some amazon stupidity

[Kali]

a few weeks ago I ordered some COQ-10 from them, sort of my fault - it was hotter than hell that week and when they arrived they were sort of melted and stuck together. I set up a return/refund and they told me to keep them. they were close to $50.

today I received another order that included a $3 and change slinky toy that I added to get free shipping (yes I am cheap and do things like this, not paying for prime - I can wait 2 days for stuff and usually I make the limit easy but not in this case this time)

they sent it in a plain plastic mailer envelope with my other item (heavy denim work shorts) of course the little box was trashed so no good for a gift, but inside the slinky was fucked up right in the middle as if a kid had already gotten a hold of it. not sure how that happend in transit or if it was already a return item but still...the point:

they actually want me to send it back.


I get that the supplements are garbage and they don't want them back, but why do they want a stretched out $3 slinky back? I mean they have let me keep an entire bed frame that was fine, just the wrong size before! if it was suspicion that I was a liar wouldn't they want to see the jar of $50 pills???!!!

[mercuryblues]

1. It depends on the seller

[Kali]

4. hmmm I think it was just Amazon itself? because it was about the shipping...???

[Ferrets are Cool]

13. This

And, just so the OP knows, having prime doesn't mean you get things faster than 2 days. Hell, I NEVER get anything second day air anymore. I DO get some things in two days, but only because we have a center here in Mobile.

[Kali]

15. dont care about speed, I do little additions to avoid paying shipping.

usually have to get to $25

[intrepidity]

2. Maybe it depends who the "seller" actually is? nt

[Sneederbunk]

3. Anyone with a slinky should be immediately suspect.

[Kali]

16. ...

[Phoenix61]

5. Another source for supplements etc

is iherb.com. I’ve used them for years and have been super happy with them. Interestingly, there’s some stuff they won’t ship during the summer because of the melt factor.

[Kali]

17. I think I have ordered something from them before

[CurtEastPoint]

6. as someone mentioned, check to see who the seller is. If it's not Amazon that may be the reason

[hlthe2b]

7. While I don't blame you for forgoing "Prime," when I was debating whether or not I got anywhere near

the cost of Prime with the features they now offer, it was a tough choice given the annual increase $$. But ultimately, it was the fact that they don't seem to hassle Prime members on returns and I've always gotten "benefit-of-the-doubt" (and usually my refund as soon as tracking shows I sent the item back, when required) that moved the needle. That and the fact I've been able to obtain some items that are damned hard to find elsewhere for a price that eliminates some prohibitive shipping fees I've encountered previously (and some occasionally good video offerings) I've kept PRIME. But it is a harder decision every year.

This isn't a help to you and I suspect you may be right that they "test" others on petty things with respect to returns. The irony is we all know where that "slinky" is destined to go.

BTW, I've always had good luck with vitacost.com for supplements and vitamins/minerals. They have frequent coupons too.

[MerryHolidays]

12. Spot-on

I used to be a huge fan of Amazon, but with the huge proliferation of third-party sellers, I have my doubts about many things. It is still an important source for us, but I honestly think it's very good to explore alternative sources and not be too dependent on them.

For example, on electronics, I am increasingly finding Best Buy a better deal (either in terms of price or the ability to get it that day). This summer, we had an urgent situation with a family member whose laptop died (turned out to be water damage), and we HAD to get a back-up computer that day. BB was $250 cheaper than either Amazon or the Apple Store, and we got it that day in a five-minute stop at a BB store. I appreciate that electronics is different than what the OP is saying, but you've given her some options.

The one thing that keeps me going with Amazon Prime is its return policy, which is extremely favorable. On several occasions (primarily during the pandemic), we didn't even have to return certain items. I have to give Amazon huge credit (no pun intended), as they accept virtually anything for a return for several weeks, usually to UPS or Whole Foods (and the Amazon Store until it went defunct). I have NEVER been hassled by Amazon on a single return for more than 15 years.

[Kali]

18. it would probably be more responsible of me to just throw it in our junk pile

and not ship it back to Nevada or whereever. count my postage as half off and forget about it all.


is there any use for a stretched out slinky?

[TheRealNorth]

8. One of the reasons I have not bought from Amazon as much as I used to...

I find that they make it less transparent on who the seller is or even if what you are buying is new or used. You can figure it out, but it feels like having to read the fine print.

[leftieNanner]

9. The Supplement Probably Cannot Be Resold

Who knows about the stupid toy?

I never shop at Amazon because they are just terrible in all ways.

Sorry you had such a hassle.

[Kali]

19. yeah I feel mildly guilty sometimes

but at least I help keep the local fedex and ups drivers employed, and the USPS running.

[Raven123]

10. Wonder if it makes a difference that the coQ 10 is taken internally.

[Shermann]

11. The "keep the refunded item" thing has been trending on the MSM of late

People are going to abuse it and roll the dice. So, merchants probably only allow that a fraction of the time to keep people honest.

[Kali]

20. I have been pretty lucky or skilled at what I order

don't have many returns or mistakes. the bed frame thing was years ago, they sent two when I only ordered one they told me to keep the second.

[Nictuku]

14. I saw a report that the returned items all go to this big warehouse and are destroyed

I have never tested this, but I suspect that the return package scan for shipping is what triggers the actual refund. Not opening/inspecting the contents.