It seemed to me that Amazon PRIME was like pre-paying points on a mortgage. You pre-pay them their profit before buying anything and also make yourself feel invested with them and somewhat compelled to buy there. But for some reason I am annoyed by trendy gimmicks and avoid them for the most part.
Some 50 to 55 years ago, I ordered parts through the mail because the parts werenât available at the local McParts stores. For instance, when I bought my first car in 1962, a 1947 Pontiac, it didnât have turning signals. I couldnât find a turning signal kit locally, but a kit was available from Montgomery Ward, so I ordered the turning signal kit and installed it. When I upgraded to a 1955 Pontiac, I decided I wanted a windshield washer, so I ordered a windshield washer kit from J.C. Whitney. Years later, I when I had a 1990 Ford Aerostar minivan, I bought a WeatheetechÂź floor mat for the rear area because this item wasnât available locally. Last December, the right front parking light/turning signal bulb burned out on my 2011 Sienna. It is a common bulb , but it was out-of-stock at both Autozone and Advance auto parts. In desperation, I went to Walmart and found the bulb. It was a Sylvania the same brand that came with the car as original equipment. With todayâs fast shipping by Amazon, I can see where McParts have real competition.
For electronic parts that I have needed to keep the sound system working at the church I attend, I have to go online for parts. There is no longer an independent parts store and RadioShack is gone. I recently converted light fixtures in the church building from florescent to LED since the four foot T12 florescent tubes are no longer made. I bought the LED replacements for $6.99 a tube and our electric company paid us $6.00 for each tube we replaced. I bought the LED tubes online because no local store could match or even come close to the price.
Even steeper.competiton to McParts stores will happen when.Amazon uses drones for delivery. Then it may be even faster to order.thst to go to McParts.
I have not odered car parts through Amazon, probably will not, I patronize a NAPA store mostly, and going in for a part, and be able to talk about your troubles and find an alternative view is indispensable, not to mention a part that will work.
Nillson, think about your troubles, from The Point animated classic
âComradeâ Bing (sarcasm). Printed catalogs had a significant value in their heyday. Average customers had little entertainment and would peruse the printed catalog finding things they needed or wanted. Brick and mortar stores also have the advantage of customers seeing things other than what they came for. Typical on-line shopping for me involves searching, finding, and purchasing the item I need.
Printed catalogs also had their place in the outhouse
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Next time try live chat. I have solved numerous issues using their chat feature. Just this week got one day delivery for outboard part that wasnât an option online for that part. Customer service worked minor miracle to get it done.
I dunno, this afternoon I paged through at least three catalogs looking at the various items for ideas and info. A cabinet supply company, Rockler, Sommerfield tools, and a printed HF ad. Also a Fleet Farm and Menards multi-page ad. I didnât neglect the internet though and searched for plumbing and sinks. You just gotta use both but I could go through 100 pages of products in no time. Much easier than the net. I donât need any car parts today though or Iâd use the net for that.
I was hired by Purolator Courier in 1979. They were the giant of the overnight airfreight industry. 4.5 billion per year. When I entered a Shearson Lehman office I got cheers and thumbs up. They completely ignored a little start up in the industry. It was FedEx. Within 5 years Purolator Courier was bankrupt! Macyâs has been buying up failing department stores and malls. Can they not see the âWriting on the Wallâ?
Amazon has a special delivery arrangement with the post office, Saturday and Sunday drivers are part time peeps, 1/2 the wages and no benefits, to deliver your car parts, it would not bother me so much, if the cEOâs making millions did not get bonuses for screwing the working guy.
Evolution:
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Now why didnât I think of that. Coulda retired 40 years ago.
Incidentally I noticed in the business section today that same store sales for Oâreilly stores were down some 2 or 3% and their stock has taken a tumble. They attribute it to reduced demand. Uh huh, it must be so. Couldnât be their staff or products at all. Iâll agree though when people have bought new cars in the past few years and traded in the clunkers, the market for repair parts would shrink. Still they need waxes and oil and filters and fuzzy dice and so on.
I stopped at an OâReillyâs store a few weeks ago for plugs. After waiting in what seemed like an empty store for a few minutes I yelled âhello, is anybody here?â. A guy came from out back, I told him I needed some spark plugs, and he said thereâd be somebody right out to help me. I waited about five minutes. Nothing. so I left.
Yup, must be âreduced demandâ. That happens when customer service goes down the toilet.
Amazing . . .
The guy that âcame from out backâ . . . he wasnât able/willing to help you out and ring up a sale?
It probably wouldnât have taken more than 2-3 minutes, and then he could have gotten back to whatever was so important in the back. As it is, the store didnât make a sale, and may have lost a customer
I donât know if this applies to âmost peopleâ, but I also have a MasterCard that I use for almost all of my online purchases. Because of that specific usage, a scan of my monthly bill will quickly reveal anything that might not be legitimate, andâof courseâa more lengthy examination will reveal the full truth of the matter.
The only online purchases that I doâother than on that particular MasterCardâare my purchases from LL Bean, which are done with Beanâs own Visa card, which provides me with free monogramming of my clothing, as well as free return shipping if I donât like (for ANY reason) my LL Bean purchase.
For my grocery purchases, I use my Amex Blue Cash Everyday card, which pays me a 3% rebate on those food purchases, and for everything else I use my Costco Visa, which gives me a 4% rebate on gasâfrom ANY gas stationâa 3% rebate on restaurant meals and travel expenses, a 2% rebate on Costco purchases, and a 1% rebate on everything else.
Or, I could pay cash, and not reap hundreds of dollars per year in rebates.
the credit card companies are sure that they are making money on you one way or another. Thatâs why they have talked you into using all those cards.
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New Oreilly just opened up in our town, Autozone by me was always busy enough, but the payday lenders might have auto parts stores outnumbered.
Payday loans and title loans are imune from bankruptcy and lenders can charge 400% interest if states allow them to. If you borrow $1,000 on your car you can spend $4000 a year on interest and still owe the $1,000 principal. Ainât life great⊠For a few.
This may not tell the whole story . . .
If youâre frequenting payday loan shops and car title loan shops, chances are you havenât been making wise financial decisions, and/or maybe youâre not very good at budgeting
Years ago, when I literally was earning chump change, I never found myself in a situation where I had to frequent such a lender. I lived very modestly, and within my means. I drove cars that werenât worth much, and allowed myself very few luxuries. I wasnât able to save much money at that time, but more importantly, I was maintaining, not sinking into debt. I never bought anything I couldnât afford, whether it be a house, car, or what have you. in some case, I just did without. Where the other guys would splurge on trips to Vegas, cruises, expensive overseas travel, gambling, etc., I stayed at home, and contented myself with occasional visits to the movie theater or the county fair, for example.
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They definitely lost a customer.
When they were VIP I always got good service there. Theyâve been sliding down hill fast since Oreillyâs bought VIP.
You confused me so I had to refresh my memory.
âLaws originate in the legislative assembly whereas regulations originate in administrative agencies and departmentsâ. Isnât the EPA an administrative agency of the Executive Branch?