What do you think of Amazon Family? Testers and non-testers can post feedback here - Amazon gift certificates up for grabs! NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the 20 Mumsnetters who were selected to test the Amazon Family programme.

If you're not a tester but have tried the Amazon Family programme, then we'd still love to hear from you. Everyone who shares their thoughts will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Amazon gift certificate.

We'd like you to answer the following questions, but please feel free to add any other thoughts you have.

Q1. Have you ever shopped on Amazon.co.uk for baby or child-related products before this trial? If so, what items did you tend to buy?
Q 2. What is your overall opinion of Amazon Family? Is there anything in particular you like or dislike about it? This could be about the service itself or the products on offer.
Q3. Did you use the nappy subscription on offer? If so, what did you think of it?
Q 4. Did you use any of the exclusive offers? If so, which ones did you find most useful? If you didn't use any of the offers, why not?
Q 5. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend signing up to Amazon Family to a friend or family member? If so, why? If not, why not?

All testers who provide us with their feedback will be entered into a prize draw to win a £150 Amazon gift certificate.

Many thanks,

MNHQ

Non Tester - Ex member

Q1. Have you ever shopped on Amazon.co.uk for baby or child-related products before this trial? If so, what items did you tend to buy?
I've bought toys, but not baby items such as nappies / wipes

Q 2. What is your overall opinion of Amazon Family? Is there anything in particular you like or dislike about it? This could be about the service itself or the products on offer.

I was a member, but ended up cancelling my membership as I was let down a couple of times. But, it was great for getting presents for kids birthday parties

Q3. Did you use the nappy subscription on offer? If so, what did you think of it?
No, my kids are past the nappy stage (thank god!)

Q 4. Did you use any of the exclusive offers? If so, which ones did you find most useful? If you didn't use any of the offers, why not?
I looked at them at the beginning of my membership, but then stopped looking as none of them were relevant to me.

Q 5. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend signing up to Amazon Family to a friend or family member? If so, why? If not, why not?
I think it is becoming better as you now get the lovefilm membership with it and the kindle lending library. Still, it seems like a lot to pay just for fast postage.

Non tester

Q1. Have you ever shopped on Amazon.co.uk for baby or child-related products before this trial? If so, what items did you tend to buy?

DS2 has ASD and I tend to shop there for extra pull ups and wipes for him.

Q 2. What is your overall opinion of Amazon Family? Is there anything in particular you like or dislike about it? This could be about the service itself or the products on offer.

Since my boys are 7 and 9, not much of the stuff on offer is relevant to us, but i find the discounts useful for the nappies etc.

Q3. Did you use the nappy subscription on offer? If so, what did you think of it?

Yes. I've been using it since it was first available.

Q 4. Did you use any of the exclusive offers? If so, which ones did you find most useful? If you didn't use any of the offers, why not?

I made use of the £10 off £50 when I needed to do a big stock up a few months ago. The others aren't so worthwhile or are irrelevant to us.

Q 5. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend signing up to Amazon Family to a friend or family member? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes. I often recommend it to people in a similar situation to us, with older children in nappies, as pyjama pants and big nappies are expensive and can be hard to find in supermarkets.

Q1. Have you ever shopped on Amazon.co.uk for baby or child-related products before this trial?If so, what items did you tend to buy?
Toys & books mostly.

Q 2. What is your overall opinion of Amazon Family? Is there anything in particular you like or dislike about it? This could be about the service itself or the products on offer.
To be honest, I didn't see the point in it. It didn't save me that much money & the special offers weren't of any interest to me.

Q3. Did you use the nappy subscription on offer? If so, what did you think of it?
Yes, I won't be doing it again though. It's much more convenient to just grab nappies in the supermarket rather than trying to work out exactly how many nappies you'll need for X length of time. I took the opportunity to try out some eco-friendly nappies. They were useless overnight. I went to change DS1's nappy one morning & most of it fell off just as I undressed him leaving a small band around his waist & the rest of the very soggy nappy dangling behind him! It also soaked through his PJs a few times. We're using them up during the day & using pampers at night.

Q 4. Did you use any of the exclusive offers? If so, which ones did you find most useful? If you didn't use any of the offers, why not?
No, we didn't need/want any of them.

Q 5. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend signing up to Amazon Family to a friend or family member? If so, why? If not, why not?
Probably not. Subscriptions for essentials aren't useful unless you can bump it & get it earlier if you're running out & I can't see any advantages to it.

Q1. Have you ever shopped on Amazon.co.uk for baby or child-related products before this trial? If so, what items did you tend to buy?
Yes. Usually it is one off items such as a bed guard, breast pump, that kind of thing. Or books - loads of children's books, it's great when you want a specific obscure book and I find the recommendations of related books really useful.
Q 2. What is your overall opinion of Amazon Family? Is there anything in particular you like or dislike about it? This could be about the service itself or the products on offer.
The Amazon Prime aspect was good and I got a free lamaze toy but aside from that there was nothing worth it for me as there weren't any big items I needed and I am not a big consumer really.
Q3. Did you use the nappy subscription on offer? If so, what did you think of it?
No I didn't.
Q 4. Did you use any of the exclusive offers? If so, which ones did you find most useful? If you didn't use any of the offers, why not?
The only offer I used was the free offer as the offers were all things I didn't want/need.
Q 5. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend signing up to Amazon Family to a friend or family member? If so, why? If not, why not?
I would recommend signing up for the free trial and seeing whether you actually use the offers as if you do it might be worth paying (or if you buy a lot of stuff I guess it might be too).

Q1. Have you ever shopped on Amazon.co.uk for baby or child-related products before this trial? If so, what items did you tend to buy?
Yes, mainly books
Q 2. What is your overall opinion of Amazon Family? Is there anything in particular you like or dislike about it? This could be about the service itself or the products on offer.
I got a few good offers like for a breast pump and the £10 off voucher when you join is pretty good. But the best thing was Amazon Prime! Honestly, it was a life saver. I had a very difficult time after birth due to complications and breastfeeding being a nightmare, and having free amazon prime (albeit only 2 weeks) was such a life saver, as my DH couldn't pop out to shops and we don't have family near by, so it really was a life saver and the next day service was great and perfect!
Q3. Did you use the nappy subscription on offer? If so, what did you think of it?
No I didn't.
Q 4. Did you use any of the exclusive offers? If so, which ones did you find most useful? If you didn't use any of the offers, why not?
I didn't use it mainly because as a 1st time I didn't know how many I would need per month (I didn't have a clue) so it was too daunting to subscribe when I had no idea how much it was I'd need.
Q 5. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend signing up to Amazon Family to a friend or family member? If so, why? If not, why not?
I would definitely recommend the free trial, in fact I already have. It is very very hand for a new mum, and I wish I had started my trial later so that I would have had it for a few more months post birth, as that's when you really need it. As for paying £50 for the subscription, I'm not sure. I think each person could decide after the trial. I am certainly tempted to pay for amazon prime/family. It's the next day delivery that tempts me the most!

non tester

i had signed up before because i shop alot with them but when i realused there was a fee, i quickly cancelled. it may be worth the fee but that upfront payment of £49 was too steep for me. now instead i shop around and if amazon is the cheapest i go wit it.

Non-tester

Q1. I mainly buy children's toys and books there. (Loads of books.)

Q 2. I was on the verge of signing up several times, but we do not need nappies, so I could not see the attraction.

Q3. No, we do not need nappies now.

Q 4. There are always so many offers on Amazon, that I am not sure you miss out that much. My favourite / the bane of my life is the Kindle daily deal.

Q 5. For people with small children in nappies, yes. Otherwise I am not so sure.

Q1. Have you ever shopped on Amazon.co.uk for baby or child-related products before this trial? If so, what items did you tend to buy?

Yes quite a lot especially around xmas and birthday. Books and toys mostly.

Q 2. What is your overall opinion of Amazon Family? Is there anything in particular you like or dislike about it? This could be about the service itself or the products on offer.

It doesn't especially appeal to me. I'm not in a desperate rush to get my deliveries so amazon prime doesn't appeal and I don't buy many nappies as we use cloth mostly so I don't think it would save me enough money to justify the cost.

Q3. Did you use the nappy subscription on offer? If so, what did you think of it?

I can see that it might appeal to regular nappy buyers but I don't know if the cost saving would add up to more than the subscription fee.

Q 5. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend signing up to Amazon Family to a friend or family member? If so, why? If not, why not?

Probably not, I just can't see it being worth the fee, sorry.

Nontester...

I was already an Amazon Prime member and signed up to Amazon Family when pregnant in 2012.

I've bought a Medela Swing breast pump from an offer I was emailed as an Amazon Family member. Was brilliant value and definitely made me purchase from Amazon rather than eBay.

I also had a discount off a Close Baby carrier which was an unexpected surprise!

We use cloth nappies, but I did buy some Naty nappies for when my child was tiny, which were cheaper than in the shops and delivered to my door - great as I didn't have a car then and nappies are bulky!

The one thing I really dislike about Amazon is the ridiculous amount of packaging. Because they use cardboard, it means you can have an item wrapped up I loads of extra packaging, rather than simply slipped into an (padded or otherwise) envelope. Yes, cardboard is recyclable, but there's so much of it! It really makes me think twice abut ordering from Amazon.

Q1.
Yes - mainly buy books, toys
Q 2.
an interesting idea..wouldn't like to be bombarded with marketing or to pay for the service
Q3. No - don't use nappies
Q 4. No
Q 5. Not used it as yet - might mention it but not recommend

Livvylongpants we will keep the thread open for the full 3 months (until 14th November) after which we'll do the prize draw.

Q1. Have you ever shopped on Amazon.co.uk for baby or child-related products before this trial? If so, what items did you tend to buy?

• I've bought toys and books for my son, and other nursery items, I am a part of the Amazon family but not part of the trial :)

Q 2. What is your overall opinion of Amazon Family? Is there anything in particular you like or dislike about it? This could be about the service itself or the products on offer.

• I do find that it's all about smaller children even though they know I have a child with SN (I guess it's generic) and a teen..... maybe I missed that it was for smaller children?

Q3. Did you use the nappy subscription on offer? If so, what did you think of it?

• Nope, we get free nappies because of DS's condition.

Q 4. Did you use any of the exclusive offers? If so, which ones did you find most useful? If you didn't use any of the offers, why not?

• I haven't to date because I've not found any relevant to us as a family. But I am going to stay with it :)

Q 5. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend signing up to Amazon Family to a friend or family member? If so, why? If not, why not?

• Yes, it's free isn't it? I have lots of friends who have just had babies [broody emoticon required as her shrivelled ovaries tingle] so yes, I would recommend it anyway, free or not. Plus, I've never had a problem with Amazon, their customer service team has always been fantastic when I've had to return things or had delivery issues.

I trailed Family last year and I was distinctly underwhelmed.
I loved the Prime delivery aspect and used that lots in the run up to Xmas which included a few birthdays (thanks Amazon). I also brought some DryNights which with free delivery was a good buy.

But I didn't feel that it was a service I would pay for.

None tester!

Q1. Have you ever shopped on Amazon.co.uk for baby or child-related products before this trial? If so, what items did you tend to buy?

Yes, many different products, to name a few, car/booster seats, children's fancy dress clothes, computer consoles & books.

Q 2. What is your overall opinion of Amazon Family? Is there anything in particular you like or dislike about it? This could be about the service itself or the products on offer.

I love using amazon, I always check amazon before making any online purchase.... I'm always surprised by the huge variety of items you can buy from there. I'm a little wary when it comes to buying from sellers... I've never had a bad experience but I worry that products won't be received and how trustworthy the independent sellers are since the information about these people is limited

Q3. Did you use the nappy subscription on offer? If so, what did you think of it?

No.... but i wish I'd known about it!!!!!!!!!!!

Q 5. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend signing up to Amazon Family to a friend or family member? If so, why? If not, why

Yes, I'd happily recommend

Non-tester.

Q1. Have you ever shopped on Amazon.co.uk for baby or child-related products before this trial? If so, what items did you tend to buy?

I used to have a subscription for baby wipes. I also buy a lot of baby equipment, toys and books on Amazon.

Q 2. What is your overall opinion of Amazon Family? Is there anything in particular you like or dislike about it? This could be about the service itself or the products on offer.

I think it's great, although I would not pay £49 a year for it. I tend to use the free delivery option for Amazon items and rarely need to have items quicker than that. The offers did seem good but I already have most of the baby equipment I need.

Q3. Did you use the nappy subscription on offer? If so, what did you think of it?

No, I use cloth nappies.

Q 4. Did you use any of the exclusive offers? If so, which ones did you find most useful? If you didn't use any of the offers, why not?

There's a 20% off offer running at the moment and I am just browsing through the carseats as both our children are due to move up a stage soon.

Q 5. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend signing up to Amazon Family to a friend or family member? If so, why? If not, why not?

I'd recommend the free trial and seeing if it worked out cost-effective for them.

I am not a tester.

Q1. Have you ever shopped on Amazon.co.uk for baby or child-related products before this trial? If so, what items did you tend to buy?

Yes, I have bought some baby things from Amazon, mainly toys and accessories.

Q 2. What is your overall opinion of Amazon Family? Is there anything in particular you like or dislike about it? This could be about the service itself or the products on offer.

It is a good idea for new parents. DD is a toddler now so not so much need. Would consider rejoining after having another baby, though wouldn't buy so much next time round!

Q3. Did you use the nappy subscription on offer? If so, what did you think of it?
I haven't done but readint this thread makes me think I should look into it!

Q 4. Did you use any of the exclusive offers? If so, which ones did you find most useful? If you didn't use any of the offers, why not?

I can't remember.

Q 5. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend signing up to Amazon Family to a friend or family member? If so, why? If not, why not?

yes, especially for first time parents as when baby is new you seem to be buying constantly. I suspect you become more circumspect with later babies but may be proved wrong!

Q1. Have you ever shopped on Amazon.co.uk for baby or child-related products before this trial? If so, what items did you tend to buy?

Non-tester but I do use the nappy subscribe and save on amazon family. Nappies really but will look at other items.

Q 2. What is your overall opinion of Amazon Family? Is there anything in particular you like or dislike about it? This could be about the service itself or the products on offer.

Seems good for the discounts on nappies but it's hard to tell the difference between it and Amazon Prime. We just didn't understand the FAQ's or have time to read them!

Q3. Did you use the nappy subscription on offer? If so, what did you think of it?

Yes, really good. I live rurally and have 2 in nappies. I hate carting them home from the shops so I use Subscribe and Save.

Q 4. Did you use any of the exclusive offers? If so, which ones did you find most useful? If you didn't use any of the offers, why not?

Not yet, might do though.
Q 5. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend signing up to Amazon Family to a friend or family member? If so, why? If not, why not?

Maybe but not sure about it yet, like I say, Family vs Prime??

Not a tester, but would love a voucher. I am a member of Amazon Prime and Family.

Q1. Have you ever shopped on Amazon.co.uk for baby or child-related products before this trial? If so, what items did you tend to buy?

No need to shop for baby and child things before - wasn't buying any baby stuff until a couple of months ago. I have been buying several practical things, like a breast pump, feeding cups, sterilizer.

Q 2. What is your overall opinion of Amazon Family? Is there anything in particular you like or dislike about it? This could be about the service itself or the products on offer.

It would be nice if there were more discounts specifically for Amazon Family members. Otherwise, what is the point? I used an Amazon Family specific discount to order some Avent items that would have cost much more on the high street.

Q3. Did you use the nappy subscription on offer? If so, what did you think of it?

Nope, planning to use cloth nappies. If I change my mind, I might consider the nappy subscription, but only if it worked out to be cheaper/more convenient than driving to my local Aldi.

Q 4. Did you use any of the exclusive offers? If so, which ones did you find most useful? If you didn't use any of the offers, why not?

The Amazon Family Thank You 20% offer. See answer to Q2. That was nice because it included money off the sale price. Otherwise, a lot of the "offers" just look like Amazon is advertising what is on sale. As in, anyone could get that price if they were looking for the item, not just Prime/Family subscribers.

Q 5. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend signing up to Amazon Family to a friend or family member? If so, why? If not, why not?

I would recommend Prime - that has paid for itself by now. I would probably only recommend Family if a friend/family member was using disposable nappies and was having a hard time leaving the house to get more.

Q1. Have you ever shopped on Amazon.co.uk for baby or child-related products before this trial? If so, what items did you tend to buy?
I buy toys and baby wipes. I've also bought useful accessories - rain covers and pram hooks etc.
Q 2. What is your overall opinion of Amazon Family? Is there anything in particular you like or dislike about it? This could be about the service itself or the products on offer.
The offers were great at first. They aren't so good these days. It's not that good at drawing you in and is frustrating trying to work out if you are in the Baby section whether family offers apply to the product you are looking at.
Q3. Did you use the nappy subscription on offer? If so, what did you think of it?
I use it for babywipes. It can be great, but out of the 4 deliveries I've had, one was at a high enough price to cancel out the savings I'd made on the other ones, and I didn't notice in time to cancel that delivery.
Q 4. Did you use any of the exclusive offers? If so, which ones did you find most useful? If you didn't use any of the offers, why not?
We got the nappy bin and used some % off codes.
Q 5. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend signing up to Amazon Family to a friend or family member? If so, why? If not, why not? I'd recommend they checked it out and say it is probably worth it if they already had Prime. Otherwise, do the maths to check.

Q1. I have shopped for basic items such as toys I brought 'Sophie giraffe' and a child monitor off Amazon family before I new about it.
Q 2. The three months free trail is great it gives you chance to decide if this is the right option. The service is brilliant, and when I have brought nappies I the sight I have got a good offer with quick delivery.
Q3. Yes I found it very useful, I dot have to rush out to the shops and end up spending more than I would normally on nappies because I am in a rush.
Q 4. No I haven't found anything that we need yet that is on offer.
Q 5. Yes especially because you can effectively trail it or three months.

Non tester

Q1 - I buy nearly everything on Amazon. . (but Not nappies and baby stuff because my kids are too old) Amazon is perfect for toys, school stuff, gaming stuff and hard to find items such as candy corn
Q2 - I am not keen as it is subscription based and I often use third party sellers
Q3 - N/A
Q4 - N/A
Q5 - I wouldn't recommend it particularly. I like the flexibility of being able to take advantage of supermarket deals. I don't want to have to subscribe.

Non tester and not a user of Amazon Prime
We buy books, toys mostly, but also from time to time, household and electrical goods.
We have bought nappies from Amazon in the past.
I have not used Amazon Prime, mainly due to subscription charges and not entirely too sure how convenient and reliable Amazon Prime delivery would be - when nappies are needed they have to arrive on schedule. Also it is a hassle having to be in for a delivery. It is better knowing you are going to have a delivery within an hour slot as with tesco.
The other thing that puts me off is the amount of marketing I get from amazon local - I don't need any more.
I don't take advantage of any of their offers as I am not a member, but I did notice their offer relating to borrowing books for kindle which would be good.
I would not recommend Amazon Prime to anyone and no one has mentioned the service to me. (Numerous members of family use Amazon though.)