Amazon :(

milamber · May 2017

I know they are basically just the ultimate box shifter, but I've always been willing to give them a bit of slack in the past, mainly because the Customer Service for after sales problems is so good. However they have been surpassing themselves in the shoddy dept just lately. I've had three items in the last month arrive clearly used and/or damaged in the last month when they were supposed to be new, but the latest one takes the biscuit.

I've been after a used small cheap acoustic for a specific modding project, but realised that Amazon were selling the exact thing I needed new for far cheaper than I could buy it used due to one of their weird pricing drops. It arrived today. New? Looks like it's been sent out several times and returned, then used as a football in the warehouse. First of all it was just sent out in the box, no packaging at all, which is an increasing trend with Amazon. I've attached some photos of the box before and after opening. Guitar covered in fingerprints, strings rusty. Amazingly no obvious damage apart from a chipped headstock, but it's going back. Frustratingly there doesn't appear to be any way of sending photos to someone who matters - can't get past the enforced courtesy of the call centre.

http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp15/chriseast/IMG_2220_zpsvnnaky30.jpg
http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp15/chriseast/IMG_2218_zpst2pb0irb.jpg
http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp15/chriseast/IMG_2223_zpsx51gt5sf.jpg
http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp15/chriseast/IMG_2224_zpsfmu44hf6.jpg

Legionreturns · May 2017

The change to Amazon logistics has been a massive pain for me too. These are all self employed people with cars who deliver when it's convenient to them with no tracking. Often the parcel is battered, and they are so underpaid per item that they literally ring and run to get round quickly enough.

milamber · May 2017

I think that's fair comment to an extent, but in this instance the guitar has obviously been out to a customer at least once before. The box is completely knackered and covered in selloptape and the guitar clearly used. The fault lies with the people in the warehouse on this occasion.

Funkfingers · May 2017

Beyond the specifics of this particular example, given the fragility acoustic guitars, why buy one this way to begin with?

Surely, it would be wiser to go to an authorised stockist? Try several examples. Buy the one that seems best to you. Drive home extra carefully.

MattFGBI · May 2017

Not great. But you do get what you pay for. It's cheap for a reason.

Funkfingers · May 2017

The Fender CD60S is an affordable "starter" instrument that far exceeds what should be expected for under two hundred GBP.

Another hundred quid buys you a Sigma-By-Martin with an under-saddle transducer built into it.

To put this in perspective, these are complete acoustic guitars for less than would be charged for a professional multi-element transducer system from Fishman, Baggs or Detar (Duncan).

Dave_Mc · May 2017

^ I disagree- if it's described as "new", it's supposed to be "new". The law says that you have the same rights with sale items as with full-priced, unless it's pointed out up-front that the reason for the sale price is that it's been damaged or whatever.

milamber · May 2017

If I was buying it to play as it was a) I'd have bought something better and b) it wouldn't haven been from Amazon. As I said in the OP I wanted something really cheap to mod for a specific project. Basically all I wanted is the body - the tuners, bridge, strings will all go anyway. I knew what I was was getting with the guitar, that's not the issue. It was stupidly cheap and I couldn't get a used and abused one for less. The issue is being sold something as new that looks as if it came from a skip regardless of my plans for it. I could easily have been someone new to the guitar looking forward to my first instrument.

equalsql · May 2017

They pulled the same stunt on me when I had a Prime accounts with them. I ordered a new Nektar MIDI controller through them and recieved.a patched up manky boxed returned specimen with greasy finger marks and flecks of sputem all over the keys and control surface. A nicked one from a punter with emphysema at crack-converters would have been in better condition. Sent back for an immediate refund and cancelled my Prime account..after sterilising my hands..yuk.

I'll never bother with Amazon again for expensive kit.

Sassafras · May 2017

Stop whining. Most companies charge extra for relicing.

jakzek · May 2017

Was it actually from the amazon warehouse or a retailer trading through amazon?

Skipped · May 2017

Legionreturns said:

The change to Amazon logistics has been a massive pain for me too. These are all self employed people with cars who deliver when it's convenient to them with no tracking. Often the parcel is battered, and they are so underpaid per item that they literally ring and run to get round quickly enough.

You are right about the poor guys making the delivery. I have had lots of small items recently and when I rush to the front door he is bent down peering through the glass to see if see if someone is coming.
I have had no problems with packaging and I have been surprised to see tracking on a fairly cheap Mouse coming from the Eu/Sarl/whatever division.

equalsql · May 2017

jakzek said:

Was it actually from the amazon warehouse or a retailer trading through amazon?

In my case it was from the amazon warehouse.

bingefeller · May 2017

Legionreturns said:

The change to Amazon logistics has been a massive pain for me too. These are all self employed people with cars who deliver when it's convenient to them with no tracking. Often the parcel is battered, and they are so underpaid per item that they literally ring and run to get round quickly enough.

If you have the Amazon app you can view your orders and it tells you when the items are out for delivery and it gives you tracking number too.

I have to to say that I have found amazon logistics to be excellent.

JezWynd · May 2017

I have to to say that I have found amazon logistics to be excellent.

Me too, although I wish they would be a bit more efficient in their packaging. I got a jig saw the other day, it arrived in a box that could have housed an aircraft carrier. Full of paper to stop the item bouncing around inside it.

usedtobe · May 2017

No real complaints, based on my own experience, but that doesn't look great..!

Dave_Mc · May 2017

milamber said:

If I was buying it to play as it was a) I'd have bought something better and b) it wouldn't haven been from Amazon. As I said in the OP I wanted something really cheap to mod for a specific project. Basically all I wanted is the body - the tuners, bridge, strings will all go anyway. I knew what I was was getting with the guitar, that's not the issue. It was stupidly cheap and I couldn't get a used and abused one for less. The issue is being sold something as new that looks as if it came from a skip regardless of my plans for it. I could easily have been someone new to the guitar looking forward to my first instrument.

Exactly.

Legionreturns · May 2017

bingefeller said:

Legionreturns said:

The change to Amazon logistics has been a massive pain for me too. These are all self employed people with cars who deliver when it's convenient to them with no tracking. Often the parcel is battered, and they are so underpaid per item that they literally ring and run to get round quickly enough.

If you have the Amazon app you can view your orders and it tells you when the items are out for delivery and it gives you tracking number too.

I have to to say that I have found amazon logistics to be excellent.

I think it depends on your area and who runs the local franchise.

If I get an item delivered by Amazon Logistics, I get a tracking number and it tells me which day it'll be delivered... Between 8 and 8.

If it's with DPD or one of the others I get live tracking telling me where my parcel is and when it will arrive within 15 minutes.

They also don't even appear to think about whether it's a commercial address... They tried to deliver a prime guaranteed next day delivery to my school address at 7:45 in the evening. The parcel had apparently been "out for delivery" for 15 hours by the time the driver arrived at our obviously locked school gates.

They have regularly ignored delivery instructions that I've put on the order (If I'm not in, deliver it to number ## next door please) ...a card arrives saying sorry you're out, we'll try again tomorrow. Repeat for 3 days then send it back.

I've complained multiple times, and had money back. It's now at the stage that if I complete an order and it says it'll be delivered by Amazon Logistics, I just cancel the order immediately and give them as the reason.

jeztone2 · May 2017

I don't use Amazon. If you think about it, encouraging a race to the bottom on price is just gonna mean that's the expectation for every job. Is that the future we want for our kids?

CarpeDiem · May 2017

jeztone2 said:

I don't use Amazon. If you think about it, encouraging a race to the bottom on price is just gonna mean that's the expectation for every job. Is that the future we want for our kids?

I agree. I also disagree with their tax-avoiding company structure and the way they treat their staff.

Wazmeister · May 2017

Man, I love Amazon, I really do...

Tax avoidance ??!!?? Get a grip - I was self employed for years, and I did it as often as possible

To the OP, contact HELP on Amazon and use the 'chat' feature. They will look after you, and offer up to50% off

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

Amazon :(

Comments

My Trading Feedback | You Bring The Band

My Trading Feedback | You Bring The Band