Amazon delivery is rubbish nowadays

[willbewill]

I've used Amazon for a number of years and its delivery has been ok, but now things seem to take ages to arrive. They offer free delivery for over £20 (I don't need/want Prime and their next day shipping isn't cheap) but it really comes at a cost, especially when it is for 'fulfilled by Amazon' items - I ordered something on 22 feb which was in stock, it was only dispatched today 28th!!! with a delivery date of 2 March and it will probably get delayed by the snow.

Rant over.

[struth]

was supposed to get a dpd delivery today by 2.15.. needless to say its not come. ive got prime and i think its a bargain, if you utilise its benefits

[Shovel_Knight]

I’m okay with their delivery times, but their packaging is rubbish. They used to pack things really well, now I mostly get thin one layer boxes without any air bags insides, often smashed in transit, and smaller items sometimes AWOL (presumably they fall out through the holes when the box get smashed)... To their credit, if you complain about damaged packaging and missing items, they issue refunds immediately, but why do I even have to deal with it?

[prestonchipfryer]

I've bought hundreds of items through Amazon and only had one delivery gone awry. That was due to a breakdown by the delivery vehicle and I received two months extra Prime membership gratis because of the late delivery. No complaints here.

[struth]

I’m okay with their delivery times, but their packaging is rubbish. They used to pack things really well, now I mostly get thin one layer boxes without any air bags insides, often smashed in transit, and smaller items sometimes AWOL (presumably they fall out through the holes when the box get smashed)... To their credit, if you complain about damaged packaging and missing items, they issue refunds immediately, but why do I even have to deal with it?

lol. they once sent me a record without packaging. just its shrinkwrap and a delivery label... i kicked up a stink and for a while they double boxed my stuff after that;)

[Macca]

Prime is worth having if you use them regularly, which I do as I hate going to shops. I usually make back the subscription cost in 6 months, after that you're saving money every time. Plus you get the telly channels and the films too. No wonder they've never made a profit.

[willbewill]

Another thing I really hate about Amazon...


35 years ago we named our first baby girl Alexa, it was a really unusual name at the time...


maybe we should have called her Siri

[Puffin]

Still....at least you can say to her "Alexa...put the kettle on please":)

[Tim]

If you really hate Amazon that much, then don't use it . . . simples ;)

[willbewill]

If you really hate Amazon that much, then don't use it . . . simples ;)

You're right - just me getting impatient in my old age - and I do love them for Kindle.

[Audio Al]

I'm OK with their deliverys , Also have Prime ;)

[Sherwood]

Prime is worth having if you use them regularly, which I do as I hate going to shops. I usually make back the subscription cost in 6 months, after that you're saving money every time. Plus you get the telly channels and the films too. No wonder they've never made a profit.

I agree that Prime is good value. However, the Amazon business model was for slow and sustainable growth. It has proved very successful and Amazon have been making profits for years now!

Geoff

[Tim]

You're right - just me getting impatient in my old age - and I do love them for Kindle.
:)

[Macca]

I agree that Prime is good value. However, the Amazon business model was for slow and sustainable growth. It has proved very successful and Amazon have been making profits for years now!

Geoff

That's weird since I was reading just the other day that they had never declared a profit to date.

[Macca]

That's weird since I was reading just the other day that they had never declared a profit to date.

Scratch that it was clearly at lot longer ago than the other day. Looks like they went into profitability in 2016. Prior to that they were making a loss some quarters and a comparable profit in others, so arguably not profitable. https://www.recode.net/2017/4/27/15451726/amazon-q1-2017-earnings-profits-net-income-cash-flow-chart

[struth]

only recently been hitting profits, even tho their investment in growth is continuing. made 500mil$ a quarter net profit a couple of years ago. still low compared to google, but they are growing faster.

[Sherwood]

only recently been hitting profits, even tho their investment in growth is continuing. made 500mil$ a quarter net profit a couple of years ago. still low compared to google, but they are growing faster.

This was a purposeful business model: reinvestment, diversification and sustainable development. Jeff Bezos seems to be doing well on it!

Geoff

[Barry]

I must have bought hundreds of items from Amazon, not just music software. Never had a problem: good communication; more than adequate packaging and prompt delivery.

I do feel guilty however in using Amazon for convenience, as I'm sure the use of Amazon has caused many specialist book shops and record shops to close down and disappear from the high street. :doh:

[Audio Al]

I waited in all day from 8am to 5-30 pm for a parcel , it was delivered to a freind 3 doors away at 19.30 :doh:

[Marco]

Never had any problems with Amazon, but then I only use them occasionally, mainly for films and music, or recently buying Monoprice HDMI cables. Deliveries have always been on time, without issues.

However, I don't use them as my main on-line 'shopping centre', so have no need for Prime [although I do hate the way you're 'guided' to a trial of it with every purchase, which can only be avoided with careful concentration!]:rolleyes:

Overall, I buy more stuff on ebay, or in 'bricks and mortar' shops, which I much prefer, as I enjoy browsing through a physical stock of goods, simply because you almost always discover more interesting things that way. Plus, outwith of essential items, I'm a spontaneous buyer, so often don't know what I might want until I see it!

The key to enjoyable shopping in towns is to do it at times when it's quiet, so that the experience is relaxed and stress-free, and tie it in with having a nice lunch somewhere, at a favourite pub or restaurant, which makes the overall experience much more pleasurable. That's how Del and I do it, or how I do it if she's working.

We don't do last minute 'panic buying', running around busy, overcrowded shops, or going into towns at evenings or weekends, when you can't park anywhere (and every bugger gets in your way), unless it's completely unavoidable. As with anything in life, shopping can be a pleasure if you do it properly - well away from the maddening crowds, and when you've got plenty of time on your hands.

Done right, it can be a pleasure, not a chore :cool:

Marco.

[struth]

Not had any real issues delivery wise either. You can specify where they leave a package if not in. Either a safe place or neighbour too.
One or 2 bad packaging but mostly good. Ive got prime and it's used a lot.

[hifinutt]

I've bought hundreds of items through Amazon and only had one delivery gone awry. That was due to a breakdown by the delivery vehicle and I received two months extra Prime membership gratis because of the late delivery. No complaints here.

yes , same here . brilliant service over some years

[Marco]

It had any real issues delivery wise either...

You on that bloody phone again?;)

Marco.

[struth]

In The hospital waiting room so yes lol

[Marco]

Ah, hope all goes well :)

Marco.

[Blackdog]

I keep hearing how great Amazon is. I've only ordered a few things from them (maybe 12-15 things) and about half the orders have either been very late in getting to me or have been damaged. On top of that I keep getting spammed to join Prime, which I neither want nor need. I do buy on line, but have other sources, and would prefer shopping in person. Also, I don't find them any cheaper or better than B&M stores or other online outlets, and quite often more expensive.
If Amazon closed their doors tomorrow, I wouldn't miss them.

[Minstrel SE]

I dont use Amazon ....simples. Everything I ever needed has been on ebay with smaller to medium size sellers. Ebay is just the listing site for new and used goods...I deal personally with the seller and can ask all the questions I like

I would never think it wise to go through mega sized warehouses like Amazon. To me the size of the operation does not equate to a personal, fast or reliable service. I have no wish to use a holding house type setup over multiple categories. It would be like buying a bike light from a google warehouse...why would I want to do that and where does that actually lead us??

One of the biggest sellers I use is Chain Reaction Cycles but I go throught their own site and deal directly with them. Thats only when they can use their loss leading sales and giant economies of scale to get a good deal on tyres for example..The smaller sellers can usually match or even beat them on certain items.

You should also spare a thought for the Amazon staff that have to walk 15 miles a day with few breaks. would you want to walk the length of football pitches and be timed to the second on each pick...Think about it as they are on MW...sounds like a life in hell to me

[willbewill]

Man I can't even avoid them - just bought a pair of IEMs from manufacturers UK distributor and the order was 'fulfilled by Amazon'! Still it did arrive rather more promptly than if I had gone through Amazon?

[ianlenco]

I do use Amazon quite a lot and have Prime - when I want something I want it now!:) Service is generally first class and the couple of times I've had problems (living on a country lane with no house numbers does not help property identification) they've given me free extra Prime months so it's almost worth it to have something go astray :lol: Prime telly is not bad either. I agree it's a shame that Amazon impacts so much on other businesses but when you have to travel 15 miles to the nearest decent size town, pay for fuel and parking etc Amazon looks remarkable value.

[Macca]

You should also spare a thought for the Amazon staff that have to walk 15 miles a day with few breaks. would you want to walk the length of football pitches and be timed to the second on each pick...Think about it as they are on MW...sounds like a life in hell to me

15 miles is nothing once you are used to it. When I did order picking I would cover 20 miles a day and after I finished for the day I'd go running up mountains.

And I wouldn't believe the nonsense you read about them being timed to the second. I know someone who works for them and it isn't like that at all.

[Joe]

15 miles is nothing once you are used to it. When I did order picking I would cover 20 miles a day and after I finished for the day I'd go running up mountains.



Must keep them fit and healthy as well. Better than being sat on their arses all day.

[Macca]

Must keep them fit and healthy as well. Better than being sat on their arses all day.

Exactly. Order picking is boring, though. But I suppose so are a lot of jobs. I once worked at a food processing plant on the conveyor belt, where my job was to make sure that two bags of potatoes did not go over the scale at the same time. You had to stand up, there was no-one to talk to within audible range and there was a big clock on the wall opposite you. 8 hour shifts.

I was trained at school to withstand intense boredom (5 years of Latin, not to mention the 2 hour long end of term mass) but it was still very tough.

[Joe]

Exactly. Order picking is boring, though. But I suppose so are a lot of jobs. I once worked at a food processing plant on the conveyor belt, where my job was to make sure that two bags of potatoes did not go over the scale at the same time. You had to stand up, there was no-one to talk to within audible range and there was a big clock on the wall opposite you. 8 hour shifts.

I was trained at school to withstand intense boredom (5 years of Latin, not to mention the 2 hour long end of term mass) but it was still very tough.

I did the boredom thing at school too, but never had a job quite as boring as your food processing one sounds. Perhaps the worst was when I doled out work permits for visiting musicians and other entertainers. The permits used to be rubber-stamped, but following fraudulent activity, they all had to signed by hand. By me. For a major orchestra, that could be over 100 signatures.

[Macca]

You could have just initialled them. Work smarter not harder....

In a lifetime of boring and/or tedious jobs, the potato one was the worst. Although I did have a job in a warehouse once where there was hardly anything to do but you couldn't just stand about smoking and talking, you had to look busy. That was really annoying, I quit after 2 weeks.

[walpurgis]

never had a job quite as boring as your food processing one sounds

Only ever had one tedious job, that was at a bakery when I was seventeen, carting 150 pound cloth bags of flour over to a huge hopper and tipping them in for hours on end. Surprising how much muscle I put on after a couple of months doing it, so it wasn't all bad. Bit like going to a gym and getting paid for it :).