Full Service Shopping @ Amazon.com
by momsworkinlate - Written: Aug 13 '01 (Updated Sep 05 '01)
| Customer Service: |
 |
|
| On-Time Delivery: |
|
|
| Selection: |
 |
|
The Bottom Line
Overall I have to give Amazon.com an Excellent rating. One bad delivery experience can't sour my taste for this company.
|
| Full Review |
I discovered Amazon.com almost two years ago. This was the first online shopping site that I used and I have to say it outshines every shopping experience I have ever had. Yes, that would include brick and mortar stores.
My First Impression
I first went to this website in search of the Harry Potters series as our nine-year-old had them on his list for Santa. I was surprised to discover how many other items on our children's Christmas lists could be purchased there. Books, CD's and cassette tapes, Pokemon cards and toys. Toys? Wow!
Now you may think I'm being silly here, especially if you haven't had to brave those six am shopping lines on the morning after Thanksgiving. I however knew I had discovered a gem. If they are out of stock on an item you know it right away as it is on the web page. You can request to be notified when the product is in stock. Their prices are equal to or less than those I have found in stores.
Growing Pains For This dot.com
Amazon has grown & suffered loss as all dotcom’s have. Digging in their heels and go to work each day with their chin up they are striving to maintain and grow. I wish them luck!
Changes have taken place overtime at Amazon and I have found it is time to update my original Epinion. That however is not for negative reasons. Simply said Amazon.com offers more to their customers now than ever!
Stop By For A Visit
Visiting the Amazon.com you will find a list of stores within Amazon.com on the left margin.
The stores you will find are;
Books, Electronics, Music, Camera & Photo, Health & Beauty, Software, Kitchen & Housewares, Tools & Hardware, In Theaters, DVD, Computer & Video Games, Baby & Baby Registry, Toys & Games, Cell Phones & Service, Outdoor Living, Cars, Gifts & Gift Certificates, Auctions, zShops & Outlet.
Hmmm - What Is Not Upfront Here?
Upon first glance you will not realize that several of these categories are links to other shopping websites. Amazon proudly announces within it’s Help pages that these are “Our Trusted Partners”;
Audible.com, CarsDirect.com, Drugstore.com, Ofoto.com & Sothebys.com.
Reading this area of the Help section they are honest about telling you these are websites run independanlty of Amazon.com.
It is my assumption that they are affiliated and Amazon.com will recieve a percentage of sales made from the Amazon.com website.
I think that is creative & wise business move the part of Amazon.com and am sure these companies are gaining more business through their exposure on the Amazon.com website.
Amazon.com runs it’s own auction site and zshops. This is an area I am not familiar with. If it is something that interests you be sure to check it out at Amazon.com
Stopping By To Visit An Old Friend
Spending a few minutes today looking around their website I discovered ToysRUs.com is no longer the big cheese in toy department. They still maintain a toys outlet area however, Imaginarium.com is the new kid on the block. You may still shop and place items from both stores in your shopping basket.
Delivery
Shipping charges vary on the type of items you are ordering. A variety of shipping options are available an example of this would be ground delivery for;
Books and cassettes have a $1.99 flat shipping fee and in addition to that they charge $.99 per item. For toys there is a $3.99 flat shipping and in addition to that $.99 per pound. Tools presently have a $5.99 flat shipping fee with no additional charge.
Some people feel that is costly. While I would like to see lower fees it really works out well for me. I consider gas and travel time in going to several stores to find all the purchases I can make in one short visit to this site. I always order several items at once also so that I am not paying the base flat shipping fee's that I would if ordering items separately.
Some Of My Order Experiance
I placed several orders at Amazon.com for several holidays and I honestly have to say I was not disappointed with them in the least. Most of my items where shipped UPS so I could track them online.
Christmas 1999
One item I was anxious about and had noted that Amazon.com had shipped USPS Priority mail still hadn't arrived more than two weeks after they sent it out (so much for our postal service). It was four days away until Christmas Eve. I emailed Amazon and they replied that they were shipping my package to me overnight Fed Ex. Wow (did I say that before)? The next day I received both the item in the mail and delivered Fed Ex. I refused receipt from Fed Ex so the second item was returned to Amazon. Honestly this item was only a $12.00 toy and they cared enough about their reputation and customers to pay more in shipping to be sure my son would have it Christmas morning. I call that exceptional customer service. They also answer e-mail in less than twenty-four hours (which is a lot more than I can say about other online stores I have purchased from).
Christmas 2000
Last October (2000) I made two or three large orders from Amazon.com. I did this knowing I was having surgery and would be incapcitated for several weeks. Having always found Amazon.com to be timely in their shipping I was comfortable putting my trust in them for our families holiday season.
During this time Amazon.com had some problems with their staff (union troubles I believe). I of coarse was not aware of that when I had placed the orders. One month latter I made it to the computer to check delivery status. Nothing had shipped. Not one item.
Over the coarse of the next several weeks through various email and phone call’s the troubles with my orders were finally resolved. All items were shipped and I was not charged shipping fees. To be honest with you I would have been happier to pay the fee’s and have my order’s arrive in a more timely manner. This was a nice peace offering on their part.
All of my packages arrived in brown cardboard boxes and they are wrapped with packaging products in a way that nothing can be damaged.
A VERY Special Delivery!
Over the past two years I have purchased many items from Amazon.com. When the last Harry Potter novel came out we preordered at Amazon.com. They promised to deliver the book on the Saturday the book was available to the public for sale. Not being able to stand in long lines I order this for one of our boys. He sat on the front stoop off and on during the morning and was rewarded just after lunch time when the delivery truck drove up. He was the first of his friends to get this book!
Other items we have purchased have been a really nice Personal CD Player for our oldest son’s birthday last year, CD’s, Cassettes (for our little one), Toys, Puzzles, Games -even a pop-up play truck that was on sale for 75% off!
Who would be happy shopping at Amazon.com?
I think Amazon.com is a website that offers something for everyone. The offer various stores and departments often have wonderful sales.
Laurie's Hints
If you are a true bargain shopper visit Current Codes for the current sales coupon codes for various online stores. Presently they are listing more than ten for Amazon.com. Amazon.com also sent me several special offers via snail mail and hidden in my delivered packages.
Ok - what are you waiting for?
Look over to the right and click on the Amazon.com logo. On this very helpful Epinions page you will find some details that will come in handy i.e. the fax number and telephone numbers for Amazon.com. Scroll down a bit - click “manufacturer page” and you can discover a fantastic shopping site on your own!
~Happy Shopping!~
*Note: Portions of this review were posted in my original article title "Full Service Shopping" Published on Epinions.com 2/19/00. This review is an update and being moved to the new web shopping area per the directions of Epinions.com. The original review has been deleted.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
