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Okay team, I need to know if anybody else is having the same experience I currently am:
I've ordered this month's WotC releases from Amazon.ca (Draconomicon I, Martial Power, and Keith Baker's Queen of Stone); I've been ordering from Amazon.ca on about a monthly basis for more than a year. I believe that every other preorder I've made with them has shipped a good three to five days prior to release, and arrived a day or two after the release date, well before Amazon.ca's delivery estimate. This month though, release date is here and my goods still haven't shipped, according to Amazon.ca.
What gives? Is it just me? Have I simply been lucky up until now? Or has anyone else experience the same?
...*sigh* I probably just need to chill and be patient.
I got my shipping notice yesterday for Martial Power and Trollhaunt (P1) from amazon.ca.
Verys, maybe you should drop H3 from your order (and pick it up from the not so friendly Sentry Box) and add P1 instead. You'll get free shipping and it isn't being delayed.
After the debacle that was Amazon this past summer, and the core gift set, I decided to buy Martial Power from Buy.com. We'll see how they do. I did get a shipping notice yesterday morning.
Sorry Amazon, "you've failed me for the last time..."
Well, like I said, I believe this is the first time I've had any trouble with Amazon (.ca). That said, apparently you all have had or are having a similar (or worse!) experience with them.
Then again, we're talking about at least three different companies here, as far as I am aware:
These are separate entities, right? Maybe the problem is farther up the distribution food-chain, so to speak. Has anybody had similar trouble with other online retailers?
Cancel, cancel, cancel. I know the shops in town have it. Sorry Amazon, you lost out. You do that every time with D&D books for some reason.
I've had less problems buying from their secondary suppliers that although you have to pay shipping (£2.75) they often work out cheaper or not much more than Amazon.co.uk's listed price.
But yeah Amazon.co.uk suck if you want something fast. They didn't use to, but I think something changed a few years back in the UK to stop them selling on the releases date.
It happened here in the US too. I used to get books on the day they were released or a day or two after. I also used to receive in-stock books within 2-3 days of ordering them. I even have a distribution warehouse for Amazon in my state! It's only a few hours away from the city I live in.
But, for the past few years...5-8 days at least (even with 3-5 day shipping), and you can forget getting anything early.
I noticed that it all started with their subscription based shipping program. You pay something like $75 a year and they give you priority shipping. Yeah, screw that.
Their customer service has really gone down hill in my experience too. Any time I've had to contact them about an item that hasn't shipped even though its in stock, or an item taking twice as long to ship as I paid for, I don't even get apologies. They do take their time to point out the special $75 a year shipping program however.
So from now on, I'll do my shopping with other online retailers. I vote with my wallet!
I noticed that it all started with their subscription based shipping program. You pay something like $75 a year and they give you priority shipping. Yeah, screw that.
Their customer service has really gone down hill in my experience too. Any time I've had to contact them about an item that hasn't shipped even though its in stock, or an item taking twice as long to ship as I paid for, I don't even get apologies. They do take their time to point out the special $75 a year shipping program however.
I voted with my wallet too, but I became an Amazon Prime customer over a year ago. For my $75 a year, I have bought from them over and over again, including diapers, OTC meds, paper towels, soap, laundry detergent, baby toys, my gaming books, stuff for my wife, etc.
All cheaper than elsewhere, and all with free 2-day shipping. I have saved hundreds in sales tax and shipping costs, let alone the savings in price.
And my D&D books always arrive on the release date.
Amazon.com has me as a customer for life.
__________________ Game on, gang! Ptolus #16 (with customized, personalized sig from Monte. Awesomesauce.), Rappan Athuk Reloaded #37 (Another Awesomesauce, the Necromancer way.)
Characters & Games
Books currently in play: Dungeon & Dragon Magazine (*Scales of War AP*), WOTC 4e Core and Supplemental books
Current Campaign: Scales of War - Siege of Bordrin's Watch -- Kodirgo, Minotaur Barbarian 5; Vondal, Dwarf Cleric 5; [Dead]Vintani Windleaf, Eladrin Swordmage 5[/Dead] - TBD; Marshaun, Elf Druid 5
I voted with my wallet too, but I became an Amazon Prime customer over a year ago. For my $75 a year, I have bought from them over and over again, including diapers, OTC meds, paper towels, soap, laundry detergent, baby toys, my gaming books, stuff for my wife, etc.
All cheaper than elsewhere, and all with free 2-day shipping. I have saved hundreds in sales tax and shipping costs, let alone the savings in price.
And my D&D books always arrive on the release date.
Amazon.com has me as a customer for life.
The way you describe it makes it sound like a pretty sweet deal, catsclaw! I'm going to have to look into whether or not Amazon.ca has a similar deal.
It might be, though, that you've got to do as much online shopping as you apparently do, in order to make it worthwhile.
Good for you, if you want to pay that extra money for service you should expect without the added cost.
When I pay for 3-5 day shipping, I expect my items to arrive withing 3-5 days, not 2 weeks later. Basic service to a customer shouldn't be held hostage.
See, I buy from Buy.com or Borders.com, get the items I want in the time frame I expect them in...and I don't have to pay extra! It's a fabulous deal.
Good for you, if you want to pay that extra money for service you should expect without the added cost.
I understand your frustration, you didn't get your books ontime. But I am not paying extra money for service I should expect without the added cost. I am getting 2-day shipping at no cost, for almost everything.
__________________ Game on, gang! Ptolus #16 (with customized, personalized sig from Monte. Awesomesauce.), Rappan Athuk Reloaded #37 (Another Awesomesauce, the Necromancer way.)
Characters & Games
Books currently in play: Dungeon & Dragon Magazine (*Scales of War AP*), WOTC 4e Core and Supplemental books
Current Campaign: Scales of War - Siege of Bordrin's Watch -- Kodirgo, Minotaur Barbarian 5; Vondal, Dwarf Cleric 5; [Dead]Vintani Windleaf, Eladrin Swordmage 5[/Dead] - TBD; Marshaun, Elf Druid 5
The way you describe it makes it sound like a pretty sweet deal, catsclaw! I'm going to have to look into whether or not Amazon.ca has a similar deal.
It might be, though, that you've got to do as much online shopping as you apparently do, in order to make it worthwhile.
It is an awesome deal, but in truth, I didn't change my online shopping habits into what it is now until I switched. Then I realized that all that stuff I get at the grocery store (disposable items, meds, etc) I can get cheaper online and with free shipping and then it made it all worthwhile. I mean, just the AWESOME savings is big enough.
__________________ Game on, gang! Ptolus #16 (with customized, personalized sig from Monte. Awesomesauce.), Rappan Athuk Reloaded #37 (Another Awesomesauce, the Necromancer way.)
Characters & Games
Books currently in play: Dungeon & Dragon Magazine (*Scales of War AP*), WOTC 4e Core and Supplemental books
Current Campaign: Scales of War - Siege of Bordrin's Watch -- Kodirgo, Minotaur Barbarian 5; Vondal, Dwarf Cleric 5; [Dead]Vintani Windleaf, Eladrin Swordmage 5[/Dead] - TBD; Marshaun, Elf Druid 5
Last edited by catsclaw227; 20th November 2008 at 07:45 PM..
Reason: Edited out information about taxes on consumer items.
It is an awesome deal, but in truth, I didn't change my online shopping habits into what it is now until I switched. Then I realized that all that stuff I get at the grocery store (disposable items, meds, etc) I can get cheaper online and with free shipping and then it made it all worthwhile. I mean, just the TAX savings is big enough (unless you are a NY resident, I am being told).
North Carolina, along with many other States, does in fact expect you to pay the sales/use tax on products bought online/mail-order from out of State businesses. It's part of a resident's income tax return. I suspect many people cheat and don't actually pay the tax they are supposed to, but it might not be wise to broadcast how great it is to break the law. Consumer Use Tax
__________________ Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence.
North Carolina, along with many other States, does in fact expect you to pay the sales/use tax on products bought online/mail-order from out of State businesses. It's part of a resident's income tax return. I suspect many people cheat and don't actually pay the tax they are supposed to, but it might not be wise to broadcast how great it is to break the law. Consumer Use Tax
Interesting. I didn't know about this, as I am a new resident (1 year) in NC. I will need to look into it, but I am curious why major online retailers don't automatically force you to pay this tax if you are in one of these states. As far as I know, California didn't have this law when I moved away, so I was unaware of it.
I don't think anyone wants to broadcast how great it is to break the law, though....
EDIT: California does have a use tax law, established in 1935. Another new thing I learned about....
__________________ Game on, gang! Ptolus #16 (with customized, personalized sig from Monte. Awesomesauce.), Rappan Athuk Reloaded #37 (Another Awesomesauce, the Necromancer way.)
Characters & Games
Books currently in play: Dungeon & Dragon Magazine (*Scales of War AP*), WOTC 4e Core and Supplemental books
Current Campaign: Scales of War - Siege of Bordrin's Watch -- Kodirgo, Minotaur Barbarian 5; Vondal, Dwarf Cleric 5; [Dead]Vintani Windleaf, Eladrin Swordmage 5[/Dead] - TBD; Marshaun, Elf Druid 5
Last edited by catsclaw227; 20th November 2008 at 07:46 PM..
Interesting. I didn't know about this, as I am a new resident (1 year) in NC. I will need to look into it, but I am curious why major online retailers don't automatically force you to pay this tax if you are in one of these states. As far as I know, California didn't have this law when I moved away, so I was unaware of it.
Wasn't trying to broadcast how great it is to break the law, though....
EDIT: California does have a use tax law, but it went into effect for tax year 2007. Another new thing I learned about....
Since sales tax rates can vary by county and sometimes city, there can be thousands of different sales tax rates in the US. This makes it hard for anyone less than a major retailer to keep track and properly file the taxes. There are 88 counties in Ohio alone for example. That means a company based in Ohio, that ships taxable products in Ohio, must keep track and show exactly how much tax was collected for each. A State also has limited power in dealing with a retailer that has no physical presence in the State. The States therefore require the consumers to collect the tax on themselves. Sorry for being so harsh. Must have too much stress this week or something.
__________________ Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence.
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