Amazon Prime Days Next Week

Do you have a Columbia store or outlet in Austin? They have reasonably priced waterproof coats and shoes that work well. Stop and think if you really need your waterproof jacket to be lined. Most of us use a layer approach instead. Base layer (shirt or top) Warmth layer (fleece or sweater) Waterproof layer with hood. This combo gives the most flexibility.

I second the non-lining version or at least one you can remove.
I actually got my waterproof jacket (a Columbia one nonetheless) at my local Ross Dress for Less. You never know what they might have. Same with Marshalls/TJMaxx. I wasn't looking for one, but they had a great selection so I picked it as I knew I would eventually need one. And sure I did. I also tried it on with a light sweater underneath and ended up going up a size on the jacket.

Last time I bought on Prime Day (couple years ago), products took longer to be delivered than regular purchases. I am a Prime member.

Just a comment on returning Amazon items. I have been finding that very easy if you have a Whole Foods store nearby, which I'm sure you do in Austin. Also Kohl's does the same thing. On Amazon, choose Orders and find the item you want to return. It asks you a few questions and then sends you an email authorizing the return. If I need to fudge that reason a little, I do so but then I am honest in the comments section. Take your phone with the email loaded on it to the Whole Food store, and take the item you want to return. In short order a clerk will receive your item and tell you that a confirmation email will be sent. Which it is. The refund comes in advance of them actually receiving it. There's no need to repackage the item or bring the box it came in. Just take the item in its original packaging if you have it. So not so hard.

The other suggestion is good too, as I like brick and mortar better for something like clothes or shoes.

Our Whole Foods parking lot is a nightmare. I have actually found that our Staples store is the best for returns.
Some products don't qualify to be returned there, I think because of size. But most clothing and shoes have the option to be returned at Whole Foods or Staples (in my area) which don't require packing.

I agree with the others — look for a non-lined waterproof jacket with a hood. Mine hits about the middle of my thigh, has internal and external zipped pockets, and is slightly oversized (to fit a sweater or fleece underneath). I got it on clearance from LLBean and it has come along on every trip, no matter the season, for 25 years now.

Hi Folks

Thanks for all your answers.

Why should I buy a waterproof windbreaker that is NOT lined? Does that include wearing it in Iceland and Norway? I am buyng it for Iceland and Norway,

Another hello folks

I do not drive and it can be very difficult getting around Austin by bus. It can take over an hour each way depending on where you are going. I usually have to take two buses.

To make it more challenging, we are now in the 90's. Tomorrow is going to be 95.

I would like to hit the thrift stores but usually they put away any winter clothes since e are now in the 90's.

Winter clothes will not be coming back out until maybe September or October but I have plenty of time since I am not traveling until September 2027.

Besides having gift cards with Amazon, the free delivery is so nice for me.

nancycantravel

Whole Foods began in Austin and we still have the original.

But the closest Whole Foods to me is a 30 minute walk. There is no bus service and I do not drive. The temps are now in the 90's.

I can take a return to Fed Ex or UPS. Can not remember which one but they are both close.

However I have to pack it up and tape the box closed. Then I have to print out a label on plain white paper, cut it down and tape it on the box. I do not have label paper.

Once I requested a label from Amazon. It cost me $1 and I got the label on plain white paper. I would still have to tape it onto the box.

BostonPhil, buying a lined waterproof jacket reduces the versatility of the piece of clothing. It works for cold and wet but not warmer and wet. Perhaps you don’t need rainwear in Austin so only thinking about this trip works for you.
Layering is just a more flexible way to dress in changing weather. Those of us that live in wet weather moderate climates (what you might experience on your trip) layer as a way of dressing most of the year.

Once I requested a label from Amazon. It cost me $1 and I got the label on plain white paper. I would still have to tape it onto the box.

I order from Amazon a lot and return the occasional item and I have never been charged for a return label. I don’t understand why they would charge you for one.

And I agree with the others about getting a jacket that is not lined. The whole point of layers is to add something when it’s cold but take it away when it’s warm. If you have something with a lining, it’s going to make it too warm and you can’t take the lining away then.

One thing you might consider doing is getting an inexpensive puffer vest that you wear under your rain jacket. 32Degrees sells them very inexpensively. They probably don’t have any in stock now but once fall comes they will start carrying their winter gear. I found them for as low as $10 apiece. And they’re nice and warm for the cold weather, they pack up very small, and you can easily remove them if it gets too warm.

Thank you Carol NR

We need rainwear in Austin. We sometimes have torrential rains, most especially after droughts.

I usually just stay home when we are going to have heavy to torrential rains but sometimes I have a doctors appointment.

The last several days has seen some heavy rain in the area.

Mardee

I have bought from Amazon a lot and have returned some items over the years.

Amazon has recently changed how they accept returns, at least here in Austin.

Once I was able to request pickup. Amazon still offers it but now they charge something like $7.50

I can return free but i have to put item in box that it arrived in and tape it. I have to tape the label to the box. I am responsible for printing out. label or writing it very clearly and neatly on. a piece of paper.

I had the option of having. label sent to me but it cost me $1 and the label was on regular white paper. I still would have had to tape it to the box.

I do not know when Amazon changed its return policies. I do not return very often but just before I went to Paris, I bought several items. I wanted to return one of them and that is when I discovered the change. I decided to keep the item rather than return. The item cost $20 and was not what I expected but I could live with it.

But I diid not return it because of Amazon's changed policies. It was too much trouble to return.

I think that there are customers who excessively return and Amazon has to reduce excessive returns.

I do not know what the "magic" number is but if Amazon believes you to be abusing their return policies, they flag you and then I can not remember what happens. There is a penalty if Amazon believes that you are returning excessively.

ADDED. and after preparing the retuned item, I still have to take it somewhere such as UPS or Fed EX. I can not remember which one. And remember that I do not drive.

I'll probably look at a few travel things on Amazon this weekend just in case, but generally don't order much from them anymore. I'd love to find a few more travel shirts that are easy to hand wash and air dry. I tend to end up wearingdifferent colored wool tshirts, which is fine, but once in a while I'd like to look pretty rather than practical when wandering around a beautiful city.

I've noticed that I can return things like clothes to Kohls without repacking, but have to use UPS for electronic type items. Those do need to be repacked, but my UPS tapes them up and they'll let me forward the email to them and then they print out the label for me. Maybe that would work for you bostonphil7?

I live in Indiana. We used to have to return Amazon items in the original box with a label printed off of the website attached and a package identifying slip inside , but now the item only needs to be in its original packaging--plastic bag, manufacture packaging, etc.--with a barcode I can download onto my phone, or even just access via the return authorization email. I take it to Kohl's and get an acknowledgment within an hour.

It's probably the only time I go to Kohl's.

Bostonphil, I'm sorry I was insensitive to your circumstances. If Whole Foods is half an hour away by bus for you, I would agree that is an impractical solution for returning Amazon purchases. Meanwhile, I hope you have received good advice on your main question about the windbreaker.

I see the problems with Amazon. Then I guess my question would be is if it is so inconvenient, why do you continue to use it? I think if I was charged for returns, I would quit using them, as other companies might offer the same items with more convenience.

Have you checked Quince? They have some really nice clothes and are relatively inexpensive considering the quality. And they offer free shipping both for delivery and returns. They’ve been really wonderful to deal with for me.

Also, I don’t know if you have a Costco near you or if you have a membership, but Costco really has some nice items for pretty low prices. Last year I got a rain jacket with a hood that I wore to Romania and it was great. I think it was only around $16. And if you don’t have a membership, you might want to consider getting one. It is certainly cheaper than Amazon’s membership fee, and if it’s still too pricey, you might want to talk to a friend about going together on one.

Why should I buy a waterproof windbreaker that is NOT lined? Does that include wearing it in Iceland and Norway? I am buyng it for Iceland and Norway,

I can see a lined windbreaker being used a lot in September when you on the ship deck or even at some of the stops. I think whatever you prefer will work at that time of year on that particular journey. One thing about an unlined windbreaker is it will pack up very small. You can put it in your bag and pull it out, if needed.

When we were in Norway in September of 2023 I mostly wore my lightly lined Eddie Bauer Townsend trench raincoat. I think I usually had a long sleeve shirt with a vest underneath. I always had a beanie handy to put on (I lost the original and had to buy one in Norway).

I find A LOT of vests, jackets, and coats at Goodwill.

Thanks for the heads up about prime days!

nancycantravel

there is nothing to apologize for. You were not insensitive. How would you know?

The closest Whole Foods to me is a small one that is 30 minutes away by foot. There is no bus to it. It is sometimes difficult to walk there for many reasons but impossible in 95 degree heat but do like going there when possible.

Hi mnannie

There is a large Goodwill across the street from my favorite HEB which is our go to grocery store in Texas but it is now 95 degrees in Texas and will remain 95 PLUS into October. No break for the weary!

Our thrift stores put away the winter clothes until maybe August, September or even October.

I will not be able to thrift for winter clothes until August minimum.

But I have plenty of time. I am nto going anywhere until September 2027 so I am going to wait.

I think I will hold off on the windbreaker.

Thank you for your input..

Hi Mardee

I use Amazon because friends give me gift cards so I sometimes have a lot of gift cards that can only be used on Amazon. I almost never pay for anything that I buy on Amazon.

I seldom have returned anything but in the past, it was very easy to return.

When I tried to return something recently, I became aware that Amazon has changed their return policy. I have only just discovered the changes.

And worse if anything goes wrong , you now deal with AI only.. I think that their AI is called Rufus. You almost can never speak to a human being any longer.

I live in a beautiful area of Austin. I live on a. lake and greenbelt. There are many restaurant and clubs near me but no retail. I

We do have a Costco but it is difficult to get there by bus. I was considering joining but friends suggested that I do not because it is so difficult to get there and you often have to buy large quantities.

I would love to go to Costco because I think that I would have fun being in a Costco.

I think they have limited delivery. I have looked into it. I might look into Costco again

There is. a small Whole Foods and Urban Target about 30 minutes away by foot only. No bus.

I think that I am going to look into Costco again.

You can get a one-day trial membership at Costco. Just go to the membership counter and ask. Of course, you would need an Uber to get home with all your treasures. They have a lot more clothes and shoes on the website than in the warehouse. I don't buy from Amazon anymore, either. Instead, I like Sierra (they include a return shipping label in the box). And someone on here told me about Going, Going, Gone at Dick's Sporting Goods, which I have found a couple of things on.

G3rryCee

I researched how easy it would be to get to Costco from where I live. It would be very difficult. I would need to walk a distance to the bus, then I would have to take two buses taking about 90 minutes and when I sort of get to Costco, it would be a 10 minute walk from the bus stop. No!

They offer some delivery to my zip code and it is free delivery if I order at least $75 but no fresh groceries.

I have been buying from Amazon for many years and they have changed and not for the better. They were so easy to deal with years ago and so friendly. Now they have become so difficult but I do not think it is hurting business.

EDIT. I went back to Costco. There is a. way that I can have grocery delivery. I would have to use Instacart to deliver groceries from Costco and pay whatever instacart charges. I looked at produce prices and they are not much better than when I order from Amazon.

Thank you to everyone who commented.

A few years back, I got a very good deal for an iPad during Prime Days and that included Apple Care.

EDIT. Amazon often has phones on sale during Prime Days.

@BostonPhil. I wouldn’t worry about Costco. They sell such incredibly huge sized products a person living alone can’t really utilize it as much as others with more people in the household.

Carol n. r

That is what I have been told by friends who suggested that I not open a membership with Costco.

I was told that you have to buy very large sizes of products. Of course, that is among the reasons that prices might be lower/

But I wish that it was easier to get to one. I might have fun just shopping in one.

It's probably more than you want to spend, but a breathable unlined jacket(Goretex was the original brand) is wonderful for summer downpours in hot climates.

thank you cala

I never travel in the summer.

And I live in. Austin TX which is usually unpleasantly hot for several months during what is known as summer. Our summers just happen to last about five months.

Unless I must, I do not go out during the daytime hours even having groceries delivered.

So when I must go out if it might rain, I take an umbrella. If we might have torrential rains, I will take my trench coat.

In Austin, we are very grateful for rain in the summer.

I looked up Gore-Tex and as far as I can understand, it is a material. One product on Amazon was out of budget but others seemed within budget. I will keep it in mind when I shop on Prime during Prime Days which begins Tuesday..

it is a miracle material - I have several items and swear by them - which is able to both keep out any water and let hot humid air inside the product escape so you are much more comfortable and dry. The expression is that it breathes.

Thank you Nigel.

I will look into it for travel especially when I go to Iceland and Norway but I do not think that I will need it in Austin.

Buying it new might be out of budget but I can look for it at thrift stores

I am familiar with the name Gore-Tex maybe because I worked for a stock broker many years ago. More recently I have retired from Market Research.

I am going to research the name Gore-Tex.