In the past we were members of Prime - mostly for the video content - it was a pretty good deal at 1/2 price and we finally let it expire when my partner grew tired of it.
Since then, periodically when ordering it offers a 'free 30 day trial'.
Of course I took that a couple of times, being sure to cancel early enough to keep it 100% free.
Just lately we needed a $50 item & it offered that again - so I took it - then found a better deal elsewhere, so I cancelled that order & the 'free prime' stayed.
Since then I made use of it for ~4 small orders, which got the free shipping, BUT=>
Each item was not even shipped out for several days & the deliveries each took at least a week.
I'm glad & grateful for the free shipping, but the arrival times are actually longer than if I got the same stuff from fleabay with free shipping with no membership needed.
And of course I'll cancel it again so as to keep it 100% free.
When we had it for 1/2 price things always arrived in just a day or 2 - I'm guessing the free option doesn't work as quickly.
Doesn't really matter if paid or free, same degraded, dismal experience vs. a few years ago. Family member who stayed on because they had a few years at old rates (gift of prime, gifted themselves, no longer allowed), left after years, just not worth it. Service, merch prices not competitive, membership cost, ads rammed at you with increased frequency, persistence, intrusiveness even if you pay for "no ads", Amz just more and more of a $hit show.
Hey, ya know, 417' half billion dollar sailing yachts don't maintain themselves, not to mention her 250' support ship, so Bezos needs to squeeze as much juice as possible.
More pathetic BS to add=>
Our latest 'prime' order was apparently mis-addressed & thus mis-delivered to a USPS office an hour away...being held for pickup which can never happen.
Attempted to get a refund - and no payment is offered.
'Prime' next day deliveries that take 1-3 WEEKS to arrive ??
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Items that get delivered to totally wrong, far away addresses with zero recourse ??
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Such occurrences neither meet my definition of 'good', nor do they match the stated 'prime' offer's policies.
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What those DO is to bring disappointments & discouragement towards the company & it's obviously bogus 'offers'.
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Of course YMMV & many folks seem to be OK with such lesser results - I'm NOT.
OK - here is my deal, plain & simple=>
I'm an old guy who has lived through decades navigating commerce & making use of customer service options.
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Am I biased ?? Definitely, un-apologetically so.
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Our latest evilzon order that was delivered to a location an hour's drive away had me attempting a return/refund.
Results ?? No options offered - not even to contact the seller.
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Any so-called 'Reliable benchmarks' nowadays are based upon how tired, apathetic & docile consumers have become after getting beaten to pulps by 'the pandemic'.
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Mediocrity is the 'new norm' with folks accepting such things as plain old eggs costing over $6/dozen.
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Those who accept the mainstream narratives at face value suffer from what has become 'the new norm' - but not everyone is willing to defend such poor conditions...'specially old folks like me.
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So our home-made bread is now made MINUS eggs and it is still better quality than what is on the store's shelves.