If you rely on Alexas to make everything works, you may want to strt thinking about how much you are willing to pay for it. Amazon is planning to start charging for Alexa in June.
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I already pay for Amazon Prime, Amazon Music, and content for Amazon Video. I use Alexa heavily with Hubitat so I would likely pay for Alexa. Hopefully not a per device charge. Under $10/per month would be OK. Over $20/per month would not be OK.
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This (and similar reports) sound like it's just an "AI version" that will be charged for. Previous reports have said similar functionality to today will remain "free." This article seems to support that. In other words, the headline is -- as many are -- scary but misleading. 
This is not to say that I wouldn't recommend avoiding dependence on such devices in the first place, but that's a different issue...
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They are slowy reducing the benifits of prime (while raising the price). January you will start getting commercials in video. Prime shipping is becoming a joke. I ordered something last week that said it was prime shipping. Estimated Feb 5-9. Seems like amazon is using the boiled frog theory to drive revenue
Maybe in the near term. But if they are so freaked out about the costs of Alexa do you really believe they will maintain a free non AI version? That’s additional cost at no or little) revenue. At the current pace ofAI development i wouldn't be surprised to see that version cancelled in short order.
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This seems to be driven by location. While back in northern Michigan last summer everything from Amazon was a week delivery. Here at home in Florida, I'm getting almost everything in 2 days or less. In fact I had 2 deliveries Monday morning that I ordered late Sunday evening. Any delivery over 2 days seems to be coming from the West Coast of the US.
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We can count on Amazon to maximize profits by every means available. I am not aware of any comparable alternatives to Amazon in the marketplace so those profits will continue to be quite large unless there is some sort of government intervention. In that case we can expect prices to increase disproportionately as the quality of the goods and services deteriorates. We have bad attitudes.
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I usually get free next-day delivery and sometimes free same-day from Amazon. Some vendors are clearly drop-shipping from elsewhere and I don't blame Amazon for that.
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Did it not say when it would ship? Prime shipping generally means two days from when it is shipped to when it arrives at the destination. The clock doesn't start ticking until it ships though, if the item is out of stock for example. But you should see that before you purchase.
There are many things I hate about Amazon (we can start with "By the way,"). But shipping has always worked really well for me. I am blessed to live in a good delivery area close to a major distribution center. I get a lot of things overnight. The record is 45 minutes from the time I placed the order. I get 2 or 3 packages from Amazon most days.
But occasionally, stuff happens ...
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Well, it was free. 
It's probably the weather. Everything shipping-related is messed-up at the moment.
Comparing the voice recognition and the quality of replies between Alexa and ChatGPT on my phone, I am so ready for a proper AI-based voice assistant that can integrate with Hubitat! And if I won't have to replace the 20+ devices around my home to get it, that saves me a lot of money I can spend on this subscription!
Yup. And people will fall for it in droves.
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In terms of Home Automation, Alexa devices are really superior in terms of voice control and voice notification.
In terms of voice notification, the Sonos devices are actually very good but they are really very expensive (especially if all you are using them for is TTS notifications).
In terms of voice control, the only real competition they have are the Google devices. In this area the Alexa app and ecosystem is far and away better than Google's (although Google's is getting better). Apple is trying to get a piece of this market, but it's really difficult for them unless you buy into their entire ecosystem (the "walled garden" approach).
When you actually add up the cost of the components you get, you find that they are "giving away" the hardware to try and sell you something. As well (of course), you and your data are the product.
Voice notification and voice control are two of the most requested functions in the Home Automation arena - and Amazon is among the leaders, if not the leader.
Yup.
In general I get two-day, one-day or even same-day shipping options where I live.
Non-Prime, forget about it. It seems they hold onto the package for a week before they send it out. EBay is usually much faster.
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Don’t get me wrong, Amazon has definitely turned into a shitshow of marketplace sellers with bad prices, bad shipping options, inaccurate listings, etc.
The solution there is to not buy from them.
Since I’m paying for prime shipping in the subscription cost, I’m more than satisfied with the prime shipping options in my location, though.
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I got a package this morning, I ordered it yesterday, I checked its progress just before midnight and it was due to arrive on Friday, what's that all about?
Underpromise and overdeliver. They expected delays and it didn't happen
The thing was it a was e tv to replace a faulty one, which they told me there was none in stock at the moment, they organised UPS to collect the old one, but I looked and they had them so I ordered it, however due to its size it had to be boxed up for UPS so I cancelled UPS after speaking with Amazon and was advised to rebook the collection when the replacement arrives.
2 hours after it was delivered this morning UPS turned up??????
So I used the new box to send it back in
You are too worried about the latest description of the product.... at least from me .... which is the most important....
