Amazon Prime service is slipping

[JimMIA]

We are fortunate to have a very large Amazon fulfillment facility here in Miami, so many of the items we look at are free next-day delivery with our Prime account. And typically the service has been spoiling us rotten.

Lately however I've been getting a LOT of "Free delivery TOMORROW!" orders that arrive late. Not one day late, but 3-4 days late.

I placed two orders yesterday, for delivery today. One arrived as promised; the other was now scheduled for delivery on Sunday -- 3 days late. I know it's not a USPS problem because they don't deliver on Sundays.

It could be supply chain, but if you don't have the item in stock, don't falsely advertise next day delivery! It could also be staffing issues due to Covid, but don't falsely advertise next day delivery if you can't do it!

I'm getting tired of that drill, so I canceled the order citing the delivery delay as the reason. I went right back to Amazon and got a virtually identical replacement for half the price -- for delivery Sunday! We'll see what happens with that.

 

[DLgal]

It's usually delivery drivers calling in sick that causes delays.

 

[fla4fun]

Staffing issues don’t always show up in advance. It could be that they have a full roster of delivery drivers scheduled, but day of they could have a large percentage call out.

I think all businesses should be putting a delivery disclaimer on their websites the next few weeks that they don’t guarantee a specific delivery date, but that if you are a paid member (in your case, Prime) your order will receive top priority. At least then people would know before placing the order. I have noticed that disclaimer on a few shopping sites and it makes sense.

 

[MGMmjl]

We had a package that was supposed to be delivered yesterday. It was shipped via USPS. It wasn't delivered yesterday, and Amazon sent a message that it should come either today or tomorrow. Today, we got another message that the package has been transferred from USPS to UPS to facilitate the quickest delivery. They gave us a new UPS tracking number, and it shows that it is out for delivery this afternoon. This is the first time we have had the delivery companies switch in the middle like that.

 

[kymom99]

The usps around here does package delivery on Sundays

 

[tvguy]

We don't have Amazon Prime, and see no reason to get it since most items we order without Prime are already delivered the next day. So no issues here. We have several huge Amazon Warehouses in our area, one in Sacramento, and one in Tracy.

 

[Mysterian]

It's usually delivery drivers calling in sick that causes delays.

This sounds likely, given the delay in getting parts from vendors at work (at least in my job) due to everyone getting Cooties variants.

 

[RedAngie]

I never understood why people are so impatient to get their deliveries like yesterday.

If I order something online (rare), a week to ten days seems very reasonable.

 

[DLgal]

I never understood why people are so impatient to get their deliveries like yesterday.

If I order something online (rare), a week to ten days seems very reasonable.

Well, for starters it's because we are paying over $100/year for this fast delivery. It's not just free.

The majority of things I order via Amazon prime are things I need SOON. I often order from there because it's cheaper than going to Target, even. And a lot of times, Amazon is the only place that has something I need.

If I'm getting free shipping, I deal with the timeline given.

 

[kdonnel]

I know it's not a USPS problem because they don't deliver on Sundays.

The USPS most definitely delivers Amazon packages on Sunday in many places.

They have contracts with various merchants, Amazon being one of them, to do the last mile delivery 7 days a week.

 

[JimMIA]

If I'm getting free shipping, I deal with the timeline given.

Me too. But if you advertise that you will deliver TOMORROW, do it. Otherwise, you're just doing bait-and-switch.

 

[butterscotchcollins]

Me too. But if you advertise that you will deliver TOMORROW, do it. Otherwise, you're just doing bait-and-switch.

Jeff Bezos doesn’t care, but the warehouse workers who are worked to death on the floor (sometimes literally) do - maybe spare a thought for them.

 

[kymom99]

You would think they could at least give a coupon when delivery is late

 

[DLgal]

You would think they could at least give a coupon when delivery is late

They have started offering digital credits when orders are late or as an option to accept a longer delivery time.

 

[JimMIA]

Jeff Bezos doesn’t care, but the warehouse workers who are worked to death on the floor (sometimes literally) do - maybe spare a thought for them.

This has nothing to do with the warehouse workers.

It has to do with Amazon's marketing kids over-promising. It's called "false advertising," and it's a poor way to conduct business.

 

[prairie_girl]

One thing to keep in mind is that delivery promises are from the time the order is shipped, not when you place the order.

Having said that, I find that our two day delivery promises are turning into 3-4 days.

 

[JimMIA]

One thing to keep in mind is that delivery promises are from the time the order is shipped, not when you place the order.

It sure doesn't read that way...It doesn't say "One Day Delivery."

It says "FREE delivery Tomorrow, January 28."

 

[butterscotchcollins]

This has nothing to do with the warehouse workers.

It has to do with Amazon's marketing kids over-promising. It's called "false advertising," and it's a poor way to conduct business.

Simple solution to your woes: Don’t shop on Amazon

 

[JimMIA]

Simple solution to your woes: Don’t shop on Amazon

I like Amazon.

 

[kdonnel]

Amazon is also no longer the cheapest, perhaps the most convenient but not the cheapest.

I have started buying more stuff using Walmarts version of Prime. I get a subscription to it from a credit card. So far about 70% of the time Amazon is more expensive.