Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
#2551
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
its also a state of mind of people that load up for reselling - that are already looking at making a profit even before the order is fulfilled. I knew people that would place an ad on Craigslist when they see an offer that they have barely placed an order for. And when that profit realization goes for a toss with an unfulfilled order, they whine about the merchant. I don't own Amazon stock nor do I work for them - as a person that buys just about everything from household stuff to entertainment to electronics to dog food on Amazon, I am yet to experience something that leaves me with a heartburn. These days, I have stopped price comparing much - the convenience of online ordering and the quickness of Prime shipping saves me time at the aisles of a Costco, gas price for getting there and paying state sales tax (althoguh this is coming to an end in CA)
#2552
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
#2553
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Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
Prime gets priority - fair and simple - because of the premium you pay for the service. and when a ton of orders are placed with Prime option, its pretty obvious that with limited stock, they get filled up leaving you with little or none to fulfill remaining orders. Besides, retailers don't empty their entire stock for a sale. Its limited quantities to balance inventory. In a world of rapid order placements thanks to the internet, there are times when orders are booked in excess of available inventory. After years of e-commerce, is it that difficult to fathom this result ? so its a hit or miss. With Amazon, its mostly a hit and rarely a miss - don't take my word for it - look at the ratings for the merchant. 1 out of 5 may dislike it but when you increase that 20 fold, that does not mean 20 out of 100 won't like it. Now scale it to a million and you have no validity instating Amazon ALWAYS cancels orders. That's total BS and a deliberate misrepresentation.
And it it were indeed real and you were a customer whose orders are always canceled by Amazon, you better go have your future read by a tarot card reader - cos you seem to be a 'specially selected' candidate for this treatment
And it it were indeed real and you were a customer whose orders are always canceled by Amazon, you better go have your future read by a tarot card reader - cos you seem to be a 'specially selected' candidate for this treatment
All I'm saying is that the person may have valid reasons for not liking Amazon. We may not understand those reasons, but doesn't mean they aren't there.
#2554
Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
laidbacklarkin, thanks for the info about Prime. I realized they got priority in shipping but I didn't realize that Amazon ever accepted more orders than they have inventory which is why I don't understand why they run OOS for anyone. They should simply cut off orders when they run out and then nobody gets disappointed. Perhaps there's an issue with people who delay at the final submit order button and there can be duplicates. I don't know if they lock a copy for you for a certain amount of time.
I have no problem with Prime people getting priority shipping, but Amazon should still have reserved the copies of the non-Prime people who ordered successfully. What seems to happen is that when Amazon decides something is a price mistake (which seems to be more often than suits my tastes) they punish mostly the non Prime people with cancellations because of this priority shipping (and probably to try to make them buy Prime which I simply won't do on principle). Now I might buy Prime someday if they really expanded their free Prime streaming library, but right now it's too limited for me.
I do have a lot of orders canceled by Amazon... probably because I have this magical ability to find deals that happen to be price mistakes (and I don't know that at the time). If I knew they were price mistakes when ordering, then I'd not spend as much time (as I did with the CD orders) so if they got canceled I wouldn't be so unhappy. Then of course it's annoying to hear the stories of some people getting huge promo credits for their inconvenience and others getting none.
I've said many times that I still buy from Amazon, but lots of people treat them like they are angels and make no mistakes. I'm just saying that they mess up quite a lot in my opinion, and they are not the shining example of online retailing near perfection others have made them out to be. No, to me, they are just a small step up from BB. I still buy from both, but I hate never knowing if I'll actually get what I order from them. I'm still probably successful on 3/4ths of my orders, but it should be much closer to 100%. At times it almost seems like they are watching my orders and say "uhoh, Manzana just ordered X... should we decide to deem it a price mistake and cancel his order? Let me roll the dice and see..."
I have no problem with Prime people getting priority shipping, but Amazon should still have reserved the copies of the non-Prime people who ordered successfully. What seems to happen is that when Amazon decides something is a price mistake (which seems to be more often than suits my tastes) they punish mostly the non Prime people with cancellations because of this priority shipping (and probably to try to make them buy Prime which I simply won't do on principle). Now I might buy Prime someday if they really expanded their free Prime streaming library, but right now it's too limited for me.
I do have a lot of orders canceled by Amazon... probably because I have this magical ability to find deals that happen to be price mistakes (and I don't know that at the time). If I knew they were price mistakes when ordering, then I'd not spend as much time (as I did with the CD orders) so if they got canceled I wouldn't be so unhappy. Then of course it's annoying to hear the stories of some people getting huge promo credits for their inconvenience and others getting none.
I've said many times that I still buy from Amazon, but lots of people treat them like they are angels and make no mistakes. I'm just saying that they mess up quite a lot in my opinion, and they are not the shining example of online retailing near perfection others have made them out to be. No, to me, they are just a small step up from BB. I still buy from both, but I hate never knowing if I'll actually get what I order from them. I'm still probably successful on 3/4ths of my orders, but it should be much closer to 100%. At times it almost seems like they are watching my orders and say "uhoh, Manzana just ordered X... should we decide to deem it a price mistake and cancel his order? Let me roll the dice and see..."
#2555
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
Wah wah wah.
Sometimes you get a deal and you should be happy, other times you don't and it sucks. Doesn't mean every company out there is the devil.
Sometimes you get a deal and you should be happy, other times you don't and it sucks. Doesn't mean every company out there is the devil.
#2556
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Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
I have no problem with Prime people getting priority shipping, but Amazon should still have reserved the copies of the non-Prime people who ordered successfully. What seems to happen is that when Amazon decides something is a price mistake (which seems to be more often than suits my tastes) they punish mostly the non Prime people with cancellations because of this priority shipping (and probably to try to make them buy Prime which I simply won't do on principle).
We thought you'd like to know that we shipped your items, and that this completes your order. Your order is being shipped and cannot be changed by you or by our customer service department.
Your estimated delivery date is:
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Your Shipment Details
Amazon.com items (Sold by Amazon.com LLC):
Life / Planet Earth: Special Edition (Both Narrated by David Attenborough) [Blu-ray]
$29.99
#2557
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
I do have a lot of orders canceled by Amazon... probably because I have this magical ability to find deals that happen to be price mistakes (and I don't know that at the time). If I knew they were price mistakes when ordering, then I'd not spend as much time (as I did with the CD orders) so if they got canceled I wouldn't be so unhappy. Then of course it's annoying to hear the stories of some people getting huge promo credits for their inconvenience and others getting none.
I've said many times that I still buy from Amazon, but lots of people treat them like they are angels and make no mistakes. I'm just saying that they mess up quite a lot in my opinion, and they are not the shining example of online retailing near perfection others have made them out to be. No, to me, they are just a small step up from BB. I still buy from both, but I hate never knowing if I'll actually get what I order from them. I'm still probably successful on 3/4ths of my orders, but it should be much closer to 100%. At times it almost seems like they are watching my orders and say "uhoh, Manzana just ordered X... should we decide to deem it a price mistake and cancel his order? Let me roll the dice and see..."
Point# 1: So you aim to take advantage of price mistakes knowingly ? What does that speak of your ethics as a customer ? A business transaction, in an ideal sense, is based on fairness on part of both merchant and customer. I am not trying to wax eloquent here but just think of it it yourself and do some role playing - what if YOU were the merchant ? Would you expect to fulfill an order where you know you will be making a loss on an item ? And then you go to the extent of saying as if you have a Plan B for your intentionally ordering on a price mistake. And that is an expectation to be compensated for by a Gift certificate should the order be canceled. And your justification for both these mistakes is that if someone else can benefit from it, so should you - I laud your sense of entitlement on this. So when both of these don't happen, you blame the merchant for it ? Try running a business of Amazon's scale and you'll know what it takes beyond just whining. I sincerely hope you have not muddied Amazon's ratings by posting negative feedback based on such ordering and transactions. And for your own benefit, please do not admit on a public forum to such unethical practices.
Point# 2: Amazon's a small step away from Bestbuy ? Really ? Here's an example of my recent experience with Amazon.com. I placed an order for Deadwood complete series on Bluray when priced at $73.49. The order shipped the day before Bestbuy priced theirs at $64.99. Since just about any rare issue I've had with Amazon involved no more than an email, I sent them an email asking if they would pricematch Bestbuy's price. They said 'No'. The reason they gave was 'with widely fluctuating retail prices all the time, it would be difficult to do that'. So I left it there - you win some, you lose some. The next day I received an email saying that they were giving me a $10 credit on a future order because they could not pricematch BB's price and that they intended to stay the most competitive pricing. All in a day. Do you expect this service at BB ? Heck you go to that store and none of those blu shirts even pay attention to you. And this is AFTER battling traffic, spending your money on gas driving to a store front to talk to a person face to face. And here you are with Amazon, as impersonal as it can get with email, yet matter resolved amicably to create a level of goodwill that will make you shop with them again. And again.
The above is one of several such good experiences I've had with Amazon since being their customer from 2001. Once someone shipped me a bootleg of 'Blue Planet' and I complained to Amazon - they gave me the option of a complete refund or credit. And guess what !! I didn't take either because its not their fault that someone on their marketplace misrepresents an item and involves in shady practices. I did post negative feedback on the seller warning other prospective customers - but why should I take advantage of Amazon refunding me on it ? And I am not alone with my experiences. I don't scout around for price mistakes to take advantage of. Simply because I can wear that shoe that Amazon's wearing and know what it means if I were to be the merchant and someone was taking advantage of me.
Its not an argument I am attempting to win. Its to let you know that you win some, you lose some - take it in your stride and move on as there's always a next one. And try to be fair in your practices and intent - the world will be a better place for all of us if we are ethical. By laws of probability, you may win today taking advantage of a price mistake but you'll realize its impact when something more valuable is taken from you. Life has a way of teaching you such lessons.
For the rest of this forum's users, am sorry for digressing from the deals themselves but this was something I couldn't digest simply from the perspective of fairness.
#2558
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
^ Manzana's comment said he made orders not knowing they were price mistakes. But your points are well taken. I have never heard anyone make buying movies sound more difficult than Manzana, and no offense intended to him.
#2559
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
Sorry, my posts are not meant to offend anyone either. We are all here to share the good deals - all I am saying is it would be great if we could share good practices too. The value of this forum will be multiplied a 1000 fold if the two can be tied all the time.
#2560
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
Once someone shipped me a bootleg of 'Blue Planet' and I complained to Amazon - they gave me the option of a complete refund or credit. And guess what !! I didn't take either because its not their fault that someone on their marketplace misrepresents an item and involves in shady practices. I did post negative feedback on the seller warning other prospective customers - but why should I take advantage of Amazon refunding me on it ?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...odeId=13832201
#2561
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
You do know that if the seller is at fault, Amazon will get that money back from the seller, right? They can debit that seller's account.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...odeId=13832201
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...odeId=13832201
#2562
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Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
1) My Fry's is just too far away - 11 miles. How many of us on DVD Talk would love a Fry's to be just within an hour? I have a Fry's about 30 miles from me and it's a little hassle, but I'd rather it be there than not at all. I feel fortunate to have access to one.
2) My Ultimate Electronics discontinued DVDs and Blu-rays. Everyone else's seem to have them. The thing about this statement is I remember him repeating this in several threads over and over. The closest UE to me was 10 hours away in Lubbock (it closed) but the average person wouldn't bother with repeatedly posting such information in every UE bargains thread just to point out how unfair it is.
3) X item at Amazon is for $26 but if it were $23 it would be at my buying threshold. Coupled with... X item at Amazon is $23 and I can't find a filler item to justify paying more just to get free shipping.
4) My favorite....Had I known that X item would be $6 now at Y store I would've never purchased it for $8 at Z store two months ago.
I'm sure there are hundreds more (including his Best Buy's propensity to deny all PMs and coupons, his Target never carrying the items he wants, etc.) but I have better things to do this summer.
I personally am thankful for this forum & thread and super thankful for Lizard, because both have saved me hundreds and hundreds of dollars over the years!
#2563
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
#2564
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
I do wonder how someone can find so many annoyances in what is supposed to be a fun hobby. If you're not having fun 99% of the time with a hobby, you're doing it wrong.
#2565
Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
#2566
Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
Now back to the deals....
Amazon 6/7/12 DOTD - Star Trek: The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection $26.49
Amazon 6/7/12 DOTD - Star Trek: The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection $26.49
#2567
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Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
You're simply stating the obvious. I like Manzana and read all of his long-winded posts, but he has the uncanny knack of finding something negative or a drawback to a deal that doesn't allow him to justify purchasing it, when said deal usually saves the rest of us a lot of money.
#2568
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Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
laidbacklarkin, thanks for the info about Prime. I realized they got priority in shipping but I didn't realize that Amazon ever accepted more orders than they have inventory which is why I don't understand why they run OOS for anyone. They should simply cut off orders when they run out and then nobody gets disappointed. Perhaps there's an issue with people who delay at the final submit order button and there can be duplicates. I don't know if they lock a copy for you for a certain amount of time.
#2569
Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
So, I definitely rant and complain a lot, but I never said Amazon was that bad, but they aren't that great either. Can I rate them a 7 out of 10, BB a 6 out of 10, and Walmart a 5 out of 10? Target would get the best score... 8 out of 10. I try to be fair in my criticism. I stand by my statements that I think it's uncool that they cancel people's orders based on inventory issues when I think any good inventory system should be smart enough not to take more orders than they have items. I think Amazon makes a lot of price mistakes. I don't think I've done anything unethical with or to them. The closest I come to unethical is I will order stuff from any company even if I know it's a price mistake, but as I said if I know it's a mistake in advance (sometimes it's obvious but these Amazon ones were not to me) I don't raise a fuss about it nor ask for credits.
Yes, I stand by that statement. BB B&M stores have been awful to me in accepting coupons over the years, but they are getting better. As a whole (especially with last year's BF/CM deals and these ongoing specials like The Three Stooges set for $45) I think I get some good deals from BB. I have spent a lot more with BB over the last 1-2 years than Amazon because BB had better deals. It's not even close. When BB canceled a couple orders last BF, they automatically sent me $10 digital coupons for each without asking. Amazon has never sent me any coupons for mistakes they made unless I asked, and that's very YMMV.
Your impression of me as a rabble rouser whenever I walk inside a store is very wrong. Only 3 people know me at my local BB store where I've had the most deal "denials", and all 3 of them LIKE me. Maybe the manager with whom I've had a few coupon discussions over the years remembers me and doesn't like me, but I already know the moment he appears any deal with a coupon is dead. Thankfully he's in the back most of the time. BB even gave me free Silver status 2 years in a row though I don't meet their threshold because they say I'm one of their best customers. (That should make you laugh.) I guess only DVD Talkers know how evil I am. I'm treated like any other customer at BB which is YMMV... sometimes I walk out happy, other times disappointed (usually due to them being OOS of what I want or coupon denials). I neither like nor hate BB, just as I don't really like or hate Amazon or Walmart. They are just places with occasional deals but with which I can find many faults to complain about. The only store I actively like right now is Target, and I can find fault with them... mainly such low inventory and selection, such as having so few copies of Disney BDs on Tuesday requiring me to go shortly after they open rather than when it would be more convenient. They only had 4 or 6 copies of some of the Studio Ghibli BDs when they were released!
I'm sorry to everyone for digressing too. When I post my little rants, at first they are partially on topic about that deal or store, and I don't expect that most people are going to respond in detail. Usually it's "there goes Manzana again". I probably wouldn't have said anything here except laidbacklarkin said I was purposefully going out of my to try to rip off places knowing they are price mistakes and complaining when they are canceled. That's not true.
We obviously have had different experiences with Amazon and BB. I apologize to people reading that sometimes I get carried away and disrupt the threads. A little ranting helps me feel better, but too much ranting annoys people. I have trouble knowing where to draw the line. Yes, we all appreciate Lizard's good work. On rare occasion I actually order some stuff from Amazon (though the last 2 items (Camp Nowhere and Licence to Kill BDs) I had planned to order once I had $25 worth of other stuff got jacked back up in price as Amazon so often does, so I didn't order them after all).
Last edited by Manzana; 06-07-12 at 05:26 PM.
#2570
Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
You're simply stating the obvious. I like Manzana and read all of his long-winded posts, but he has the uncanny knack of finding something negative or a drawback to a deal that doesn't allow him to justify purchasing it, when said deal usually saves the rest of us a lot of money. I am waiting for the glorious day when a deal is posted and he thanks the OP and is happy about his purchase. Some of my favorites in the past that I remember reading!
Last edited by Manzana; 06-08-12 at 08:59 AM.
#2571
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Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
^ LOL. I have no idea what your record post is, but keep posting because I honestly always look forward to reading!
#2572
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
I was VERY disappointed in the obviously underhanded deal Amazon cut for themselves with imposing California tax. I too had near unconditional affection and admiration for Amazon, but this incident showed them to be just as corrupt as any other corporation. Okay, that's capitalism and the way it works, I have to choose not to patronize them or at least modify my patronage. Not so easy when you are nearing monopoly status. They do a lot right, there's no doubt about it, but this was wrong and a disservice to their customers. So my cynicism and disappointment is reinforced and I move on, sadder but wiser as the song goes.
#2573
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Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
I am upset that they are starting to charge sales tax here in Texas, but they have guaranteed jobs for Texans which makes the deal a little easier to swallow.
Does anyone know if you pre-order something before July 1st (the effective date on Texas sales taxes) do they charge sales tax if the item ships after 7/1?
Does anyone know if you pre-order something before July 1st (the effective date on Texas sales taxes) do they charge sales tax if the item ships after 7/1?
#2574
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Amazon Blu-ray Discounts and Deals Thread #27
Here in CA they are creating approx. 1,000 jobs and for that they are being allowed to pocket 75-85% of all the tax revenue they generate. What's wrong with this picture?
#2575
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Thread Starter
Now back to the deals....
Amazon 6/7/12 DOTD - Star Trek: The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection $26.49
Amazon 6/7/12 DOTD - Star Trek: The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection $26.49
Mr. Wrong $5.99
Before and After $5.99
Duets $5.99
The Wicker Man (2006) (Rated and Unrated) $6.68
Serenity $7.52
U-571 [Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy] $7.54
Doomsday $7.54
Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball $7.54
Big $7.99
The Illusionist $7.99
Dirty Dancing (20th Anniversary Edition) $7.99
Miami Vice (Unrated Director's Edition) $7.99
The Thing $7.99
Point Break $7.99
Brooklyn's Finest $7.99
Mr & Mrs Smith $7.99
Awakenings $7.99
Orphan $7.99
The Marine 2 $7.99
Sling Blade $7.99
The English Patient $7.99
Robocop $7.99
Red Planet $7.99
The Jackal (Combo Blu-ray and Standard DVD) $8.21
Rocky (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo in Blu-ray Packaging) (1976) $8.29
Roving Mars $8.45
Thomas & Friends: Misty Island Rescue (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) $9.03
Henry's Crime $9.16
Let Me In $9.29
The Brothers Grimm $9.50
Blue Crush 2 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) $9.58
Shall We Dance? $9.69
Flags of Our Fathers $9.93
Spider-Man (+ UltraViolet Digital Copy) (Pre-order) $11.99
Spider-Man 2 (+ UltraViolet Digital Copy) (Pre-order) $11.99
Buster Keaton Short Films Collection: 1920-1923 (Three-Disc Ultimate Edition) $27.96
Last edited by lizard; 06-07-12 at 07:45 PM.