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Monday, November 28, 2005 |
OT: Ship This, Amazon
Yesterday I ordered three CD's from Amazon (no snarking about using iTunes, now), and requested standard shipping. Today, I discovered that meant the products wouldn't arrive until after Christmas, this with zero indication during the ordering process. Last year, my wife ordered stuff from Amazon about this time using their Super Saver shipping, which didn't arrive until January. If it were an obvious bid to force you into higher-cost shipping options I could understand it a little better, but even then, the whole process is completely opaque -- since when does "five days" mean "one month"? Apparently, if you're Amazon!
Comments:
That's weird. I just ordered something from Amazon using standard shipping (for me, though, so I don't care when they get here), and I didn't get that notice. What did you order, because if they said they usually ship in 24 hours, there shouldn't be a problem. One of the items (also a CD) doesn't ship for 4-7 days, but it still says I should have it by December 3. Did you order hard to find, possibly out of stock stuff?
Hey, Rob ...
»» since when does "five days" mean "one month"? ««
In our house, it's whenever my brother-in-law comes for a "short" visit.
»» since when does "five days" mean "one month"? ««
In our house, it's whenever my brother-in-law comes for a "short" visit.
# posted by 
: 11/28/2005 10:17:00 AM
: 11/28/2005 10:17:00 AM
Just completely ignore what they say about shipping times - they just don't want to get in trouble with folks who expect stuff to be here in time for the holidays, on the off-chance that it won't arrive in time. Whenever we select the free shipping options, it gets here in 3-4 business days, even around the holidays.
Last year, my husband ordered a book for his dad for Christmas on Dec. 22, and selected the free shipping. His plan was to give his dad a card, with a note inside telling him what he was getting. The gift arrived at his dad's house on Christmas Eve.
They're just covering their butts with that warning. Your stuff will arrive in plenty of time, even if you're having it shipped to Canada, in my experience.
Last year, my husband ordered a book for his dad for Christmas on Dec. 22, and selected the free shipping. His plan was to give his dad a card, with a note inside telling him what he was getting. The gift arrived at his dad's house on Christmas Eve.
They're just covering their butts with that warning. Your stuff will arrive in plenty of time, even if you're having it shipped to Canada, in my experience.
Amazon is evil. On 11/4/05 I ordered a Law and Order DVD with the free shipping offer. On 11/6/05 I ordered a SE Batman Begins DVD, but paid for shipping. I received my *second* order on 11/10/05. On 11/14/05 I received *another* Batman DVD. I checked my credit card online and found out they charged me for the LaO DVD ($17 something versus $49).
I emailed Amazon stating I was shipped two DVDs but charged the LaO price, and I wished to return the second Batman DVD. Why would anyone need two Batman DVDs? I didn't feel I should have to pay shipping. They emailed back with a link to the labels I should print out to return my second Batman DVD and said I wasn't actually charged for two Batman DVDs, my LaO DVD was shipped on *11/10/05*.
The link they provided was for labels but you have to choose from a list the reason you are returning your item. I picked "Items mistakenly shipped to you: Did you receive any items instead of or in addition to the items you ordered?" but it charged me return shipping. IT WASN'T MY FAULT!
I decided do a regular return. They again ask for the reason I was returning the item, so this time I lied and said it was broken when I opened it so I wouldn't pay shipping.
I emailed them back, because THEY DON'T HAVE A PHONE NUMBER TO ACTUALLY TALK TO SOMEONE, to make sure the labels I printed out would work and that my first order was in transit. I decided I wasn't going to return the second Batman DVD until I had LaO, you know, since they *said* it shipped.
Today (11/28/05) Amazon emailed me to say my first order couldn't be delivered and that I was going to be refunded the price of the LaO DVD. Now I have two Batman DVDs for the price of one and no LaO after almost a month of CRAP!
Also, your order always arrives faster if you pay for shipping. You can also cancel your order at any time before it ships if you decide you don't want it or don't want to wait.
I emailed Amazon stating I was shipped two DVDs but charged the LaO price, and I wished to return the second Batman DVD. Why would anyone need two Batman DVDs? I didn't feel I should have to pay shipping. They emailed back with a link to the labels I should print out to return my second Batman DVD and said I wasn't actually charged for two Batman DVDs, my LaO DVD was shipped on *11/10/05*.
The link they provided was for labels but you have to choose from a list the reason you are returning your item. I picked "Items mistakenly shipped to you: Did you receive any items instead of or in addition to the items you ordered?" but it charged me return shipping. IT WASN'T MY FAULT!
I decided do a regular return. They again ask for the reason I was returning the item, so this time I lied and said it was broken when I opened it so I wouldn't pay shipping.
I emailed them back, because THEY DON'T HAVE A PHONE NUMBER TO ACTUALLY TALK TO SOMEONE, to make sure the labels I printed out would work and that my first order was in transit. I decided I wasn't going to return the second Batman DVD until I had LaO, you know, since they *said* it shipped.
Today (11/28/05) Amazon emailed me to say my first order couldn't be delivered and that I was going to be refunded the price of the LaO DVD. Now I have two Batman DVDs for the price of one and no LaO after almost a month of CRAP!
Also, your order always arrives faster if you pay for shipping. You can also cancel your order at any time before it ships if you decide you don't want it or don't want to wait.
# posted by : 11/28/2005 11:27:00 AM
: 11/28/2005 11:27:00 AM
I cancelled my order with them anyway, Momma. I don't really care what the "wink-wink, nudge-nudge" shipping time is, I'm not interested in buying from someone who's so interested in covering their own ass that they won't give me a best effort time before Christmas.
Hey, Anonymous, here's Amazon's customer service phone number. Don't tell anyone else; it's secret: 1-800-201-7575
I personally have never had a problem with Amazon, though I usually look for cheaper prices elsewhere. As bluemamma says, though, if you use Free Shipping, the post office guarantees only that it'll arrive within a month (though it often arrives within a few days), so Amazon will not promise that it will arrive anytime sooner. Of course, if an item is out-of stock, they may wait until that item is back in stock to send any of them.
I personally have never had a problem with Amazon, though I usually look for cheaper prices elsewhere. As bluemamma says, though, if you use Free Shipping, the post office guarantees only that it'll arrive within a month (though it often arrives within a few days), so Amazon will not promise that it will arrive anytime sooner. Of course, if an item is out-of stock, they may wait until that item is back in stock to send any of them.
# posted by : 11/28/2005 05:56:00 PM
: 11/28/2005 05:56:00 PMNewer› ‹Older
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