The complaining about Amazon thread
#951
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
If you're aware of AWS and are a fan of Whole Foods why are you so sure Amazon is heading downwards, towards failure?
#952
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
https://investorplace.com/2017/09/eb...naround-story/
Ebay has been labeled one of the worst-run companies in the world. They're coasting on the brand and lack of disruption. Their actual platform is garbage. They will be out like a light (similar to Myspace -> Facebook) when its legitimate competition makes it to market.
Other notes: They recently had to lay off 1600 employees. Again. And they've been cannibalizing other acquisitions post-PayPal to make their reports look better. In example, they paid $2.4B for GSI Commerce (a fulfillment company for lots of big brands). And liquidated it for $925M. Fulfillment services are one of the hottest markets right now. It takes effort to drive that into the ground.
#953
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
"Legitimate" reviews are questionable too. These are customer reviews, not journalism. At that link I posted, those douchebags take pride in creating a case against your negative review, by cross-referencing your social media accounts, and looking for any dirt against you online. It's pretty fucking creepy. All in defense of someone putting out a lousy product that attracts a negative review.
By deleting my reviews and banning me from posting any reviews in the future, Amazon delegitimized tens-or-hundreds of millions of existing reviews. Between sellers paying for positive reviews, paying to remove negative reviews, and having accounts "wiped clean" (like mine), there's no truth to any review on there.
Amazon reviews no longer mean anything to me. And Amazon should just get rid of the entire review portion of their website if they're going to allow this kind of activity.
I mentioned I rarely leave a negative review for any product. Looking back at my order history, I suspect it was from ONE set of curtains I purchased, which looked much different in the pictures than they did in real life. So my review was probably 5 or 7 sentences, and said something like, "these don't look the way they do in the pictures. The actual color is much more faded and not the "gem" color you see in the pics. I will be returning these." I didn't reference the seller or service. I don't think I broke any rules. If I had to guess, I'd say it was that review is what got me kicked off. The private label brand probably paid a third party company to harass Amazon Customer Service until they caved and removed the review, which then blocked my account from ever writing a review again.
I also question the legitimacy of any "Top Reviewer". As I don't understand how anyone, other than a professional reviewer, could be leaving thousands of lengthy reviews. I know they started investigating and banning reviewers who are suspected of taking compensation (money or free product) from the seller. That was a discussion a year-or-so ago when they made changes (and I think the story made the news).
For what it's worth, I checked Google, and this seems to be a relatively common problem. I'm not the only buyer who's been incorrectly banned from leaving reviews.
By deleting my reviews and banning me from posting any reviews in the future, Amazon delegitimized tens-or-hundreds of millions of existing reviews. Between sellers paying for positive reviews, paying to remove negative reviews, and having accounts "wiped clean" (like mine), there's no truth to any review on there.
Amazon reviews no longer mean anything to me. And Amazon should just get rid of the entire review portion of their website if they're going to allow this kind of activity.
I mentioned I rarely leave a negative review for any product. Looking back at my order history, I suspect it was from ONE set of curtains I purchased, which looked much different in the pictures than they did in real life. So my review was probably 5 or 7 sentences, and said something like, "these don't look the way they do in the pictures. The actual color is much more faded and not the "gem" color you see in the pics. I will be returning these." I didn't reference the seller or service. I don't think I broke any rules. If I had to guess, I'd say it was that review is what got me kicked off. The private label brand probably paid a third party company to harass Amazon Customer Service until they caved and removed the review, which then blocked my account from ever writing a review again.
I also question the legitimacy of any "Top Reviewer". As I don't understand how anyone, other than a professional reviewer, could be leaving thousands of lengthy reviews. I know they started investigating and banning reviewers who are suspected of taking compensation (money or free product) from the seller. That was a discussion a year-or-so ago when they made changes (and I think the story made the news).
For what it's worth, I checked Google, and this seems to be a relatively common problem. I'm not the only buyer who's been incorrectly banned from leaving reviews.
The Amazon of today relies on network effects - they have built up such a gigantic customer base of paying members and the truly unique Prime distribution network for delivery across the country, they have no real competition as retail shifts from brick-and-mortar to the Internet. Virtually every Internet-shopping adult in the United States uses Amazon for something.
Even if Amazon stopped innovating tomorrow, they will coast off their built-up advantages for decades and decades.
They aren't the customer-friendly company they were a decade ago, when attracting customers was still the top priority. They are now in the business phase of maximizing profitability by extracting as much as they can from their customer base.
The only company with even a chance at disrupting Amazon is Walmart, but Walmart appears perfectly content controlling the remaining brick-and-mortar retail space. It would likely take some combination of Apple, using its huge cash reserves, joining up with Walmart to take Amazon head-on.
#954
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
For people with loads of money to spend, but very poor financial management skills. Spend, spend, spend, foodies, and enjoy your 3x-4x markup! The monthly rents on such a place must be exhorbitant, that cost is being passed right along to those same foodies...
#955
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
They aren't the customer-friendly company they were a decade ago, when attracting customers was still the top priority. They are now in the business phase of maximizing profitability by extracting as much as they can from their customer base.
The only company with even a chance at disrupting Amazon is Walmart, but Walmart appears perfectly content controlling the remaining brick-and-mortar retail space. It would likely take some combination of Apple, using its huge cash reserves, joining up with Walmart to take Amazon head-on.
More competition is good, that is why I'm so against Amazon being so big, it hurts the customers in the long run. Walmart needs to survive to give people the freedom of choice in purchasing goods and staples. Long-live Walmart, even though I'm not that much of a Wal-mart fan, either. But they, Target, and Costco need to exist for the good of society.
#956
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Yes, "Whole Paycheck" is a pretty fair response to the pricing of "free range" meat and poultry etc.
No, nothing to do with the cost of leases. If anything, supply is much higher than demand with the reduction of all of the brick and mortar of the last several years. For example, I live in the Northeast where Pathmark and Waldbaum grocery store locations still have not found new tenants.
It's not just retail. The WSJ had an article back a few years ago sharing how Amazon was making a killing getting warehousing on the cheap because of the over-supply of large and empty warehouses in New Jersey (convenient for serving the tri-state area).
#957
DVD Talk Godfather
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Whole Foods is expensive, and some people probably shop there for prestige, but some make that choice for reasons of fair trade, ethical treatment of animals, and sustainable resources. They don't deserve derision for "poor financial management skills."
#958
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
If you have an issue with people who pay 3-4x markup on products, I really hope you never see what the base cost is for a BD disc...
#959
DVD Talk God
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Has anyone noticed that in some instances Amazon doesn't even give a firm shipment date?
I ordered a couple of BD's on Sunday (New releases that were supposed to come out on Tuesday) and usually they would come the day they're released. I guess not anymore. I got a Will be arriving "July 27-31". And for the record, it still hasn't shipped yet.
So has Amazon stopped delivering new releases on Tuesday now? I don't care as I'm in no rush to get them, but I could see many being annoyed by this.
I ordered a couple of BD's on Sunday (New releases that were supposed to come out on Tuesday) and usually they would come the day they're released. I guess not anymore. I got a Will be arriving "July 27-31". And for the record, it still hasn't shipped yet.
So has Amazon stopped delivering new releases on Tuesday now? I don't care as I'm in no rush to get them, but I could see many being annoyed by this.
#960
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
No issues for me with Prime. I had a Final Fantasy art book on preorder which arrived on its release day this past Fri. It always tells me when things will arrive because it's always 2 day shipping.
#961
DVD Talk God
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
I have Prime too. Just puzzled why they gave a vague shipment date.
#962
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Strange. Maybe it has to do with how close/far you are from a DC?
#963
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
#964
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Has anyone noticed that in some instances Amazon doesn't even give a firm shipment date?
I ordered a couple of BD's on Sunday (New releases that were supposed to come out on Tuesday) and usually they would come the day they're released. I guess not anymore. I got a Will be arriving "July 27-31". And for the record, it still hasn't shipped yet.
So has Amazon stopped delivering new releases on Tuesday now? I don't care as I'm in no rush to get them, but I could see many being annoyed by this.
I ordered a couple of BD's on Sunday (New releases that were supposed to come out on Tuesday) and usually they would come the day they're released. I guess not anymore. I got a Will be arriving "July 27-31". And for the record, it still hasn't shipped yet.
So has Amazon stopped delivering new releases on Tuesday now? I don't care as I'm in no rush to get them, but I could see many being annoyed by this.
What you described happened to me as well. But, I had weeks to place a pre-order and when I waited to the night of the last day (Sunday) to place a two-day order, it didn't work out. What a surprise.
Reality is that I have weeks of new stuff that I haven't opened. Reality is a bitch.
#965
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
... and that's the right of those people, I agree. Excepting sustainable resources, I couldn't care less about those issues, and don't care to share the 'burden' of that very, very high markup. So, I'll continue to shop at 'normal' grocery stores like Kroger, Albertsons, and Stater Bros. and leave all the fawning and falderal to those with the expendable cash to feel good about "not hurting the poor animals" (which are going to be 'hurt' -- and killed for food, anyway!).
#966
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
So ... Amazon reported yesterday (Thursday).
Record profits (by a long-shot) but revenue growth slowed from the prior 2nd Quarter.
Amazon was mum about Whole Foods results which likely means that they were disappointing.
Meanwhile, the beat goes on with the stock at 1,853 per share, near a record high.
Record profits (by a long-shot) but revenue growth slowed from the prior 2nd Quarter.
Amazon was mum about Whole Foods results which likely means that they were disappointing.
Meanwhile, the beat goes on with the stock at 1,853 per share, near a record high.
#967
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
And they're inching closer to passing Apple as the most valuable company in the world.
#968
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Unrelated, but did you order the Final Fantasy Ultimania book? I just got it, it's awesome.
#969
DVD Talk Legend
#970
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
They probably aren’t in stock. Or moving from one warehouse to another. Amazon puts inbound products up for sale before they are shelved. Normally when they’re recorded as in transit via shipment manifest.
#971
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Ebay has been labeled one of the worst-run companies in the world. They're coasting on the brand and lack of disruption. Their actual platform is garbage. They will be out like a light (similar to Myspace -> Facebook) when its legitimate competition makes it to market.
#972
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Don't know where else to post this:
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
This week Amazon started creating astroturf accounts that search & reply to tweets criticizing Amazon's working conditions, a normal & regular thing companies do. pic.twitter.com/jons5ci3NL
— regular gem (@Choplogik) August 23, 2018
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
#973
Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Amazon's Prime Video selection better get...better, as this will be just another justification to dump them when my next sub comes due next year.
#974
DVD Talk Hero
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Re: The complaining about Amazon thread
Amazon's own "Premium" delivery carrier sucks.
Had three packages that I ordered, all with 1- or 2-day delivery.
Two days later, I got one of the packages, but not the other two. No explanation, just "nope, not today, fam."
I've rarely had this kind of issue with other carriers, and I don't want this to become a common occurrence. Is there any way to ensure you're not forced to use their shitty in-house carrier when you place an order?
Had three packages that I ordered, all with 1- or 2-day delivery.
Two days later, I got one of the packages, but not the other two. No explanation, just "nope, not today, fam."
I've rarely had this kind of issue with other carriers, and I don't want this to become a common occurrence. Is there any way to ensure you're not forced to use their shitty in-house carrier when you place an order?