# Amazon Prime Free Shipping **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 16, 2017, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753 "2017-08-16T00:02:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/1 "2017-08-16T00:02:43Z")
I’m an Amazon Prime member and I ordered a watch that was supposed to be delivered by 8 pm today. They have one more minute. What happens if it doesn’t get here… is it like Domino’s used to be and I get the watch for free? Will I get “Extra Free” shipping on my next order. I really don’t have to have it tonight but I was hoping to wear it tomorrow and I’m just curious. It is being shipped by Amazon and not UPS etc. Oh, and it is now 8:02… no watch. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/2 "2017-08-16T00:10:36Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > I’m an Amazon Prime member and I ordered a watch that was supposed to be delivered by 8 pm today. They have one more minute. What happens if it doesn’t get here… is it like Domino’s used to be and I get the watch for free? Will I get “Extra Free” shipping on my next order. > > I really don’t have to have it tonight but I was hoping to wear it tomorrow and I’m just curious. It is being shipped by Amazon and not UPS etc. > > **Oh, and it is now 8:02… no watch.** How do you know? 😃 The most frequent “remedy” I’ve heard is you get offered an extra month on your Prime membership. But you need to tell Amazon, I don’t think they actually monitor delivery times. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/3 "2017-08-16T00:46:06Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > How do you know? 😃 I had to use the ancient method of looking at the bottom right of my laptop. I suppose with a little duct tape I could take it with me on my wrist tomorrow 🙂 So, the big question is how do I contact them to let them know? They sure don’t make it easy. A search shows me books I can buy on “How to contact Amazon Customer Service” which may or may not get here in two days. The one and only tracking detail says it left the seller facility and is in transit to the carrier… which was posted at 2:42 am Monday. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/4 "2017-08-16T00:50:53Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > I had to use the ancient method of looking at the bottom right of my laptop. I suppose with a little duct tape I could take it with me on my wrist tomorrow 🙂 > > So, the big question is how do I contact them to let them know? They sure don’t make it easy. A search shows me books I can buy on “How to contact Amazon Customer Service” which may or may not get here in two days. > > The one and only tracking detail says it left the seller facility and is in transit to the carrier… which was posted at 2:42 am Monday. I’ve only once had a problem with a delivery. I think once it’s delivered, there’s an option to contact Amazon to report problems. Or there might be an option somewhere now. Don’t remember. However, I doubt Amazon has any way to contact the driver en route. Do you have a tracking number? Often the delivery service tracking site updates well before it shows on Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![yearofglad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b782af/32.png) [@yearofglad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yearofglad)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/5 "2017-08-16T00:53:33Z")
Yes, call Amazon (or email) and they should extend your Prime membership by a month pretty readily. It’s happened to me once and others I know, and we all got a free month, no problem. Go to [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com), scroll all the way down, lower right is “Help” (ALL the way down). On the subsequent page, at the bottom (under “Browse Help Topics”) it says “Need More Help?”. Hover over that and you’ll get a “Contact Us” link. You’ll be asked to sign in. Select from the drop-down menus on the subsequent page and you’ll be given an option of how you’d like to contact them. Their phone service is quite responsive; I’d recommend that. Hold times are minimal and they MAY call YOU when they’re ready - I don’t recall. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/6 "2017-08-16T00:56:48Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > I’m an Amazon Prime member and I ordered a watch that was supposed to be delivered by 8 pm today. While you may be a Prime member, not everything you buy from Amazon comes with free shipping. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/7 "2017-08-16T00:57:40Z")
I Googled it and am on hold while they research it now. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/8 "2017-08-16T01:06:41Z")
If there was a note that said “Get it by 8PM tomorrow” (or something like that) on the page when you ordered it, they should credit you an extra month of Prime without any hassle. My current Prime account has been extended 4 months so far because they’ve missed the delivery deadlines. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/9 "2017-08-16T01:12:20Z")
Well they don’t know where it is other than it never got to the carrier. They don’t know when it will get here but it will be “as soon as possible.” They are working with “logistics” and will keep me updated. About as vague of an answer as you can get, but I’m sure France (with a thick Indian accent) is on top of it. They did give me a free month of Prime, but they didn’t offer it right away… I had to ask what they were going to do to make up for their error before they reluctantly offered. I order a fair amount of things and this is only the second time anything didn’t come as promised so I think that is a pretty good track record. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/10 "2017-08-16T01:19:14Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > While you may be a Prime member, not everything you buy from Amazon comes with free shipping. It was marked as Prime eligible and included two day free shipping. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/11 "2017-08-16T01:45:26Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > It was marked as Prime eligible and included two day free shipping. No worries. Just wanted to make sure. ---
**Author:** ![oliversarmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/eb8c5e/32.png) [@oliversarmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliversarmy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/12 "2017-08-16T02:13:22Z")
I ordered a flashlight for a Christmas present using Amazon Prime. I watched the delivery date marker thingy and it never arrived. Then I received a notice that the amount of the purchase had been credited back to my account. Apparently, it was lost during the delivery process. I contacted the company and told them of the problem. They responded and apologized, but I never received the flashlight. I didn’t lose any money, though, so I guess it turned out all right, except you know, it was for a Christmas present. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/13 "2017-08-16T03:45:10Z")
It now says it will be here sometime between tonight (hah… they have under a half an hour) and Thursday. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/14 "2017-08-16T15:37:32Z")
It’s frustrating as a merchant when this sort of thing happens, because the way any given USPS/UPS/FedEx employee operates is a mostly uncontrollable factor. But Amazon will make it right if you let them know. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/15 "2017-08-16T16:35:43Z")
1: You have to complain, Amazon does not oil quite wheels - ever. 2: You can ask for the free month extension. It helps to ask for things by name and also helps including all the other stuff you let slip. i.e. I was very disappointed you missed this ship date as I did need it and it was guaranteed, I am very disappointed in Amazon for this and feel that the free shipping entice is being used as an excuse to miss on delivery date occasion as you have done in the past, and I have not complained. But I really needed this on the delivery date and you did not honor your part. I have heard that Amazon would be willing to extend my prime membership for such a failure, which I respectfully request since I have let many other things go, but this was needed on time. … ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/16 "2017-08-17T02:24:02Z")
I did call and complain. I told them I had planned to wear it the next day and that I was disappointed. They did give me a free month… a whole $8.25 value… whoopie. The only tracking said it left the seller on route to the carrier (Amazon) on the 14th but they say the carrier never got it. Is it possible the seller just marked it as shipped without actually shipping it? They changed the expected delivery date to Thursday the 17th (tomorrow). The tracking says that the carrier still has not posted any updates so I assume this means they still don’t have it. I’m not setting my expectations too high and doubt I’ll actually get it tomorrow. They charged my card yesterday so they have my money (roughly $200). Is this a problem with the seller or Amazon? I’ll wait until the promised date (the second one) but if it is the seller I will leave negative feedback, but it it isn’t them I don’t want to hurt them. I’ll cancel the order if it doesn’t come tomorrow, but it seems like they should do something more. If they would have told me when it first wasn’t delivered that it would never make it here I could have ordered something from someone else and had it tomorrow. Now it looks like it will be about a week to get something I didn’t initially pick with my free “two day shipping.” ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/17 "2017-08-17T02:35:24Z")
If it’s shipping from a third party, the problem is there. Amazon will still make good(as best they can) if it doesn’t show. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/18 "2017-08-17T03:29:58Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > … The tracking says that the carrier still has not posted any updates so I assume this means they still don’t have it… This really isn’t a valid assumption, IME. Sometimes, it can take a while for the updates to be posted. I’ve had shipments marked as “carrier has not received item” up to the time it was delivered, when the status was changed to “Delivered”. They do their best, and it’s really amazing they do as well as they do, but they don’t always get every package entered correctly. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/19 "2017-08-17T14:33:29Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > If it’s shipping from a third party, the problem is there. Amazon will still make good(as best they can) if it doesn’t show. Yes, I avoid third-party sellers as a rule. Amazon will make it right in my experience, but I want to avoid the problems to begin with and problems usually involve third-party sellers. Sometimes third-party is the only option, but I wish Amazon had a way to filter them out completely. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-prime-free-shipping/793753/20 "2017-08-17T21:47:41Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > This really isn’t a valid assumption, IME. Sometimes, it can take a while for the updates to be posted. I’ve had shipments marked as “carrier has not received item” up to the time it was delivered, when the status was changed to “Delivered”. You nailed it… I have it in my hands now and it still says there is no information from the carrier. It looks great so it was worth the wait.