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Thread Number: 81235
/ Tag: Other Home Products or Autos
What's your Amazon experience? |
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| Post# 1052516 11/27/2019 at 22:12 (1,610 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea)) | ||
 What's your Amazon experience?
After 60-some years of hands-on shopping, I was skeptical. Started with something easy: books. (So did Bezos.) Real comfortable with them now. Might even say "cozy". Nothing has gone wrong with merchandise or service.
I find that one does need to be somewhat resolute making choices. That is, the first thing that pops up may (well) not be what you're looking for, or the best value. But the choices are there to be made. While increasingly, brick retailers (walmart, groan) have one thing (if that) in a category and it's not what you wanted.
I still want to support local business when possible, and he did have an unobtainium nozzle brush when the original wore to a nub and seized up. But just yesterday I went to the vacuum store for bags and belts for my late-70s[*] Hoover Spirit canister/powernozzle. He's no longer bothering stocking the bags. The belts I've been buying there don't even last for the life of one bag, and the guy is not sure which belt is which, could have been selling me the wrong ones. Went to the official Hoover parts website. They never even HEARD of Spirit. Few minutes on Amazon, had a 5-pack of the exact part number belt and a 12-pack of bags, for like $2 more than the store was selling them EACH. [* Yes, my vac is more than half MY (extreme) age. Yours isn't?]
Amazon's not "perfect". Their 'search' tends to bury what you're looking for in a page of (sometimes unrelated) alternatives. It can take some time sorting it. But nowhere near as much as traipsing over town, sitting at red lights, and still not finding. Their software can be obtuse, but the couple times it has confounded me into a corner, a phone call sorts it. And they answer promptly, all hours, with the needed skills and authority to solve most anything.
One caveat some users complain about: If your purchase fails within the 90-day return period, they will gladly replace it BUT the 90 days does NOT start over for the replacement. The workaround of course, is return for credit and repurchase which DOES restart the 90 days. Myself, I have not needed to return anything.
Bottom line, I find Amazon a win-win-win. What you want, value priced, reliable delivery and problem solving, carbon footprint.... IMO, Bezos deserves to be rich.
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Post# 1052519 , Reply# 2 11/27/2019 at 22:49 (1,610 days old) by bradfordwhite  (central U.S.) |
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 I still have the same account I created 12 years ago. Never had any problems.
I think once something was damaged, called them, they shipped a new one. No problem. One time I bought something and it turned out I didn't need it, I shipped it back, they returned money, no problem.
I have a number of movies and music in the archive section. Some I bought years ago and I'm always afraid they'll disappear or be purged. Nope, they're still there.
I've been using them more in the last year or so. At least once a month. Just bought a double printer cartridge for my laser printer $16 no s/h. Bought a refrigerated (with a compressor) ice cream maker NEW 2 months ago for $90 no S/H. and it works great.
They aren't always the cheapest but you know if you order something and need it soon, it will be shipped and you'll have service if there's a problem.
They don't have as much retro stuff, like Ebay will, but no store carries everything.
Can't wait to try the drone delivery and visit their grocery store where you can just walk in, pick up stuff, and walk out.... and it charges your account via smart phone.
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Post# 1052520 , Reply# 3 11/27/2019 at 23:08 (1,610 days old) by countryford (Austin, MN) |
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The times I've used Amazon, I've had no issues with them. I think they serve a purpose. I will purchase car parts, books, misc items. I avoid purchasing clothing, except t-shirts. For me the reason I don't purchase clothing is because not all sizes are the same. In one brand of pants I'm a 34, another brand I'm a 36. I just don't want to deal with the hassle of returning items.
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Post# 1052527 , Reply# 5 11/28/2019 at 01:31 (1,610 days old) by chachp (North Little Rock, AR) |
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No Issues...
I, too, have used them for years with no issues. Between the two of us we have an Amazon package delivered at least twice a week. Generally, when I want/need something I'll check both eBay and Amazon. With eBay though you have to read carefully because you could be getting used, refurbished, etc. without realizing it. I feel a little more comfortable with Amazon in that regard.
They both seem to do very well when there is any kind of issue but you have to know your prices. We are Prime and the convenience is wonderful but nothing is free. Many times the prime option is a little more than you might find it somewhere else so I decide based on how quickly I need it delivered. | ||
| Post# 1052566 , Reply# 8 11/28/2019 at 07:43 (1,610 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
 My experience has always been good until yesterday. I ordered five soup bowls to replace some broken from my dishes. When the order arrived yesterday, I found that they had just been tossed in a large box with no other packing material. The five bowls just banged around in the box during shipment. The miracle is that they weren't broken! | ||
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Post# 1052572 , Reply# 9 11/28/2019 at 08:30 (1,610 days old) by Dermacie (my forever home (Glenshaw, PA)) |
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Post# 1052574 , Reply# 10 11/28/2019 at 08:54 (1,610 days old) by turquoisedude (.) |
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 I've never much cared for shopping on Amazon because of delivery. The "rules" may be different up here but the courrier services used by Amazon for delivery will not leave a package on a porch or in a doorway if the addressee is not in. Although package tracking information is provided, because I live in a rural area, all bets are off - the courriers will not guarantee a time of delivery. The few purchases I have made wound up with me having to trek to the depot of the courrier which was way out in the suburbs when I lived in Montreal and is now in the next biggest town over (a good 20 miles from the house in St-Lib). It seems to work out better for me to use my US 'package drop' site in Vermont, but there is a fee per package dropped off, plus I have to travel to the drop site. In short, any savings or deals are more than offset by the cost of having to go and pick up my purchases, so I avoid it. | ||
| Post# 1052577 , Reply# 11 11/28/2019 at 09:00 (1,610 days old) by IowaBear (Cedar Rapids, IA) | ||
 I just looked in my e-mail and my first order was on 10/21/1999, over 20 years ago.
I used to be a Prime member and bought a lot of stuff, now not so much but still use them every couple of months. I think I had one return in those 20 years and that was my own mistake as I ordered something I already had.
I've never once had to contact their customer service. Love them or hate them, there's a reason they became what they are.
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Post# 1052584 , Reply# 12 11/28/2019 at 10:08 (1,610 days old) by philcobendixduo (San Jose) |
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Long-Time Amazon Customer
I have shopped on Amazon for many years and the experience is always good. I signed up for Amazon Prime a few years ago to get free shipping on all orders and the bonus of having access to Amazon Music and Prime Video as well as some free selections from Prime Reading (for Kindle) makes it worth the annual fee.
I do not consider shopping a "recreational activity" so being able to sit at home, order items and have them show up the next day at my door is a dream come true. I rarely have to make returns to Amazon but if I do, there is an Amazon store not far from me where I can just drop the return off. The same day, I get acknowledgment of my return and a credit back on my card. The one caution I have is that there are MANY "sellers" on Amazon and there are a lot of "counterfeit" and "knock-off" items being sold on Amazon as "the real thing". Batteries, for example should be only purchased if in the original factory packaging (as found in stores). Beware of batteries sold "loose pack", in poly bags, etc. I'm sure there are MANY more examples of this kind of "deceptive selling" so watch out! | ||
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Post# 1052587 , Reply# 13 11/28/2019 at 11:31 (1,610 days old) by petek (Ontari ari ari O ) |
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Long time as well
The first item I bought was well over 13 years ago because we were living in Calgary then. They weren't even in CAnada at the time but you could still buy things off their US site and have it delivered. My mom was visiting and mentioned a book she liked which her library no longer had.. So together we went on Amazon and there it was, a used copy somewhere in Seattle, so I ordered it and it arrived in a week or so.
I never really used them again until a few years ago when Alexa came out and I bought an Echo dot just for the fun of it.. Well one dot turned into two, into three and then a couple of Echo Pluses etc.. and a Prime membership and the Amazon Music Unlimited.. I guess I'm hooked.. I love their Music Unlimited and being able to play pretty much anything, anywhere in the house, or all over the house, even at the gym on wifi thru my phone and headphones. Seldom watch Prime TV,, not that big a tv person myself. Prices are iffy,often cheaper at a local store such as my local fish store for supplies and I like to support him. Returns I've found very easy, no problem getting refunds. Delivery has gotten very quick here for the items they stock in their TOronto Dist center 3 hours away.. If I order something Sunday evening it's here Tuesday sometime. Stuff shipped from the vendor, often in China, can take a couple of weeks but that's to be expected. If your delivery is late off the gauranteed delivery and you call them they will add an additional month of free Prime. So far I've gotten about 3 months free added on.. One thing I'm sort of noticing is that if you go to the "buy again" section often times the price has increased and I'm wondering if that is just their algorithms trying to get you to spend more for the same thing again, or not.. I keep meaning to sign in or check on someone elses account to see. Other than that..I like it. | ||
| Post# 1052649 , Reply# 14 11/29/2019 at 06:08 (1,609 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea)) | ||
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Did just cancel Prime, they're refunding December. Sure I like next day free delivery even on small items. But I also go months without ordering ANYthing and can't let that $14/mo just sit there burning. I don't use the media features.
This was a free trial. Only charged December because they run on Eastern and I cancelled on Central. Wonder if Prime is something you can turn on and off at will? Get a backlog of households, fire up Prime for a month, then shut it off. It easily pays for itself, but only if you use it. | ||
| Post# 1052678 , Reply# 16 11/29/2019 at 09:49 (1,609 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea)) | ||
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| Post# 1052691 , Reply# 17 11/29/2019 at 10:43 (1,609 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan) | ||
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Excellent, except that it is too easy to keep buying. | ||
| Post# 1052694 , Reply# 18 11/29/2019 at 10:47 (1,609 days old) by twintubdexter (Palm Springs) | ||
vacerator... | ||
| Post# 1052712 , Reply# 19 11/29/2019 at 13:06 (1,609 days old) by IowaBear (Cedar Rapids, IA) | ||
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Excessive Amazon Buying Just wrestled with this. A swimsuit I have been buying for $18 was marked down on Amazon to $6. So I bought 6 of them, then later bought 3 more. And I'm still tempted...
As long as I don't have an injury that keeps me out of the pool I will use them. But how much is too much? When does buying in advance cross over to hoarding?
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Post# 1052716 , Reply# 20 11/29/2019 at 13:18 (1,609 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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Post# 1052732 , Reply# 22 11/29/2019 at 18:36 (1,608 days old) by petek (Ontari ari ari O ) |
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You really do have to shop around before clicking their buy button. I was looking for a decent cordless stick vac and settled on a Black & Decker pet friendly one that was on Amazon for about $230 Cdn. I also checked Walmarts online and it was listed at about the same price so I ventured forth over to our Walmart and lo and behold it was rolled back to $130.
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| Post# 1052738 , Reply# 23 11/29/2019 at 20:27 (1,608 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea)) | ||
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Post# 1052799 , Reply# 27 11/30/2019 at 18:35 (1,607 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie) |
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I buy local whenever possible, but since I live in a tiny village with no Target/Walmart-type department store, the opportunities to order from Amazon are abundant. Have ordered from Amazon well over 100 times with only two problems I can recall:
1: I ordered a Gillette Pro Power razor and received the non-power version. 2: A griddle arrived with a broken foot. So a big thumbs-up to Amazon from me, despite the tendency for very small items to arrive in large boxes filled with those air pillows. In fact, I’m willing to go out on a limb and say that only cardboard box manufacturers like Amazon more than I. | ||
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Post# 1052908 , Reply# 28 12/2/2019 at 02:32 (1,606 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula) |
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My latest amazon order Honeywell tiny air circulator (it fits perfectly in front of the wall heater) Amazon Echo Auto (YAY, Now I have Alexa invading my privacy also in the car) | ||
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Post# 1052910 , Reply# 29 12/2/2019 at 03:37 (1,606 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI) |
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An A&M Records/music website was my first online-main hangout so anytime anything was a CD reissue (mist often Japanese) Amazon wa the place to order, among a number of music marketplace networks for vinyl, as well as sometimes other CD discoveries, when I surprisingly wouldn't order or look for it off of Amazon, perhaps due to better pricing or just availability issues...
So in the chief regard to Amazon, I think the majority of my ordering-buying from it has been mostly good, which in recent times, we've passed the torch from myself being the main consumer to now my daughter, getting so much off of there throughout the year, and again, ranging from satisfactory to way above excellent, we just plainly don't know what to buy her for Christmas.... Amazon seems to have come far in going from only offering music items to photography, to as we've seen just about everything and as for certified carriers, those vans are seen just about everyepwhere, uniformed drivers, and all, as in having what's equivalent to owning its own UPS... So, I see no reason to express any disdain in any case for them, just what's mostly praise, outside of my ordering whatever product comes off of what I use, but mostly eBay and a couple other music market networks, also to varying degrees... -- Dave | ||
| Post# 1052912 , Reply# 30 12/2/2019 at 04:18 (1,606 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room) | ||
>I buy local whenever possible, but since I live in a tiny village with no Target/Walmart-type department store
I have wonder how much value there is buying local if it's at a big box store. Admittedly, they hire people locally, which helps the local people...but such stores often don't pay enough so the workers will have a lot of money to put back into the local economy. Most money presumably leaves the area. Some stores, of course, are better than others--some pay better than others. Meanwhile, Amazon at least does offer the possibility of buying from individuals or small businesses that sell through Amazon. Of course, the money will likely leave the area (but then someone local might be selling to people across the country, too), and, of course, Amazon gets a certain cut. | ||
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Post# 1052913 , Reply# 31 12/2/2019 at 04:51 (1,606 days old) by mrboilwash (Munich,Germany) |
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Like anybody else I buy a lot of things over the internet, but can gladly report there is no Amazon experience at all until now.
Why should I support another greedy company that avoids to pay taxes where profits are made, treats their employees bad, collects my data and so on? I think they even refused to carry gay books at some time in the past. Not sure if this kind of discrimination is still going on. Not saying I`ll never buy from Amazon because I`m always looking for a good price, but so far have always found a good alternative on an Ebay Shop or an independent online shop or sometimes even in a local retail store. Shopping around isn`t that much of a hassle for me, it`s a lot of fun if it`s done right. Besides that I`m not a huge fan of excessive consumerism myself I don`t understand how people could even get too lazy to compare prices and help making Amazon grow so fast. This post was last edited 12/02/2019 at 05:20 | ||
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Post# 1052923 , Reply# 32 12/2/2019 at 09:44 (1,606 days old) by Ultramatic (New York City) |
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I love it.
I've been a prime member for many years. By in large I have been happy with their service. Sometimes I've had issues with wrong orders, poor quality items but they have responded satisfactorily. Online shopping saves me a lot of time, gas and parking. They always bring my items to my door, if I am not home, they leave it with my neighbor. | ||
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