Comments on: The Falsity of Amazon’s Shipping http://nslog.com/2009/02/08/the_falsity_of_amazons_shipping The Weblog of Erik J. Barzeski Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:40:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kelly http://nslog.com/2009/02/08/the_falsity_of_amazons_shipping#comment-69149 Kelly Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:47:40 +0000 http://nslog.com/?p=5478#comment-69149 I see a recent trend with my last few Amazon purchases. As a Prime (free 2-day shipping) member, I select an item to purchase on Thursday afternoon, & am told if I pay the extra $3.99 for 1 day shipping, the package will arrive on Saturday. However, it arrives on Monday instead, when the person is not home & the item can be stolen off of the porch. I was just reading & Amazon says that 'some areas' don't have weekend delivery, so apparently, I am wasting the extra $3.99 to get it there. If I understand correctly, the Saturday delivery sure was an inducement for me to part with my $, & may be based on areas that do deliver. However, the email confirmation sent, clearly says Monday. Unfortunately, I'm now forced to take a screen shot of the promised Saturday delivery before purchase, & compare it to the email confirmation. If its delayed, then I have to quickly cancel the order. I see a recent trend with my last few Amazon purchases. As a Prime (free 2-day shipping) member, I select an item to purchase on Thursday afternoon, & am told if I pay the extra $3.99 for 1 day shipping, the package will arrive on Saturday. However, it arrives on Monday instead, when the person is not home & the item can be stolen off of the porch.

I was just reading & Amazon says that 'some areas' don't have weekend delivery, so apparently, I am wasting the extra $3.99 to get it there. If I understand correctly, the Saturday delivery sure was an inducement for me to part with my $, & may be based on areas that do deliver. However, the email confirmation sent, clearly says Monday.

Unfortunately, I'm now forced to take a screen shot of the promised Saturday delivery before purchase, & compare it to the email confirmation. If its delayed, then I have to quickly cancel the order.

]]> By: Dan Warfel http://nslog.com/2009/02/08/the_falsity_of_amazons_shipping#comment-69116 Dan Warfel Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:26:56 +0000 http://nslog.com/?p=5478#comment-69116 Here's how accurate Amazon is on estimating the arrival date, "Delivery Estimate: Monday, February 6, 2012 - Wednesday, February 22, 2012", and I paid for 5-7 days. I agree with Erik completely and I plan on moving away from Amazon. Here's how accurate Amazon is on estimating the arrival date, "Delivery Estimate: Monday, February 6, 2012 - Wednesday, February 22, 2012", and I paid for 5-7 days. I agree with Erik completely and I plan on moving away from Amazon.

]]> By: StayPuff http://nslog.com/2009/02/08/the_falsity_of_amazons_shipping#comment-68982 StayPuff Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:44:59 +0000 http://nslog.com/?p=5478#comment-68982 Yep, I noticed that too. I think they did it that way in order to keep people from getting angry and possibly exposing their intentional shipment delays to the media. With so many people ordering gifts for Christmas and expecting them before the 25th, they didn't want people 'rocking the boat'! Yep, I noticed that too. I think they did it that way in order to keep people from getting angry and possibly exposing their intentional shipment delays to the media. With so many people ordering gifts for Christmas and expecting them before the 25th, they didn't want people 'rocking the boat'!

]]> By: StayPuff http://nslog.com/2009/02/08/the_falsity_of_amazons_shipping#comment-68981 StayPuff Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:40:33 +0000 http://nslog.com/?p=5478#comment-68981 Imagine that! My favorite part of ordering with Amazon is the "Shipment has left seller facility and is in transit" status on the order status page... and then it shows an Estimated arrival date a full 7 days after the Shipment Date..... huh? It doesn't take that long to get here by mail. But anyhow, yes they are clearly delaying Super Saver Shipping orders in order to cater to those who are paying more. They have to, or no one would pay anything to ship their products. Everyone would be using Super Saver. It's like tickets to a ball game: the closer the seats, the closer you are to the action while the farther seats aren't so good. That's why they're cheaper, right? Imagine that! My favorite part of ordering with Amazon is the "Shipment has left seller facility and is in transit" status on the order status page... and then it shows an Estimated arrival date a full 7 days after the Shipment Date..... huh? It doesn't take that long to get here by mail. But anyhow, yes they are clearly delaying Super Saver Shipping orders in order to cater to those who are paying more. They have to, or no one would pay anything to ship their products. Everyone would be using Super Saver. It's like tickets to a ball game: the closer the seats, the closer you are to the action while the farther seats aren't so good. That's why they're cheaper, right?

]]> By: Sysmg http://nslog.com/2009/02/08/the_falsity_of_amazons_shipping#comment-68909 Sysmg Sun, 01 Jan 2012 06:32:28 +0000 http://nslog.com/?p=5478#comment-68909 Ordered a whole bunch of items for the holidays even as late ad Dec 22nd all via super saver free shipping. All if it came within 2-5 days. Well I ordered another item on 12/25 and it still hasn't shipped as of 12/31. So they are clearly delaying shipment now. Somehow the week before Christmas they had time to ship super saver immediately, but the week after they were too busy! There is no way that they are busier shipping the week after Christmas than the week before Christmas. Ordered a whole bunch of items for the holidays even as late ad Dec 22nd all via super saver free shipping. All if it came within 2-5 days. Well I ordered another item on 12/25 and it still hasn't shipped as of 12/31. So they are clearly delaying shipment now. Somehow the week before Christmas they had time to ship super saver immediately, but the week after they were too busy! There is no way that they are busier shipping the week after Christmas than the week before Christmas.

]]> By: Angry Amazon Customer http://nslog.com/2009/02/08/the_falsity_of_amazons_shipping#comment-68884 Angry Amazon Customer Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:13:03 +0000 http://nslog.com/?p=5478#comment-68884 Ordered an item from Amazon for a Christmas gift this year, used Free Super Saver Shipping based on the "Order by XX date, have it delivered by the 24th." Item showed in stock, ordered first week of December, (well before the cut-off date so timing wasn't at issue,) yet after ordering, the shipping date became Dec 16, with delivery estimate between Dec 29 and Jan 6 -- a far cry from "in time for Christmas." What the heck? After waiting 10 days for a single "in stock" item to ship, I gave up and located the same item on the manufacturer's website, (same price, free UPS delivery, estimated to be on my doorstep w/in 3 days,) so I requested my Amazon order be canceled...after never getting a cancellation confirmation, I contacted Amazon to verify, the rep said my order was "shipping soon" and couldn't be changed or canceled, telling me to refuse delivery if I didn't want it...amazingly enough, after registering my complaint, my unchangeable order suddenly moved from "shipping soon" with a 7-10 day delivery window to "shipped" by 2nd day air...coincidence? Ordered an item from Amazon for a Christmas gift this year, used Free Super Saver Shipping based on the "Order by XX date, have it delivered by the 24th." Item showed in stock, ordered first week of December, (well before the cut-off date so timing wasn't at issue,) yet after ordering, the shipping date became Dec 16, with delivery estimate between Dec 29 and Jan 6 -- a far cry from "in time for Christmas." What the heck? After waiting 10 days for a single "in stock" item to ship, I gave up and located the same item on the manufacturer's website, (same price, free UPS delivery, estimated to be on my doorstep w/in 3 days,) so I requested my Amazon order be canceled...after never getting a cancellation confirmation, I contacted Amazon to verify, the rep said my order was "shipping soon" and couldn't be changed or canceled, telling me to refuse delivery if I didn't want it...amazingly enough, after registering my complaint, my unchangeable order suddenly moved from "shipping soon" with a 7-10 day delivery window to "shipped" by 2nd day air...coincidence?

]]> By: Brady S. Light http://nslog.com/2009/02/08/the_falsity_of_amazons_shipping#comment-68692 Brady S. Light Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:54:01 +0000 http://nslog.com/?p=5478#comment-68692 I've learned to expect the worst on arrival times for Amazon's free shipping, although they've never actually missed their delivery window. I've used it several times and it always arrives on the last day of the window or the second to the last day. Therefore, I can't say they are dishonest - they do keep their delivery commitment. But I still can't figure out how it takes them over a week to put the darned thing (which is in stock) in a box and slap on a label. I've noted through online tracking that this is the holdup. Once the item actually ships, it only takes 2-3 days. Furthermore, I don't see how it is in their interest to drag things out like this since they can't bill me for it until they ship it. It's cutting off your nose to spite your face. Bad business . . . I've learned to expect the worst on arrival times for Amazon's free shipping, although they've never actually missed their delivery window. I've used it several times and it always arrives on the last day of the window or the second to the last day.

Therefore, I can't say they are dishonest - they do keep their delivery commitment. But I still can't figure out how it takes them over a week to put the darned thing (which is in stock) in a box and slap on a label. I've noted through online tracking that this is the holdup. Once the item actually ships, it only takes 2-3 days.

Furthermore, I don't see how it is in their interest to drag things out like this since they can't bill me for it until they ship it. It's cutting off your nose to spite your face. Bad business . . .

]]> By: Doug http://nslog.com/2009/02/08/the_falsity_of_amazons_shipping#comment-68570 Doug Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:03:37 +0000 http://nslog.com/?p=5478#comment-68570 Amazon does definitely delay free shipping intentionally. Every order I've placed (probably 20 or so) ships from Phoenix, which is one day mailing time from me, and they always take at least a week to get here. Even after being "shipped" they will sit at the "fed-ex smartpost" for days before they actually ship them. It's ridiculous, and is clearly an effort to get us to pay for shipping out of frustration. Amazon does definitely delay free shipping intentionally. Every order I've placed (probably 20 or so) ships from Phoenix, which is one day mailing time from me, and they always take at least a week to get here. Even after being "shipped" they will sit at the "fed-ex smartpost" for days before they actually ship them. It's ridiculous, and is clearly an effort to get us to pay for shipping out of frustration.

]]> By: Erik J. Barzeski http://nslog.com/2009/02/08/the_falsity_of_amazons_shipping#comment-68447 Erik J. Barzeski Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:31:56 +0000 http://nslog.com/?p=5478#comment-68447 I don't think that's the "lesson." Though paying for faster shipping guarantees delivery faster, the point is that Amazon seems to "sit" on packages <em>unnecessarily</em> when people choose the cheaper shipping. I don't think that's the "lesson." Though paying for faster shipping guarantees delivery faster, the point is that Amazon seems to "sit" on packages unnecessarily when people choose the cheaper shipping.

]]> By: Stephanie http://nslog.com/2009/02/08/the_falsity_of_amazons_shipping#comment-68445 Stephanie Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:34:24 +0000 http://nslog.com/?p=5478#comment-68445 So the lesson here is... don't use the super saver program if you want your item ASAP. Right? If you want your item ASAP, then I'm pretty sure you would be willing to pay the extra few dollars for the shipping. Yesterday I placed an order that was a $7.50 item, but the shipping was about $8.50, more than the item itself. But you know what? I paid the extra money because I want my item. If it holds for a bit, then oh well. What can people expect with an online business? Things happen. So the lesson here is... don't use the super saver program if you want your item ASAP. Right? If you want your item ASAP, then I'm pretty sure you would be willing to pay the extra few dollars for the shipping. Yesterday I placed an order that was a $7.50 item, but the shipping was about $8.50, more than the item itself. But you know what? I paid the extra money because I want my item. If it holds for a bit, then oh well. What can people expect with an online business? Things happen.

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