Amazon No Longer Offers 2-Day Prime Shipping (Here’s What To Do About It)
Have you noticed that Amazon doesn’t deliver on their 2-day Prime Shipping anymore? It’s actually not even close for my address and I’ve had to return stuff to Amazon as I don’t need it by the time the package shows up. Anything that I want to buy today (a Monday) won’t be delivered until Sunday at the earliest. I tested this on a bunch of different shopping categories and made sure it was all products sold and shipped directly by Amazon, and none could be delivered before Sunday, 6 days from NOW. But alas, not all hope is lost, here’s what you should do to hold Amazon’s feet to the fire. It’ll only take a few minutes and put an extra $10 or $20 in your pocket.
Call Them Up and Ask For a 1-Month Refund
When I have a problem with Amazon I usually start a live chat session as it’s easier to say exactly what I want to say.
BUT…for the first time ever, I recommend actually calling them at 1-(888) 280-4331 and say, “Why don’t I get 2-day Prime shipping anymore?”
I tried doing this via Live Chat and it just went in circles due to what I’m guessing was a language barrier.
At this point, give them your zip code and ask them to run it through their system to find out for sure whether your address qualifies for 2-day shipping.
Most addresses do indeed qualify for 2-day Prime shipping.
See Also: 5 Reasons Why Amazon Prime Is a Terrible Buy
If your address does qualify, then you probably already know the EXACT reason why you’re not getting your packages within 2 days.
It’s because Amazon can’t hold up their end of the bargain and they should pay for it.
This is when you politely ask for a 1-month refund on your Prime membership (approximately $10) because Amazon can’t hold up their end of the bargain.
I did this recently via a phone call to their customer service department and it took me all of about 5 minutes to score the $10 refund.
There was ZERO hesitation from the rep I talked with and I think they are trained to hand out this refund for those who politely ask for it.
Note: My family orders from Amazon at least 1-2 times per week and I’m not sure if that played a role in getting the 1-month refund, but in either case, it’s definitely worth a shot.
PRO TIP: AIM HIGH & ASK FOR EVEN MORE
From the comments section, several Amazon Prime members were actually given a $20 “inconvenience credit”. Since we we know that a $20 credit is on the table, you might as well ask for it. You stand a decent chance of them giving it to you, and if they don’t just try again later with a different CSR.
Hold Amazon’s Feet to the Fire
I realize Amazon’s been hit by unprecedented demand in recent months, but let’s not forget they are one of the richest companies in the world.
Now that the economy and stores have opened back up in most of the country, the demand for online shopping has been greatly reduced.
Yet Amazon still can’t figure it out and solve their order backlog issues.
What ticks me off the most is Amazon wants to blame it on the pandemic and increased demand in online shopping.
I’d have no problem buying that argument back in March, April or May of 2020…BUT NOT NOW.
It’s my opinion that Amazon was losing money on the 2-day shipping guarantee and is using the current situation as a handy way to get rid of the fast shipping guarantee altogether.
See Also: Not Getting Amazon Delivery on Sunday? Here’s Why
I’d be SHOCKED if 2-Day Prime shipping ever came back at this point.
So the bottom line is get your $10 refund NOW before they aren’t so generous.
The customer service rep also told me that MANY people are calling to cancel Prime, she said she had already cancelled over 50 memberships in the past couple days.
Here’s what a chat rep told me when I asked him if Prime members were complaining about the issue:
PRO TIP: TRY AN AMAZON BUSINESS ACCOUNT
Thanks to reader Joseph, who commented recently letting us know that his Amazon Business account has been delivering in 2-days since last September. The interesting part is that his “regular Prime account” is stuck at 4-7 days for delivery. Since an Amazon business account is FREE to join, and also gives you quantity discounts, setting up an account could be worth a shot. Also, in case you were wondering, he said his business is not COVID related in the slightest.
Prime 2-Day Shipping Has Turned Into 5-Day Delivery
The reason that 2-day Prime shipping has turned into 5, 6, or even 7-day shipping has nothing to do with UPS or the USPS.
It falls 100% on Amazon as they now say that the “2-day shipping guarantee” is from when they actually process your order and get it in the mail.
So if it takes them a couple days to box it up and ship it out, then you’ll get it delivered to your home in about 5 days on average.
See Also: Amazon Package Arriving Late? Here’s How to Score a Refund
If you’re like me, the main reason you joined Prime and paid $139/year was for the 2-day shipping, so this is KIND OF A BIG DEAL.
Ask the Reader: Are you a Prime member? If so, when was the last time Amazon delivered something to you in 2 days?
By Kyle James
I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)
it has 100% to do with the USPS
AMAZON WAS USING IT FOR THE FIRST 20 YEARS
why else do you think they went across the country hiring delivery people… then their service slows down… into what it is now…
it is because they had to start their own shipping service and they had no idea how to run it like the other companies
EVERYONE should sue amazon
No everyone should hold their local Post Offices that are not performing to expected standards to task. Contact USPS online or by phone and file complaints every time they do not deliver on time.
Also post it to Social Media and tag Amazon Prime and USPS. I am fairly certain that failings by USPS is the reason there is almost no 2 Day Shipping anymore. Amazon 99% of the time was getting my orders to the local Post Office on time prior to and after 2 Day shipping ended. So I don’t think all of a sudden there was a breakdown at Amazon.
I think Amazon was depending on USPS to get the bulk of their packages delivered and USPS was failing to deliver on time and on paper were making up excuses that were untrue for why packages were not getting delivered in a timely fashion. That broke trust between Amazon and USPS and also cost Amazon money.
UPS used to only deliver larger items to my address from Amazon. Now slowly they are delivering more and more small items that can fit in my mailbox. It would not surprise me if at the end of Amazon’s contract with USPS it is either terminated or drastically changed.
How can you pin that on USPS? Amazon parcels don’t flow through the mail stream. Amazon drops the parcels off to each Post Office for delivery, on pallets. They are delivered that day.
I just had 2 orders that said on the Amazon screen that they would be delivered in 2 days. Once I ordered both items, the date extended out to 5 days. A call to customer service got both put back to the 2 day mark and they arrived on time. USPS is not the problem, Amazon is the problem. You must be an executive for Amazon to defend them and to deflect the blame, shame on you! BTW even after ordering the items and saw the 5 day arrival date, I went back to the items that I ordered and they still stated the 2 days even though my orders went to 5 days. Than goodness that the customer service rep put it straight.
My order from Sunday (it is now Tuesday) is STILL being processed. It has not shipped. I’m uncertain how they can still show 2-day shipping in their features. This is robbery with the cost of a yearly membership. If they do not return to previous delivery timeframes, I will definitely cancel my Prime membership.
I read article as I was just trying order from Amazon and noticed when I had prime set; it was saying 8/30 for delivery. I thought can’t be right, where’s 2 day prime! So I chatted on line and I got my months refund. Myself I joined 22 years ago due to quick delivery and prices. May reconsider joining prime next year. I’m sure other sites might want Amazon customers. Thank you for article!
20 day delivery to Isle of Man on most items shipped by Amazon ,can get parcels from china quicker ,that’s with prime .
I live in CT, which is tiny and has six fulfillment centers. Nothing I order on Monday should take till Friday to get to me. I could walk to an Amazon warehouse and pick it up faster than that.
I just got off the phone with the Amazon rep because the last 5 items took 7 days instead of the 2-day delivery shown. She told me I needed to select the option for 2-day. I told her I’ve never had to do that, AND there isn’t an option when you select the “order now” button (quick way to place the order). She kept repeating it, then finally said she would submit the problem to tech support & someone would get back to me. I told her someone was supposed to call me three days ago and never did. This is crazy! They obviously made this significant change and decided not to tell us??!!
I just called Amazon and they refunded my entire year’s subscription. I hope enough people will hold Amazon accountable for not upholding its end of the deal on the “unlimited 2-day shipping” by demanding refunds and canceling their Prime memberships.
Same here… full refund!
I get mine next day or 2nd day still, bit it takes mom at least 7 days. All I can figure is it’s because I live close to warehouse?
Thank you for this article. I called and got refunded my prime membership for the inconvenience.
My experience with getting orders delivered from Amazon is that the availability of items can determine the time in which it will ship, especially if the item is sold by a third party seller. Not all merchandise is available for Prime shipping, and free Prime shipping does not necessarily mean the delivery will be made by one or two days. Amazon often offers other options beside themselves to do the shipping, but those options do not usually have a designated shipping and delivery window. But until an item has been shipped you will not know who is actually delivering it and be able to a real-time estimate of when the delivery will be made.
But for me the Prime membership pays for itself because I am able to get free shipping on items sold on the Amazon website, as well as free grocery delivery on Amazon Fresh, which is especially important to me because I am disabled and do not drive, so shopping at brick-and-mortar stores is a major hassle.
And I live in a major metropolitan area so that probably helps to keep my delivery times at a minimum, where if someone who lives in a more rural or isolated area might have a longer wait to get their orders delivered
I googled this situation and came across your article. I have been able to get 2 prime in a suburb of Detroit easily- All of a sudden for the last week it will take 5-6 days- BUT I have a lake cottage 30 minutes to the west of me (more in a rural area) , and the same item shipped to that address comes the next day. Finding it interesting and confusing. As you would think the item to the larger city would be quicker. Used to the be the same amount of time to either places.
I live n the Detroit area too and the same thing happened to me. Also – the last 5 things I ordered just disappeared. Not stolen off the porch but just POOF disappeared from the tracking in their journey to my house.
I live downriver and the EXACT thing happened to me. All items now have 8-day lead times. Last four orders VANISHED without a trace in the middle of being shipped. SOMETHING is going on…
I called and they said they were submitting feedback and that it didn’t make sense. I pushed it further and they gave me a refund for 2 months as well as 2 months free.
I just finished chatting w Amazon and asked the agent to escalate my complaint. Thing is, I was getting 2-day delivery not even 3 weeks ago. We moved from PA to SC on August 16. Prior to that date, 2-day delivery. After that date, 4-8 day delivery. I assumed it was related to my new zip code until I googled to see what was going on.
So, what changed 3 weeks ago that’s made such a dramatic downshift in Prime benefits (read: a 90% loss of Prime benefits, IMO)?
Now I see why Disney is pursuing an “Amazon like” prime service. Might be their next golden goose and make Amazon have to break a sweat.
I called as well today and they have since refunded about $50 worth of the membership due to the numerous delays (3 months refund). I didn’t even ask for a refund but they immediately gave us so I’m wondering if they’ve been getting more calls about this.