Filed under: Business, Internet, Web services
Amazon wants you to schedule regular purchases of household items
Amazon has launched a new "Subscribe & Save" service that lets you schedule regular purchases. Here's how it works. Say there's a particular brand of rice, beef jerky, or paper towels that you buy on a regular basis at the store. Why trek out to the supermarket every week to buy those items when Amazon can ship them to your door before you run out?
For the most part, Amazon sells its grocery items in bulk. So if you order rice, for example, you'll need to get 9 pounds. That comes in handy (if you have enough room in your cupboard or pantry) because it drives the purchase price high enough for Amazon to offer free shipping. On top of that, you get a 15% discount if you "subscribe" to an item.
On the other hand, there's no guarantee that Amazon will actually have the items you're looking for or that you won't be able to find those items cheaper at a local store.
[via Lifehacker]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Wiserun said 3:12PM on 11-26-2007
Not new, this has been available for quite some time, at least for Prime members. I like it, although I usually just sign up for the initial discount then cancel. I do receive regular shipments of Senseo coffee pods, though. Most things come in such large quantities that I only need them once in a blue moon, so I sign up for the 1 every six months option then delay the shipment once I get the reminder.
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RP said 7:14PM on 11-26-2007
Works great for baby diapers. A box a month, and about the same price as Walmart.
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z.beauvais said 9:32AM on 11-27-2007
I have used delivered shopping quite regularly here in the UK, and have been more or less happy with the service. However, there have been times when it's gone Pete Tong. My lovely wife once ordered five polythene bags of apples instead of five apples, for example. I also made a stew with the smallest cut of beef ever extracted from a cow, and about 12 parsnips. I'm sure you get the picture. The system works fairly well, with the notable and *usually* funny results. Now, however, imagine the headache when the funny mistakes arrive by pallet.
"Oh, where did you want your 38 boxes of instant potatoes? Shall I reverse in the van, or have you got a spare forklift by the dog run?"
Also, imagine, for some reason, you go off eating rice for a month or so. Say you eat a dodgy curry and can't stomach the idea of another spoonful of the old Basmati. What happens when you end up with four or five bags of things you haven't eaten?
I have a recommendation to all those contemplating this service who aren't quite organised enough to have planned the next six months' family dinners: only buy tins in bulk. At least you can donate the three-hundred mixed bean salads to charity if your can-opener breaks.
-Zach (http://www.zachbeauvais.com)
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