• jballs@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      151·
      8 months ago

      Does Texas have something in place preventing people from getting solar? I don’t live in Texas, but my solar loan payment is a flat $200/month for 10 years then goes to $0. My buddy in Texas complains about getting $700 electrical bills, but when I recommend solar he acts like I’m recommending he cut off his left ball.

      • ugh@lemm.ee
        3·
        8 months ago

        I live in Texas but have never looked into solar. The fight to switch to renewable energy will be a long one because of the politicians. Texas makes a shit ton of money from oil. Politicians will continue to convince citizens that renewable energy is dangerous, ill-conceived, and “woke” so that we stick to traditional resources. There’s nothing stopping someone from getting solar panels, but I’d assume it would be more expensive. I don’t know if there has to be prior infrastructure in place, because that would be a problem. Some people don’t even have fast internet in the Houston suburbs because they don’t want to lay all the wire for only 100 people.

        • jballs@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          21·
          8 months ago

          Solar is awesome. It’s so cheap now that it’s a no brainer if you own a house that you’re planning on staying in for any decent amount of time. It’s cheaper than paying the electric company in most cases, and if you have a battery then it’s more reliable as well.

  • IDontHavePantsOn@lemm.ee
    211·
    8 months ago

    Sorry guys, I’m going to rant now.

    Does no one else remember that Amazon prime was established for 2 day shipping? That was the deal. Extra money for “free” 2 day shipping. Then they added prime video. What a deal! Right?!

    Then the pandemic happened. “Garble garble…SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES!”

    SINCE THEN HAVE YOU RECEIVED A PACKAGE IN 2 DAYS? For many people, no. Now that the pandemic is to blame, nothing has 2 day shipping. Now many things have added shipping costs. Now prime video is the only guarantee and its one of the worst values, and worst streaming experiences of all stream providers.

    Fuck Amazon. I can’t believe a class action lawsuit hasn’t been started. I’m now lucky to get any “prime” item shipped to my door in less than a week when the 2 day shipping was the entire reason for subscription.

    I’m now gladly paying the Waltons because at least somebody will shop for me and drop it off at my doorstep. Amazon, in my case, has lost a ton of business. Things I would normally order from Amazon I now order from Walmart or eBay, for less money, faster shipping, and a less likely lost package situation.

    Has anyone noticed that Amazon orders that have issues are now being hidden from you? Go back and find the last order they either lost or had to be refunded. It’s going to take you a bit longer because they don’t show it to you in your account. You will have to find the email with the order number to search for it.

    Also remember how Amazon’s big pull before prime was their easy returns? Yeah well those times are gone. Getting a human on the phone is impossible without finding the right phone number online, and they now outsource all of their customer resources to giant call centers. You will be lucky to get a refund for an item you never received. After 3 hours on the phone I finally got them to refund and item that was at the time, 2 months late. That item was $34.

    Amazon has pulled one of the biggest bait and switches of all time and I can’t believe it’s not more discussed. Garbage tier conglomerate.

    • rifugee@lemmy.world
      5·
      8 months ago

      I’m surprised that you have had bad experiences.

      Evil corporation and all that and I am uncomfortable defending it, but I have had a drastically different experience.

      I frequently get stuff next day or within 2 days and always get refunds without having to jump through hoops or anything and there are multiple places to choose from for dropping off a return. Also, the price is almost always cheaper or within a dollar of where I can find it elsewhere.

      I’ve had some things take longer to arrive but they are clear about them not being prime and are up front about the delayed arrival time before I submit the order so I know what I’m getting into and if it’s something that I need quicker I just pick a different similar product that is prime eligible. There’s almost always an alternative that is a similar price with faster shipping. I’ve never had an order not show up either. In fact, I’ve never had to even call them or contact support at all.

      It’s too consistent to be good luck. Hell, it’s so convenient that I feel guilty for buying stuff that I could get locally for a comparable price but would require me to fight traffic and stand in line to pay.

      Maybe the difference is regional? Or maybe a rural area vs city thing? I don’t know. I guess the bright side for you is that you’re spreading your money around? Regardless, it sucks that you’ve had so many issues!

    • hinterlufer@lemmy.world
      4·
      8 months ago

      Yes, their service has gotten way worse over the last few years. But there’s also no obligation for you to stay subscribed to prime.

    • barsoap@lemm.ee
      2·
      8 months ago

      Over here in Germany overnight shipping is pretty much the norm unless you get supremely unlucky and both source and destination addresses are in the boondonks. DHL also offers guaranteed overnight, but, as said, it’s usually not any faster especially since online retailers build their warehouses directly next to DHL hubs. So to sell prime, they started artificially delaying shipping – you can see that in tracking, they’re simply waiting until they hand stuff over to DHL, which then operates as fast as usual.

      DHL is not the only shipping company in Germany, amazon has contracts with pretty much all of them, and in my case the nearest pickup location happens to be Hermes. Which Amazon apparently hates as they’re delaying packages for a good two weeks.

      The result? I’m pretty much done ordering from Amazon: Other shops ship faster and aren’t more expensive. What amazon still has going for it is a ludicrously large selection so very occasionally (once in a year or so) I order there and, what do you know, they’re trying to get me with a free month of prime and actually ship on time, then.

      Truly, late-stage enshittification.

  • Froyn@kbin.social
    10·
    8 months ago

    Muahaha. Must be Woot!
    Pay for delivery and we’ll get it there on X. Or don’t’ pay for delivery and it gets there when it gets there.

    • ridethisbike@lemmy.world
      9·
      8 months ago

      Honestly that looks like Amazon… And for the past year that’s been my experience, too. Everything takes weeks to get to me, it’s ridiculous.

      • Froyn@kbin.social
        6·
        8 months ago

        Amazon bought Woot! a couple years back. Unlike GameStop’s acquisition of Think Geek, Amazon has mostly left it alone.

  • Queen HawlSera@lemm.eeEnglish
    6·
    8 months ago

    Plot twist, he ordered and antidote for a poison that only kills people on Friday. He can’t afford the shipping and now is trying to see if he can just barely make it to receive the antidote.

  • nexussapphire@lemm.eeEnglish
    1·
    8 months ago

    It probably wasn’t prime, that happens when the company selling doesn’t want to pay amazon to ship it through Amazon or doesn’t want to pay for shelf space in the Amazon warehouses.

    Look on the upside at least you don’t half to pay up to 50% of your profit to amazon just to stay competitive.