Amazon has changed

[notta]

So I ordered a monitor on Thursday and received it Friday. So today I was about to set it up and I went to the site to check the ports on the back (haven't opened it yet.) I see today it's $70 dollars cheaper. I call Amazon and I said I would like to get a refund for the difference since I just bought it and haven't even opened it yet. She said our policy is we don't give refunds for price drops. So I got a little irritated and said " you've done in multiple times in the past. So you're telling me I have to ship this back and then order it again?" She said that was their policy. I was going to just eat it because I want to get the monitor setup before work on Monday. I said let me think about it.

So I said since I have you on the line I have another issue. I order one of the new Echo Spot's on Prime Day and when you set an alarm it goes off once and then automatically snoozes for 9 minutes. When it goes off again in 9 minutes it snoozes again after 1 chime. I said can you transfer to me to support so I can get this resolved? I have read other people having an issue and they needed to get it replaced. So she put me on old and got someone else and they said can I get your account info as we're having issues on our end. I replied to the text and she said she was still having issues. I got transferred to someone else. The next person said your Spot is having Internet issues? I said nicely, because I was sensing something here, I said no that's not the issue. She said please hold as she was transferring me. Another person got online and said you're having a battery issue? I said no that's not it. He put me on hold and I waited 15 minutes and hung up. I thought they might call back but nothing.

Was that sh*t intentional because I got snootie for a second with her? That is some complete BS. I didn't realize they changed their policy and I was 2 seconds from opening the box. Anyway, I ended up ordering another one and I'll call back tomorrow during the day and start the refund on the other one.

Edited September 8, 2024 by notta

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

They change their policy all the time to rip you off. This is nothing new.

[neufuse Veteran]

Ironically, I got an e-mail today requesting I send an item back that is non-returnable after they issued me a refund for it because it was sent damaged and told me to keep the item... that was 2 months ago.... the item was thrown away now they are saying they will charge me for it.... yeah....

[PGHammer]

I suspect that all too many folks hate Amazon because they are now successful - successful companies are hated/loathed/despised entirely because of that success - even when they have done nothing wrong. (Look merely at the earliest days of Standard Oil of Ohio the CEO - John Rockefeller Junior, was a bookkeeper - not a chemist.  He was all about efficiency of processes - period. Oil companies were a new business - efficiency didn't exist by and large.  It took John Rockefeller to create it.  )Henry Ford did the same thing with the assembly line - which came from butchers. Lamont DuPont did the same thing with chemical processes - and exported it via the Experimental Station company-wide. Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing - 3M - did the same. Amazon was not efficient in the beginning until they wised up - Whole Foods was the least efficient of grocery businesses PERIOD when Amazon acquired it. Are they perfect? No.

[adrynalyne]

On 07/09/2024 at 18:19, PGHammer said:

I suspect that all too many folks hate Amazon because they are now successful - successful companies are hated/loathed/despised entirely because of that success - even when they have done nothing wrong. (Look merely at the earliest days of Standard Oil of Ohio the CEO - John Rockefeller Junior, was a bookkeeper - not a chemist.  He was all about efficiency of processes - period. Oil companies were a new business - efficiency didn't exist by and large.  It took John Rockefeller to create it.  )Henry Ford did the same thing with the assembly line - which came from butchers. Lamont DuPont did the same thing with chemical processes - and exported it via the Experimental Station company-wide. Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing - 3M - did the same. Amazon was not efficient in the beginning until they wised up - Whole Foods was the least efficient of grocery businesses PERIOD when Amazon acquired it. Are they perfect? No.

Keep those blinders on buddy. 

[notta]

I'm seeing reports of people having to pay for shipping. What option would you choose when I return the product?

 

Item arrived too late

Missing or broken parts

Bought by mistake

Product damaged, but shipping box OK

No longer needed

Product and shipping box both damaged

Wrong item was sent

Inaccurate website description

Item defective or doesn’t work

Didn't approve purchase

Received extra item I didn’t buy (no refund needed)

Better price available

[notta]

Well it clearly states and this item shows free returns.

[PGHammer]

Blinders?  This is things that Amazon ADMITS - publicly. I don't have a hate on for Amazon - or any company - just because they are successful - a company is in business to SUCCEED.  They aren't the the government - most of which are absolutely sucking at being efficient or even effective.

[+Eternal Tempest MVC]

Despite being a successful company, in investors eye's, they're not successful enough.

This has caused Amazon to raise prices, cut corners, kill things, and make moves like planing on competing against Temu / Shein.
(https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/26/amazon-plans-discount-store-in-bid-to-fend-off-temu-and-shein.html)

[PGHammer]

And look at both companies Temu and Shein - they produce in nations with cheap labor! Cheapest labor is a problem like developed countries have is issues with - the US and EU have issues with it. (I have not denied it, either.).

[tsupersonic]

I know they changed their price match policy way back, but it really is frustrating to see a reduced price on something you bought. It is so much easier/efficient if Amazon could just refund the difference.  Instead the customer has to waste time/money to ship the item back and then Amazon having to process the return, all the while shipping the same item for the reduced price to the customer. Or, just order the same item and return the new item as the old item to get the money back. Amazon absolutely hates the environment and their customer service is inconsistent. I’ve had times when they refunded an entire desk(>$150, and let me keep the desk) just because it was missing cable tie downs or times when they wouldn’t refund me on something less than <$10. I honestly was just trying to get a hold of the desk manufacturer and not seeking a refund/discount, but they didn’t want to bother.
 

Anyways, I’ve dropped prime a while back. I am a deal hunter so still do order on Amazon when prices are truly low on stuff we need around the house.

[souper82]

I ordered one of these new two-piece belt thingies, received it, tried it on a few times and decided it wasn't for me..

When asking for a refund the Amazon rep told me to throw it in the bin and they'll reimburse me. Got my credit for full amount but still have the belt.

Someone will soon a have a wee birthday present... The product still works (just not for me)

[Nick H. Supervisor]

If I buy something and then it is offered cheaper later on it would never have occurred to me to ask for the price difference. Likewise I would be amazed if the price increased after my purchase and they phoned me asking for the extra money...

[mkol]

Sometimes they sent out refurbished items, even if they charge you for new!

[Xenon]

On 08/09/2024 at 11:27, mkol said:

Sometimes they sent out refurbished items, even if they charge you for new!

I have had that happen. 

[bikeman25]

I bought a Mini PC last summer since i liked the design from Amazon,   unforuately it started having  Blue screens with Critical Process Died, and no matter what i did, couldn't get it fixed,      i was gonna take a replacement, but only option Amazon gave was Return and Full Refund.     

So took the 2nd Option,    thought about buying a 2nd one, then Family member that was gonna use that Mini PC, stated she prefers her old AMD A6 3620 Desktop, so re setup that PC, and didn't bother getitng another Mini PC yet

 

 

[neufuse Veteran]

On 08/09/2024 at 11:27, mkol said:

Sometimes they sent out refurbished items, even if they charge you for new!

thats the result of their darn 3rd party sellers mixing items in their ware house even though they are suppose to be tagged different and the darn amazon warehouse deals if you're not careful you can pick it or they could "pick" it from the shelf.. they are suppose to be special tagged also but yeah...

[PGHammer]

On 07/09/2024 at 20:52, Mindovermaster said:

They change their policy all the time to rip you off. This is nothing new.

Was Amazon itself the seller - or was the seller someone with a storefront on the site? If Amazon itself was the seller, your complaint is valid - otherwise, it is not. It is not even the first time - not am I even the the first on Neowin itself to point this out. The same applies to ANY storefront.

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

On 08/09/2024 at 19:24, PGHammer said:

Was Amazon itself the seller - or was the seller someone with a storefront on the site? If Amazon itself was the seller, your complaint is valid - otherwise, it is not. It is not even the first time - not am I even the the first on Neowin itself to point this out. The same applies to ANY storefront.

I thought any store front had to work off Amazon's policy?