'Why pay for Shipping?' The reason I cancelled Prime

I cancelled Amazon Prime in 2021, and even if I hit my $35 minimum, I still actively pay for shipping so the package arrives earlier. Every single time I go to check out, Amazon presents a splash screen asking me to join Prime, with the question “Why Pay for Shipping?”

I first purchased Amazon Prime 15 years ago, back when they had a fantastic reputation for customer-centric service. I retained my prime membership over the years even paying the increased rates, since guaranteed free two-day shipping was important to me, and if there was an issue, they would always make it right. Sometimes they would even give me a free week of Prime!

To Amazon’s credit, their track record was great. For almost a decade, I had no complaints and their customer service was stellar. While I couldn’t tell you why, I noticed drastic issues with them hitting their 2-day deliveries as we neared the 2020s.

I came across the perfect mug for Father’s Day; I ordered it as it would trump the current gift I had planned. The page very clearly said “guaranteed delivery date: Saturday by 9pm” – one day before Father’s Day that year. Amazon Mug by Anthony Ianozi, on Flickr

Unfortunately, Amazon failed to deliver the package on time. A week later I ordered some Ethernet cables, and Amazon failed to deliver that package on time too. When opening a chat with Amazon on both occasions, they weren’t able to help me aside from a refund after the package eventually arrives.

By 2021 my goodwill had run out when a package with a “guaranteed delivery date” for 2 days arrived on day 3 and the Amazon representative simply said “Well it ended up arriving even if late, what do you want us to do about it?” Despite spending over $10,000 on Amazon that year, their customer service couldn’t make it right; they wouldn’t offer a refund, a discount, or anything. At this point, I cancelled prime.

For a while I was simply waiting until I had $35 of product to take advantage of the free shipping, but what happens when the package is delayed? It would happen often, and usually I had to wait several days to deal with the refunds. Since it was free shipping, they would have nothing to owe me if it arrives incredibly late, just like when I got free two-day shipping as a prime member! That’s when I decided to start paying for earlier arrivals, because now their “guaranteed arrival date” actually means something, and even when it’s one day late, they’ll refund my shipping.

I ordered a photo album yesterday, and despite qualifying for free shipping, I paid $12.84 for overnight shipping. This morning the order status page said “Arriving between 12-2pm”, but now it’s 3pm and the page simply says “Still arriving today”. I’m not worried though, why should I be? I’m not a prime member. I paid for shipping, and I know that if it doesn’t arrive by the end of the day, they’ll refund that $12.84.

So no, Amazon, I will not buy Prime. I will pay for shipping. I’ve come to realize that by not being a prime member, you can’t take advantage of me, you’re forced to make things right.