ADVICE NEEDED: Amazon.co.uk "new customer" coupon?
09-22-03, 12:21 PM
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QUESTION: Amazon.co.uk "new customer" coupon?
There is a £3 coupon for Amazon.co.uk for new customers. It pops up if you haven't visited Amazon.co.uk before (or if you delete your cookies for them). I was under the impression that, yes, I am a new Amazon.co.UK customer because I had never ordered from the UK site before.
However, after I registered for the coupon, the next day I received the email below from Amazon.co.uk regarding my ineligibility for the coupon. As far as I know, in the past it didn't matter if you had shopped with the "Amazon group."
This is very disappointing and misleading, IMHO. Any way around this? I'd love to be able to use the coupon.
We're sorry--you don't appear to be eligible for the introductory offer.
Your registration has been cancelled due to a problem with the information you submitted. This introductory gift certificate is only available to visitors who satisfy the eligibility criteria which apply to this introductory gift certificate, including the requirement that the person registering must not have previously ordered from or registered with Amazon.
Visit our Welcome page to start browsing the latest offers from our huge range of products.
An introductory gift certificate will be available to any new customer to Amazon who receives a pop-up window with details of the introductory gift certificate. A new customer is someone who has not ordered anything from, or is not registered with the Amazon group. Please note, registration is per e-mail address and, therefore, several persons who otherwise satisfy the eligibility criteria, but who share the same e-mail address, can not
use that e-mail address to receive more than one introductory gift certificate. Registration with Amazon must be by the e-mail account holder.
We will hold the information provided by you in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
However, after I registered for the coupon, the next day I received the email below from Amazon.co.uk regarding my ineligibility for the coupon. As far as I know, in the past it didn't matter if you had shopped with the "Amazon group."
This is very disappointing and misleading, IMHO. Any way around this? I'd love to be able to use the coupon.
We're sorry--you don't appear to be eligible for the introductory offer.
Your registration has been cancelled due to a problem with the information you submitted. This introductory gift certificate is only available to visitors who satisfy the eligibility criteria which apply to this introductory gift certificate, including the requirement that the person registering must not have previously ordered from or registered with Amazon.
Visit our Welcome page to start browsing the latest offers from our huge range of products.
An introductory gift certificate will be available to any new customer to Amazon who receives a pop-up window with details of the introductory gift certificate. A new customer is someone who has not ordered anything from, or is not registered with the Amazon group. Please note, registration is per e-mail address and, therefore, several persons who otherwise satisfy the eligibility criteria, but who share the same e-mail address, can not
use that e-mail address to receive more than one introductory gift certificate. Registration with Amazon must be by the e-mail account holder.
We will hold the information provided by you in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Last edited by DVDude!; 09-22-03 at 07:06 PM.
09-22-03, 07:26 PM
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Drat, and I wanted to use this coupon too! Perhaps one must sign up with a whole new login, password, name etc., like teh Columbia House accounts...
09-22-03, 08:54 PM
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You may be right, DonnachaOne. I used a different login, a different password and a different email address. I even deleted my other credit card that was on my US account. Still got nixed--twice. I guess I could change my name and apply for a new credit card and try that... Or I could just place the f***ing order. Damn Amazon...
09-22-03, 10:23 PM
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Some Amazon sites share user account information. A few years ago, I was initially only signed up at Amazon.co.uk
When I went to order something from Amazon.com a couple of years ago, I found I already had an account there and I could just sign in.
Then when I went to order something from Amazon.ca and Amazon.fr, I found the same thing.
The only site that required me to set up a whole new account was Amazon.jp
When I went to order something from Amazon.com a couple of years ago, I found I already had an account there and I could just sign in.
Then when I went to order something from Amazon.ca and Amazon.fr, I found the same thing.
The only site that required me to set up a whole new account was Amazon.jp
09-22-03, 10:30 PM
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In my opinion, it's convenient, Squirrel God, but it's completely unfair, IMNSHO.
Why? Well, I currently have a $50 gift certificate to Amazon.COM. I cannot use it at Amazon.co.UK. The two sites are independant in that regard. They can't use the currency difference for an excuse as far as I'm concerned; they could simply use the current conversion rate.
However, in terms of being able to use the UK coupon, I can't--because I'm already registered as an "Amazon group" customer. So the sites are linked in that regard.
It totally blows the monkey...
Why? Well, I currently have a $50 gift certificate to Amazon.COM. I cannot use it at Amazon.co.UK. The two sites are independant in that regard. They can't use the currency difference for an excuse as far as I'm concerned; they could simply use the current conversion rate.
However, in terms of being able to use the UK coupon, I can't--because I'm already registered as an "Amazon group" customer. So the sites are linked in that regard.
It totally blows the monkey...
09-22-03, 11:19 PM
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Originally posted by Squirrel God
Hey man, I agree with you. Just sharing some info
Hey man, I agree with you. Just sharing some info
09-23-03, 03:30 PM
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Here's my email that I sent to them via their online form:
And here's the standard response:
Bastards...
COMMENTS: Hello. I recently signed up to receive the introductory £3 coupon for new customers. However, I received an email stating that I am illegibile because I've ordered from the "Amazon group" before. I was completely unaware of this practice and I'm, to be quite honest, dismayed. I currently have a $50 Amazon.COM gift certificate that apparently cannot be used at Amazon.co.UK, but I am not eligible for the £3 coupon because I've shopped at Amazon.com before? This seems like a double standard. Please advise. Thank you.
Dear Customer
Thank you for contacting us at Amazon.co.uk with your enquiry.
We are sorry, but in instances where our eligibility criteria or
participation regulations have not been met, we are unable to send out an introductory gift certificate.
The reasons for non-eligibility are:
* If you have already registered with Amazon.co.uk or any other Amazon sites (Amazon.com, Amazon.fr, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.ca) before.
* If you have already placed an order with Amazon.co.uk or any other Amazon sites (Amazon.com, Amazon.fr, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.ca) before.
Please note to ensure eligibility as a new customer to Amazon you first need to complete the registration process.
Please see terms and conditions of this offer below.
We apologise for any disappointment that this may cause you. Thank you for choosing Amazon.co.uk.
Please let us know if this e-mail answered your question.
Warmest regards
Pooja Duggal
Customer Service
Amazon.co.uk
Thank you for contacting us at Amazon.co.uk with your enquiry.
We are sorry, but in instances where our eligibility criteria or
participation regulations have not been met, we are unable to send out an introductory gift certificate.
The reasons for non-eligibility are:
* If you have already registered with Amazon.co.uk or any other Amazon sites (Amazon.com, Amazon.fr, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.ca) before.
* If you have already placed an order with Amazon.co.uk or any other Amazon sites (Amazon.com, Amazon.fr, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.ca) before.
Please note to ensure eligibility as a new customer to Amazon you first need to complete the registration process.
Please see terms and conditions of this offer below.
We apologise for any disappointment that this may cause you. Thank you for choosing Amazon.co.uk.
Please let us know if this e-mail answered your question.
Warmest regards
Pooja Duggal
Customer Service
Amazon.co.uk
09-23-03, 04:02 PM
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Try [email protected]
I always use that now - the regular customer service reps are as idiotic as their names (I'm sure they put their porn names in their sigs, case in point: Pooja Duggal)
I always use that now - the regular customer service reps are as idiotic as their names (I'm sure they put their porn names in their sigs, case in point: Pooja Duggal)
09-23-03, 05:41 PM
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Originally posted by Squirrel God
Try [email protected]
I always use that now - the regular customer service reps are as idiotic as their names (I'm sure they put their porn names in their sigs, case in point: Pooja Duggal)
Try [email protected]
I always use that now - the regular customer service reps are as idiotic as their names (I'm sure they put their porn names in their sigs, case in point: Pooja Duggal)
I'm not just begging for coupons either. I think it's an idiotic and unfair practice. I point to the issue of the gift certificate again. I can use it at the US site, but not at the UK site. But I don't qualify for the UK coupon because I've shopped at the US site. Yes, I'm being repetitive, but it really pisses me off.
As for the names, I assumed that "Pooja Duggal" is an Indian name. (I could be wrong.) So many companies are outsourcing to India nowadays. It's very annoying, IMO.
I'm currently trying to get a $40 Amazon.COM gift certificate that's owed to me by AT&T. Every time I call them, I get an Indian that doesn't fully understand what I'm saying. I've had to call them seven times over the last two months and I still don't have the GC. They constantly tell me, "We will send this to a specialist and someone will get back to you." The next time I call, I'm going to blow my frigging top. Their customer service sucks.
09-23-03, 05:50 PM
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ARRRRRRRRGH! I just sent the email to the "[email protected]" address and it was returner due to "unknown user." I also tried "[email protected]" to no avail.
Any ideas, Squirrel God? Thanks again.
Any ideas, Squirrel God? Thanks again.
09-23-03, 06:01 PM
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09-23-03, 07:49 PM
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Thanks, Squirrel God. I'll keep ya posted regarding their response. Hopefully it'll be good news. Amazon.COM always trys their best to inspire customer satisfaction. Hopefully Amazon.co.UK will be the same.
09-23-03, 11:18 PM
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I received the following auto-reply from the email I sent earlier to "[email protected]":
There was more, but I don't see the point in posting it all. Any other ideas? 
You have written to an e-mail address that cannot accept incoming e-mail. This automated response will, however, direct you to the right place on our Web site where you can find information to help with your query, or make changes to your
Amazon.co.uk order.
Amazon.co.uk order.
09-24-03, 02:39 AM
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My original email from Amazon (from Pooja Duggal above) had a couple of links in it to respond if their answer was adequate. I wrote back saying, "Did the response answer my question? Yes. However, it was a standard form response and, again, I am very disappointed with Amazon's practices." I received the email response below moments ago. I edited it to remove standard b.s. which was essentially a combination of the two emails I received previously. My comments are in red.
Am I pissy? Yep. Am I whining? I guess so. And you know what? The sad, pathetic thing is that I'm probably going to go ahead and order what I was going to initially order anyway... Hmm... I wonder if my father has ever shopped at the "Amazon group"? 
Dear Customer
Thank you for contacting us at Amazon.co.uk with your enquiry.
Please note to ensure eligibility as a new customer to Amazon you first need to complete the registration process. As eligibility is limited to new customers only, Amazon.co.uk reserves the right to withhold dispatch of introductory gift certificates where we doubt the accuracy of the information that we have received, or where any individual fails to satisfy the eligibility criteria or otherwise breaches our rules and regulations for participation.
We regret that we have not been able to address your concerns to your satisfaction. Unfortunately, we will not be able to offer any additional insight or action on these matters.
In other words, shut up and stop bothering us about it.
We hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in the future. If, based on our policies, you choose to shop elsewhere, please know that we've appreciated your patronage and respect your decision.
In other words, go somewhere else if you want to. Ultimately, we don't care. We're large enough to absorb the loss of one customer. We don't give a damn if a £3 coupon would actually make you spend more and encourage you to shop with us in the future. Screw you, buddy.
We apologise for any disappointment that this may cause you. Thank you for choosing Amazon.co.uk.
We apologize, but we're not going to do anything about it.
Warmest regards
Manpreet Singh Tandon (Undoubtedly Indian outsourcing)
Customer Service
Amazon.co.uk
Thank you for contacting us at Amazon.co.uk with your enquiry.
Please note to ensure eligibility as a new customer to Amazon you first need to complete the registration process. As eligibility is limited to new customers only, Amazon.co.uk reserves the right to withhold dispatch of introductory gift certificates where we doubt the accuracy of the information that we have received, or where any individual fails to satisfy the eligibility criteria or otherwise breaches our rules and regulations for participation.
We regret that we have not been able to address your concerns to your satisfaction. Unfortunately, we will not be able to offer any additional insight or action on these matters.
In other words, shut up and stop bothering us about it.
We hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in the future. If, based on our policies, you choose to shop elsewhere, please know that we've appreciated your patronage and respect your decision.
In other words, go somewhere else if you want to. Ultimately, we don't care. We're large enough to absorb the loss of one customer. We don't give a damn if a £3 coupon would actually make you spend more and encourage you to shop with us in the future. Screw you, buddy.
We apologise for any disappointment that this may cause you. Thank you for choosing Amazon.co.uk.
We apologize, but we're not going to do anything about it.
Warmest regards
Manpreet Singh Tandon (Undoubtedly Indian outsourcing)
Customer Service
Amazon.co.uk
Last edited by DVDude!; 09-24-03 at 02:43 AM.
09-24-03, 04:49 AM
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Originally posted by DVDude!
I received the following auto-reply from the email I sent earlier to "[email protected]":
There was more, but I don't see the point in posting it all. Any other ideas?
I received the following auto-reply from the email I sent earlier to "[email protected]":
There was more, but I don't see the point in posting it all. Any other ideas?
I clicked "Help" on the site, typed "Complaint" into the Search bit and clicked no. 2 "Customer Promise".
Scroll down to clause 8 of the so-called promise it says:
8. Complaints
If you have any grievances about Amazon.co.uk, we want to hear from you so we can improve our service. Please e-mail us and we'll consider your comments carefully.
If you have any grievances about Amazon.co.uk, we want to hear from you so we can improve our service. Please e-mail us and we'll consider your comments carefully.
Try it though, go on
One of the optional subjects is "Amazon policy"
09-24-03, 06:10 AM
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Thanks again, dude. Here's what I wrote to the policy email--which is probably answered by the same people. (New stuff is in bold.)
(New stuff is in bold.)
Hello. I've actually written previously, but did not receive a satisfactory response. I have not shopped at Amazon.co.UK before so I have never had an issue with you. I have, however, shopped at Amazon.com (the US site) before and have always been very satisfied with both the products AND customer service. So far, my replies to my initial concerns about the UK site have not been resolved in the manner to which I am accustomed at the US version of Amazon. The US representatives are always friendly and accomodating. Here is my issue:
I recently signed up to receive the introductory £3 coupon for new customers. However, I received an email stating that I am illegible because I've ordered from the "Amazon group" before. I was completely unaware of this practice and I'm, to be quite honest, dismayed. I currently have a $50 Amazon.COM gift certificate that apparently cannot be used at Amazon.co.UK, but I am not eligible for the £3 coupon because I've shopped at Amazon.com before? This seems like a double standard.
I would love to use the £3 coupon now and consequently place a larger order. Of course, being able to use the coupon now would certainly be an incentive for me to place further orders at Amazon.co.UK in the future.
Thank you.
I recently signed up to receive the introductory £3 coupon for new customers. However, I received an email stating that I am illegible because I've ordered from the "Amazon group" before. I was completely unaware of this practice and I'm, to be quite honest, dismayed. I currently have a $50 Amazon.COM gift certificate that apparently cannot be used at Amazon.co.UK, but I am not eligible for the £3 coupon because I've shopped at Amazon.com before? This seems like a double standard.
I would love to use the £3 coupon now and consequently place a larger order. Of course, being able to use the coupon now would certainly be an incentive for me to place further orders at Amazon.co.UK in the future.
Thank you.
09-26-03, 09:19 AM
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Well, I thought they were ignoring me. Previous emails had been answered within a day, but my latest took two days. This morning, I received the following email from Amazon.co.uk (edited to remove extra stuff):
All right! Thank you, Amazon.co.uk, for equaling the service that I've come to expect from the "Amazon group." And thank you, Squirrel God, for the repeated assistance with the email addresses. Now I'm happy! I'm going to place my order in a little while.
The timing was great. It's a very nice birthday present this morning. I get to use some of my birthday money and I'll think of the coupon as a "birthday coupon"!
Dear Customer
Thank you for contacting Amazon.co.uk with your enquiry.
It would appear that unfortunately you did not meet the eligibility criteria or participation regulations for this offer.
I'm getting EXTREMELY annoyed at this point.
However as a gesture of goodwill, we would like to give you a 3 GBP gift certificate, for use toward your next Amazon.co.uk order. You will find all of the details below. Simply print out the gift certificate or save the message on your hard drive for future reference.
Thank you for shopping at Amazon.co.uk.
Please let us know if this e-mail answered your question:
Warmest regards
Aarti Ahuja
Customer Service
Amazon.co.uk
Thank you for contacting Amazon.co.uk with your enquiry.
It would appear that unfortunately you did not meet the eligibility criteria or participation regulations for this offer.
I'm getting EXTREMELY annoyed at this point.
However as a gesture of goodwill, we would like to give you a 3 GBP gift certificate, for use toward your next Amazon.co.uk order. You will find all of the details below. Simply print out the gift certificate or save the message on your hard drive for future reference.
Thank you for shopping at Amazon.co.uk.
Please let us know if this e-mail answered your question:
Warmest regards
Aarti Ahuja
Customer Service
Amazon.co.uk
The timing was great. It's a very nice birthday present this morning. I get to use some of my birthday money and I'll think of the coupon as a "birthday coupon"!
09-26-03, 03:04 PM
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Thanks for the birthday wishes. And, yes, I thought my concern was reasonable otherwise I just would have sucked it up and placed the order with them. Thanks, dude.
