Bye, Prime

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Prime’s Value Proposition (Video vs. Shipping)

  • Several keep Prime mainly for video (e.g. Reacher, Fallout, The Expanse, Bosch, Rings of Power), not for 1‑day delivery.
  • Others say the catalog feels like “clearance bin” content, and ads on a paid service were the final straw for canceling. Some block ads via browser; if that breaks, they’ll quit.
  • Many report that non‑Prime shipping is now 2–3 days anyway, so the subscription “tax” isn’t worth it unless ordering heavily.
  • Shipping value is highly regional: in parts of Germany and France Prime is seen as very reliable and fast; in Sweden and some other countries, non‑Prime shipping is already good, making Prime unnecessary.

Ethics, Politics, and Boycotts

  • Some cancel purely for ethical or political reasons: opposition to US politics, cloud support for the Israeli military, or not wanting to fund “cowardly” tech companies.
  • Others argue Amazon has become “too essential” or convenient to boycott, especially in places with few local retail options.
  • There’s debate whether big firms can be ethical under modern capitalism; one side claims financial pressure forbids it, another cites Costco‑style models as counterexamples.
  • A minority is systematically replacing US services and stocks with EU alternatives or avoiding US travel.

Shopping Experience and Counterfeits

  • Many say Amazon search and UI have degraded: pages cluttered with no‑name imports, deceptive listings, and unavailable items.
  • Concerns about commingled inventory and counterfeits (clothing, safety gear, even Amazon Basics) drive some back to buying directly or from local shops despite higher prices.
  • Others insist Amazon still often wins on price and especially on hassle‑free returns, which they find unmatched by small shops or even by EU consumer law in practice.

Alternatives and Local Ecosystems

  • People describe rich non‑Amazon ecosystems in parts of Europe: comparison sites, shared lockers, cooperative book networks, and multi‑seller platforms (Shopify, Allegro, etc.).
  • Desired innovations: unified local stock search, single sign‑on/payment across shops, and more competitive shared logistics.

Subscriptions, Ownership, and Piracy

  • Strong resentment toward subscription models; praise for Bandcamp and DRM‑free purchases.
  • Others defend subscriptions (e.g. Spotify, Adobe) as cheaper, more usable, and aligned with continuous improvement.
  • Some revert to piracy and self‑hosting because streaming apps, ads, and content churn make “owning a copy” feel more reliable and pleasant.