Amazon "Guaranteed Delivery" Means Nothing

[Beemer-mark]

Last month I was visiting my daughter on the other coast. Needed a memory card for my camera. Order one through Prime. After 7 days of not receiving it I got an email "not in stock, sorry".

No it's not UPS, FedEx or USPS. This isn't the first time it's happened either. I've been with Amazon a long time but I'm not renewing next year.

 

[UncleEd]

For those who are unhappy with the delays, most of which
are minor in my estimation, I suggest you go to a store and
get the item. Then it'll be hassle free!

 

[cmort666]

Last month I was visiting my daughter on the other coast. Needed a memory card for my camera. Order one through Prime. After 7 days of not receiving it I got an email "not in stock, sorry".

No it's not UPS, FedEx or USPS. This isn't the first time it's happened either. I've been with Amazon a long time but I'm not renewing next year.

I've had two non-carrier related problems with Amazon, a 300w CFL that was DOA and a holster that showed rh in the picture but was lh.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[TomkinsSP]

Is the US Military(Government) a study in efficiency?

That's a joke

I would prefer an EFFECTIVE government (especially military) to an efficient one.

 

[TomkinsSP]

I've had two non-carrier related problems with Amazon... and a holster that showed rh in the picture but was lh.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Flip the negative

 

[mtgianni]

I live 7 miles outside of a small town with one Ace Hardware store. If I need parts or tools I drive for two hours and hope they have what they said they did over the phone. Or use Amazon prime with their free shipping and get it in two days. Occasionally it takes 3. I cannot imagine a better system.

 

[JayFramer]

For those who are unhappy with the delays, most of which
are minor in my estimation, I suggest you go to a store and
get the item. Then it'll be hassle free!

Some items aren't so easy to find.

Amazon lost my package.

 

[joe44va]

Remember the old plumbers guarantee?
When the water runs in, the guarantee runs out.
Sort of like Amazon's delivery guarantee.

 

[PlaytheAces]

I've had Amazon Prime for a couple years now. Once in a while something is slightly delayed, and once I had a package delayed several days for which I got the free extra month of Prime. I thought that was fair.

While it would be nice if it was otherwise, I know my life isn't going to be 100% problem free. I realize sometimes people make mistakes, unavoidable events occur and the universe seems to conspire against me. I've gotten irritated with Amazon a couple of times, but they always stand behind what they sell and made sure I either eventually received whatever I ordered or refunded my money. While it's never made me feel any better at the time, once they pass an order to a delivery service there just isn't much they can do as it's literally out of their hands. In the end I've always felt I was treated fairly on the rare occasions I've experienced a problem. But when you're waiting on something you want in you hands immediately, it can suck.

 

[Absalom]

No human-designed and operated system will deliver 100%, and since the Prime delivery promise strings independent systems together, Amazon and the respective shipping vendor, there will be mishaps. Given the ginormous volume of Amazon deliveries especially during this season, the number of such fails will necessarily go up too. But the business model is obviously successful and the vast majority of people get what they order when they're supposed to get it. And that means that anyone canceling Prime because they're unhappy may make them feel all righteous, but the only net effect will be that they don't have Prime anymore.

 

[BearBio]

I order a lot from Amazon (not Prime=just standard). Items usually get here early- Only one thing ever got lost (a bag of "designer" p[potato chips=go figure)=got a full refund instantly. Now, Lowe's online delivery====total *******.

 

[Rastoff]

I'm down in volume this year, only 47 orders from Amazon, and still Prime has paid for itself.

Amazon does play fast and loose with their 2 day Prime shipping. They say it's 2 days from when it ships. Well, that could be a week after you order it.

Most of the time I don't care. I'm not in a hurry. Most of the time, I get my stuff within 3 business days and I'm fine with that.

Here's my fun Amazon story:
I ordered a LumiNox watch. Not inexpensive. I ordered it on Friday with 2 day shipping guaranteed. Therefore, I didn't expect it before the next Tuesday because that would be 2 business days and that's when they said it would get delivered.

Tuesday rolls around and no package. No big deal, it's just a watch and I have several. But I do send Amazon an email asking about how the 2 day thing works. They respond, "We're sorry your item didn't arrive. We'll process a refund right away." Wait, what? No. I still want the watch so, I reply telling them so and explaining that I'm not unhappy, I was just curious about the guarantee.

I get another reply, "We understand and are sorry for any mix up. Another watch will be sent to you immediately." Um, what? No, wait, this isn't going well. You're not following this at all.

Sure enough on Wed, a watch shows up in the mail. On Thurs, another watch shows up in the mail. Now I have two pretty expensive watches, but only paid for one.

I try as hard as I can to be a man of integrity so, I contact Amazon again. I explain the situation. They give me an address to send the second watch back and I do.


I like Amazon and I'm enjoying Prime, but they're so large I'll bet they lose over $1M/day to screw ups.