AMAZON.CO.UK - Never disappoints
by scvi - Written: Jun 13 '02 (Updated Jun 19 '02)
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I've been using Amazon now since they started trading and I've yet to be disappointed with their service. The website is user friendly and their delivery has always been prompt - usually within 48 hours - and their selection is vast. I understand that in the US you don't have this kind of delivery time or you have to pay extra for it. In the UK this delivery time is normal and in fact on some occasions I have received books the very next day - less than 24 hours after placing my order. The only time I've had to wait for an order is when I've chosen the option to complete an entire order before despatch (sometimes they don't have something in stock). I know that they have an order tracking facility but I've never had to use it as they always email me directly on the status of an order, once at placement and at once at despatch and more than once if it is a multiple order that I've chosen to have delivered as and when the items are available. Having said all of that I should add that it is rare that they don't have an item available - which either indicates that I have fairly mundane and pedestrian tastes or they have a vast inventory that is always ready to ship.
The "one click" payment option means that all of my delivery and payment details are stored (securly I'm assured) and never have to be entered again, unless of course I want to change those details. I have a lot of friends and family overseas so I use Amazom a lot to purchase gifts as they will gift wrap and post to anywhere in the world. To date all gifts have arrived on time and in fine condition. They also track my purchases and email me regularly with offers on books and software that they think I may be interested in. I have taken them up on their suggestions on more than one occasion and they've usually got it spot on. They also have featured recommendations for me on their/my home page when I log in and they have a facility whereby you can improve how they decide which products to recommend. Of course by doing this they ensure more of my custom, but hey, who wouldn't continue to shop in a "store" that remembers what you like, why you like it and then combs through the dross to select the appropriate items?
On one occasion I felt the need to return a software product that wouldn't seem to work despite the advice proferred by the manufacturer. Amazon (UK this is) did not hesitate to refund my money and accept the return via freepost. Now this does deserve some explaining. My computer is bang-up-to-date with all the latest drivers, cards, processing power and enough available memory to power a small international business. Therefore it is unusual for me to have issues running recently written software that I can't solve on my own. The software in question would freeze up my machine after running for just a few minutes. On my first call to Amazon they asked me to contact the software manufacturer and follow their advice. I immediately did so but with no success. When I called them back later the same day the woman I spoke to immediately processed a refund to my credit card and supplied me with a freepost address to send the software back, meaning all I had to do was pop it in an envelope and put in a mail box. The thing which really impressed me about this was the fact that they refunded my money before even receiving the software. I suspect that there may be different laws in the US governing the return of items like software, but in the UK the retailer is usually obliged by law to accommodate you and if you pay by credit card you can always have the credit card company issue a refund and then go after the retailer on your behalf.
Now that I've written this updated review I'm wondering why I haven't used Amazon for purchasing more than just books and software. They also sell holidays, airline tickets, wine, toys, videos, DVD's and electronics. I'll certainly keep that in mind.
Recommended:
Yes
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