BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 11 Mar 21 - 05:34 PM

I experienced a weird Amazon phenomena this week...

After googling for clarification, I found it seems to have plenty of other people puzzling as well..

I was having a usual random browse through Amazon guitar effects and synthesizer listings,
when I noticed a few arbitrary items
included an option to pay for them by 5 monthly interest free installments..

I know Amazon sells their own echo products on installments from time to time.
But was surprised to see a random range of products from other brands as well this time.

Obviously I bit the lure, and immediately chose to buy an item for £30 per month.

Then, after the purchase, I went back to choose a second installment purchase,
only to discover all the other instalment listings had disappeared...???

This is a unexpected pattern other UK Amazon users are reporting.

Whatever Amazon is playing at,
It's suckered me into looking into their website a bit more frequently just now,
in hope of some more surprise time-limited instalment listings...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Mr Red
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 03:26 AM

Basically Amazon seem to have a lower moral ethic in the advertising department.

It comes down to my mantra - "I buy, you don't sell to me" - the minute I see/hear selling I loose interest. There is a con coming. Part of the joy of ownership is the expectation, and if I have missed something that was there to see I can be circumspect. Not if there is subterfuge.

Basically do we need stuff? And by and large, no. So joy is paramount for owning stuff.

Does anyone know if this is the case? Is there a switch that the vendor can throw, to offer a lower price on first viewing? - I seem to remember suspecting that, the evidence was temptingly hinting when I bothered looking at Amazon. Or has Goggle clocked me as a person who looks around and compares?

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 03:37 AM

Jesus Christ, shops are not open, we need something, Amazon can supply it, we order it - sod the cost!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Donuel
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 05:07 AM

Yesterday I bought a 20-80 power telescopic lens for my i phone so I can take stills and videos for about a hundred dollars. I put it in my cart but there was already cat food in the cart. My wife later said he didn't and wouldn't buy cat food. The cats didn't say anything. So we got the cat food the same day. Its a mystery item.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 05:26 AM

I've seen the adverts for that telescopic lens. Very good idea but probably difficult to hold steady, a selfie stick or better still a tripod would make life easier - plenty on Amazon!!! A camera "app" which provides manual control of speed/ apperture essential.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Donuel
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 05:58 AM

Yeah. 80 power looks crappy but 20-60 looks fine. Its not as good as a go pro on a drone for big bucks but its quick and cheap.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 06:24 AM

If you're talking about that monocular thing that keeps popping up in ads with me too, a few weeks ago I did some fairly extensive rooting around to find reviews of it. My firm conclusion was that you will not get what you pay handsomely for and, well, don't bother...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 07:42 AM

I bought a Raynox DVR-2025PRO telephoto conversion lens with a 2.2x for my Fuji HS10 (now 10 years old!) so the maximum zoom I get is 2.2 x 30 = x66.

There is no way that I can hand hold and get a sharp picture on maximum zoom, in fact it's not easy to hold my camera steady with telephoto lens attached even on minimum zoom, so a tripod of some sort does help a lot.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 11:45 AM

Prices do change, depending on the time of day you're looking at the site, etc. I've read about it but don't know know where I first saw that information. I'm sure you can search on it.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Donuel
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 12:23 PM

The 2019 model that was over 200 was only 106. I got it today and everything fits. Its not a wide field so it won't work for sports but clouds, landscapes and wild life is good enough for me. For better photos I use a Leica Panasonic which is not omnipresent like a phone..
I have a reflector, a computer driven newtonian, mini binoculrss and this spotting scope kept in the car trunk. I was interested in new cameras like Go Pro and a camera that digitally focuses AFTER you take a picture but I'm happy with the old stuff.

This morning I checked on 'orders' and saw a picture of the box on the porch so I went upstairs and opened the door and ...sho nuff.
It was like checking the weather on TV instead of opening the door.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 12:36 PM

I know - and I find that happens also. I see the email and go check the porch. Sometimes I hear the mail truck and check Informed Delivery to see what she put in the box.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jos
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 01:21 PM

I leave my door ajar so that parcels can be left in the dry and out of sight from passing ne'er-do-wells. The postal deliveries usually manage to put parcels inside, but couriers dump them outside and take a photograph.
I would rather have my parcel left in a safe place, than have a photograph of it in an unsafe place.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 12 Mar 21 - 01:57 PM

Since Covid, most delivery drivers to here just ring the bell and walk away. Sometimes I see them, sometimes I don't. Goods are sometimes left in the porch and sometimes on the wood bunker just outside. I think most do take the weather into account.

We've had one or two leave an item outside the porch door. This can be a pain with a heavy or bulky item as the door opens outwards and it can mean going out through the living room sliding doors and walking round as you can't get the porch door open.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 14 Mar 21 - 04:54 AM

Jos, is leaving your door open not more of a danger from "passing ne'er-do-wells" than parcels on your step?

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Jos
Date: 14 Mar 21 - 05:46 AM

Dave, I am hoping most ne'er-do-wells will be discouraged by the sound of voices (Radio 4) from inside.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Mar 21 - 09:04 AM

For something completely different, The same guy who invented the cassette tape also brought about the compact disk. Yesterday was the the day that the inventor of Music delivery died at 94. Lou Otten.

Amazon has exceeded all of Europen retail sales.
Amazon plus 3 other corp account for 21% of the entire US economy.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 14 Mar 21 - 09:18 AM

Good old cassettes - I fired up my 30 years old Sony Pro Walkman last week, the headphone socket is broken and the led indicators no longer work, but still plays as well as ever. Do you think I could find a cable with stereo 3.5mm jacks on each end? I had several with just one and bare wires at the other, so went on a joining crusade which is very fiddly indeed.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Amazon!!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 14 Mar 21 - 05:22 PM

I found a solution for joining stereo audio cable using of all things drip feed tubing, which was used to tie our grey's bandage cover!!