@Siucraym @Bobo_PK I found out by chance that the local news/paper shop uses Amazon to sell also toys for children. Sometimes they have 30 huge boxes in their shop, all labelled to be sent to Amazon. I guess they just outsource all the logistics and storage to Amazon, being able to offer "prime" experince they could not offer otherwise. And they only need to handle the bulk stuff.
So I guess some shops want it that way...
@Siucraym @jollymnemonic tried that: never again. Order a product, shop says it is in stock, but it's not, wait a week, nothing happens, send support email, get automatic answer back, call Hotline, wait hours in the queue, support says "it's in stock, ships tomorrow", wait another week, nothing happens, try to cancel the order, does not work, cancel via PayPal charge back. Order at Amazon again.
@Siucraym @jollymnemonic @hirschnase and good luck with discussions with the shop support when the product is defect. Then they want to send it in for repair, like, you have to wait several weeks. For a brand new product that shipped and came in a broken state. Never ever again.
@hirschnase @Siucraym @jollymnemonic you don't need to do that in Germany. Insist on your rights, wave the Paragraphs, baaam, everything works
@Siucraym I did that when ordering a book, while I haven't found a 10% code or something, there was a small artwork/postcard put into the package which was very nice.
@Siucraym We list reasons for doing this here: https://digitalcourage.de/blog/2020/solidaritaet-statt-amazon (German only, sorry). /c
6) Package comes in an Amazon Prime box anyway since company doesn't actually have it's own distribution system.
@Siucraym
Well, nice idea. But I recommend not to buy anything unless it is urgent. Consumers on strike help us to find the weak spots of the dragon. They want to change the world, we too. Opposite direction, of course
Yeah, it can come out that you are paying more than 35% extra for the conveinience of letting an online store handle communication with locally produced tools.
$150 + shipping from a manufacturer vs. $235 + shipping from an online distributor in my case.
And you can send it directly to them for repairs!
@Siucraym doing that for years already.
It works 😊
amazon is great for the reviews but it baffles me that more people don't do this
@Siucraym the company exists. Under normal circumstances it would ship. Today it says Due to COVID-19 unable to ship...
@Siucraym
[1/3] And now, what it is like in real world:
You have to do an internet investigation to find another shop for that product, then you have a 90s shop system. If you don't quit at this point, you try to pay for your item but can only use bank transfer as payment method. A few days later, after you did the transfer, you get a mail, that your item is not on stock, even if the shop system said so. If you're lucky, you get a shipment note another few days later.
@Siucraym
[2/3] When your item is delivered and it is okay, you're fine. If not, you have to mail the shop, wait for an answer explaining that you had to check the item before signing the delivery. Further mails later the shop agree to replace your item but you have to pay for the shipment. After you shipped it back and the item was checked by the shop you get a mail, that they will send it back to the manufacturer before replacing your item.
@Siucraym
[3/3] And if you're lucky you get a working item after a month. I think it is a good idea not to buy at Amazon. I use some known good shops, if they offer the same product. But I tried to buy on unknown shops a few times and every single time I had problems like this.
@Siucraym Amazon revenue is on an uptick during #coronavirus despite their copious wrongdoing. Ppl trapped at home: plz #boycott #Amazon and read this: https://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/202x/2020/04/29/Leaving-Amazon
@Siucraym @fruechtchen This is exactly how I reason. Also trying to avoid products from countries with policies I don't agree with like China and the USA.
@Siucraym what's "DDG"? Couldn't find it anywhere
@Siucraym 6) Keep Amazon from avoiding taxes, somehow.
🇳🇱
@Siucraym I think the only reason i use amazon is the free next day shipping honestly.
@Siucraym Same applies to hotels.com and similar. 🙂
@fabiux @Siucraym Yes, I sometimes use amazon or booking.com for a general search and then try to find the articles or hotels from their original sites. 👌
Not everytime possible for products but here in Germany we also have other mail-order companies like OTTO or the second-hand store Medimops and I rather buy from them than from Amazon. 🤔
Beside trying to avoid ordering at all when possible of course.
@Siucraym There's a lovely irony in browsing on Amazon, for then to leave and buy directly. :)
@Siucraym https://www.amazon.com/Colgate-Pasta-dental-protecci%C3%B3n-caries/dp/B01BNEWDFQ/ref=sr_1_18?dchild=1&keywords=toothpaste&qid=1592485461&refinements=p_72%3A2661618011&rnid=2661617011&sr=8-18&th=1
find me this product from a better place... they don't seem to sell it directly by themselves
@Siucraym Although I have to admit sometimes there seems no way in contacting the company or finding their shop outside off A. That's truly dissapointing.