As a customer what is acceptable to you?

[Tony H]

I fear that some is self done to increase price. COVID, COVID, COVID, if times are so tough why are many building supplies doubled on price? Lumber yards are fully stocked, yet they say high prices because of demand. I thought everyone is out of work, where's the money coming from to cause this imaginary demand? Or is it because the current Administration is handing out money 'we' don't have. How is it possible that people on unemployment are making much more money then when they were working? This country is full of demotivated people thanks to this devastating handout.
Rumor is that harbors are full of supplies with barges idling around waiting to get in. Stop all the fees and restriction on CDL drivers and you won't have them moving on to other work.

 

[MossyDell]

A couple of months ago, I gave up trying to buy or even order a Woods Brush Bull from a regional dealer. Their proposal came down to this: Not in till at least September, full price and it may be higher than the current list price. The salesman mumbled about steel prices and high demand. Meanwhile my local Kubota dealer had Land Pride brush cutters on the lot for the same price they'd always been. Which was cheaper. I didn't get as good a cutter but I got what I had to have this summer, something to start getting a field under control when I had time.

On Amazon, I am amazed by what it can do. But hate it when a huge UPS truck comes and brings one tiny item. I wish they used USPS more—usually an extra day or two is fine, and I'd be supporting the mail service, which I value.

Amazon's free shipping is provided by their hard negotiation with suppliers for the lowest price, negotiating with delivery services, AND by then adding a shipping fee into the product price. I am slowly trying to figure out which manufacturers I can successfully order directly from—if I believe in them, they are worth paying a few bucks.

Again, I value Amazon but the system needs to come back to some balance. We're in trouble if everything dries up but Amazon.

 

[Smily0]

I bought a Rest Performance bed on 4/30/21 and was charged the same day (5k). The website didn't say anything about delays/backorder, but I used the chat service and was told 4-6 weeks. Day after my order was placed, I got an e-mail invoice thanking me for my purchase that said 6-8 weeks. I responded about the discrepancy and it was ignored. At the 7 week mark, I asked for an update and was told they had no idea when it would ship, but reassured me I was #4 in line for the model I ordered, but could cancel at anytime. I responded that without knowing how many are produced and going out in a set timeline, that really meant nothing. She apologized, but said she didn't have more info. At 10 weeks, they still had no clue, but offered me $50 refund. It finally delivered on 8/14/21. Super frustrating

Same thing with a commercial chamber vac. I kept waiting for it to come instock, but the websites were always showing a 4-6 week lead time. I finally called and two different places confirmed they never even hit the warehouse, every single one is pre-sold before the container hits the port. I bought it on 6/15 and was charged 2300 with a delivery estimate of mid July. I messaged on 7/29 and was told sorry, it's now mid September. They quoted shipping delays and issues, which I understand, but still frustrating.

Neither of these were available without purchasing up front, and both were things I had saved up for over a long period of time to finally get the specific item I wanted, so there weren't really options otherwise. Both did offer free cancelations, but neither company has proactively communicated which would have made it so much more bearable.

 

[Wamman]

Funny story at some point, but.....

My wife usually wants me to find a certain detergent that she insists to use.
Last year, I found it through Amazon.
The seller was in Calgary. We live in a very rural area in south eastern Manitoba.

After the shipment was overdue by quite some time, we contacted the seller. It turned out, UPS sent the parcel back due to an invalid address. They shipped it a second time.
The second shipment didn't arrive. UPS used all kind of excuses.
They delivered to our place before.

The lady at the shipper was p..... already, because they had to pay for the shipping every time. She offered the money back, my wife denied. She wanted the detergent.

They shipped a third time with UPS. Nope. Nothing showed up.

Now the shipper used a different parcel service which required us to pick it up not too far from us. Which was ok. A few days later, we got the call to get our detergent.

About two weeks after that, a UPS pulled up at our driveway. Guess what? They found the address and delivered those TWO shipments that were shipped earlier.

Now we recieved one order three times.

And we are talking about 6 boxes of detergent per order.

My wife asked me what to do. Sending it back? Who is paying for the shipping? The lady at the shipper was less than happy already.

My wife called her. We offered her to pay for the remaining two orders since we got the product.
We got a nice discount and the offer to order direct from them if we ever need some sgain.
We will but it won't be any time soon.

Nice to hear there’s honest folks out there to go to the trouble to contact the company to pay for the additional Products.

 

[twowoode]

Amazon is part of the problem and if you do your research you will find that you are paying shipping in the form of higher prices. If you take the time to compare you will find the same item lower from other places. It’s the age of instant gratification that makes Amazon succeed. I am willing to shop local to support small businesses because when they are gone you will be at the mercy of companies like Amazon

 

[twowoode]

This country is already at the mercy of China. The supply problem is the reliance on Chinese products. People need to start hounding companies to make and get their products in the USA. Think how easy it would be for China to cripple this country just using the supply chain. Look at all the vehicles sitting on manufacturers lots waiting for parts. You keep hearing how our electric grid is vulnerable but what you don’t hear is the replacement transformers and switch gear comes from China.

 

[bartjoebob]

Amazon prime delivering virtually anything to me in two days has spoiled me. I have ordered things less than $5 and things over 10k and bam they are on my porch in two days with no shipping charge. Covid has caused a lot of chaos in the supply chain and while things are out of peoples control in some cases I still find it unacceptable. For example I ordered a widget and paid in full up front for it. I was told I would have it in 12 weeks. It is now 16 weeks, I don't have my widget, the manufacturer says it is beyond their control, they don't know when I will get it, and they are doing the best they can. They literally have no clue if I will get my item next week or 30 years from now.

What are your thoughts on this? They are still selling this widget on their website with no mention on there that if you pay for and order one it might five months before you get it. Seems like a shady business practice to me. They want their orders to keep piling in because once they have your money they got you. At this point I don't know what to do. I wasn't happy about a 12 week wait but figured I could live with it. Now that they haven't lived up to that timeline I am angry and feel deceived. I can assure you that once I get my item no matter how good it is I will never do business with this company again.

As long as we customers allow manufacturers to sit on our money or put it to sleep completely while waiting for them to do their part- NOTHING will change. Start cancelling order after 4 weeks (let alone 16 effing weeks of waiting).... trust me, manufacturers will figure out REAL fast how to get those orders out. I'm not at all saying it's easy for them but we are playing a huge role enabling this situation

 

[HAR]

Quite honestly, there was a time when Amazon PRIME actually meant 2 day delivery! Then back in 2019, I believe, they actually were offering 1 day PRIME deliveries. Then COVID happened and reality set in. Amazon and others found that everyone was home and buying on-line. The shippers were having staffing problems (COVID) and the queues began to fill and back up. Then slowly, Amazon began to back off the 2 day delivery and started saying, '2 days from the time we ship", but even then that did not always work. Like many others, I now question why pay for prime, when many other sites are offering like or similar pricing with free delivery just to entice me to buy.

I agree. Amazon is not always cheaper in the long run and I do comparison shopping all the time now.

Though, I will give Amazon credit, where credit is due. I ordered an item the other day, and it was 'stated' that delivery would be August 23rd. A day later, I got an email from Amazon updating shipping saying the item would arrive today, August 20th. It actually arrived yesterday! Go figure.

 

[bartjoebob]

Amazon Prime seems to be a crock to me, nothing I've ordered using it comes any faster and stuff still takes over a month to get. I canceled my Prime for these reasons.

I say Amazon has made a lot of false expectations and the free shipping party can't last forever. Eventually sellers will stop wanting to get raped by Amazon over shipping and push back.

The reality is shipping costs money. If you don't want to see the shipping charges buy local and support your local businesses if you want to see stuff carried in inventory. Stop buying made in China crap and break the supply chain BS. If you choose to buy Amazon and Wallymart you are part of the problem.

I have noticed this too. Fewer items seems to be available for 2 day ARRIVAL. Why do I yell arrival? Because many times Amazon now discloses when it "will ship". So "ships in 5-7 days" means the order sits around in queue for that long before being filled. Then add the carrier delivery time on top of that. Oh, I've also notice once you login to Amazon, prices change and shenanigans with free 2 day prime items start. Meaning, they are creating an image to non prime users that all these things are 2 day eligible, and once you sign up, they cut out 2 day shipping (2 day arrival) for MANY goods. It's an algorithm that does with pricing and shipping services and it sucks

 

[Root Cause]

What is acceptable?

Good, honest communication on the front end and when things change.

I can accept that things happen. I can accept that his supplier may not get honest answers themselves.

Being in the dark is unacceptable and that will make me a non-repeat customer

 

[bartjoebob]

Amazon prime delivering virtually anything to me in two days has spoiled me. I have ordered things less than $5 and things over 10k and bam they are on my porch in two days with no shipping charge. Covid has caused a lot of chaos in the supply chain and while things are out of peoples control in some cases I still find it unacceptable. For example I ordered a widget and paid in full up front for it. I was told I would have it in 12 weeks. It is now 16 weeks, I don't have my widget, the manufacturer says it is beyond their control, they don't know when I will get it, and they are doing the best they can. They literally have no clue if I will get my item next week or 30 years from now.

What are your thoughts on this? They are still selling this widget on their website with no mention on there that if you pay for and order one it might five months before you get it. Seems like a shady business practice to me. They want their orders to keep piling in because once they have your money they got you. At this point I don't know what to do. I wasn't happy about a 12 week wait but figured I could live with it. Now that they haven't lived up to that timeline I am angry and feel deceived. I can assure you that once I get my item no matter how good it is I will never do business with this company again.

Okay last rant... NEVER buy Amazon Basics. These products are copies of runaway successes small business have created that Amazon notices seeling like hotcakes on their site. In the worst examples, Amazon has bullied the same factory making the item for the creator/small business into making a cheaper version under the Basics label in order to undercut the original business. There have even been stories that when the businesses complain about this to Amazon, they are threatened with deplatforming and selling on their site. Find the original maker of the Basics item and buy direct form the maker, off Amazon, when you can. You can lookup an example of all these practices, search for "How Amazon Wins: by steamrolling rivals"

 

[MicroPilot]

Amazon prime delivering virtually anything to me in two days has spoiled me. I have ordered things less than $5 and things over 10k and bam they are on my porch in two days with no shipping charge. Covid has caused a lot of chaos in the supply chain and while things are out of peoples control in some cases I still find it unacceptable. For example I ordered a widget and paid in full up front for it. I was told I would have it in 12 weeks. It is now 16 weeks, I don't have my widget, the manufacturer says it is beyond their control, they don't know when I will get it, and they are doing the best they can. They literally have no clue if I will get my item next week or 30 years from now.

What are your thoughts on this? They are still selling this widget on their website with no mention on there that if you pay for and order one it might five months before you get it. Seems like a shady business practice to me. They want their orders to keep piling in because once they have your money they got you. At this point I don't know what to do. I wasn't happy about a 12 week wait but figured I could live with it. Now that they haven't lived up to that timeline I am angry and feel deceived. I can assure you that once I get my item no matter how good it is I will never do business with this company again.

Shouldn't these items be marked as "Back Ordered" on their website?

 

[John Atkisson]

I’ve had nothing but good experiences with Amazon.

 

[ljjhouser]

Well, I guess there are opinions both ways about all this. We all rely on our past experiences. So I will do the same. In many years past, the local hardware knew what a Water Heater Blanket was and stocked it. Not so today. My local hardware store told me it was a seasonal item - Winter only. Many items "stocked" are poor quality because they are $2 cheaper and will sell more often. But things do change with time. You have to decide what is important to you. ME - it is important to GET the item when promised - that affects my purchasing decision, to get the product I wish to purchase, and to have recourse after purchase if there is a problem.

It has been many years developing these features. Many years ago, I could order from eBay. But there was no recourse and you did not know who the seller was or when you would receive the order. That changed because PayPal developed payment standards and recourse if you did not received correct item. You may or may not like Amazon. I would not order from them in the beginning because of the above reasons. But Retail stores (In my view) MUST compete and change. THAT is the world we not live in. Most have not. But in my view, Amazon has made many changes to promote their current success. Where else can I get an guaranteed delivery date? Amazon Prime is not all about faster shipping. It is about paying a membership for free or lower cost shipping. Does Amazon try to control shipping cost? - You bet. Why shouldn't they. When UPS re upped their shipping contract (higher) Amazon invested in their own shipping system. Thousands of those vans, all with AMZ shipping numbers. I have stopped accepting shipping from USPS. Try to get guaranteed shipping from them. Many of those shipments are lost. Try to get recourse from the post office.
Well enough about that. I'm not saying you should pay the prime cost $99 I think. That is a choice. I just got tired of paying UPS $15 for every shipment. I also think if you get better service from the local store, then I would do that FIRST. I shop Amazon because I cannot find the product. Call Walmart before you go to 3 of them to find a product. Their online inventory is not updated and they tell you that.
Also Amazon delivery times differ by their shipping locations and where you live. I USUALLY only order items that are SHIPPED BY AMAZON. That is another feature - tells who is selling and who is shipping.

Well sorry about that. The OP was not about Amazon. I get a little tired of Amazon bashing. Maybe they deserve it, but that has not been my experience.

Now about prepaying for something without any delivery date - and no recourse (because they tell you 6 mos or Who Knows). It is hard place to be. But my first choice is to tell them, call me when you have the product, and ready to sell it. If you have not product, I have no money. Let me know when you are ready to sell, and I'll you if I have the money. And, we all know that will happen. Just not in the next 6 mos maybe.

My second choice might be to pay extra shipping or purchase from an out of state or area dealer who has stock.

My third choice would be to purchase an acceptable used piece of equipment.

My fourth may be to rent if I had to compete a job.

And the last choice may be to do without and go a different direction with what I need.

I do understand that it a produce is custom order, expect longer shipping time. I ordered a door for the house, custom size. Shipping is expected to be 5 weeks. Cost is $1000.

If I did pay up front for a product and could wait until ????who knows, I have to insist on recourse if not satisifed with the purchase. (especially with a tractor or implement). Best Wishes. Larry

On another note - I purchase an new 2021 truck this year in May. During this supply deal. After a long conversation with my salesman, I told him - Give me a call when you are ready to sell me a truck and I will see how I feel about it then. The responded - don't leave, I'll find you the truck you want. I needed the heavy rear end 3.92. Apparently that was hard to find. He came back with 2. In live in Mo, one truck they found was in Mn and the other was in Iowa. Exactly what I ask for. 2 days later, I paid and picked up the truck.
Thanks, Larry

 

[greenerdreams]

same thing happened to me but it was for a friends machine i was fixing. item got delayed from factory and i felt helpless, friend kept asking when. Finally i called the place and told them that i may have to cancel the order and find a place with one already on the shelves, at any price. They said wait, so i did and they ended up shipping overnight, their cost. I was happy with the service but it made me realize from now on, important parts will be confirmed in stock before i pay.

 

[MoKelly]

Stop using them and support a local because when the local is gone then Jeff has you by the balls. Was a $5 purchase 6 dollars at the local guy and you went the cheap route

Local is gone. COVID lockdowns destroyed any chance they had to make a living.

MoKelly

 

[mred]

Amazon prime delivering virtually anything to me in two days has spoiled me. I have ordered things less than $5 and things over 10k and bam they are on my porch in two days with no shipping charge. Covid has caused a lot of chaos in the supply chain and while things are out of peoples control in some cases I still find it unacceptable. For example I ordered a widget and paid in full up front for it. I was told I would have it in 12 weeks. It is now 16 weeks, I don't have my widget, the manufacturer says it is beyond their control, they don't know when I will get it, and they are doing the best they can. They literally have no clue if I will get my item next week or 30 years from now.

What are your thoughts on this? They are still selling this widget on their website with no mention on there that if you pay for and order one it might five months before you get it. Seems like a shady business practice to me. They want their orders to keep piling in because once they have your money they got you. At this point I don't know what to do. I wasn't happy about a 12 week wait but figured I could live with it. Now that they haven't lived up to that timeline I am angry and feel deceived. I can assure you that once I get my item no matter how good it is I will never do business with this company again.

Walk away hopefully you paid by credit card. They have not filled your order in the specified time a full refund should be in order

 

[ljjhouser]

Stop using them and support a local because when the local is gone then Jeff has you by the balls. Was a $5 purchase 6 dollars at the local guy and you went the cheap route

I will apologize to for directing this your way. I can assume that you were not referring to the above post. I never have taken the "cheap route." to answer your question. That is what I see a local retailer problem. Americans buy Cheap. If you want something that will last, it is IMPOSSIBLE to find. That is why today, most retailers must advertise something free. I did not say Amazon was cheaper than anyone else.
I shop local retailers FIRST. If they had a product I wanted for $6 or even $10, does not matter, I would purchase it local. What makes you think that Jeff does not already have us by the balls. If you can't purchase it local (AT ANY PRICE) and Jeff, Rick or Bubba can, then again, retail brick and mortar stores must (and can) compete. Thanks for the post. Again, apologies if I misunderstood. Best Wishes, Larry

 

[Flad]

The reason you have huge delays is the manufacturing processes used in countries like China ,Korea, and Japan it all started in Japan, they will not manufacture low numbers of any thing, They have adopted the Just in time method of production, this cuts out ware housing inventory storage costs shipping and multiple handling , Go to a factory in China and see trucks coming in the front with certain components in order of assembly and container trucks leaving at the rear with finished products going to the docks, there is no storage facilities no store man no multiple handling of any thing and that's the main reason you get cheaper imported manufactured goods, today they are making 1 million left handed screw drivers, tomorrow they make 5 million pogo sticks, it's like clock work, and un till you actually see it you won't believe how effective their systems are, Henry Ford x 100.

Bare in mind orders from all over the world have all been effected by the Covid , this throws the manufacturing processes totally out of sinc, ships can not enter ports nor can they leave without quaranteen clearances, As in the USA and Australia we rely on supplies of imported components for our own manufacturing industries as well as consumer goods.
Asian countries have been hit much harder than we have with the Covid, China is trying to hide the impact on it's industries but there are hundreds of US and European manufacturers in China that are struggling simply because the supply chains are disrupted with the Covid Pandemic not to mention the political situations.
It's going to be like this for much longer than any one can plan for, so get used to it and plan well in advance or go with out.

 

[dustinfox]

Im not talking about amazon? They are one of the few places that still do what they say. The people over promising and underdelivering are more along the lines of what I would call mom and pop shops.

When was the last time an Amazon order was deliverd in two days? Most orders now take five days or more. The sole reason I joined Prime was to get my orders in two days. That hasn't happened for years, long before the zombie virus hit. Oddly, they still charge me $119/year though.