Amazon - No Longer Useful

[Zerpersande]

What many don’t realize though is that Amazon customer service is excellent and they will happily rectify any issue you’re having.

Excellent may go too far. Maybe ‘very often excellent’. It depends upon the problem. If I start a chat during business hours and get a Japanese agent, ‘excellent’ is almost always going to apply. Get sent to India, then they’ll state the policy and pretty much stop listening.

Just my opinion. Actual mileage may vary, batteries not included.

 

[afblangley]

My online purchases are increasingly from Amazon. They are my first choice even if I can get the item directly from the manufacturer or from eBay. My experience this past Christmas, has firmly driven this point home. I bought 4 clothing items directly from a merchant (probably in China)l. 1 item was apparently sent though I didn't receive it, the other 3 items were so poor that I requested a refund. It cost me $20 to mail the items back and I'm still fighting to get the refund on the final item.

Returns on Amazon are always hassle free and simple (sometimes not even needing to be packaged up). Refunds are always rapid. Shipping may not always be the fastest, the prices may not always be the cheapest, but the shopping experience is always the easiest. There are reasons why they are the largest retailer on the planet.

 

[Happy Camper]

Excellent may go too far. Maybe ‘very often excellent’. It depends upon the problem. If I start a chat during business hours and get a Japanese agent, ‘excellent’ is almost always going to apply. Get sent to India, then they’ll state the policy and pretty much stop listening.

Just my opinion. Actual mileage may vary, batteries not included.

Anytime I realize the customer service agent isn't going to be helpful, I "get a call that I have to take, and I'll get back with them". I do this until I find an agent that can help and has a good attitude. Then I make sure to give them a good review if asked.

If they are exceptional. I'll ask how I can let their boss know.

Always reward good customer service if you can. They are the ones that deal with the fallout of decisions made way above their pay grade. They signed up for it, sure. But it's usually the worst and most difficult job in the company. And the lowest paying.

 

[Zerpersande]

Always reward good customer service if you can. They are the ones that deal with the fallout of decisions made way above their pay grade. They signed up for it, sure. But it's usually the worst and most difficult job in the company. And the lowest paying.

Very good point. if an agent demonstrates a real effort to solve my problem, or makes some progress toward resolving the issue, I try to make sure they know I appreciate it.

 

[WanderingRose]

Thanks, Happy Camper, for that clarification of the process, which it is helpful to be reminded of.

We found the supposed 2-3 day, Priority mail-forwarding often took as long as a week when we were in remote places.

Same principle likely applied.

 

[rruff]

My biggest problem with Amazon is the search function.

Yep... google is getting crappier for the same reason... results based on how much a vendor pays rather than what you are asking for.

 

[rruff]

Amazon handles most of their own delivery now. And the focus is on delivering a full van of product from the closest warehouse that has that item.

They never do where I live. It's UPS. And it appears that Amazon taking their sweet time boxing up non-Prime shipments is the main hold up.

For those of you who camp in the boonies, how do you get packages delivered? I used to have the carrier hold my orders for pickup, but wondered if there are other options now.

 

[abnorm]

For those of you who camp in the boonies, how do you get packages delivered?

Paid Mail Service/PO Box where we Winter in Quartzsite...............(BCM)

Summer ?.............Receive $5 packages at any Mailbox Vendor on our route

 

[Happy Camper]

They never do where I live. It's UPS. And it appears that Amazon taking their sweet time boxing up non-Prime shipments is the main hold up.

Amazon is a storefront with business services. Every product on prime is from their FBA (fulfillment by Amazon) program. That's why they can control the delivery timeframe.

Other products that aren't letting are shipped by the seller. Or are drop shipped with the seller label. Not by Amazon itself.

Here a little information for those that are interested.
https://sell.amazon.com/fulfillment-by-amazon

 

[rruff]

I'm talking about stuff shipped from Amazon's warehouse, not other sellers.

 

[maki2]

They never do where I live. It's UPS. And it appears that Amazon taking their sweet time boxing up non-Prime shipments is the main hold up.

For those of you who camp in the boonies, how do you get packages delivered? I used to have the carrier hold my orders for pickup, but wondered if there are other options now.

I often use the USPS general delivery option. Some of the post offices make you sign up and will only accept packages for a total of 30 days. Some of the small town USPS post offices will rent you a mailbox by the month. They will then accept packages sent by other shippers such as Amazon Prime, USP, Fed Ex, etc. But the general delivery service is ONLY valid USPS postage.

In the very small town of Ajo Arizona there is an appliance/ UPS/Radio Shack store. He will accept packages from
All the shipping services for a $5.00 fee. In that case the address you use has your name and the street address of the store on it but not the business name of the store.

These things tend to vary from
Small town to small town as to how you can get packages sent to you. However it works, when it does, I am just glad to find some options available even if a fee is associated.

Of course there is another type of option. Walmart and Home Depot among other retailers have associated sellers offering products via the Walmart or Home Depot website. You can then buy that way and have the package delivered to that store front closest to you which participates in that particular shopping online option.

It is becoming a lot more frequent to shop online at various companies and then designate a stick and bricks store from that chain to receive it for you to pick up in person. That reduces the risk of items being out of stock or not available at that particular location.

 

[dustytrailhead]

My solar “generator” was giving me trouble, so I decided to build a system from components. Anticipating the need, I had been building a shopping list named Solar for a few weeks, so when it came time I just went through the list and ordered everything, lithium batteries, inverter, B2B, controller, fuse block, buss bars, wire, welding cable, breakers, terminal posts, and installation specific tools. The shipping address was GENERAL DELIVERY, Flagstaff, AZ.
I received two Amazon notifications that my stuff was at the Flagstaff Post Office, all of it arriving on the same day. I was apologetic when I told the clerk I had general delivery for a lot of items. She said, “It’s no trouble” and 10 minutes later she returned and informed me that my stuff was in a cart out in the lobby. “Just leave the cart in the lobby when your done.” Wow. I was impressed with both Amazon and USPS.
On the other end of the spectrum, I’ve had a couple of Amazon orders over the years that couldn’t be delivered, after being Out For Delivery for 2 or 3 days. Which means they lost it. When that happens Amazon sends a terse notification that your money has been refunded and to reorder if you still want the item. One time I was in the middle of a project, so it was a hassle.
My experience with 3rd party fulfillment has averaged out over the years: sometimes it arrives late, sometimes early or sometimes on time. My last 3 orders have been early. When an order goes to an Amazon Locker, you have 3 days to get it out or it goes back. Depending on one’s schedule early delivery can be inconvenient to say the least.
One more thing about GENERAL DELIVERY, it seems to have changed within the last couple of years. My experience has been that if you ship general delivery, the shipper will be USPS. Well, my last two general delivery orders (one of which was 3rd party Amazon) were shipped FedEx. Both times I was contacted by the vendor for the street address of the post office. So, now I’ve updated my Amazon shipping list to include the street address for general delivery. This has only occurred for FedEx, and I don’t know if UPS is doing this now. Two things about this: 1. I didn’t know that USPS would accept accept general delivery from private shippers; 2. I know that in the past UPS would not deliver to the post office (does it now?). So, it seems something has changed. I’m just not sure what.

 

[rruff]

Two things about this: 1. I didn’t know that USPS would accept accept general delivery from private shippers; 2. I know that in the past UPS would not deliver to the post office (does it now?). So, it seems something has changed. I’m just not sure what.

I think there is a deal between USPS and Fedex. Some shipments I've received are sent via Fedex to the PO, which then delivers to my mailbox. It's the cheapest option apparently, and takes longer.

 

[Morgana]

think there is a deal between USPS and Fedex. Some shipments I've received are sent via Fedex to the PO, which then delivers to my mailbox. It's the cheapest option apparently, and takes longer.

I've seen that too. I want to say it's called SmartPost or SurePost or something like that? I've also had the feeling (subjective / didn't really track it) that those are more likely to get lost or delayed.

 

[Happy Camper]

"With SurePost, UPS drops the package off at the USPS facility closest to the package's final destination. FedEx SmartPost, on the other hand, takes it to the nearest USPS regional hub, where USPS then redistributes it to the nearest post office. According to UPS, this makes SurePost faster."

 

[bullfrog !]

Lol!!! Where I live you are lucky if it gets to the post office! You are doing good if it makes it there! FedEx packages end up in building hallways, warehouses private citizens can’t get access to, towns up to 100 miles away, prominent land marks under a tree and even random people that think they might know you as in anyone the driver can find! God help you if it’s a new driver as most land for miles is open range! Lol!!!

 

[rruff]

You should charter a herd of African Swallows to deliver your packages, bullfrog!

 

[Overland One]

Depends on the item, and if it's stocked in an Amazon warehouse, and the location of the nearest warehouse that has the item, etc.

Living near Las Vegas, I get a lot of stuff quickly, if the item is in stock at Las Vegas.

Check eBay for the same item.

Weird thing within the last year or so, is that some eBay sellers are also Amazon sellers. No more price or delivery variation between the two marketplaces in that case.

Funny Amazon thing this week was an item that was scheduled to arrive on Friday arrived on Wednesday, and the item that was supposed to arrive on Wednesday is now scheduled for Friday.

Excellent advice for people to check ebay as well. I had decided to purchase a Champion 2000 watt gas inverter generator and had been watching one on amazon for a few weeks. The price there was about $460. Just for fun, I checked ebay and they had the very same model generator for $400 but, it gets better. There was a flash sale coupon I could use if I bought it that day which lowered my price to $360 with free shipping. I ordered it and it arrived here 2 days later. Funny thing, it was delivered to me from Amazon so you are right, some ebay sellers are also amazon sellers as well. I have bought a lot on amazon while working on my van but I also check ebay as well as there are deals to be had on the very same items. For what it is worth, here in Kentucky, amazon deliveries have been very fast with 2 day and sometimes next day deliveries with the occasional 5-7 days delivery tossed in. Safe travels.

 

[wayne49]

Amazon has a distribution center in Lexington.

 

[Overland One]

Amazon has a distribution center in Lexington.

Yes, and one in the Nashville area which is even closer to me. They also have/had one in Madisonville, KY but that one was severely damaged/destroyed during a tornado last year so I am not sure if it is operational or not? I just ordered 60 sq. ft. of vinyl floor tiles for the van yesterday from amazon and they arrived 10 minutes ago so I am happy. I do not live in a big city or anything and am happy with the deliveries so far.