second class amazon citizens

[LuvPeckham]

I have a general gripe about the way Amazon treats their clients.

a few weeks ago I ordered Mario Kart for Wii (release date tomorrow) and used supersaver for delivery. There is no other item in the order (important point)

If I had elected to pay delivery charges they would have dispatched it today for delivey tomorrow (the release date)

Yet by selecting supersaver, (and I accept the fact that there will be a 2-4 day delay in post as a result) they have decided to send it out next Monday (3 days after release date)

Why is it that selecting one option gets it processed quicker then another ? surely the work they do is the same at their end, the stock is the same, and the packet it goes in is the same, the only difference I can see is postal method selected

Has anyone else been hard done by Amazon and felt second class, or am I all alone on this score...

[Michael Palaeologus]

Um, well today I have been quite impressed with Amazon. I ordered an Expresso machine using the free delivery, which did take a few days longer, but I wasnt in a hurry.

Tried it today - leaked everywhere.

Their returns process is very simple, go on the website, click a few links, print out the return labels and then click through to the DHL site for a free collection.

So, I am quite impressed.

[wee quinnie]

Michael P - I echo your sentiments. In fact I think their website is my all time fave, (in terms of accessibility, features and design; also their customer service, is, I have found v good indeed).

[Keef]

I use Amazon quite a bit, and always pay for the first class postage, because the supersaver used to annoy me, and I usually still make good savings buying on line and paying postage.

[LuvPeckham]

Ahhh

it isn't the website I have problems with, it is the delay in posting out if you use supersaver... why can't they send it out the same time as they send out paid for mail... after all it is only being delayed in the delivery option and not in the processing option (which in my opinion has to be the same internal process)

I feel a bit like V.M. today and "I can't believe it" springs to mind...

Feeling suddenly old and having secret urges to rant and shout at the world...not good considering I am only aged 13 3/4 !!

[Bellenden Belle]

LuvPeckham Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Ahhh

>

> it isn't the website I have problems with, it is

> the delay in posting out if you use supersaver...

> why can't they send it out the same time as they

> send out paid for mail... after all it is only

> being delayed in the delivery option and not in

> the processing option (which in my opinion has to

> be the same internal process

Quite simply - you get what you pay for... if you want something delivered the next day you need to do as Keef has done; and pay for the postage... how unfair on Keef or myself or anyone else who forks out for postage costs, if it meant absolutely nothing and you, who had chosen to not pay, got your goods at the same time.

I like the fact Amazon gives you a free delivery option - I think it is a good selling point. And in business we all prioritise our workload - Amazon is no different. If an Amazon employee can only wrap 50 books in a day and he has 51 in his pile - and 50 of them have paid for first class post,.... well, it's a no brainer really.

Sorry - I think I'm being patronising... I don't mean to be... but I find your argument totally illogical.

[Mark]

People who pay for delivery get it seen to first, those who don't get dealt with later. Amazon has a massive fulfilment process that things have to go through and it's not as simple as take it off the shelf, put it in a box, label it and give it to the postman. I expect that when the supersaver lorry is full it gets sent off to deliver stuff, but paid for lorries get dispatched every hour whether they're full or not.

So somtimes it's luck of the draw, I ordered 5 items by supersaver in the morning and they came the next day, which was nice especialy as it contained series 2 & 3 of The Wire. :)

[Michael Palaeologus]

I think that Mark's explanation is spot on. Pay the extra and its is posted that day, go for the free service and it will go when the van is full.

[spadetownboy]

i use amazon for most internet shopping and have had mixed responses to postage, there,s been times i,ve went for super saver and received my stuff the following day and there,s times i,ve paid for delivery and waited bloody ages. But as i,ve now signed up for amazon prime, i no longer have these problems.

[Alan Dale]

removed

[spadetownboy]

an italian train.

[Ant]

Michael Palaeologus Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Um, well today I have been quite impressed with

> Amazon. I ordered an Expresso machine using the

> free delivery, which did take a few days longer,

> but I wasnt in a hurry.

>

> Tried it today - leaked everywhere.

>

> Their returns process is very simple, go on the

> website, click a few links, print out the return

> labels and then click through to the DHL site for

> a free collection.

>

> So, I am quite impressed.

Ah, but don't count your chickens yet. You've done the easy bit, but this is where their returns process falls over. Or did for me at any rate; your mileage may vary. I had my label and my DHL collections booked and I was happy. Then DHL didn't turn up. So I rang them and they didn't know anything about it and said that anyway they don't do Amazon returns any more. Or perhaps a different department did. Much calling and being passed from dept to dept with no joy at all. So I turned to Amazon, who said just drop it in a the post-office and they'll take it with no need to pay postage. Pfeh! Lies! I had to pay of course, but in the end I was glad to just to get rid of the sodding thing.

Anyway, as I say, it may go more smoothly for you. Good luck!

[Michael Palaeologus]

Oh thanks Ant!!

[Ladygooner]

I wanted to buy a book on Cuba as a gift - got various options up inc Lonely Planet. I clicked and ordered it but when it arrived it was in Spanish - even though I was on the UK website. I sent it back a month ago and still not got a refund. This thread prompted me to email them and they have just responded with apologies and will credit my card asap. Thanks for the prompt!

[missd]

i signed up for amazon prime whereby you pay ?50 for the year. then everything that you order (as long as its available) is sent next day for free. i was a bit dubious at first about what things are available on amazon prime but since signing up (about a couple of months ago) everything i have wanted has been available with prime. have made my money back already and now everything else for the year is free delivery. if you use it a fair bit then it's well worth it.

[Michael Palaeologus]

Am glad to report that DHL collected my parcel and whisked it back to Amazon with no problems.

Hurrah.

[LuvPeckham]

Michael Palaeologus Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I think that Mark's explanation is spot on. Pay

> the extra and its is posted that day, go for the

> free service and it will go when the van is full.

An interesting observation, but let us look at the world of shopping for a moment.

If Marks and Spencers (for example) sold a product for ?30 and said you can join one of three queues

queue 1 is very quick, but you pay ?3 extra

queue 2 is slower but there is no extra charge

queue 3 is normal speed but no extra charge

would you choose queue 1 2 or 3 ?

As Amazon (and other e-retailers) are trying to get our money, surely they should operate in a manner that doesn't cost the consumer any more to get their goods.

I do understand that there is a postage fee to pay for delivery by them, but I would hope that if they have their model correct and not paying for shop space, shop staff, goods on display, rent and rates (etc) across the whole country (and I do understand that they have a warehouse and associated costs) then they should be able to absorb the cost of postage and packaging (as they do for super saver goods) for all sales, thereby making it a similar or lower cost to the end consumer as walking down to their local shops.

I guess not, and they are proving that most people who want their goods opt for queue 1 (quicker but higher cost) then 3 (normal speed and same cost)

Interesting discussion and shows how the public have been brain washed into believing that by getting a lower price on the internet, the high cost of P&P is acceptable when it should really be built into the cost and comparison

This of course doesn't account for the busy people who don't get time to shop and have to order online.. but that is a different concept

Final point, Got Mario Kart a few days before they predicted it, which was good and haven't had much sleep since (talk about an addictive and fun game) - Sorry to any of my neighbours who may hear me scream, shout and curse....

[Bellenden Belle]

Absolutely extraordinary post Luvpeckham. In the face of so much logical argument, I never fail to be astonished that people stick to their guns - but then the rest of us are clearly brainwashed - probably by all those books I've read, sent to me by the evil Amazon.

[LuvPeckham]

nothing extraordinary about wanting to pay the same price for goods and receive the same treatment

It is how e-retailers should be operating rather they how they do currently operate...

besides I feel like playing devils advocate today

Guess it does say to me that we should be supporting our local shops more .....

[acer]

Yes LuvPeckham, but you are wanting to pay LESS and receive the same treatment. By paying the first class postage, you are paying to get your order faster than by opting for the free super saver option. In fact it does say in Amazon's delivery terms that 'Super Saver deliveries may take longer to leave the fulfillment centre than first class orders'.

You also say: As Amazon (and other e-retailers) are trying to get our money, surely they should operate in a manner that doesn't cost the consumer any more to get their goods. - surely if they are trying to get our money then they will operate in a manner that generates the most profit - as any good business would.

It is not really about brainwashing - more about supply and demand. If customers show a willingness to pay these additional charges (even if the benefit is only perceived rather than actual)then the suppliers will charge them. It just didn't work for you in reverse because your perception was that you were paying less for the same service, which was not on this occasion the same.

[Izodia]

I do seem to remember that super-saver delivery often used to be as fast as the first-class delivery.

More recently there's now a couple of days difference. But this coincides with Amazon stating that super-saver might take a couple of days extra to leave the fulfillment centre as acer said. So all in all it's fair enough. They tell you what to expect. If you want it straight away, then pay. if you're prepared to wait a little, then don't.

(Aside: The terminology of 'fulfillment centre' is interesting. What's wrong with warehouse?)

[missd]

its queue 1 - very quick and pay a fair amoung extra

queue 2 - normal speed and pay a bit extra in the usual amount of first class postage

or queue 3 which is super saver where they have informed you in advance that it will be slower and is free

LuvPeckham - you seem to want to stand in queue 3 but get the service of queue 2??

[mockney piers]

I ordered my telly from a t'interweb firm based out of Croydon. For an extra ?50 (fifty quid!!!) I could have my telly in a couple of days, else I'd have to wait up to 28 days.

When I asked how come, they said that there was avan coming my way and my telly would be on it.

I replied, that as it was their van and my telly, and given that were I to pay the cash there would obviously be room for it in said van, then why didn't they just put the telly on the van and not have to worry about it ever again.

But you'd have to pay the ?50 pounds they responded.

This circular argument went through a couple of iterations until the chap said something on the lines of 'well if you don't pay the extra you never know, they might not be as careful, they might drop it'

I laughed and said was he seriously proposing to damage my telly unless he extorted maoney out of me; he realised what he'd said, backtracked a bit and the conversation more or less ended there. I got my telly a week later.

That's Croydon for you!!

[Keef]

Thing is, even with the postage cost, Amazon stuff still works out cheaper than shops.

[louisiana]

I think it's fair enough to pay more to get things more quickly.

I only object to paying for next day courier delivery...and then getting something four days later! This happened to me last month with Misco (IT things). The courier concerned was Citylink [? yellow and green livery], who were useless and made repeated false claims (e.g. on their tracker system and by phone) to Misco and hence to me. And I only got the 4-day delivery (Saturday) because I kicked up a stink and spent a lot of time on the phone, harassing. Even Misco couldn't get any sense out of them.

They had apparently put stuff on the van and taken it off again for no apparent reason. Twice. Then when they were rumbled they changed all the tracker info, backdating a load of garbage entries. A Complete joke.

Unlike UPS, which last month pulled all the stops out when Sage screwed up address info for a software delivery (Sage had put a London postcode with a Berkshire address!)