What Amazon needs to do is arrange for weekly shipments. I love prime, but I pre-order a lot of stuff, and often I'll have a week where I receive shipments three or four days in a row; One impulse buy I bought right then, two things I placed orders for months ago and months apart from each other, that just happen to come out at the same time.
Imagine if I could have them consolidate those shipments; Get a weekly shipment for most items, or get it via normal prime when it's something I really need fast.
They already kinda do that for Subscribe & Save items, the dates for those shipments are never predictable, and items tend to arrive packaged together.
I've noticed that Prime members can still opt for the slower (super saver) delivery option. Although there's not much reason to select slower shipping over faster shipping, if both are free, choosing the slower shipping option should increase the opportunity for Amazon to ship different orders in the same box.
I’m not sure if it’s all items or all the times, but I believe if you choose the slower option, Amazon will actually credit your account some money (though I think from the way it was worded it sounded like it was only for Amazon MP3 or similar purchases, not a general Amazon credit - certainly if it was general credit, I’d do it more often).
FREE No-Rush Delivery (typical delivery one week after placing an order).
Note: You may receive promotional credit for selecting No-Rush Shipping. Credit will be automatically applied to your Amazon.com account once the first package from a No-Rush Shipping-eligible order ships. You'll receive an e-mail as soon as the credit is available. You may select No-Rush Shipping as many times as it's offered to you, but you won't be eligible for the credit if you cancel your No-Rush Shipping order or return items from it.
And from their forums: "You get a $1 mp3 credit if you choose the slower shipping option."
I have a strange problem that my garbagemen in Berkeley won't collect boxes. They're supposed to collect them if they are neatly stacked next to the bin, but they don't. If Amazon would consolidate into as little cardboard as possible it would have huge value to me.
I'm sure they could still save money because it could be less time sensitive and would include only one doorstep delivery for all orders instead of one per order.
One order may need to go by air if it's at a distant warehouse, but another may go ground because it's available close by.
I'd like it solely for the convenience--several times I have wanted to order something but knew I would not be in town when the delivery happened. I'd love to say "deliver it to me next Wednesday" and Amazon figures out the cheapest way that would work instead of having to remember to make my Prime order on Monday.
Couldn't agree more. I try to leave stuff in my shopping cart for some time, to avoid getting individual shipments. It'd be great if I can just 'add to the weekly queue'.
Imagine if I could have them consolidate those shipments; Get a weekly shipment for most items, or get it via normal prime when it's something I really need fast.