My beloved Kindled died today, and I immediately ordered a replacement. Free one-day delivery was an option, so I made sure to get that and order it within the specified timeframe. I got an email from Amazon, confirming that it would arrive today. Out of nowhere, hours later, I got another email with the delivery date changed to tomorrow. There was no explanation. And when I called customer service, they weren’t really helpful - apologetic, but not helpful.
The shipping was free, so I can’t request a shipping refund. Do you think it’s within reason to ask them for a discount on my order? It’s not a HUGE issue, but I feel that the fact that they guaranteed delivery by a certain date and then just changed it out of the blue should count for something. And next time I order something on an expedited basis, I will probably wonder if it will actually get there. Just as a note, we don’t have any weather issues or other conditions in the area that would account for the delay.
No, I don’t think it is reasonable. One day shipping is a miracle in itself. That it is free, even more so. A one day delay in winter before Christmas is not unreasonable.
The delay is not due to weather (no snow, fire, floods, etc.).
I agree one day shipping is great, but I do have an issue with guaranteeing delivery when they can’t do it. I would have zero issue if they just didn’t have that option. I guess something just bugs me about guaranteeing the date, even though they didn’t have to do that, and then just changing it out of nowere.
I guess I will watch the replies to see if I am in the minority.
I think this time of year, our expectations have to be lowered a bit wrt any deliveries. And at least they let you know…
What really bugs me, though, is paying for a quick delivery and it not happening. USPS, I’m talking about you! Last Christmas, I sent three boxes the first week of December in flat rate, two day boxes. All of them took four days. I probably could have sent them regular mail without paying for two day delivery and they would have arrived at the same time…
ETA…last year I also fumed because a package had not arrived at my house as indicated. Tracked the next morning and they indicated it had been delivered to me at 11:45pm! Yes, there it was on my front step…
I ordered gift cards from Cheesecake Factory on 11/27 and am still awaiting USPS delivery. I mailed flat rate USPS boxes since then to CO, AZ and CA. All have been received. Am annoyed at Cheesecake Factory–they said wait until Monday. Grrrr!
I wouldn’t be terribly annoyed if one day turned to two day, but this 2week delay is jamming up my gift box that I was going to mail family including the gift card! Many things I ordered since the gift cards have already arrived usps!
I agree that being a bit patient this time of year is important (and gracious). The speed of deliveries in general this time of year is pretty amazing-- and watching our UPS guys literally running from house to house in our neighborhood is exhausting!
Paying for premium delivery and not getting it though-- that’s another story.
I don’t think its unreasonable to ask for a discount. But I also don’t think its unreasonable for them to deny it.
I have ordered a lot of stuff from Amazon over the years. In the vast majority of cases, packages arrive when they said they would (most cases in 2 days). But sometimes they don’t. I can’t get upset about that. Track record in my experience is very good. Don’t expect to ask for something the few times it isn’t. But others will differ. Worst thing they do is say no, right?
Amazon has sometimes been disappointing in their delivery, but IMO they over-promise to begin with. Most of the time it really doesn’t matter if I get my dog food on Tuesday or Wednesday. The one that burns me though is UPS. I subscribed to their email notification so I frequently get emails from them. I’ll get an email one day telling me I’m scheduled to get a delivery the next day; then the next day, I’ll get an email telling me that “because no one was home,” they didn’t leave the package. (1) Either I or my husband are always home. (2) The package in question doesn’t require that anyone be home to accept it.
I genuinely think it’s due to lazy UPS delivery guys.
OK, that’s fair enough. I guess I technically do pay for the delivery through my Prime membership, but not on an individual basis.
It’s definitely NOT a big deal - it was more the disappointment of an expectation. But I see all of your points and maybe will adjust expectations a bit (although sometimes I really do have to rely on this really fast shipping).
In any case, I spoke too soon. Amazon ended up being very gracious and offering a discount (from an earlier conversation). I let them know that it was very generous of them and most appreciated.
I ordered a swimsuit for my daughter (due to swimsuit emergency; she needed a racing suit that fit by Wednesday) last Friday, with Prime delivery scheduled for Tuesday by 8pm. It went from the East Coast to the Dallas UPS sorting hub, where it was misdirected onto a truck headed to New Jersey rather than the one to Oklahoma.
So now I have a suit I don’t need, because I absolutely had to have one by Wednesday, and eventually found one locally.
I can’t figure out a good reason to argue for anything more than free return shipping.
I think they are over promising right now - it’s great that you got a discount. I ordered an item last week and was offered a $5 coupon if I would be willing to wait until Thursday to get my item. Well, I wanted it over the weekend so declined the coupon. Sunday I got an email that the package was misdelivered via USPS to the wrong hub. It sat there for a day, then moved to the next hub. Then to my local post office. Then to my house. On Thursday. Yes, I’d like that coupon now!
@HImom, I haven’t received my CCF cards either. I wanted to send 2 as gifts tomorrow, before I go out of town for a week. I’m worried they won’t make it to their final destination in time for Christmas now… So I may wind up buying a couple more, with only one slice of joy. Frustrating, for sure.
The USPS ‘2 day’ service is really 2-3 day service, and I’ve had it take 6. I’ve mailed packages to my daughters when they were living about an hour apart, and one takes 2 days and one 3, and that’s the information on the shipping tickets.
When I sent popcorn from the popcorn factory to 4 college kids, it shipped from somewhere in Illinois, and was scheduled to be delivered to all 4 on a Monday, which happened to be a holiday. Laramie, Wy (dorm)? Delivered on Monday. San Diego(apt)? Tuesday. Boulder, Co (dorm)? Monday. And Melbourne Fl (dorm?) Friday. Yes, 5 days later than estimated. All her packages are delayed at least 2 days.
OP, there may not be a weather issue where you live, but there may be one where the package originates or passes through. It’s been really cold in the west, really windy in the midwest and upstate NY. Many semis blown over.
Got my Cheesecake factory cards in the mail within a week (ordered them with the 2 free slice black Friday) - so weird that two of you are still waiting.
Of the 3 items I ordered from Amazon recently, only one arrived on time. One was lost in the handoff to USPS and they refunded my money and gave me an extra month of Prime, and the other was lost and they re-sent it, and again added another month of Prime. It was irritating that this early in the holiday shipping season things were so messed up, but I felt that Amazon did the right thing in compensating me in both instances.
A delay at this time of year is reasonable. The fact that Amazon gave the OP an update on the delivery ‘problem’ makes it a non-issue IMHO.
The problems I’ve had with Amazon deliveries is when they use the USPS instead of UPS. OMG. The mess over Thanksgiving weekend was epic. Our regular carrier was on vacation (I know, how rude and inconsiderate). The ‘contract hire’ carriers certainly lacked training and skills. I was expecting a package on Friday. The update said ‘attempt to deliver, no safe location’ this was stamped at 10:55 a.m. No notice was left. I called the local office the next day and was told ‘carrier couldn’t find the house because it was dark’. Um…at 10:55 a.m.??? Like, in the MORNING! They promised to deliver it that day (Saturday).
No package by late afternoon. Another call to the USPS office. They determined the package was left in the ‘notice left, customer will pick up’ bin. Um NO.
Our regular carrier finally delivered the package very late Monday evening. Turns out, the ‘contract carriers’ failed to deliver the Friday, Saturday or Sunday Amazon packages. No explanation given.
So…the lesson here is …hope the shipper is UPS and NOT USPS.
