Non Delivery ex Amazon

[erik_christensen3]

Do somebody have an email address to Amazon, where there is a person to

handle the response.

I ordered 3 photobooks in February and according to my Amazon account they

were shipped end of February, but I have still not received them, but only paid.

I am living in Asia, so calling may exceed the value of the books.

I have sent many emails to them, but I only get an automated reply - "lease see

details on your account",which I of course use.

[sagephotoworld.com]

Initiate a chargeback via your credit card. Amazon is notorious for messing about. 3 times I ordered stuff from them and 3 times I had problems with them.

[Matt Laur]

If you look at the transaction details on your account, there should be tracking information shown with each shipment, so you can tell exactly where the boxes went.

[ShunCheung]

A couple of years ago, I ordered a couple of books from Amazon, delivering to my post office box. Somehow they were delivered into a wrong box. I sent Amazon a complaint via e-mail, and they immediately sent replacement copies.

 

Later on the original shipment was delivered, and I returned the extra copies to Amazon.

 

In that once case I found them to be quite efficient. I would give their e-mail complaint another try.

[joshroot]

I have had very few problems with Amazon, and in fact use them almost weekly.

[stephen_allan]

Were the books actually ordered from Amazon itself, or from one of the marketplace vendors who advertise through the Amazon system?

 

<p>If you have bought them through the marketplace, the best thing to do would be to approach the seller directly. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=3150441">Info here on getting contact details for marketplace sellers.</a>

[mikael_karlsson]

I agree with Josh. I use amazon all the time and very, very rarely have a problem.

 

Did you purchase the books directly from Amazon or did you buy them used from

someone selling through Amazon? That can make a huge difference.

 

I sell off old photo books and various stuff I no longer need through amazon and

have completely stopped selling to customers outside the US because of the many

complains concerning the time it takes for delivery. See, when you buy from a

private seller through amazon and you select standard shipping that just barely

covers the surface mail costs for the seller. To Asia, I'd estimate anywhere from 2

to 4 months as far as delivery time.

 

The one negative feedback I have on my account at amazon is from a guy in

Holland who paid for the cheapest shipping option and expected to get his book

within a few days. It took two and a half weeks for the package from the US

Midwest to Holland.

[hank_skinner]

OK,:<p/>Stephen and Rhys both have excellent points. Some questions:<p/>Did you in fact buy from Amazon directly? In other words, when you purchased the items it said, "Ships from and sold by Amazon.com."? If not follow Stephen's advice.<p/>If Amazon or the real seller won't work with you, then follow Rhys' advice - the chargeback. Reason: "Items were not received". <p/>When shipping anything, it's the seller's/shipper's responsibility to get it to you. I've had a problem with Amazon myself and we eventually straightened it out. <p/>I know it's a real pain! But try to work it out with the seller first. I mean really work it out and KEEP A PAPER TRAIL! Phone calls are NOT enough! OK?<p/>Then, when you have to bring out the big guns: charge backs, complaints to law enforcement, etc... you have a documented reason. I've done this with a couple of folks on very rare occasions, and with my paper trail, folks behave. No lawsuits necessary and no lawyers.

[Brad_]

I use Amazon a ton. The couple of times I needed customer service it has been

superb. The last time was getting a $90 refund on an item I bought that had a price

reduction within the 30 day limit - timely response and zero hassle.

[hank_skinner]

Folks;<p/>All of you are confusing Amazon with the third party sellers that they host. <b>If you do not see "Ships from and sold by Amazon.com." you are dealing with a third party seller and as far as Amazon's great service is concerned, all bets are off. </b>They will not back you up. They will refer you to the third party seller.<p/>Personally, I think Amazon's decision to host third party sellers is a mistake and it's ruining their reputation.

[joshroot]

I will amend my statement to point out hat I virtually never use Amazon's "third party" sellers. I always order from amazon itself.

 

The ONLY exception is that I might have ordered from Adorama or J&R or Toys r Us through amazon. I can't remember what exactly the reason was in the past that I have done that. But I wasn't worried about customer service as those outfits are large and proven merchants.

[hank_skinner]

Josh;

<p/>Speaking of Adorama. Next time you shop for camera equipment. Go to Adorama's website and get the price. Then go to Amazon. Adorama, most of the time, knocks off quite a bit when selling via Amazon. <p/>Just a little savings for you folks here on Photo.net.

[constance_cook]

I, too, order from Amazon (too often)with never a problem. I also buy from their authorized third party sellers with 100% success.

 

Since you are in Asia, your books may be held up by customs or depending on the country and the book topics, the anti-porn filters at customes.

 

Conni

[joshroot]

Hank,

 

That may very well be the reason I have ordered from Adorama via Amazon in the past.

[sagephotoworld.com]

My problems with Amazon were - as far as I know - directly with Amazon.

 

1. A book bought new and allegedly in-stock took 8 weeks to arrive when the alleged delivery time (I paid for 3 day delivery) was 3 days. I even specified I needed it within 2 weeks. I chased them 3 times then initiated a chargeback. Only when they had the chargeback communication did they even bother shipping the book.

 

2. A charger ordered that was supposed to be in stock was mysteriously out of stock a few days later and the delivery date was changed to three weeks hence. They then changed it again and again. After almost 6 weeks I cancelled the order and issued a chargeback. They clearly were not going to supply although they had charged me when I ordered!

 

3. A book arrived that was supposed to be new. It was the most dog-eared tatty piece of trash I'd ever seen. I sent it straight back and demanded a refund.

[._._z]

Re Buying Adorama through Amazon:

 

Another benefit of buying through Amazon and live in the same state as the Amazon-associated seller is that Amazon's rule (which is in a FAQ somewhere) is that the seller must not charge tax; more specifically, the selling price for residents of that state effectively incorporate the tax so that (delivery charge aside) it is the final price.

 

I live in NYC and have bought from NYC vendors (6th Ave Electronics and another I can't remember) through Amazon and have never been charged 'additional' tax, which I otherwise would have been charged had I purchased directly from the sellers.

[erik_christensen3]

the books were purchased directly from Amazon, which I have many times previously without any problem. I rarely purchase from 3rd parties.

the books were shipped 27 feb and were eta 20 mar.

Shun - do you have the exact email address you used, as I continue to receive automated email response.

If non response within this month I may backcharge them.

[ShunCheung]

Erik, it has been too long (~2 years) that I don't remember exactly how I inform them that I did not receive the books.

 

I don't think it was through any particular e-mail address on their side. I would try "Visit our Help department" at the bottom of their page and go from there. Initially I also received a standard form e-mail, but eventually an actual human worked on my case and shipped me the replacement books.

[markci]

I've ordered things from Amazon literally dozens of times. Never had the first problem.

[erik_christensen3]

thank you everybody

some staff from Amazon also reads PN, as I have now got a refund after my reminder yesterday!