Amazon and "alternative facts" - rant

[Doofy]

Alaska at that!!! Cool but, really???

Haha. Sure shocked us! I've been bent out of shape all year because everything we ordered took a week or 2 to even ship. Probably just a fluke.

 

[TractorGuy]

My latest order says it shipped today. Haven't tried the actual tracking number but it would most likely report the dreaded label created status. Only 6 days since order placed.

 

[rScotty]

My experiences on Amazon have been different. Being rural, we use Amazon a lot. They are amazing. Sometimes an order will take over the weekend to fill, but that's much the same with anywhere else. Most of the things we order - from clothing to dogfood to fencecharger batteries & powertools - it all usually gets shipped out the same day. Sometimes within hours.
We use Amazon Prime, and if there are several places that have the same item I'll generally chose the one that says it has them in stock right now over a supplier that has a lower price.
rScotty

 

[buckbros]

FedEx SmartPost has to be the worst way to ship something. Check the tracking of a package I recently received. Unbelievable. Thank goodness I was not in a big hurry for the package. This thing came within 5 miles of me twice then went 80 miles in the opposite direction.

Date/Time Activity Location
3/03/2018 - Saturday
1:45 am Departed FedEx location FEDEX SMARTPOST HALETHORPE, MD

3/02/2018 - Friday
3:09 pm Arrived at FedEx location FEDEX SMARTPOST HALETHORPE, MD

3:47 am Departed FedEx location FEDEX SMARTPOST MARTINSBURG, WV

3/01/2018 - Thursday
7:00 pm Arrived at FedEx location FEDEX SMARTPOST MARTINSBURG, WV

2/28/2018 - Wednesday
2:10 am Shipment information sent to U.S. Postal Service

1:15 am Departed FedEx location FEDEX SMARTPOST HALETHORPE, MD

2/26/2018 - Monday
7:02 pm Arrived at FedEx location FEDEX SMARTPOST HALETHORPE, MD

2/24/2018 - Saturday
11:17 am Departed FedEx location HAGERSTOWN, MD

2/23/2018 - Friday
2:47 pm Arrived at FedEx location HAGERSTOWN, MD

2:26 am In transit CHARLOTTE, NC

2/22/2018 - Thursday
10:21 am Departed FedEx location KENNESAW, GA

6:01 am Arrived at FedEx location KENNESAW, GA

2/21/2018 - Wednesday
7:38 pm Left FedEx origin facility THEODORE, AL

4:19 pm Arrived at FedEx location

 

[Doofy]

Here is a odd one: Just finished remodeling the bedroom and found the perfect bench for the foot of the bed. 10 available, Prime and ships and sold by Amazon. They would not ship to my address even though the object was not heavy or large. Tried to order every day for 2 weeks, hoping to get lucky. No luck.

Today, I found the exact same bench in the "Warehouse Deals" for $40 cheaper with a damaged box AND they will ship! Go Figure!

 

[fried1765]

Serious question... how do you refuse a package when left at your doorstep?

How do refuse a package left by the mailperson (note the political correctness)?
You give it back to the mail person if you can find them, or you take it back to the post office.

Same idea with FedEx or UPS. Catch a driver...any driver...and tell him you refuse it.

 

[fried1765]

FedEx SmartPost has to be the worst way to ship something. Check the tracking of a package I recently received. Unbelievable. Thank goodness I was not in a big hurry for the package. This thing came within 5 miles of me twice then went 80 miles in the opposite direction.

Date/Time Activity Location
3/03/2018 - Saturday
1:45 am Departed FedEx location FEDEX SMARTPOST HALETHORPE, MD

3/02/2018 - Friday
3:09 pm Arrived at FedEx location FEDEX SMARTPOST HALETHORPE, MD

3:47 am Departed FedEx location FEDEX SMARTPOST MARTINSBURG, WV

3/01/2018 - Thursday
7:00 pm Arrived at FedEx location FEDEX SMARTPOST MARTINSBURG, WV

2/28/2018 - Wednesday
2:10 am Shipment information sent to U.S. Postal Service

1:15 am Departed FedEx location FEDEX SMARTPOST HALETHORPE, MD

2/26/2018 - Monday
7:02 pm Arrived at FedEx location FEDEX SMARTPOST HALETHORPE, MD

2/24/2018 - Saturday
11:17 am Departed FedEx location HAGERSTOWN, MD

2/23/2018 - Friday
2:47 pm Arrived at FedEx location HAGERSTOWN, MD

2:26 am In transit CHARLOTTE, NC

2/22/2018 - Thursday
10:21 am Departed FedEx location KENNESAW, GA

6:01 am Arrived at FedEx location KENNESAW, GA

2/21/2018 - Wednesday
7:38 pm Left FedEx origin facility THEODORE, AL

4:19 pm Arrived at FedEx location

FedEx Smart Post is the cheapest shipping available to a seller.
It is apparently priced for shipping space available at the discretion of the Post Office.

 

[fried1765]

My experiences on Amazon have been different. Being rural, we use Amazon a lot. They are amazing. Sometimes an order will take over the weekend to fill, but that's much the same with anywhere else. Most of the things we order - from clothing to dogfood to fencecharger batteries & powertools - it all usually gets shipped out the same day. Sometimes within hours.
We use Amazon Prime, and if there are several places that have the same item I'll generally chose the one that says it has them in stock right now over a supplier that has a lower price.
rScotty

Amazon Prime may be good for you, because you like to get things ASAP, and with free shipping.
I do not use Amazon prime, because I do not like the idea of paying for shipping, when many items already are listed with free shipping.
I am rarely in a hurry for a particular item.
I find that many items I buy, are cheaper on E-Bay, and also have free shipping.
I have no axe to grind with Amazon, and they certainly are good at what they do.
I do buy from Amazon when they have the best pricing.
Amazon also charges me sales tax, while many E-Bay sellers do not. That alone is a 7% saving for me.
I just do not want to pay extra for shipping, when it offers me very little (quick) benefit.
I also note that MANY items sold on Amazon are NOT ELIGIBLE for prime.
I am an old guy,..... so I certainly do live at a slower pace than some folks.
The more money I save...the more STUFF I can buy!

 

[teejk]

Amazon Prime may be good for you, because you like to get things quickly, and with free shipping.
I do not use Amazon prime, because I do not like the idea of paying for shipping, when many items already are listed with free shipping.
I am rarely in a hurry for a particular item.
I find that many items I buy, are cheaper on E-Bay, and also have free shipping.
I have no axe to grind with Amazon, and they certainly are good at what they do.
I do buy from Amazon when they have the best pricing.
Amazon also charges me sales tax, while many E-Bay sellers do not. That alone is a 7% saving for me.
I just do not want to pay extra for shipping, when it offers me very little (quick) benefit.
I also note that MANY items sold on Amazon are NOT ELIGIBLE for prime.
I am an old guy,..... so I usually do get tasks accomplished a bit more slowly than some folks.

Amazon "prime"...my wife uses the account of my son's fiancé. I refuse. My stuff usually arrives faster than hers. Now to be fair, you really don't know whether Amazon actually stocks the item you are buying.

As for the "sales tax", most likely avoiding it on the purchase means that you still owe the same amount as a "use" tax. Some states are very aggressive at collecting that (in fact that's why Amazon decided to start charging sales tax...they were tired of dealing with the various states asking for their sales information). In Wisconsin we have to check a box on our income tax returns certifying that we don't owe any use tax on out of state purchases. Saying "none" is asking for harsh "failure to file" penalties. I always put in a few bucks (I only pay the bills...I have no idea what my wife is doing on-line) so I avoid that and leave myself to under-reporting penalties.

 

[ultrarunner]

My worst experience with Amazon was for some books I ordered that had references to my Dad...

The order process went well and then I waited and waited and waited...

The bottleneck is Amazon delivered to the local Post Office for final delivery.

My local Post Office simply sat on them... would not look for them when I found the Post Office had them.

The manager said Amazon has no idea on what the Post Office has or doesn't have...

It was like being caught in the middle... so I cancelled the order after 3 weeks and bought elsewhere.

Low and behold the very next day they arrived and I brought them back to the Post Office refused... the manager remembered me and said isn't that the package you were asking about... I said yes... last month!