I Love Amazon

I started using Amazon right after it debuted however many years ago. Being the cheap bastard that I am though, I always opted for the free super saving shipping which could take up to 2 weeks. Sure the prices were good, and I loved that they seemed to "know me" offering recommendations based on what I had previously ordered or viewed, but my need for instantaneous gratification went unfulfilled.

At that time, Amazon carried primarily books, music and movies with some other odds and ends. Being a block and a half from Barnes & Noble and (before it closed) Tower Records, I usually chose to pay a bit more in exchange for the thrill of quick acquisition. It got even better when Barnes & Noble introduced free same-day delivery for Manhattan residents. Order it by 11AM and I'd have it by 7PM via courier. I was thrilled, though secretly ashamed that I wouldn't walk the block and a half to pick it up in person . . .

Then a few years ago, two things happened at Amazon. First, they started carrying just about anything on earth that could be put in a box and shipped by UPS, still at the lowest prices pretty much anywhere. Second, they introduced Amazon Prime. For an annual fee of $79, they will ship anything they carry (i.e. not things that they sell for others through their website) with free two-day shipping. Given how much I tend to rely on internet shopping, this was a phenomenal deal, and assuaged my need for speed.

In the last two days, two more things happened that have caused me to pledge my undying loyalty to Amazon. On Monday night around 8PM I ordered some DVDs from Amazon. Because of the lateness of the hour and Thanksgiving, my order was not scheduled to arrive until Friday. Imagine my surprise when they showed up Tuesday evening, having been delivered by courier.

Then today, I remembered that I needed to get some new windshield wipers for my car. Consumer Reports had just published their ratings and I was going to pick one of their recommended models. If you don't know, there aren't many auto supply shops in Manhattan so I figured I would order them on-line. Just for kicks, I checked first to see if Amazon carried them, assuming that if they did, they would be available through a third party. Imagine my surprise when I found that not only did they have them on the site, but that they were sold by Amazon and eligible for my free 2-day shipping. And like a cherry on top, the price was about 50% lower than Consumer Reports' reported street pricing.

Ooohh, I love my Amazon! Kudos Jeff Bezos!