Amazon Smile program discontinued

[john7994]

You're totally right and I def. knew that but for whatever reason while I was typing out my comments and figuring out math I was doing 5%. Thanks for the correction.

No worries - I got what you meant. Now, at 5%, that would be some cheddar

 

[_19disnA]

Not familiar with this Amazon program but it sounds like you could choose to add a 'fee' to your purchase and Amazon would accumulate those to donate to specific charities. If they choose to no longer offer that service, why not just donate directly to your choice of charity? Clearly Amazon had to do some administrative tasks to accomplish this and was acting as a pass-through to direct donations where requested. While their intent may have been genuine, some companies are mostly involved in charitable efforts for their PR value.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Not familiar with this Amazon program but it sounds like you could choose to add a 'fee' to your purchase and Amazon would accumulate those to donate to specific charities. If they choose to no longer offer that service, why not just donate directly to your choice of charity? Clearly Amazon had to do some administrative tasks to accomplish this and was acting as a pass-through to direct donations where requested. While their intent may have been genuine, some companies are mostly involved in charitable efforts for their PR value.

No fee added - Amazon took .5% of what you paid and sent it to your charity.

Now, if Amazon prices across the entire site drop .5% tomorrow, then you'd see this even out...

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Well, I‘m glad it wasn’t just me.

I messaged the charity I support and got a response that they’re really disappointed, too.

 

[Colleen27]

It pays the charities so little that to my I can just send them 20.00 and it would be more than they would have gotten from Amazon Smile. The charity I work for is mid sized and what we get from amazon smile is a drop in the bucket.

Sure, but it was passive and that means bigger reach. Our school still gets my donation checks, my support for other fundraisers, and my volunteer hours. But for a small school (about 50 families, just over 100 students K-8) having not only current parents but alumni parents, adult alumni, and parishioners from the affiliated church directing their Smile dollars toward the school magnified the impact beyond the number of people still closely connected enough to the school to write a check for the annual fund drive or show up for the benefit auction.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I work for a small charity who received donations from Amazon Smile - I was very sad to read this
Donations all but disappeared when the tax laws changed and this is just another stab - times are hard and people don’t have funds to just throw around
My charity services Veterans - people think oh the war is over and they have the VA they are taken care of - not the case - these brave men & women have life long injuries that in turn cause other life long injuries - the need never ends - their sacrifice is unimaginable
So for big corporation like Amazon to pull the plug on this in MY opinion is crap
These Charities need these funds to do their work
My opinion only your mileage my vary but I’m really disappointed they did this - just makes the job even harder for these small charities to try and obtain donation and keep doing their good work
To everyone who donates to a charity - THANK YOU ! Your donations are appreciated more than you will ever know !! Most small charities run on small staffs with lots of volunteers help trying to stretch those dollars !!

 

[aprilgail]

My opinion only your mileage my vary but I’m really disappointed they did this - just makes the job even harder for these small charities to try and obtain donation and keep doing their good work
To everyone who donates to a charity - THANK YOU ! Your donations are appreciated more than you will ever know !! Most small charities run on small staffs with lots of volunteers help trying to stretch those dollars !!

Amazon recently presented us with a 10,000 check from their giving program (NOT amazon smiles) and it was way more than we would have ever gotten in 10 years with amazon smiles so they do donate other than the smiles program.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Amazon recently presented us with a 10,000 check from their giving program (NOT amazon smiles) and it was way more than we would have ever gotten in 10 years with amazon smiles so they do donate other than the smiles program.

Who chooses the charity?

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Did you apply for a grant from their program ?

 

[aprilgail]

Who chooses the charity?

an employee of amazon recommened us for it.

 

[TLSnell1981]

an employee of amazon recommened us for it.

That's what I expected. I reduced my subscribe and save order by over 50% yesterday. Amazon may not care but I feel better. Fees have increased and services decreased... now this. Not sure if I will renew my membership when it expires. This may break the camels back.

 

[TwoMisfits]

That's what I expected. I reduced my subscribe and save order by over 50% yesterday. Amazon may not care but I feel better. Fees have increased and services decreased... now this. Not sure if I will renew my membership when it expires. This may break the camels back.

I'm gonna treat it like a streaming service now and let mine go when my renewal is up in October...

Then, if they feel like offering me a deal to return, I'll think about it.

It's gonna be only the 2nd time in 20 years I've let my subscription lapse.

 

[Calm_]

However, it is cheerful that there is still another choice.
Basically, my friends and I use CouponBirds coupons every time we shop to save money, because to do so I can donate to a charity of my choice with my every purchase through CouponBirds. I know this coupon site has a CouponBirds Seedling Project, which might be a good alternative for what used to be an NPO on AmazonSmile. Hope it will be helpful.

 

[TLSnell1981]

*** I typed the message below earlier earlier today but now I'm really peeved. I just received a text saying Amazon "attempted delivery...sorry there was a problem". What problem? I have packages or orders delivered at least 5 days a week. I had 4 delivered late last night. Amazon's remedy was to order another book (2 week delivery time) I need to take a deep breath. The customer service agent said maybe they couldn't find my address. I. Don't. Think. So. Grrrrrr!

I could save a tree or two with the reduction in shipping boxes too. It's now $130 and too often my packages do not either arrive on time or at all. And I will save "impulse" shopping... buying due to the ease of ordering it was so worth it before they began charging for Whole Food delievery. Now it's a mess maybe they took tips from Disney?

Disney+
Hulu
Netflix
Amazon?
Pennies make $$$ so it all adds up.! That would but a very nice pair o shoes!

I do enjoy Lifetime, A&E plus the History channel . Maybe I should pick up gardening again and take longer walks...less screentime.

 

[Dan Murphy]

However, it is cheerful that there is still another choice.
Basically, my friends and I use CouponBirds coupons every time we shop to save money, because to do so I can donate to a charity of my choice with my every purchase through CouponBirds. I know this coupon site has a CouponBirds Seedling Project, which might be a good alternative for what used to be an NPO on AmazonSmile. Hope it will be helpful.

Welcome to the dis, Calm.

Are you affiliated with that bird site?

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Supermarket reminder to check out yours to see whether they offer a community rewards ptogram. Ralph's out here which is a part of the Kroger chain of Supermarkets has a Community Rewards programs which like Amazon Smile donates a part of your purchases to a charity of your choice. Dad and I through Ralphs give A Home for Every Living Pet aka H.E.L.P.

 

[Colleen27]

*** I typed the message below earlier earlier today but now I'm really peeved. I just received a text saying Amazon "attempted delivery...sorry there was a problem". What problem? I have packages or orders delivered at least 5 days a week. I had 4 delivered late last night. Amazon's remedy was to order another book (2 week delivery time) I need to take a deep breath. The customer service agent said maybe they couldn't find my address. I. Don't. Think. So. Grrrrrr!

Delivery has been a particular mess around me this week. I'd say about 1/4 of the posts on our community Facebook group have been screenshots of random porches where Amazon mis-delivered packages. On one hand, good on them for starting the whole photo-of-delivery thing so people can track down where their package went, but on the other, is it really that hard to get them to the right houses in the first place? I got two things this week - a dress and an accessory, both for a school dance DD is going to tonight. One came to my house, the other to a house on the next street with the same house number. Fortunately, we get their packages and they get ours often enough that we're used to swapping, but if they have drivers who can't tell the difference between 123 X St. and 123 Y St., maybe they need to invest in better training, better GPS, or better staff.