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Amazon refused to refund $7k after shipping an empty box instead of a Sony A1

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Re: Amazon refused to refund $7k after shipping an empty box instead of a Sony A1

#101
post #44

I've placed approx. 15k orders with Amazon Germany in 20 years and have probably had less than 100 issues, mostly with FBA sellers. I get an answer from CS within 10 minutes and 1-day shipments are on time ~98%. Refunds are issued as soon as I drop the package in the return box. Call me a fan. The best experience is still Amazon JP but returns are a little more complicated (Even within Japan) — Obviously b/c you more…

Amazon JP got a little worse ever since they started having their own delivery, which is not great compared to Yamato or Sagawa, which they were using before (and are still using sometimes, it's not clear under what conditions). But the difference is almost at the level of nitpicking. When you're used to top-notch service, and you suddenly get a subpar experience, that's kind of disappointing.

When did they make the switch? I've mostly had Yamato same-day in Tokyo or remote areas like Okinawa.

Re: Amazon refused to refund $7k after shipping an empty box instead of a Sony A1

#102
post #18

I do not trust Amazon to ship anything safely and securely anymore. Almost everything I receive is damaged, late, or mis-delivered. Books are especially abused somewhere in Amazon’s fulfillment. (They’re always bent, creased, or dirty.) Items that are supposed to be 1-day shipping typically take >=3, and Amazon’s tracking mostly says “oops! it’ll come trust us”. (Not verbatim, obviously.) Amazon’s return process is b…

I’m in Europe. Earlier this year, I ordered from Amazon Japan, the package arrived quicker than things I had ordered earlier on a European Amazon and it was insanely well packaged.

Amazon Japan is incredible. I ordered a Japanese book from them and it arrived the next afternoon (to the UK!) Another time I was in Japan and I needed a specific bluetooth keyboard for the tablet I was using, delivered to a convenience store pick-up point in the deep north of the country in the middle of winter, ordered with my UK credit card, and no problem, it was there the next day. I can't imagine the amount of organisation both of these things take.

Re: Amazon refused to refund $7k after shipping an empty box instead of a Sony A1

#103
post #95

I order electronics from Newegg (which is starting to feel Amazon-like with third parties). I generally use Amazon as a search engine to see what exists, look at reviews, then buy locally and physically if at all possible. Especially books, after they folded, spindled and mutilated too many books and their replacements.

This is kinda funny. About 5 years ago or so, the prevailing comment was the opposite of yours. ("I go to Best Buy to compare widgets, then order the one I want on Amazon.")

But I'm in the same boat. A lot more often I'll find myself looking at things on Amazon's site, then seeking out the manufacturer's own site, or another retailer, to make the actual purchase.

I just don't trust Amazon anymore. So much rebranded Alibaba shit on there, or counterfeit hazards.

Re: Amazon refused to refund $7k after shipping an empty box instead of a Sony A1

#104
I have had problems. I use this thing called keepa.com and it tells me when the prices of hard disks fall. So over the past year I had tried 4 times to buy and three times I didnt even get the order. So I was told "well because you didnt get it,we cant send a replacement so get a refund " the last time I bought a 5tb external disk and I got, I kid you not, a 500 GB internal hard drive that was patched with tape. When I complained, I was told to get a refund because, again, cannot send you a replacement.

They really do not honor their prices if you get a good deal or a slip up.

Re: Amazon refused to refund $7k after shipping an empty box instead of a Sony A1

#105
post #43

I do not trust Amazon to ship anything safely and securely anymore. Almost everything I receive is damaged, late, or mis-delivered. Books are especially abused somewhere in Amazon’s fulfillment. (They’re always bent, creased, or dirty.) Items that are supposed to be 1-day shipping typically take >=3, and Amazon’s tracking mostly says “oops! it’ll come trust us”. (Not verbatim, obviously.) Amazon’s return process is b…

I bought a new 32" monitor about 2 years ago that when I unpacked it, it was clearly an open box item. The way it had been packed was extremely unprofessional, tape was haphazardly wrapped and twisted around the stand and cords and things that normally come in plastic bags weren't bagged. They've been shipping the wrong items lately too, twice in the last year when I order something that has multiple selections like…

The open box thing is a huge issue. I bought probably 5 things last year >$100 sold as “new” that just weren’t. Returns have always been easy, I live near an Amazon Go and they even have an attendant that helps. But not being able to trust that a new item is actually new is…shitty. I would never buy electronics from Amazon, just get it for the same price at Best Buy and wait a couple more days (plus they often have same-day pickup available, which Amazon can’t compete with). Target is another good option for the same reason. Always keep in mind that everyone will price-match Amazon.

Re: Amazon refused to refund $7k after shipping an empty box instead of a Sony A1

#106
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lots of books on Amazon are now printed on demand. In theory a smart and possibly environmentally friendly practice. But you end up with smudgy pages from a bad printer, pages missing, and a book binding not lasting more than a day.

This sounds more like you are getting counterfeit books, not print-on-demand.

It’s a real thing [1] - although you might think they were counterfeits on arrival if you weren’t aware of this service

[1] https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amazon-Print-on-Demand-Guide/b?ie=U...

Re: Amazon refused to refund $7k after shipping an empty box instead of a Sony A1

#107

I do not trust Amazon to ship anything safely and securely anymore. Almost everything I receive is damaged, late, or mis-delivered. Books are especially abused somewhere in Amazon’s fulfillment. (They’re always bent, creased, or dirty.) Items that are supposed to be 1-day shipping typically take >=3, and Amazon’s tracking mostly says “oops! it’ll come trust us”. (Not verbatim, obviously.) Amazon’s return process is b…

I'm genuinely surprised that people have such vastly different experiences with Amazon. I made 231 orders with them last year(lockdown....) And haven't had a problem with a single one. Couple times I wanted to return something they just refunded me without asking to send the item back. Everything arrives next day, always(here in UK anyway), and the customer support is stellar compared to literally anywhere else. Anyo…

I think it vastly depends on what you are ordering.

We passed a ton of orders for valuable goods that were processed by small companies who used amazon as an alternative storefront to boost their sales. Communication was finnicky but everything went fine.

Then we also order a ton of cheap, little convenient stuff that we could have ordered on aliexpress but went to amazon for faster delivery. It was a lot more hit or miss, with pure junk coming in from tjmes to times.

We never hit the level of scam described in the article, but we'd also pay a lot more attention on where it’s coming from before forking 7k.

Re: Amazon refused to refund $7k after shipping an empty box instead of a Sony A1

#109
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lots of books on Amazon are now printed on demand. In theory a smart and possibly environmentally friendly practice. But you end up with smudgy pages from a bad printer, pages missing, and a book binding not lasting more than a day.

This sounds more like you are getting counterfeit books, not print-on-demand.

Yes, it sounds like it. Which says something about the quality of Amazon's product, heh.

Re: Amazon refused to refund $7k after shipping an empty box instead of a Sony A1

#110

I do not trust Amazon to ship anything safely and securely anymore. Almost everything I receive is damaged, late, or mis-delivered. Books are especially abused somewhere in Amazon’s fulfillment. (They’re always bent, creased, or dirty.) Items that are supposed to be 1-day shipping typically take >=3, and Amazon’s tracking mostly says “oops! it’ll come trust us”. (Not verbatim, obviously.) Amazon’s return process is b…

I'm genuinely surprised that people have such vastly different experiences with Amazon. I made 231 orders with them last year(lockdown....) And haven't had a problem with a single one. Couple times I wanted to return something they just refunded me without asking to send the item back. Everything arrives next day, always(here in UK anyway), and the customer support is stellar compared to literally anywhere else. Anyo…

I mostly get what I order, but I don't order much in the way of electronics or things where scams are common, though I did have to be careful when ordering a simple micro SD card as there were many incredibly cheap, off-brand products that were likely to be scams.

I have also seen a few deliveries with pictures that went to what was clearly the wrong address, had a box of chocolates arrive totally melted where the ice pack exploded and left me with a wet, melted box of chocolates, and during early Covid, I did end up getting scam toilet paper rolls shipped in from China. Oh, it was actually toilet paper, but the rolls were incredibly tiny and nothing at all like the pictures.

So... definitely hit or miss and it depends a lot on what you order.

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