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I've also stopped buying at Amazon after 15 years. Even consumables and small items are problematic. Just in the last year, I encountered many issues including:

by nextos 6y ago

I've also stopped buying at Amazon after 15 years. Even consumables and small items are problematic. Just in the last year, I encountered many issues including: * Showerhead that came without box, and clearly used. It still had a lot of water inside! * Underwear from a brand that sells items inside a sealed bag and discards returns came used, without bag (yuck!) * A module of Samsung RAM had visible wear signs and didn't work * Cycling glasses came without box and several missing items The underwear thing upset me so much I emailed Jeff Bezos. After lots of emails forwarded around, nothing happened. It's sad because they used to be good. But the number of returned and counterfeit items sold as new is mindboggling.

dorchadas 6y ago
This is really why I hesitate to buy clothes through Amazon, even though I wear a size that they have in stock easier than Kohl's or any of the other department stores (plus, I'm in the middle of losing weight, so I'm in between sizes). It's quite frustrating, especially with fitting rooms closed currently in my state.
- nextos 6y ago
  My solution to this has been to order denim, tees, chinos, etc made to measure. It's slow, it's a bit more expensive, but you get a better fit and you don't need to worry about all this mess. Plus, I support local people.
  - bigfudge 6y ago
    Where do you order these?
    - nextos 6y ago
      Companion Denim, Self Nation or Lanieri.
- jpindar 6y ago
  Are you aware of Prime Wardrobe? I haven't tried it, but it sounds good. https://www.amazon.com/prime-wardrobe/b/?ie=UTF8&node=14807110011&ref_=topnav_storetab_tbyb_l0 https://www.amazon.com/prime-wardrobe/b/?ie=UTF8&node=148071...
gambiting 6y ago
I'm always shocked when I read these comments on HN. I swear it must be just the American Amazon that's so shit, because I literally never had any problems nor know anyone with these problems here in UK. Just this year I'm on 108 orders and counting, every single one of them was fine, working, definitely not used, definitely not counterfeit and delivered within 1 day as promised with Prime. Last year I've had 140 orders total, year before that 122 orders, and again never had any of those problems. I think the only return I did was a lightbulb that broke after 3 months and Amazon refunded me but only after I shipped it back, which I thought was very wasteful.
- dividedbyzero 6y ago
  I've had counterfeit issues with chargers a few times, other than that no issues, Amazon Germany in my case.
- outoftheabyss 6y ago
  I second this. I’ve tried to give other online retailers a shot but nothing beats the customer service and reliability of Amazon in the UK, even if something is slightly more expensive I’ll always go with Amazon
  - gambiting 6y ago
    Yep, I recently made a mistake of buying a new Lenovo laptop directly from Lenovo instead of Amazon, and it was a huge mistake - the machine arrived with a broken screen and I waited over 2 weeks for the replacement, their support was generally useless and every time I rang them got a different answer to what was actually happening(they said the replacement is ready, only to say it's not and I'll get a refund 2 days later, to then turn around and say a replacement has actually been shipped, absolute nonsense). Had it been purchased through Amazon I can guarantee I would have just returned the laptop the same day with a prepaid label, had the money back in my account the next day, re-ordered and had a replacement the following day. Well, lesson learnt I guess.
    - cesarb 6y ago
dmitryminkovsky 6y ago
How did you email Jeff Bezos?
- mmhsieh 6y ago
  jeff@amazon.com
  - sabujp 6y ago
    goes straight to /dev/null
    - RandomBacon 6y ago
      Unless it has changed, I received a response from some executive team and my request was granted (I missed a substantial Kindle sale by a day, and asked if they would still honor the price).
      - gjs278 6y ago
        why did you waste the time emailing jeff for that? you’re the reason we can’t have an open line with him.
  - dmitryminkovsky 6y ago
    Didn't know that, thanks.
AmVess 6y ago
I won't be buying anything expensive from Amazon anymore. I ordered a 2TB nvme SSD which came in a padded envelope. I didn't even try it before returning it. Its own packing was a simple blister pack. $250 I ordered a camera lens which also came in a padded envelope. $400. I got a box of wet wipes from them. It had its own sturdy box and they were placed in another box lined with shipping paper. $12. I also won't buy anything that goes into my body. I ordered toothpaste and it came from some guy's basement. He wrapped them in plastic wrap and wrote two pack on the outside. Amazon gets lazier and lazier by the day and is in a lot of ways no better than a flea market.
- narag 6y ago
  But is expensive the problem? Of course I don't buy anything above 100€, but neither anything computer related, clothes or in general things that I can walk ten minutes and buy in a physical shop. Most of what I buy are products that I can't find offline easily or at all. So Amazon actually brings them sooner than what I would be able to find it offline, like vitamins or exotic incense. Also some audio electronics are too expensive in the few shops that, even in Madrid, are specialized in that area. But computers or phones or monitors/tv? MediaMarkt or Fnac have a good enough variety and I can just walk out the shop with a box, that I can return no questions asked if defective, the same day. I've also found out that some pieces of audio electronics or instruments are better bought used from individuals. I got a pair of pro speakers for 100€ that are triple that money new. You can go and see the thing before paying. Same for furniture that is dirty cheap used. Edit: could be this related to USA car dependence?
wiz21c 6y ago
Not to sound bitter, but why the heck do you buy so much on Amazon (you and others on this HN formum) ? Isn't it clear from the premises that that whole online thing is treacherous at best for the environment, our environment ? I can understand the convenience, buying stuff you don't find in your local shops, etc. But much of what Amazon do is because they have customers... So instead of complaining about Amazon, why not just fix our own behavior ? (sorry to say that like this, I know it's super not diplomatic and one sided and maybe I could even not defend my own point of view if we'd be to talk face to face, but at some point choices must be made)
- samatman 6y ago
  This is the least credible reason to not use Amazon. They treat their warehouse workers cruelly, tolerate counterfeits, allow the review process to be juked to the point of uselessness, and contribute to a brittle monoculture. But the environment? Any consumer good is transported by internal combustion engine from the factory, to some intermediate places, to the door. Maybe someone uses a bike for the last part, but mostly, they drive to the store in their private automobile. Amazon uses package delivery services, which is much more efficient, and warehouses have a smaller environmental footprint than stores, which are all backed by warehouses anyway. It's either a small amount of additional cardboard and plastic, or a whole additional building and a few miles of driving a single automobile. It's pretty clear that Amazon wins this comparison.
- sokoloff 6y ago
  I’m not so sure that a local electronics shop is way more ecological. More HVAC, more lighting, items shipped to an intermediate warehouse, then reshipped, then maybe transferred between stores, then customers driving their SUVs around shopping. It wouldn’t surprise me if Amazon can get me a TV with lower total emissions than if I shopped locally. If I comparison shopped locally, I’m virtually certain Amazon’d win.
megablast 6y ago
> Showerhead that came without box, and clearly used. It still had a lot of water inside! How much water could a showerhead even hold. Certainly not a lot?
- loco5niner 6y ago
  More than 0 is too much
marzell 6y ago
Amazon also makes zero effort to inform people when they have listings for items and are not an authorized retailer, which invalidates warrantees and leaves consumers with no recourse if there is a manufacturing defect or other problem that would normally be taken care of without issue.
chaostheory 6y ago
Amazon has reached Day 2 years ago. Today it’s eBay mixed with Walmart.
PicassoCTs 6y ago
The algorithm for has detected a high yield returned item might get a second test at a low return customer, allowing us to outsource returned product quality validation for the price of shipping.
kjs3 6y ago
I see comments like this often, and I'm not sure if I'm wildly luck or others are tragically unlucky. We (as a household) probably order a couple of things from Amazon a week. We've had a couple of things not live up to expectations, and a handful of returns, but nothing like used underwear. I do tend to stick to the Prime vendors and not wander off into the dark corners of Amazon. Maybe that's why I've not (knowingly) been bitten by counterfeits or returns. I know it's a caveat emptor environment, but it's worked for me. It's eBay that I have to watch like a hawk (just assume if you buy an electronic component, you have at best a 50-50 chance of it not being crap). I'm curious as to the wide variety of experiences I see from others.

by nextos 6y ago

dorchadas 6y ago

This is really why I hesitate to buy clothes through Amazon, even though I wear a size that they have in stock easier than Kohl's or any of the other department stores (plus, I'm in the middle of losing weight, so I'm in between sizes). It's quite frustrating, especially with fitting rooms closed currently in my state.

nextos 6y ago
My solution to this has been to order denim, tees, chinos, etc made to measure. It's slow, it's a bit more expensive, but you get a better fit and you don't need to worry about all this mess. Plus, I support local people.
- bigfudge 6y ago
  Where do you order these?
  - nextos 6y ago
    Companion Denim, Self Nation or Lanieri.
jpindar 6y ago
Are you aware of Prime Wardrobe? I haven't tried it, but it sounds good. https://www.amazon.com/prime-wardrobe/b/?ie=UTF8&node=14807110011&ref_=topnav_storetab_tbyb_l0 https://www.amazon.com/prime-wardrobe/b/?ie=UTF8&node=148071...

gambiting 6y ago

I'm always shocked when I read these comments on HN. I swear it must be just the American Amazon that's so shit, because I literally never had any problems nor know anyone with these problems here in UK. Just this year I'm on 108 orders and counting, every single one of them was fine, working, definitely not used, definitely not counterfeit and delivered within 1 day as promised with Prime. Last year I've had 140 orders total, year before that 122 orders, and again never had any of those problems. I think the only return I did was a lightbulb that broke after 3 months and Amazon refunded me but only after I shipped it back, which I thought was very wasteful.

dividedbyzero 6y ago
I've had counterfeit issues with chargers a few times, other than that no issues, Amazon Germany in my case.
outoftheabyss 6y ago
I second this. I’ve tried to give other online retailers a shot but nothing beats the customer service and reliability of Amazon in the UK, even if something is slightly more expensive I’ll always go with Amazon
- gambiting 6y ago
  Yep, I recently made a mistake of buying a new Lenovo laptop directly from Lenovo instead of Amazon, and it was a huge mistake - the machine arrived with a broken screen and I waited over 2 weeks for the replacement, their support was generally useless and every time I rang them got a different answer to what was actually happening(they said the replacement is ready, only to say it's not and I'll get a refund 2 days later, to then turn around and say a replacement has actually been shipped, absolute nonsense). Had it been purchased through Amazon I can guarantee I would have just returned the laptop the same day with a prepaid label, had the money back in my account the next day, re-ordered and had a replacement the following day. Well, lesson learnt I guess.
  - cesarb 6y ago

dmitryminkovsky 6y ago

How did you email Jeff Bezos?

mmhsieh 6y ago
jeff@amazon.com
- sabujp 6y ago
  goes straight to /dev/null
  - RandomBacon 6y ago
    Unless it has changed, I received a response from some executive team and my request was granted (I missed a substantial Kindle sale by a day, and asked if they would still honor the price).
    - gjs278 6y ago
      why did you waste the time emailing jeff for that? you’re the reason we can’t have an open line with him.
- dmitryminkovsky 6y ago
  Didn't know that, thanks.

AmVess 6y ago

I won't be buying anything expensive from Amazon anymore. I ordered a 2TB nvme SSD which came in a padded envelope. I didn't even try it before returning it. Its own packing was a simple blister pack. $250 I ordered a camera lens which also came in a padded envelope. $400. I got a box of wet wipes from them. It had its own sturdy box and they were placed in another box lined with shipping paper. $12. I also won't buy anything that goes into my body. I ordered toothpaste and it came from some guy's basement. He wrapped them in plastic wrap and wrote two pack on the outside. Amazon gets lazier and lazier by the day and is in a lot of ways no better than a flea market.

narag 6y ago
But is expensive the problem? Of course I don't buy anything above 100€, but neither anything computer related, clothes or in general things that I can walk ten minutes and buy in a physical shop. Most of what I buy are products that I can't find offline easily or at all. So Amazon actually brings them sooner than what I would be able to find it offline, like vitamins or exotic incense. Also some audio electronics are too expensive in the few shops that, even in Madrid, are specialized in that area. But computers or phones or monitors/tv? MediaMarkt or Fnac have a good enough variety and I can just walk out the shop with a box, that I can return no questions asked if defective, the same day. I've also found out that some pieces of audio electronics or instruments are better bought used from individuals. I got a pair of pro speakers for 100€ that are triple that money new. You can go and see the thing before paying. Same for furniture that is dirty cheap used. Edit: could be this related to USA car dependence?

wiz21c 6y ago

Not to sound bitter, but why the heck do you buy so much on Amazon (you and others on this HN formum) ? Isn't it clear from the premises that that whole online thing is treacherous at best for the environment, our environment ? I can understand the convenience, buying stuff you don't find in your local shops, etc. But much of what Amazon do is because they have customers... So instead of complaining about Amazon, why not just fix our own behavior ? (sorry to say that like this, I know it's super not diplomatic and one sided and maybe I could even not defend my own point of view if we'd be to talk face to face, but at some point choices must be made)

samatman 6y ago
This is the least credible reason to not use Amazon. They treat their warehouse workers cruelly, tolerate counterfeits, allow the review process to be juked to the point of uselessness, and contribute to a brittle monoculture. But the environment? Any consumer good is transported by internal combustion engine from the factory, to some intermediate places, to the door. Maybe someone uses a bike for the last part, but mostly, they drive to the store in their private automobile. Amazon uses package delivery services, which is much more efficient, and warehouses have a smaller environmental footprint than stores, which are all backed by warehouses anyway. It's either a small amount of additional cardboard and plastic, or a whole additional building and a few miles of driving a single automobile. It's pretty clear that Amazon wins this comparison.
sokoloff 6y ago
I’m not so sure that a local electronics shop is way more ecological. More HVAC, more lighting, items shipped to an intermediate warehouse, then reshipped, then maybe transferred between stores, then customers driving their SUVs around shopping. It wouldn’t surprise me if Amazon can get me a TV with lower total emissions than if I shopped locally. If I comparison shopped locally, I’m virtually certain Amazon’d win.

megablast 6y ago

> Showerhead that came without box, and clearly used. It still had a lot of water inside! How much water could a showerhead even hold. Certainly not a lot?

loco5niner 6y ago
More than 0 is too much

marzell 6y ago

Amazon also makes zero effort to inform people when they have listings for items and are not an authorized retailer, which invalidates warrantees and leaves consumers with no recourse if there is a manufacturing defect or other problem that would normally be taken care of without issue.

chaostheory 6y ago

Amazon has reached Day 2 years ago. Today it’s eBay mixed with Walmart.

PicassoCTs 6y ago

The algorithm for has detected a high yield returned item might get a second test at a low return customer, allowing us to outsource returned product quality validation for the price of shipping.

kjs3 6y ago

I see comments like this often, and I'm not sure if I'm wildly luck or others are tragically unlucky. We (as a household) probably order a couple of things from Amazon a week. We've had a couple of things not live up to expectations, and a handful of returns, but nothing like used underwear. I do tend to stick to the Prime vendors and not wander off into the dark corners of Amazon. Maybe that's why I've not (knowingly) been bitten by counterfeits or returns. I know it's a caveat emptor environment, but it's worked for me. It's eBay that I have to watch like a hawk (just assume if you buy an electronic component, you have at best a 50-50 chance of it not being crap). I'm curious as to the wide variety of experiences I see from others.