amazon prime

Isn't that the service where certain items qualify for free shipping if your order is over a minimum amount? When I tried using Amazon Prime years ago, they said it wasn't available in my area. Really ticks me off, especially since Amazon mostly uses USPS.

Would love to know if the situation has changed, though I don't find myself missing Amazon since I usually find what I'm looking for cheaper somewhere else - sometimes even cheaper buying LOCAL.

i don't think it has anything to do with how much you order, but it is the service you are talking about. i do not usually use them to ship items, just kindle books. I do have two books i would like to order and right now that is where i can find them so need to order regardless.

You'll just have to pay for shipping if they haven't changed their policy. Their shipping is reasonable.

I found this on the Amazon website.

Amazon Prime
INELIGIBLE : Addresses in the following locations:

U.S. territories, possessions, protectorates other than Puerto Rico
International destinations

It seems that normal shipping from Amazon to the Usvi is no problem.

Would sure like to hear from people here who have used it, and their experience.

Used Amazon or Amazon Prime? When in the States I used Amazon Prime. Here I use regular Amazon and usually books are delivered Media Mail so it takes a while. I think, though, they give you option for faster delivery at higher cost.

Non media items can't be shipped at lower rate, but I haven't ordered a non media item in a very long time, but I think their shipping rates are pretty low on those items, too.

I ordered computer books from O'Reilly Publishing, and they were FAST! And shipping was free, plus I got one book free, and they averaged the cost of my 3 books to calculate the credit instead of just giving me the cheapest one free.

I used regular Amazon shipping for books and for my kindle with no problem. I always got my order in a few days. And they seemed to understand that our po box was ok for larger packages.

I seem to recall my wife used Amazon Prime for STX but paid a yearly fee of some sort? I know that I had an easier time just using eBay and specifying sellers who include free shipping and who are eligible for the eBay guarantee and since they use USPS it was never an issue. Nothing used to make me more angry that stateside retailers who actually use USPS but won't ship to the USVI - makes no sense given the costs are considered domestic and is the same as shipping to Florida.

I seem to recall my wife used Amazon Prime for STX but paid a yearly fee of some sort? I know that I had an easier time just using eBay and specifying sellers who include free shipping and who are eligible for the eBay guarantee and since they use USPS it was never an issue. Nothing used to make me more angry that stateside retailers who actually use USPS but won't ship to the USVI - makes no sense given the costs are considered domestic and is the same as shipping to Florida.

Members pay a yearly fee to belong to Prime. But I've always seen Prime excluding free VI shipments. I've used Amazon paid shipping for a few small things I really needed and couldn't find anywhere else for cheaper or free shipping. It all arrived when they said it would.

I get angry when they DO ship via USPS to VI, but want to charge me a hefty "International Fee".

thanks for all of the replies, and i agree with the two of you we are not international, not really even though fed ex, ups and dhl all think so as does house hunters international

I think they've given the USPS a monopoly on US shipping to VI, and the VI post offices are probably profitable.

But eBay and other sites make it easy to shop around, so no big deal, IMO.

Shipping to the VI is handled as an international shipment because customs documentation is required when shipping FedEx, DHL, etc.

With the post office you are supposed to self report and pay any customs and taxes due.

This goes back to the treaty in 1914.

I tried ordering on amazon just today, & could not get shipping of any kind to STX. From the written text there, amazon prime appeared to be no help, but if anyone has had different experience, I'd like to know about it. I sell on ebay & have found that the more distance a package travels, the higher USPS rates are, but I am not the only seller to sometimes be willing to make some special arrangements. Does anyone know if amazon has flexibility that way, or just one policy?

It must have had something to do with what you were trying to order.

It must have had something to do with what you were trying to order.

Must be. I ordered a bunch of things through Amazon in the last few months and had to pick and choose as some items were only deliverable to the contiguous states. A couple of large items I had shipped to a stateside contact who shipped them here on their trailer. Still saved a LOT of money over buying locally. Amazon in general I've found excellent to deal with and I've never had a problem with any of their shipments.

Yes, it does depend on what you buy for amazon. Sometimes it is very arbitrary. I'll try different sellers on amazon for the same item: some ship, some do not. A couple of days ago, I ordered a camera lens and a memory card. Amazon is shipping me the lens, but wouldn't ship the memory card down here.

Also, just a tip: to minimize amazon shipping cost check the "Ship items in as few shipments as possible." The other option "I want my items faster" signficantly increase shipping costs down here.

On the left - there is a checkbox for "amazon global eligible". Check it and you will get the items that will ship here but Prime does not apply for the VI.