Amazon Prime using smartpost

[bcla]

Depends on where you live, especially since there are regional delivery services that give Amazon ridiculously cheap rates. I remember getting my two-day shipments via UPS or FedEx, but it's been a while since my free Prime subscription lapsed. The other deal is that they're clear on whether or not you're going to miss their daily shipping deadline. If you order at night in the Eastern time zone, you need to know that you missed the cutoff.

Around the West Coast they send a lot of stuff through OnTrac. In my area they use company owned delivery vehicles, but apparently in other areas they contract with individuals who use their own private vehicles.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Oh no - I would hate if they cancelled this program! I admit that I rarely order anything from Amazon but I've been a Prime member since the very beginning. I love Amazon Instant Video.

I thought that Amazon's Prime shipping model was based on having distribution centers in strategic locations throughout the US where they had "free" next day shipping via UPS (I had never heard of SmartPost - had to look that up). For example, my city has a distribution center and Amazon isn't paying a nickel more for 2 day delivery than they would regular ground because UPS has my whole state in a free next day coverage area.

But I guess if you did a lot of small shipments, that would quickly eat into your membership fees either way...

Oh, I hope Prime doesn't go away!

I don't think you have to worry about Prime going anywhere. It is a huge money maker for Amazon, in the Amazon scheme of things.

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/amaz...for-free-shipping-Zjb7M4QtSB22CEy4LVwXXg.html

http://business.time.com/2013/03/18...owerful-more-profitable-than-anyone-imagined/

 

[LuLuO]

I've never received the 2 day shipping items late and sometimes I get them a day early. I have received a 'next day' shipping item late once.

 

[HelenePA]

the only thing I get by smartpost is OldNavy. I hate smart post!! I LOVE amazon prime! I live not too far from a distribution center so I often get things within 24hrs of ordering.

 

[Tinijocaro]

Just curious, do you live in a remote location? I've always gotten my items within the two day span.

 

[ericstac]

yup.. we ordered Halloween masks with Prime shipping last week, was supposed to be here Monday. Its now Thursday and still empty handed. What is bad is we have a school Halloween carnival this weekend and need the mask


what is real crazy is just a month ago, prior to being on Prime we would get Amazon packages FAST.. but since then it has been horrible..


we ordered an exercise bike two weeks ago and like another poster said, it was shipped 4 days after the order.. :/

 

[Carl]

I can't stand Smartpost. But, I don't think Amazon has ever sent me anything that way. It is usually my mail order drug companies that do that. I've never gotten anything sent by Smartpost in less than a week.
I have gotten things sent by second day Prime in 3 or 4 days when I order on the weekend or Friday. But, on the other hand, there have been a few times I received my package on a Saturday.