Tuesday update: Amazon Super Saver Shipping is no longer a great deal

Welcome to my first post typed on my new MacBook Air! I am so happy to have it. After my old laptop’s trackpad became unreliable, I decided to return to the cult of the Mac. I got on the Amazon app on my phone and ordered a new computer. But, I have some words of caution about that.

I ordered the MacBook Air on Thursday, November 11. When I checked out, Amazon told me I had three shipping options:

  • Become a Prime member and get my package Saturday, November 13
  • Pay for regular shipping and get it Sunday, November 14
  • Choose free Super Saver shipping and get it Tuesday, November 16

Never had I ever had a problem with Super Saver shipping. I’ve ordered using that method many times before, and my packages usually arrived in 2 days and always in 3. Since the old laptop was still working, my need for the MacBook was not urgent. So I choose Super Saver.

Boy, was that a mistake.

Tuesday, November 16 I checked the tracker. It said the carrier had the package and that it should be delivered no later than 10 PM. It also informed me the carrier was Amazon itself, rather than a third party. That’s good, I thought. My worst fear anytime I order something online is that it will be handed off to the U.S. Postal Service.

I checked my email throughout the day for notification of delivery. I never got it. I got home that evening and reloaded the tracker. “We’re sorry for the delay. Your package should arrive November 17-18.”

Wednesday, November 17 came and went. No delivery. The tracker now read, “We’re sorry for the delay. Your package should arrive November 18.”

Thursday, November 18 came and went. No delivery. Now the tracker read, “We’re sorry for the delay. Your package should arrive November 17-24.”

ARE YOU F’N KIDDING ME??? I was beginning to wonder if Amazon’s tracker was a total lie and my package hadn’t even left the warehouse yet. I was being told that my package might arrive more than a week later than my promised date. In 1972 that kind of service was acceptable. In 2021, not so much.

Here’s my theory: Since Amazon no longer uses third-party carriers, they have control of the package all the way to the destination. Therefore, they can bump Super Saver-shipped packages as much as they choose to accommodate Prime customers. I wouldn’t have a problem with that if they informed customers of that practice at the time of checkout.

I wonder if executives are hoping that I’ll come to the conclusion that I better join Prime so I’ll get expedited packages in the future. Actually, the conclusion I have come to is that I’ll shop somewhere else next time I’m in the market for a computer.

But then, this is a Mac, so I probably won’t need to go computer shopping for another 7 to 10 years.

I didn’t realize when I was placing my order that Macs come in more than one color now. So I ended up with a “Rose Gold” laptop. Had I been paying attention, I would’ve chosen differently, but I’ll learn to love it.

On to the news…

Following the shooting death of Young Dolph, Makeda’s cookies reopened its Downtown location this week. There’s a GoFundMe set up for repairs to the Airways location, which was shot up. These are wonderful local businesspeople who have had a connection to Downtown for years.

The Downtown Neighborhood Association will not have a typical meeting for the month of December. Instead, they will have a Soup, Socks, and Scarves event on Tuesday, December 21 from 4:30 to 6:30 PM at the corner of Main and Peabody Place. DNA members who can do so are asked to come and hand out those items to our Downtown neighbors. If you want to drop off socks and scarves, the location is BankTennessee at 30 N. Second (ask for Michelle). As for the soup, it will be provided by Chef Elijah Townsend, DNA president-elect.

Jennifer Biggs of the DM has a look at the empanadas and arepas at Sabor Caribe in her $10 Deals column this week. The Venezuelan restaurant is located on Madison Avenue in The Edge.

The Blind Bear will open at 6 PM Thanksgiving evening and they are definitely planning a turkey special – as a matter of fact, I was up there Sunday and they were asking my opinion on how many turkeys to order. “As many as you can get,” I told them.

Now that’s the Jaren we wanted to see! Jaren Jackson Jr. hit a three last night to give the Memphis Grizzlies a win over the Utah Jazz, 119-118.

The Grizzlies are now tied with Portland and Denver for 6th-8th in the Western Conference. Next up: A home game vs. Toronto tomorrow night at 7.

The Peanut Shoppe’s 2-story-tall PEANUTS sign is still for sale. The owner can’t take it to the new location at 121 S. Main when he moves after the first of the year. Reminds me, I’ve got to go see Rida about some nuts to take to Thanksgiving.

Speaking of nuts, did you know that today is National Cashew Day?

That’s it for now. You know, this Rose Gold MacBook is starting to grow on me. Very Roaring Twenties. I’ve got a to-do list as long as my arm today, so I won’t be out early. Apologies for any typos – I’m still learning this keyboard. Back tomorrow with more news.