Ask HN: How long does Amazon delivery typically take?

1 points by fsckboy 2y ago ↗ HN

I mainly used Amazon Prime for streaming, and now it's all ads so I'd like to cancel it. I live in various places, but all major US metropolitan downtown areas and I have this sneaking suspicion that I'm not actually benefiting from Prime 2-day free either since they're doing dropoffs at my various apartments all the time. If I cancel Prime will they start to pour molasses on my orders? (also, I'm sure people who don't match my profile will have interesting things to ask or say, so don't limit yourself, but I'm not talking about backordered or 3rd party fulfillment)

3 comments

[ 4.8 ms ] story [ 22.2 ms ] thread

jacurtis 2y ago ↗

You’re right, the shipping itself is no slower or faster than with prime, especially since they essentially have their own shipping company now, everything is technically same day shipping now, the difference is how long until it ships. The free shipping (non prime) usually just sits pending for several days and then all of a sudden ships and arrives in about a day. So prime is essentially just priority order picking.

Although, prime anymore is so random, I sometimes get it same day, sometimes next day q and sometimes it’s 3-4 days for no good reason. Guaranteed same day now costs an extra $3 and ”overnight” (which means it arrives before 9am) is $2 extra and now this week they started charging $3 for Amazon key garage delivery unless it’s your prime day which is only once per week. Meanwhile the price goes up every 6 months and prime video is the most ad-riddled of any streaming service and half the content promoted for you is actually an extra cost. I’m not really sure what the point of paying for prime is anymore.

charlie0 2y ago ↗

I only use Prime on free trial, mainly because I don't purchase enough to justify the price. I've noted non Prime shipping is almost as fast as shipping, maybe a day later. I can wait.

PaulHoule 2y ago ↗

I live 20 minutes from a two college town and 3.5 hrs from NYC. AmZN packages, Prime or not, take five days to reach me.

I canceled Prime and rarely order from AMZN (less than once a month.)

Some people say “it serves me right” for living in a rural area but every other retailer such as Office Depot, Target, Best Buy, Adorama, Gamestop, are quicker. 2 day shipping is ‘standard’ in my experience, occasionally I get free 1 day for an expensive item (say pro camera lens) some of the laggards are 3 day.

For me, AMZN is in a class by itself for slow shipping.