Still the King of Internet Stores
by spwholock - Written: Jan 08 '07 (Updated Jan 12 '07)
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| Full Review |
Changes through the years
Back when I was still a grad student in 1996, Amazon.com was selling only books and CDs. I made my first purchase more than a decade ago, and I continue to shop at their website.
In the past decade, the product offerings have grown exponentially. Amazon.com has gone from selling merely popular books and music to selling practically everything. As competition has grown in the etailing sector, they continue to be leaders in the industry. Moreover, the buying experience has improved tremendously.
Website and browsing
I've found their product reviews and ratings system to be extremely helpful in selecting the best products and making informed decisions. In general, the consensus opinion matters quite a bit, since there is often safety in numbers. Much like epinions.com, it is a great site to figure out the best products in a given category. Sometimes there aren't enough reviews for a given product or category, but it is still better than most other on-line retailers.
Personally, I don't find their website particularly intuitive. The search function could be improved. Sometimes I want to narrow the search selection down by ratings, and this option isn't always available. This situation can occur if you just have a big list and haven't chosen a category. Finding the product category can also be a little cumbersome, but eventually I find what I'm seeking. This problem is caused mainly because some products can be classified into multiple categories. In the big picture of things, it's a minor gripe.
Pricing
Amazon.com usually isn't the best on pricing. Often times a better deal can be found on a competing website. Nonetheless, for shoppers who aren't especially price-sensitive, it remains competitive with brick and mortar retailers, and often is still cheaper. Overall, Amazon is mediocre on prices in the Internet world. Of course, it all comes down to the customer and knowing his/her prices.
Super saver shipping can save a few bucks, but it's not always available. Unfortunately, sometimes it is necessary to buy $25 of stuff in order to get free shipping which can be a drag. Independent vendors selling their wares through Amazon often charge shipping and aren't eligible for super-saver. I don't have to pay any sales tax unless the vendor is located in California.
Unlike the majority of other Internet stores, Amazon is not partnered with popular rebate sites like bondrewards, ebates, or fatwallet. Nearly all other major etailers offer some percentage discounts. The lack of rebates from Amazon is definitely a negative point, since they only offer coupons and promo codes.
Ordering process
Since Amazon.com has been in the on-line retail game for so long, they really have this one nailed down. My experience in using their ordering process has been stellar. The cart and one-click purchasing are very easy.
Returns and customer service
I don't have a lot of experience in this area, but like all on-line vendors, returns can be a real pain. I once read a disclaimer on CDs/DVDs which stated they would refund half the price if the product had been opened. Most other items can be returned for a full refund if they are in original condition. I suppose this policy is standard for the industry, since people can easily rip CDs and DVDs. I have never spoken to a real person or emailed Amazon directly, so I cannot comment on their customer service. Of course, that's the whole point of ordering on-line. I don't want to deal with a live person ... just send me my stuff.
Delivery speed
Like most vendors, Amazon relies mainly on third-party freight companies for shipping. There are a variety of options, from same-day to slowpoke.
In the past, especially around Christmas time, there were complaints that items arrived late. I noticed that during this holiday buying season, many products had a "warning" that they would arrive after Xmas. I believe this was an effort to lower the consumer's expectation on arrival dates. Nonetheless, I bought a couple things which had this "warning" and was pleasantly surprised when the goodies actually arrived before Santa and his pack of reindeer.
This and That
First, Amazon.com is partnered with Coinstar, which is the company that operates those loose change machines for your pennies. The process is very easy and worthwhile if you plan to shop at Amazon. Find a Coinstar kiosk, dump your coins in the sorter, choose Amazon gift card, and a receipt will print with a number on it. Log into Amazon's site and provide the Coinstar receipt number and the money is credited immediately. There is no commission when using Coinstar machines in conjunction with Amazon's gift cards.
Second, together with Chase Bank, Amazon offers a Visa credit card that has a rewards program. There's an initial $30 bonus credit on the first purchase after you are approved. Next, for every dollar spent at Amazon, you receive triple points. Those points can be exchanged for discounts on future purchases through the website. I crunched the numbers a while ago, and I remember it takes about $833 in buys to get a $25 rebate. If you shop a lot through Amazon, this card is a must. As might be expected, terms and conditions apply so read the disclaimers and fine print before you do anything.
Finally, I should mention Amazon Prime. It's a membership program which offers free two-day shipping with no minimum purchase. I don't belong to this program myself. However, for super-frequent shoppers who use Amazon a lot, I think it might be worthwhile. The cost is a not-so-cheap $79 per year.
Final comments
In conclusion, I've found Amazon.com to be an excellent place to shop. They have the best selection, reasonable prices, terrific product reviews, and many other great features.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? electronics, cameras, books, videos, music, and more
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