It doesn’t always solve the issue although it helps (to get free months, though that encourages more buying so…).
Sometimes I’d get a refund and an extension.
@heartny How did you use your Discover card points?. I have a Discover card that I have accumulated cash back on. Is this what you used?? Hope you can respond back quick, cuz the offer ends tonight. THANX!!
@growyoungagain Yes, I used my accumulated cashback from Discover. I had to do something to get the points viewable in Amazon, but I don’t remember how since it’s been so long. If you use Discover as a method of payment in Amazon, I think there is an option to tie your points to Amazon too. Can’t be too difficult if I did it
@f00l It’s on Bradsdeals right now and just like last year people voice discontent. It’s only 20 bucks, but I know everyone wants to get a deal. I bet you use Amazon a lot so you still get a good deal.
@heartny Er, unless someone in your house has a .edu email available. Then you get the student rate, and if you’re smart, you tell them that your graduation year is five years from now.
Fffff…now I’m afraid to play music. I have Prime, and a low-cost Fire gets me to my music library in two steps, or I use AMZN streaming. Today I touched it to wake it up, and Alexa spoke. She said that now I can access Alexa on my Fire. I’m reading the TOS, because I thought you had to have an Echo and/or Dot.
@OldCatLady
The Taps are way discounted this instant.
I suppose if you like Alexa the thing is to get a whole bag of dots.
Alexa could potentially help arrange life so that sentient healthy people could only get out of bed a few times a day.
Someone explain to me how the Alexa experience is different if you not have prime.
Someone explain to me how you know which items on Amazon are good for same day delivery.
Someone explain to me why I can buy hardbacks using Alexa but not kindle books. Honestly, Alexa, you are a twerp sometimes.
Someone pls figure out if Alexa will read Kindle books (the ones never recorded as audiobooks) aloud. And if Alexa does this, how to vary the reading cadence to speed it way up. And how to set bookmarks. And how to go back/forward a page. And please tell me how to do these things using my Echo or Tap.
Someone explain to me why I got up before 5am and then wasted 3 hours fucking around on Amazon even tho I only bought a Kindle book for $1.99 plus tax.
Someone please explain to me why the Amazon Tap doesn’t do fucking data networking over fucking Bluetooth already.
Someone please explain to me what happens if two or more Alexa devices that all have the same wake word can all hear your voice and you give a command.
I know better than than to live this way. I really do.
And a young v healthy relative worked in an Amazon fulfillment center for more than a year and finally left because his body (esp legs/feet) was breaking down. And this happens a lot - biggest reason people quit those jobs according to him.
Someone please point me to the Hazeldon clinic for Amazon addiction.
" Alexa how do I break my Amazon addiction?"
" Hmmm. I’m not sure what you meant by that question."
“Alexa, fuck you.”
“That’s not very nice to say.”
“Yeah, Mom.”
“Alexa, you suck.”
“You can always send feedback through the Alexa app.”
" Alexa what’s wrong with you?"
“Sorry I don’t know what went wrong.”
@OldCatLady
I misinformed slightly about the Amazon Tap being in sale.
It is at a very nice price if you don’t refer thru Alexa. Which you can do using your Kindle Fire.
Amazon Tap.
Normally $129.99
Order thru Alexa $79.99
Savings $50.00
They also have a Tap case on sale if you order they Alexa, but there are plenty of Tap cases out there around that price, on sale or no.
You can order this even if you don’t have an Alexa device, by using an app. On IOS the Swift For Alexa app and I. Android the Alexa Listens app. Dunno re Windows and Blackberry.
These apps will supposedly allow you to shop, get news/weather/jokes/info etc. I think they will not play music or audiobooks.
The current set of Alexa Deals (including the Tap) can be seen here:
Regarding the Tap: tolerable Bluetooth speaker, not a great one. Not as good as the Echo in sound quality - bit the Echo isn’t portable. The Tap is about the right size to fit comfortably in your hand. Various cases come with handles or clips.
Has a battery so portable. Is not always listening. You have to press a button to wake up the Alexa feature set. When not listening, it’s just a cute BT speaker.
The most annoying part it that it networks only over wifi, unless someone hacks the hell outta it. Which means if you intend to use it as a portable device, it can’t use your phone for the Alexa functions unless you turn on a hotspot, which kills the phone battery.
Dunno why they left out BT networking - I had a phone that could do that (as client) years ago.
Other smallish downside is that the BT disconnects from the streaming source during inactivity too quickly. 5-15 minutes? I have not used my Tap enuf to know if that varies depending on whether the Tap is on battery or charging.
Anyone wanting to buy a Tap should read Amz reviews to get a better idea of the device limits. Decent device, feels a bit first gen.
@f00l Dammit. I mean thank you very much. Camelcamelcamel and I are getting very close here lately The Echo is apparently entering the fray, with Dots, and maybe - oh, WTF, it doesn’t hurt to look, right?
@f00l Echo and Dot promotions are here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DFKC2SO/ref_=fs_ods_fs_aucc_btmp
So is the ‘buy five, get one free’ and the ‘buy 3, get $20. off’. (Place three Echo Dot devices in your cart and receive $20 off your order with code DOT3PACK. Or add 6 and pay for just 5 with code DOT6PACK.)
I’ve noticed Amazon using USPS for shipment a lot more - and packages are not meeting delivery expectations (not just USPS last mile, but USPS start to finish). It is so bad I’m actually tired of calling in to complain. Or calling in only to have some telecommuter answer from home and hear her husband screaming in the background, such as just happened - again - not ten minutes ago. (For all I know it may have been the same poor woman both times.) Our Prime membership has been extended so many times now that we’ll be on year two for free.
@Pavlov
Have spoken to some Amazon reps whose toddlers were screaming in the background. The Reps - all female - always covered for it somehow and got the kid into another room with or got the kid settled down.
I always felt for the mom and kid, and also felt annoyed w Amazon. This is closer than I want to be to someone who I can’t see.
AMZL opening operations in my area will very likely signal the end of using Amazon on any regular basis for me . . . The horror stories abound.
I just looked it up, and between our personal account and the business, we are averaging right around 150 packages a month (I really had no idea it was this high - most likely because our office manager is saving a few dollars buying items that would normally / typically be purchased directly from a vendor when that vendor now offers the same product on Amazon and final cost is slightly less when bought via them as an Amazon seller [especially if the vendor now warehouses the specific product with Amazon]). I really need to set better policies for her department to follow, as I’d spend a dollar more to keep a cut out of Amazon’s pocket and buy directly from said vendor.
Since the middle of October, I have had 28 packages miss delivery estimates by more than 2 days. Some of those were next day delivery guarantees. Every single last damn one of them was USPS, start to finish. UPS NEVER misses. FedEx misses one of ten delivery guarantees, for comparison (non-Amazon for reference - we hardly ever see a FedEx Amazon package - it is a true rare bird).
@Pavlov Here in SoCal, Amazon uses everything: FedEx, FedEx Home(*), SmartPost, UPS, SurePost, Mail Innovation, USPS, DHL(*), OnTrac(*), California Overnite(*), and Amazon Logistics(*).
I guess I’ve been pretty lucky in getting my stuff on time in the past. Though nowhere near the quantity you order, I’ve only had one package late by one day. For the couple times in which it didn’t seem like it, it was still delivered; I didn’t expect 10:30pm, but it was on the promised day.
@narfcake We will receive packages from pretty much any carrier when purchasing off of Amazon from a private seller (DHL is popular for many, with USPS doing last mile). When buying from Amazon (as Amazon being the seller) and choosing Prime, 99% of all packages are UPS or USPS. The split is moving more in favor of USPS.
I wonder why an Ace Hardware logo was chosen for the header picture. Seems suspicious.
@heartny You’re an Ace?
@sligett Or maybe Amazon is an Ace?
Prime is ending the beginning of December for me after several years.
It would have been sooner, but Amazon kept on giving me free months due to complaints.
@PlacidPenguin I guess it pays to complain, eh. I’ll have to remember that.
@heartny
It doesn’t always solve the issue although it helps (to get free months, though that encourages more buying so…).
Sometimes I’d get a refund and an extension.
@PlacidPenguin They complain about you too?
@heartny And it pays to Discover for you as well!
@PlacidPenguin I tried to complain too when I quit, but they didn’t give me free months of Prime
@PlacidPenguin
Why are you not renewing?
(Sympathies. I should prob quit it.)
/hiphy quitting
@f00l probably not renewing since they dropped Stargate from Prime video this week
@f00l
It’s not worth it for a (cartoon) handful of reasons.
Some promotion with
Top GearThe Grand Tour?I might just join back in. Dammit, @PlacidPenguin!
@heartny How did you use your Discover card points?. I have a Discover card that I have accumulated cash back on. Is this what you used?? Hope you can respond back quick, cuz the offer ends tonight. THANX!!
@growyoungagain Yes, I used my accumulated cashback from Discover. I had to do something to get the points viewable in Amazon, but I don’t remember how since it’s been so long. If you use Discover as a method of payment in Amazon, I think there is an option to tie your points to Amazon too. Can’t be too difficult if I did it
I already got Prime, so I get po’ed every time they do this. Dammit.
But i just renewed, fathead that I be.
@f00l It’s on Bradsdeals right now and just like last year people voice discontent. It’s only 20 bucks, but I know everyone wants to get a deal. I bet you use Amazon a lot so you still get a good deal.
Under ordinary circumstances, you can get Prime on a month-at-a-time basis, right? And this doesn’t affect that?
@brhfl Nope, this offer doesn’t affect that. This is only for an annual membership. Monthly is still $10.99/month.
@heartny Thanks.
@heartny Er, unless someone in your house has a .edu email available. Then you get the student rate, and if you’re smart, you tell them that your graduation year is five years from now.
@OldCatLady
Used that one up.
@OldCatLady Can it be any .edu address?
Even one that contains “alumni”?
@zachdecker
You can try.
You can’t share bennies w family. And you don’t get the movies etc till you start to pay.
@zachdecker yes. i used to use my .edu address.
Fffff…now I’m afraid to play music. I have Prime, and a low-cost Fire gets me to my music library in two steps, or I use AMZN streaming. Today I touched it to wake it up, and Alexa spoke. She said that now I can access Alexa on my Fire. I’m reading the TOS, because I thought you had to have an Echo and/or Dot.
@OldCatLady
Using apps you can do the Alexa thing on a smartphone or PC also.
Alexa wakes me up in the am. Sometimes tells a joke. So far the relationship is inessential.
@f00l Somehow I’d missed this. Let’s hope the Dots don’t go on Black Friday sale, because now I really want to play with them.
/giphy Echo dot
@OldCatLady
The Taps are way discounted this instant.
I suppose if you like Alexa the thing is to get a whole bag of dots.
Alexa could potentially help arrange life so that sentient healthy people could only get out of bed a few times a day.
Someone explain to me how the Alexa experience is different if you not have prime.
Someone explain to me how you know which items on Amazon are good for same day delivery.
Someone explain to me why I can buy hardbacks using Alexa but not kindle books. Honestly, Alexa, you are a twerp sometimes.
Someone pls figure out if Alexa will read Kindle books (the ones never recorded as audiobooks) aloud. And if Alexa does this, how to vary the reading cadence to speed it way up. And how to set bookmarks. And how to go back/forward a page. And please tell me how to do these things using my Echo or Tap.
Someone explain to me why I got up before 5am and then wasted 3 hours fucking around on Amazon even tho I only bought a Kindle book for $1.99 plus tax.
Someone please explain to me why the Amazon Tap doesn’t do fucking data networking over fucking Bluetooth already.
Someone please explain to me what happens if two or more Alexa devices that all have the same wake word can all hear your voice and you give a command.
I know better than than to live this way. I really do.
And a young v healthy relative worked in an Amazon fulfillment center for more than a year and finally left because his body (esp legs/feet) was breaking down. And this happens a lot - biggest reason people quit those jobs according to him.
Someone please point me to the Hazeldon clinic for Amazon addiction.
" Alexa how do I break my Amazon addiction?"
" Hmmm. I’m not sure what you meant by that question."
“Alexa, fuck you.”
“That’s not very nice to say.”
“Yeah, Mom.”
“Alexa, you suck.”
“You can always send feedback through the Alexa app.”
" Alexa what’s wrong with you?"
“Sorry I don’t know what went wrong.”
@f00l Not that I’m going to do it, but where did you find ‘way discounted’? AMZN says it’s $130.
@OldCatLady
I misinformed slightly about the Amazon Tap being in sale.
It is at a very nice price if you don’t refer thru Alexa. Which you can do using your Kindle Fire.
Amazon Tap.
Normally $129.99
Order thru Alexa $79.99
Savings $50.00
They also have a Tap case on sale if you order they Alexa, but there are plenty of Tap cases out there around that price, on sale or no.
You can order this even if you don’t have an Alexa device, by using an app. On IOS the Swift For Alexa app and I. Android the Alexa Listens app. Dunno re Windows and Blackberry.
These apps will supposedly allow you to shop, get news/weather/jokes/info etc. I think they will not play music or audiobooks.
The current set of Alexa Deals (including the Tap) can be seen here:
https://www.amazon.com/b?node=15201518011
Regarding the Tap: tolerable Bluetooth speaker, not a great one. Not as good as the Echo in sound quality - bit the Echo isn’t portable. The Tap is about the right size to fit comfortably in your hand. Various cases come with handles or clips.
Has a battery so portable. Is not always listening. You have to press a button to wake up the Alexa feature set. When not listening, it’s just a cute BT speaker.
The most annoying part it that it networks only over wifi, unless someone hacks the hell outta it. Which means if you intend to use it as a portable device, it can’t use your phone for the Alexa functions unless you turn on a hotspot, which kills the phone battery.
Dunno why they left out BT networking - I had a phone that could do that (as client) years ago.
Other smallish downside is that the BT disconnects from the streaming source during inactivity too quickly. 5-15 minutes? I have not used my Tap enuf to know if that varies depending on whether the Tap is on battery or charging.
Anyone wanting to buy a Tap should read Amz reviews to get a better idea of the device limits. Decent device, feels a bit first gen.
@f00l Dammit. I mean thank you very much. Camelcamelcamel and I are getting very close here lately The Echo is apparently entering the fray, with Dots, and maybe - oh, WTF, it doesn’t hurt to look, right?
@f00l
Apps? What are those?
/s
Bandwidth – or the lack thereof with Bluetooth vs. Wi-Fi.
@OldCatLady
I got “siri-corrected” on that post.
To get the Tap at $50 off, you order using Alexa. Which you can do easily, since you have the Kindle Fire.
See the Alexa Deals link above for more info.
PS if you see a deal on the Dots please post it here. I have seen some sort of a “buy a bag of Dots, get one Dot free” promo somewhere.
@f00l Echo and Dot promotions are here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DFKC2SO/ref_=fs_ods_fs_aucc_btmp
So is the ‘buy five, get one free’ and the ‘buy 3, get $20. off’. (Place three Echo Dot devices in your cart and receive $20 off your order with code DOT3PACK. Or add 6 and pay for just 5 with code DOT6PACK.)
I’ve noticed Amazon using USPS for shipment a lot more - and packages are not meeting delivery expectations (not just USPS last mile, but USPS start to finish). It is so bad I’m actually tired of calling in to complain. Or calling in only to have some telecommuter answer from home and hear her husband screaming in the background, such as just happened - again - not ten minutes ago. (For all I know it may have been the same poor woman both times.) Our Prime membership has been extended so many times now that we’ll be on year two for free.
Amazon is going to shit.
@Pavlov
IWISH more of my deliveries were via USPS. Not exactly thrilled with AMZL.
@Pavlov
Have spoken to some Amazon reps whose toddlers were screaming in the background. The Reps - all female - always covered for it somehow and got the kid into another room with or got the kid settled down.
I always felt for the mom and kid, and also felt annoyed w Amazon. This is closer than I want to be to someone who I can’t see.
@PlacidPenguin
AMZL opening operations in my area will very likely signal the end of using Amazon on any regular basis for me . . . The horror stories abound.
I just looked it up, and between our personal account and the business, we are averaging right around 150 packages a month (I really had no idea it was this high - most likely because our office manager is saving a few dollars buying items that would normally / typically be purchased directly from a vendor when that vendor now offers the same product on Amazon and final cost is slightly less when bought via them as an Amazon seller [especially if the vendor now warehouses the specific product with Amazon]). I really need to set better policies for her department to follow, as I’d spend a dollar more to keep a cut out of Amazon’s pocket and buy directly from said vendor.
Since the middle of October, I have had 28 packages miss delivery estimates by more than 2 days. Some of those were next day delivery guarantees. Every single last damn one of them was USPS, start to finish. UPS NEVER misses. FedEx misses one of ten delivery guarantees, for comparison (non-Amazon for reference - we hardly ever see a FedEx Amazon package - it is a true rare bird).
@Pavlov how is ups vs fedex vs usps when it comes to damaged goods/ damaged packages while in transit?
@Pavlov Here in SoCal, Amazon uses everything: FedEx, FedEx Home(*), SmartPost, UPS, SurePost, Mail Innovation, USPS, DHL(*), OnTrac(*), California Overnite(*), and Amazon Logistics(*).
I guess I’ve been pretty lucky in getting my stuff on time in the past. Though nowhere near the quantity you order, I’ve only had one package late by one day. For the couple times in which it didn’t seem like it, it was still delivered; I didn’t expect 10:30pm, but it was on the promised day.
* - I believe these use contract drivers.
@narfcake
Good stuff. Thx.
@narfcake you forgot to mention reindeers or storks.
@communist We generally don’t have issues with damage (or loss / theft).
@narfcake We will receive packages from pretty much any carrier when purchasing off of Amazon from a private seller (DHL is popular for many, with USPS doing last mile). When buying from Amazon (as Amazon being the seller) and choosing Prime, 99% of all packages are UPS or USPS. The split is moving more in favor of USPS.
@Pavlov
Postal employees have told me that Amazon is a huge reason the USPS still exists.
You’d think the USPS would grab at a chance to do this right. If they don’t wanna fade into history.
@growyoungagain And cat.
https://meh.com/forum/topics/catshirtswoot
@narfcake a cat to guard your shipment, what a bonus. Amazon should put R/D money towards that instead of drones.