Don't order books from Amazon unless you plan to read them ASAP

[doc_strange]

Well, I am done buying books from Amazon.

Been a customer since 1999. But if I don't 'test drive' a book before 30 days are up, I have to pay to return it for an exchange. Doesn't matter what the problem is. Could be missing 50 pages. Pages could fall out on opening it. 30 days.

Any sane bookstore would realize the 1:1 replacement request is because the book is damaged. Amazon doesn't even have a place to click for that. Just warnings and policy pages.

Done.

ETA: The insane customer support people somewhere in S. Asia on their old customer support line inform me they will do a one-time replacement (after calling me the name of a friend about 12 times, who must have once bought me something off my wish list) but that if it happens again I will have to pay. Translation: If I want to order a lot of books from someone, go elsewhere. Got it! Thanks!

I will be closing all accounts with them in the morning. "This one time, only." That is garbage.

Comments

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

well. mmm. if i bought a book at a regular bookstore, i don't THINK they'd exchange it either.

then again, very few books i have have errors. i have noted it. sometimes even after years having read the book and found some random evidence of missing pages i never noticed.

best recourse for that was calling the publishing house and letting them know their book sucked.

is there a different expectation here?

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[erik]

But it might not really be their fault. Amazon regularly sidesteps the publisher and prints their own copies to sell to customers.

[docstrange.livejournal.com]

Wow. That would have explained it for certain, but no such luck; this is apparently a HarperCollins printing.

[ilcylic.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's really lousy. Nigh fraudulent, I'd say.

[docstrange.livejournal.com]

The publisher absolutely will refund to any bookstore faulty copies. So, yes, different expectation.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

also, in terms of a brand i "serve", we've been noticing that amazon is selling a lot of returns and seconds as first class merch; no boxes sometimes, damaged, scratched, bent... bad.

then again, Best Buy and other stores do this, and try to hide it. they reseal the boxes, and restock it. i've had more than a few friends buying things like camcorders, to find a pre-recorded material, missing cables, the WRONG unit, and obvious signs of use or abuse. fantastic.

course, some customers are to blame... they buy, and abuse return polices, and sometimes outright steal/substitute. the stores though, need to be on top of that, and NOT pass the damage along.

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