[Fuldagap]

Amazon delivery boys are mostly overburdened and furious throughout the day. They are almost always in a hurry and anxious. Flipkart delivery boys are the opposite of them. Relaxed and not in a hurry. They don't have to bother much about losing their jobs or hearing from their bosses.

Once I ordered a jacket from Decathlon. The delivery fee was Rs. 100. However, they were not able to deliver for many days and finally, the item was lost somewhere. After 2-3 complaints they refunded my entire amount and also sent another jacket albeit a different colour. I was surprised on receiving a jacket for free. Spoke to the delivery boy and he said the company does that sometimes when it is their fault. I gifted the jacket to the delivery guy and ordered a new one which I got within a day. The same delivery boy came to deliver wearing the one I had given to him.

I use Amazon only when it is the last resort. The bikes of Amazon delivery guys are similar to overloaded tractor trolleys transporting sugarcanes. A huge bag will be stuffed with packages hanging both sides of the rear of the bike. Even if it is big backpack, it is scary to see them ride.

[Dry Ice]

Originally Posted by Latheesh

Amazon - Ordered an item as "Gift" option selected with a message but the item came just like any normal delivery.

Just gift or gift wrap?

If you select gift, it will be delivered as is like a normal order, with your message typed on a small piece of paper - which the recipient might miss. How do I know? Well, I have gifted stuff to myself a few times

[Latheesh]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

Just gift or gift wrap?

You are right, I selected gift and typed in the message. There was no gift wrap option for the product. It got delivered like a normal order without any gift message.

[libranof1987]

Originally Posted by Latheesh

You are right, I selected gift and typed in the message. There was no gift wrap option for the product. It got delivered like a normal order without any gift message.

Check the invoice / receipt slip; the message is generally included at the bottom of that slip. When you select gift wrap, it is chargeable, and the package is then gift wrapped.

[harry10]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

Just gift or gift wrap?

If you select gift, it will be delivered as is like a normal order, with your message typed on a small piece of paper - which the recipient might miss. How do I know? Well, I have gifted stuff to myself a few times

This is true.
It's been sometime but I believe there was a nominal charge last time I selected gift wrap while ordering something from Amazon. Don't know if they still do it or it's free.

[ghodlur]

I ordered a Boat TWS earbuds for a cousin on Boat website which showed a delivery in 1 day at Pune as against 5 days seen on Amazon or Flipkart. The order went through and the delivery date changed to 5-7 days. I was assured by customer support of delivery within a day and I fell for it. The item was despatched through Blue dart which confirmed that they are not working for 2 days owing to Ganpati festival. Now Boat is not allowing me to cancel the order, neither re-route to a different delivery address and the only way to cancel the order is to not accept during delivery. The money spent will be refunded in a weeks time as per Boat post the receipt of the product at their warehouse.

In these days of e-commerce such companies do exist. Stay away from company website, better to order with Amazon or Flipkart.

[pedrolourenco]

I am really disgusted with Amazon. Reposting what I posted on the helmet thread.

I ordered the following on Amazon:
https://amzn.in/d/fpmCKO9

Ordered it on 9th August 2024 in Size S for Rs. 3655/-.
Package arrived on 16th August 2024.
- Size Supplied was XL (Ordered S)
- Amazon box was intact but the SMK box was badly torn.
- Helmet was intact.
- Helmet Bag was missing (helmet was in a Studds carrybag).

I immediately tried to get a replacement but the App was showing only the refund option as it was out of stock. I selected this option. The package was picked up on 17th, reached Amazon facility on 18th and has reached the seller on 22nd.
I have still not received my refund despite several calls to customer care which is quite a cumbersome process.

Meanwhile after returning the helmet, I was browsing Amazon and I saw that the helmet is still showing available on Amazon from the same sell but at an increased price of Rs. 4400/-. I again took up the matter with Amazon (again through the cumbersome process) and asked them to cover my refund to replacement. They flatly refused giving some excuse but it was obvious that it was due to the increased price. After a lot of argument, they agreed that if I buy the helmet at the new price they would refund the difference as Amazon credit. I agreed to the same.

I ordered the same helmet again on 17th August 2024 again in Size S.
Received the parcel yesterday.
- Size Supplied was L (Ordered S)
- Amazon box was intact but the SMK box showed signs of being opened and shabbily resealed.
- Helmet was intact.
- Helmet Bag was there this time.

Again I have asked for a refund. Spoke to customer care who were again very rude and not ready to accept their mistake saying it was the fault of the seller. Again no commitment on when I will get my refund.


I ordered the same helmet again for the 3rd time on 27th August 2024 again in Size S. After the bad experience of wrong size and refund (I have still not receive the refund for the first 2 helmets), I opted for COD.
Received the parcel today.
- Size Supplied was L (Ordered S)
- Amazon box was intact but the SMK box was missing.
- Helmet was intact.
- Helmet Bag was there.

Delivery boy was not allowing to check without paying. My wife refused so he opened the package himself. As expected the size was wrong. My wife refused it.
I'm currently talking to Amazon for the refund of the first 2 orders which have still not come.
They have said they have initiated the refund but the app is not reflecting the status.
They just keep blatantly lying that they have initiated the refund.

I will not be buying anything on Amazon if there is another alternative for that product.

[sunilch]

Originally Posted by pedrolourenco

I will not be buying anything on Amazon if there is another alternative for that product.

After two wrong deliveries and pending refund, I am surprised you placed a 3rd order.

For things that need size/fit confirmation (Helmets, Cloths, Shoes, etc) - I personally never buy online. I prefer to visit a store and try out the product before picking it up. Yes it is more expensive than the online purchase but honestly, I don't mind paying that 5-10% extra for the convenience, comfort and store experience in such cases.

Anyways, from my experience - Amazon refunds come a bit delayed but they do come.

[am1m]

Originally Posted by Fuldagap

I gifted the jacket to the delivery guy and ordered a new one which i got within a day. The same delivery boy came to deliver wearing the one i had given to him.

Awesome, awesome! This deserves more than just the thanks button. Kudos to you!

[Vikash Kumawat]

Earlier I liked Flipkart more than Amazon as Flipkart's user interface was easy to use while Amazon's user interface was confusing but over the time I felt that Amazon has the best Customer Care Support, I am not only talking about the online shopping platform, I am talking about the every field, I just love Amazon's Customer Care, if you let them know that my product has not delivered yet, they will initiate the refund immediately.
My last year's shopping experience with both Amazon and Flipkart -
1. Amazon's Experience -
I ordered an iPhone 13 for 42k on Amazon during GIF sale, but on the delivery day the delivery guy rejected the delivery without informing me, and the price was gone for which I bought the iPhone, now the iPhone was selling for 46k, After 2-3 times of talking to Amazon's Customer Care, they promised me that, Sir you buy the iPhone 13 on whichever price, we will give you the compensation so effectively the iPhone will cost you 42k again, even they wrote everything in an email. But still I didn't and ordered an iPhone 14 from Flipkart for 49k.

2. Flipkart Experience -
Now the real drama starts here, I ordered iPhone 14 from Flipkart for 49k, but my product got stuck on the last delivery station, after out for delivery they started giving me the next day dates, after 3 days, I started searching for the Flipkart's delivery stations in Jaipur, the delivery company was E-Kart, which is owned by Flipkart, somehow from a relative I came to know the delivery station's location, which was 5 kilometres from the delivery address, I rushed to them and asked them to deliver my phone to me ( now the iPhone 14 was selling for 57k ), but the employees denied the delivery saying that we will deliver the phones to your doorstep, after too much of waiting I had to came back, but I knew that if they cancel the delivery I won't be able to buy again on the same price, and after 2-3 failed attempts, Flipkart automatically cancels the delivery, but again on the next day I rushed to them, they denied again, but after 1 hour of waiting, I started talking to security guard and somehow made him ready to get me the phone, after some time a delivery guy came there, the security guard convinced him, finally after that delivery guy brought out my phone from inside and delivered that to me, I thanked a lot to the security guard and gave him a tip

[vellatechie]

I have used Amazon for pretty much everything from groceries, medicines to a 700L refrigerator. In the last 5 years, I’ve had ZERO complaints from them.

The only issue I have is they don’t bubble wrap their books while toilet paper roll come in cardboard boxes. Other than that, it’s been a flawless experience for me.

[pedrolourenco]

Originally Posted by sunilch

After two wrong deliveries and pending refund, I am surprised you placed a 3rd order.

That's why I ordered COD. I couldn't find a helmet that I liked in S size anywhere else so had to order with them. Anyway I now found a helmet on Powersports but had to settle for ECE 22.05.

For things that need size/fit confirmation (Helmets, Cloths, Shoes, etc) - I personally never buy online. I prefer to visit a store and try out the product before picking it up. Yes it is more expensive than the online purchase but honestly, I don't mind paying that 5-10% extra for the convenience, comfort and store experience in such cases.

I know this but as I had also mentioned in the riding gear thread, we have very few shops here and these shops also have limited stock.
Additionally even online S size is not easy to find.
Now I know someone will come up and say "You should travel to Bombay, Pune or Bangalore. There are plenty of shops there with a good selection". In fact many people have told me that. If that was practical, I would have done it. Unfortunately I cannot make a trip right now.

Anyways, from my experience - Amazon refunds come a bit delayed but they do come.

I don't mind the delay, but they can never get it right without multiple calls.

[meerkat]

Originally Posted by Latheesh

Amazon - Ordered an item as "Gift" option selected with a message but the item came just like any normal delivery.

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

Just gift or gift wrap?

If you select gift, it will be delivered as is like a normal order, with your message typed on a small piece of paper - which the recipient might miss. How do I know? Well, I have gifted stuff to myself a few times

I'd never, ever, order any gift item meant to be delivered directly to the final recipient, because I'd never know in what condition they'd receive the item!

As an example, I'd recently ordered a SS Casserole from a prominent Amazon seller (Amazon certified). The item was apparently very nice, but I'd received an obviously used one! So I asked for a replacement, clearly specifying the reason.

To my surprise, the replacement too was clearly used! So I had to return that one also for a refund.

Amazon customer service was nice about it, but didn't give me the option to upload images that I'd saved ("we believe you")!

So I'm uploading an image here as an example of what could happen if we choose to send a direct gift.

I realized later that I had suffered a similar fate a couple of years back from the same seller! They are now blacklisted by me. I'd name them here too, if I were sure it wouldn't go against the forum policy.
.

[Dry Ice]

Originally Posted by meerkat

They are now blacklisted by me. I'd name them here too, if I were sure it wouldn't go against the forum policy.

What forum policy would it violate? As long as you don't promote your own commercial interests, you should be fine naming the seller.

[meerkat]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

What forum policy would it violate? As long as you don't promote your own commercial interests, you should be fine naming the seller.

Okay, here it is then (hoping I won't be taken as their business competitor :-) ):

RetailEZ

I suspect they're somehow linked to Amazon themselves, since they sell Amazon's own brands too.

While I appreciate that it is a difficult job in a high-volume business, I cannot condone the obvious lack of clear differentiation between 'New' and 'Returned' items. They apparently just ignore the reason for return, and whether by policy or otherwise, happily ship the returned items right back to other unsuspecting customers! NOT cool.

And what can I say about the unscrupulous customers who have no problem at all returning used items for a full refund ?!

I still believe, though, things being what they are, it is Amazon's responsibility to keep track of such customers, and issue appropriate mandatory guidelines for their sellers to follow.
.