Amazon Prime

[Martin Bank Holiday]

They don't pay the appropriate amount of tax based on profit, given that their profit calculations are based on fancy offshore 'services' deductions and the like. They treat their warehouse staff like muck; at least the Argos crew have suitable breaks in a small environment so some socialising can occur without guilt and they aren't timed like robots by monitoring pedometers on their belts.

Just don't use amazon.

Yep. Any big ticket items iPads, TVs etc I will get from John Lewis and collect from Waitrose. Or Argos...

[original PM]

So I have been using Amazon since 2006 - initially it was mainly for books, videos and the odd computer game.

Looks like i got the missus her first kindle in 2011 as we go from about 7 orders in 2010 to 403 orders in 2011!

I have to be honest never had a problem at all - i think the most expensive item was an iPad that i got just before xmas last year.

It could be because the missus works at home most the time so there is nearly always someone in and also we mainly by low value/small goods which can be either posted or stashed in the recycle bin - I suppose the fact we do not live in Chavsville means deliveries can be left in a safe place.

As for the ethics of Amazon - they are a logistics company - and logistics is a well know science these days - so yes people who work in the warehouse do have targets - but having done similar back in the day so long as you actually work when you are in work the targets are not difficult to hit.

As with all large companies the way the calculate and manage their tax is designed to minimise it as far as they can get away with.

[d000hg]

We definitely have some issues with the consistency of parcel deliveries because as mentioned they use all kinds of firms, whoever happens to be available it seems.

When we lived in the city, it was always DPD and always reliable. Same guy as well which was nice.

Once we moved to the sticks it's now a mixture, but mainly a guy in his car or an unmarked van. Sometimes they're great, sometimes terrible. Rarely the same guy twice so they don't get to know where to leave things.
Sometimes I have to sign on the guy's phone, which is typically in Romanian, sometimes not.

I do wish Amazon would let you have more control over this because the service 5 miles from where we used to live is totally different and if they'd only block a few operators it would be great again.

[Hobosapien]

Do the Amazon collection points have a parcel size limit?

Thinking of getting a colour laser printer while Brother are offering £100 cash back but apparently the box is 'massive' at 2 foot square and weighs over 20kg, so I fear the delivery guy (it's never a gal ) will dump it downstairs and not struggle up to my apartment (no elevator ) like a scene from Laurel and Hardy's Music Box.

I doubt it will fit in an Amazon locker at a local petrol station. Am I wrong?

Failing that I'll get it delivered to my parents and pick it up when I visit next. Will also avoid having to wait in all day and Amazon Logistics turning up early evening, why no one hour delivery slots like civilised couriers?

[LondonManc]

Get it delivered to a shop collection point.

[Hobosapien]

Get it delivered to a shop collection point.

That's plan A.

I suppose when I put the order through and select delivery it will know if the collection point can handle the size of the parcel. Though I'm tempted to select an Amazon locker and go and sit and wait for the delivery driver to try to fit it in.

[ladymuck]

That's plan A.

I suppose when I put the order through and select delivery it will know if the collection point can handle the size of the parcel. Though I'm tempted to select an Amazon locker and go and sit and wait for the delivery driver to try to fit it in.

It won't let you pick a locker if it won't fit, but i suspect you already know that

[Hobosapien]

It won't let you pick a locker if it won't fit, but i suspect you already know that

Nope never tried that option, so while I hoped their system was good enough to cater for parcel size (or multiple parcels if being dispatched from different warehouses) when choosing the delivery option I didn't know it and still don't (not ordered it yet ), but will take your word on it.

[ladymuck]

Nope never tried that option, so while I hoped their system was good enough to cater for parcel size (or multiple parcels if being dispatched from different warehouses) when choosing the delivery option I didn't know it and still don't (not ordered it yet ), but will take your word on it.

I thought yours was a tongue in cheek quip, apologies.

Multiple parcels from different warehouses, in my experience, have never been coordinated and can result in multiple deliveries on the same day as someone else mentioned above. If the system is smart enough it may block you sending the order to an Amazon locker if it's coming from multiple places. You can tell this by the way it separates your order on check out.