I Can't Order from Amazon Without Signing up for Prime? Seriously?

[Lethe200]

Another frustrating thing Amazon has started doing is stuff I used to buy from them, you can no longer buy a single unit, they only carry it in a 2- or 3-pack. So I've been able to order some of the single items from Walmart.com.

Be aware there is a difference between what Amazon sells and what the Amazon Marketplace sells. Vendors in the AM must adhere to Amazon guidelines/practices, but they control their own products, quantities, and shipping. Many DO ship through Amazon (ease of use, discounts) but that does not make them a part of the corporate Amazon entity.

I do understand your frustration; I often do not want to buy multi-paks, either. However, looking at it from the business perspective, it is not just profitable, but easier on the supply chain to ship out multiples, rather than have the overhead of a large retail site with employees stocking every single item in neat arrays on shelving. It is the same principle as Costco/Sam's Club et. al. - Bigger is Cheaper on the bottom line.

We are paying for the convenience of mail-order. Walmart is often willing to accept loss of profit to expand their on-line footprint. Amazon is the 800-lb gorilla of on-line, with a lower overhead and increased efficiency ratio that Walmart would dearly love to achieve. You notice that it no longer aggressively opens those big superstores; the increasing urbanization of the global economy works in Amazon's favor, not Walmart's.

 

[Eupher]

Shipping costs in general have been gradually moving my purchasing back to traditional brick and mortar stores.

I still buy online but I definitely feel like it is fast becoming a more predatory shopping experience.

I tend to agree -- which is why I will often check Amazon, then other online services. If the sales tax outweighs the shipping costs (usually the case), I'll stick with whatever online service is cheapest for the same item.

Online services other than Amazon tend to "mask" their shipping charges unless and until you go through their checkout process. More often than not, I dump them. They may charge less for the item, but they're recouping their costs by sticking you with ginormous shipping costs.

I find it very difficult to actually source and obtain much of what I'm looking for in brick & mortar stores in my area -- without traveling a ridiculous distance to get there.

 

[Remy]

Shipping costs in general have been gradually moving my purchasing back to traditional brick and mortar stores.

I still buy online but I definitely feel like it is fast becoming a more predatory shopping experience.

Shipping sure does add cost to items.

 

[Remy]

There are some things you really can't always find in your town. And traveling, driving, store to store. I just don't like it. I'm not big on shopping. Except thrift stores. I've got 4 things I'm going to get. None are related really. It would be impossible to find them in one store.

 

[dilettante]

I'd like to see Amazon and other online retailers scale their prices by zip code (in the US) according to the wage scale. Right now fatcats from high-wage areas are getting a free ride on the backs of low income people. People from parts of Alabama and the like could be getting discounts funded by surcharging high-income parts of Texas, California, and New York.

If they can give India a break, they can give Missouri a break.