and comparison shop for items you routinely order, there is a definite trend toward passing those delivery fees on to the consumer regardless.

The exorbitant increase in the annual and monthly fees for Prime in 2022 and then the expectation consumers will pay more monthly for Prime Video? Umm, no. What is sad is that by the time consumers figure out they have had enough of Amazon and Walmart subscriptions and online price gouging, there will be no local options left.

Eventually we will pay more for just internet then we did including the cable. And add various streaming service, it will add up sooner.

I shop a fair amount there, but always double check for who has free shipping, then check the completed bill before hitting Send. They want me to use the “convenience” of one-click purchases, and I say the hell with them.

I signed up for a 30 day free trial just once so I could watch Good Omens — and marked my calendar.

I just googled “what is amazon’s customer service number” and got this:

https://www.hellotech.com/guide/for/how-to-contact-amazon-customer-service#:~:text=You%20can%20call%20Amazon%20customer%20service%20by%20phone%20at%201-888-280-4331.%20This%20line%20is%20open%2024%20hours%20a%20day%2C%207%20days%20a%20week.

Asking google for cust svc email gave me this:

How do I contact Amazon customer service?
How to contact Amazon Customer Service:
Scroll to the bottom of the page.
Select Customer Service.
Select the option that addresses your question.
Follow the prompts on the screen.

Keep telling them you want a human.

Best of luck !

So I bite the bullet and pay.

Buy a lot from Amazon. I don't drive anymore so Amazon prime actually saves me money. I've checked around some of Amazon prices are lower then other stores and a lot is cheaper then Walmart.

one ad when you open it. It is possible that Prime ads will be similar.

Hulu will scroll onscreen that a video will have a commercial at the beginning and at the end, so the program itself is not impacted. Hopefully Prime will do the same thing.

I can live with commercials, after all I have been subjected to them since I first watched a TV. Also, I watch a lot of You Tube and it is very easy to skip the ads

Shopping locally if possible, we try to minimize the use of Amaxon but when necessary have carefully navigated through the Prime jungle of toggles to avoid being inadvertently signed up.

Previously, we've always selected free shipping no matter how long it might take but with our most recent order discovered that's no longer an option. No matter how we juggled the weight of ordered items, it was a minimum of $6.99 and a week or so of delivery time UNLESS we either signed up for Prime or chose another, more expensive shipping option.

When necessary, we'll be losing convenience and looking into ordering direct from suppliers, pay their shipping costs and try to really avoid getting sucked into Amazon's dollar traps, though movie commercials appear to be without escape.

Just another example of how difficult it's become to keep from feeding all the hungry Beasts about us. Good luck in your own attempt to extract yourself from the maw of Amaxon Prime.

Last edited Wed Jan 3, 2024, 04:59 PM - Edit history (1)

"added more than $70 billion to his wallet last year"

Correction:
It wasn't the New York Times. It was either WAPO or LA Times. Those are
the only 2 I'm reading right now.

If I can't make them go away for a reasonable price I simply don't watch.

My wife and I usually subscribe to two or three commercial-free streaming services at a time. That's plenty of television for us.

We don't have cable, satellite, or broadcast television. My wife and I were only watching DVDs we rented or bought in thrift stores until one of our children, home from college, set us up with Netflix.

Sometimes if we see a movie we really like at the theater we'll buy the DVD new.

I don't care to support the traditional television industry. They created Reagan and Trump, they can go to hell.

2-day delivery is almost non-existent.
Free returns got eliminated.
Amazon music went from lame to unusable.
They already increased the base price.
And now +3/month to not have ads.
Prime has a remarkably shitty user interface that continually steers you to buy even more from them.

To put this in perspective: amazon's profits had an 18.52% increase year-over-year for 2023.

Also there is almost nothing on prime I care to watch.