Amazon Prime

[DealorNoDeal]

I've pretty much switched from Amazon to eBay.

It wasn't really worth my while signing up for Prime, and I got a bit sick of Amazon taking days to despatch stuff. Sellers on their marketplace were fine but, as a non-Prime customer, you definitely get a 3rd rate delivery service from Amazon themselves.

So far, I've not found anything on Amazon that I can't get on eBay, and eBay is invariably cheaper. There is an even bigger array of stuff on eBay, so if you're looking for something obscure you're much more likely to find it there.

[NickFitz]

I didn't know it could be a problem until now. DPD were always very good and left things in my specified secure location. My issues started when they changed courier.

Amazon Logistics aren’t really a courier business in the accepted sense of the term. They’re more Amazon’s front for “subcontracting” deliveries to pretty much anyone with a vehicle and demanding that they deliver parcels to a completely unworkable schedule if they want to get paid at all. Zero-hours contract stuff.

[Martin Bank Holiday]

I've pretty much switched from Amazon to eBay.

It wasn't really worth my while signing up for Prime, and I got a bit sick of Amazon taking days to despatch stuff. Sellers on their marketplace were fine but, as a non-Prime customer, you definitely get a 3rd rate delivery service from Amazon themselves.

So far, I've not found anything on Amazon that I can't get on eBay, and eBay is invariably cheaper. There is an even bigger array of stuff on eBay, so if you're looking for something obscure you're much more likely to find it there.

Well, only got Prime partly for next day delivery. It's more for films/tv. Maybe back to rarbg.com or some mirror thereof

Amazon Logistics aren’t really a courier business in the accepted sense of the term. They’re more Amazon’s front for “subcontracting” deliveries to pretty much anyone with a vehicle and demanding that they deliver parcels to a completely unworkable schedule if they want to get paid at all. Zero-hours contract stuff.

Wow, didn't know that. Whoever's been covering my area makes Yodel look good.

[DealorNoDeal]

Amazon Logistics...

Another reason why I've gone off them. One of the last orders I placed came via this route. The guy turned up at really odd hours. We left a note to leave the package on the doorstep but I guess he wasn't allowed to, even though it was economy delivery (not tracked or signed for). I felt sorry for him because it took 3 attempts for him to catch us in. All for a bag of dog biscuits.

With eBay, most stuff comes via Royal Mail, which is far more convenient for us.

[sal]

Just have your butler flogged for missing the delivery, jeez...

Anyway, it all depends on your location and luck of the draw, some delivery guys are great, others are tulip.

Overall the Amazon delivery process is shambolic. The missus ordered 6-7 child books the other day from the same series, they arrived via 3 different deliveries, PO, Hemres and Amazon logistics. The later is code name for Deliveroo style freelance outsourcing so it can be any moron with a hire van, who decided to make a quick quid.

On the bright side I have never had to prove the delivery didn't happen. Amazon always assumed i was right and refunded/re-delivered, with no quibble.

[ladymuck]

Just have your butler flogged for missing the delivery, jeez...

Anyway, it all depends on your location and luck of the draw, some delivery guys are great, others are tulip.

Overall the Amazon delivery process is shambolic. The missus ordered 6-7 child books the other day from the same series, they arrived via 3 different deliveries, PO, Hemres and Amazon logistics. The later is code name for Deliveroo style freelance outsourcing so it can be any moron with a hire van, who decided to make a quick quid.

On the bright side I have never had to prove the delivery didn't happen. Amazon always assumed i was right and refunded/re-delivered, with no quibble.

The three deliveries are due to which fulfilment centre the stock is in. They wouldn't ship from centre A and B to C to consolidate into one shipment out of C to you.

[AtW]

Prime works fine for me - deliveries to office tho, saves enough money to pay for itself, plus free video.

[Wibblewibble]

Prime works fine for me - deliveries to office tho, saves enough money to pay for itself, plus free video.

My last but one place of work banned staff deliveries, and most recent place is getting fed up with managing deliveries (especially contractors!)

A friend in the sticks has one of these:
Secure Parcel Delivery Box for home deliveries, Parcel drop Box
Big enough to take a full case of wine (this was one of his requirements!)

[ladymuck]

We have a caretaker at my place who signs for all deliveries. He will even put the boxes inside my flat so they're kept safe.

[OT]Although it now seems that Royal Mail delivery chaps won't accept a signature from him on Special Delivery items - turns out some deliveries have gone missing by being signed for by someone other than the addressee and the postie lost his job as a result! Not my caretaker nicking stuff, this happened at another place locally.[/OT]

[rogerfederer]

I never used to have a problem with Amazon - they always delivered on time & to my specified secure location if I'm not in.

Last delivery (an iPad) didn't show at all (despite courier claiming it was delivered) & now I know why because my most recent delivery had to be taken in by a passer by. They'd fecking just left it on the pavement! Unbelievable.

In the past they used DPD who were always very good. Now everything is coming via Amazon Logistics & they're absolutely useless.

Certainly won't be ordering anything of value from Amazon again. I'll just pay more from John Lewis & get it deleivered to my local Waitrose

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. There are always good alternatives. The fake review system they employ is enough reason to not bother with the hassle of the unusually unreliable delivery system.