Way past its prime: how did Amazon get so rubbish? • Hacker News Board

Re: Way past its prime: how did Amazon get so rubbish?

#231

Post by vdfs » Sun, Oct 05, 2025, 11:21 AM UTC

YokoZar wrote: post #227

qurashee wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recently had a similar experience with Amazon. I bought a pair of AirPods but didn’t like them, so I returned them the next day. Amazon confirmed they’d received the package, but when the estimated refund date passed, I got a message saying they needed more information. When I contacted customer service, they told me I had to send them a copy of my ID to process the refund. I was really frustrated; I’ve had this ac…

> I’ve had this account for over 20 years and never had any issues before. "Aged" accounts are a thing you can buy on the black market, as well as hacked accounts of users with long chains of legitimate activity. It's not as strong of an anti-fraud signal as you might think.

But 20 years of regular purchases to the same address(es) is easy for them to verify

Re: Way past its prime: how did Amazon get so rubbish?

#232

Post by AdrianB1 » Sun, Oct 05, 2025, 11:22 AM UTC

tacker2000 wrote: post #110

dwedge wrote: post #64

I bought a $120 book from Amazon a couple of months ago, internationally, and they sent the wrong book. I told them, and they said they'd refund it, don't need to send it back, and they'd even add $15 credit. The refund never arrived so a few weeks later I got in touch again and they said I need to send it back if I want a refund. They told me the previous CSR had lied to improve ratings. I asked who I can complain t…

The moment amazon.de turns into this, im gone. The only thing keeping me there is the no-nonsense, helpful, customer support. Any issues i have are always resolved, so it still seems to be working over here.

Check the Philips Ultinon H7 led bulbs reviews on Amanzon.de. There are dozens on verified reviews complaining that they received halogen (cheap) bulbs in the led bulb packaging, suggesting some internal job at Amazon warehouse.

Re: Way past its prime: how did Amazon get so rubbish?

#233

Post by qcnguy » Sun, Oct 05, 2025, 11:27 AM UTC

qurashee wrote: post #148

dwedge wrote: post #64

I bought a $120 book from Amazon a couple of months ago, internationally, and they sent the wrong book. I told them, and they said they'd refund it, don't need to send it back, and they'd even add $15 credit. The refund never arrived so a few weeks later I got in touch again and they said I need to send it back if I want a refund. They told me the previous CSR had lied to improve ratings. I asked who I can complain t…

I recently had a similar experience with Amazon. I bought a pair of AirPods but didn’t like them, so I returned them the next day. Amazon confirmed they’d received the package, but when the estimated refund date passed, I got a message saying they needed more information. When I contacted customer service, they told me I had to send them a copy of my ID to process the refund. I was really frustrated; I’ve had this ac…

Amazon is in a hard spot with this stuff. They have massive problems with refund fraud, where people buy things and returning fake or used items in the box. Asking for ID is one way they try to spot people who are engaged in this activity repeatedly. When you refused to show your ID and did a chargeback, you did the exact same thing actual fraudsters end up doing, and of course they need to fraudulent accounts as otherwise the whole concept of mail-order returns collapses.

You didn't explain why you didn't want to share your ID with Amazon, but it's not an unreasonable request from them as a way to combat fraud.

Re: Way past its prime: how did Amazon get so rubbish?

#234

Post by qcnguy » Sun, Oct 05, 2025, 11:28 AM UTC

vdfs wrote: post #231

YokoZar wrote: post #227

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I’ve had this account for over 20 years and never had any issues before. "Aged" accounts are a thing you can buy on the black market, as well as hacked accounts of users with long chains of legitimate activity. It's not as strong of an anti-fraud signal as you might think.

But 20 years of regular purchases to the same address(es) is easy for them to verify

Yes but so what? All that proves is the account is aged. It doesn't prove it's not been taken over or sold. People move pretty regularly or order things for friends/family, a change of address doesn't mean anything.

Re: Way past its prime: how did Amazon get so rubbish?

#235

Post by danaris » Sun, Oct 05, 2025, 11:34 AM UTC

Symbiote wrote: post #162

dwedge wrote: post #64

I bought a $120 book from Amazon a couple of months ago, internationally, and they sent the wrong book. I told them, and they said they'd refund it, don't need to send it back, and they'd even add $15 credit. The refund never arrived so a few weeks later I got in touch again and they said I need to send it back if I want a refund. They told me the previous CSR had lied to improve ratings. I asked who I can complain t…

> Another time Why is there another time? I don't understand why someone would continue purchasing from a shop after the first experience.

Amazon has so dominated online retail that there are many vendors that only sell through them.

So if you want a certain item, your options are, if you're lucky, find a physical retail store that sells the item, or order it from Amazon. If you're not very lucky, they don't sell in retail stores, only online. Only on Amazon.

My family has vastly reduced our purchases from Amazon over the past several months, but there are still some things that we basically don't have a choice in, especially given that we live in a rural area without ready access to many physical retail stores.

Re: Way past its prime: how did Amazon get so rubbish?

#236

Post by Simulacra » Sun, Oct 05, 2025, 11:36 AM UTC

Maybe I missed it, but I haven't seen any mention of the postal rates reform vis-à-vis China. That certainly ended the era of cheap products from China sold on the platform, so I was always curious if removing postal subsidies had an impact on Amazon's quality, or supply chains?

Re: Way past its prime: how did Amazon get so rubbish?

#237

Post by qcnguy » Sun, Oct 05, 2025, 11:40 AM UTC

throw-the-towel wrote: post #198

distances wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Local shops are scams in my area: expensive, don’t take back items, limited selections, don’t have the right items and have to settle for less, time consuming… None of these are scams, you're misusing the word. You mean a worse shopping experience, not defrauding the customer.

I live in a country with the same problems, and everything here is so much more expensive, it absolutely deserves to be called a scam. Stuff such as books and electronics can easily be 2x as expensive locally as abroad.

Still not a scam. Stop damaging the language.

Re: Way past its prime: how did Amazon get so rubbish?

#238

Post by rasz » Sun, Oct 05, 2025, 11:40 AM UTC

qcnguy wrote: post #233

qurashee wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recently had a similar experience with Amazon. I bought a pair of AirPods but didn’t like them, so I returned them the next day. Amazon confirmed they’d received the package, but when the estimated refund date passed, I got a message saying they needed more information. When I contacted customer service, they told me I had to send them a copy of my ID to process the refund. I was really frustrated; I’ve had this ac…

Amazon is in a hard spot with this stuff. They have massive problems with refund fraud, where people buy things and returning fake or used items in the box. Asking for ID is one way they try to spot people who are engaged in this activity repeatedly. When you refused to show your ID and did a chargeback, you did the exact same thing actual fraudsters end up doing, and of course they need to fraudulent accounts as oth…

How is ID going to help with this in any way? They charge you (bank account/CC) and send you stuff (address), they inspect the return (or rather Should inspect it). What more would they need?

Re: Way past its prime: how did Amazon get so rubbish?

#239

Post by 28304283409234 » Sun, Oct 05, 2025, 11:40 AM UTC

Foorack wrote: post #77

I haven't read the article, but as a Swede I am stunned by the title. I shop from Amazon a couple of times per month, with Prime subscription. Delivery is always insanely fast (within 1-2 days), I always get exactly what I ordered, prices are always lowest compared to all competition, returns are convenient and human-free, and the additional Prime Videos is a nice bonus. I am honeslty worried of local Swedish busines…

Read the article. You (Sweden) are in Fase 1: Good to users.

Re: Way past its prime: how did Amazon get so rubbish?

#240

Post by lostmsu » Sun, Oct 05, 2025, 11:47 AM UTC

rasz wrote: post #238

qcnguy wrote: post #233

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amazon is in a hard spot with this stuff. They have massive problems with refund fraud, where people buy things and returning fake or used items in the box. Asking for ID is one way they try to spot people who are engaged in this activity repeatedly. When you refused to show your ID and did a chargeback, you did the exact same thing actual fraudsters end up doing, and of course they need to fraudulent accounts as oth…

How is ID going to help with this in any way? They charge you (bank account/CC) and send you stuff (address), they inspect the return (or rather Should inspect it). What more would they need?

Limit people from creating more accounts.