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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think that Amazon has gone to shit?

145 replies

SophieGiroux · 29/07/2021 23:16

It now seems to be full of third party sellers from China. You used to be able to get stuff delivered next day but this seems to be a rarity these days. All I wanted to buy was a pool noodle but it seems this is not possible without having to wait about 3 weeks. It feels just like eBay now and you can't guarantee anything you get is genuine, I've heard of a lot of people getting fakes. I don't know if it's just the things I've been searching for but not much is now supplied by Amazon, just delivered by them.

I'm not particularly worried as felt a bit like Amazon were taking over the world but with this business model I can see sales only declining.

OP posts:

GrolliffetheDragon · 30/07/2021 11:59

@MandarinLime

If there was a problem with a seller you used to be able to contact amazon but now they've made it impossible

Really? I contacted a seller recently about a problem with an order.

I do think there's a lot of fake crap on Amazon these days, and some things are cheaper elsewhere, but I've not had the problems others are having.

yellowsubmarines · 30/07/2021 11:59

I needed a book that is relevant to my profession. The book costs about £100-£150 and I need a new one every few years as they change for updates. When I type in the book name Amazon is the first few listings. The reviews are so mixed 'The book was exactly as expected' to 'This book is fake and half the pages aren't even printed properly' with photos evidencing the blank pages in the book
While looking for the book I saw a cute tshirt dress outfit that took my fancy so I clicked on it. All the reviews again are very mixed with some saying 'it's brilliant!' and others saying 'I ordered yellow and got purple and the sizing is way off. I recommend ordering at least 3 sizes bigger than you need.' complete with a photo of what that customer had received.
I've become very hesitant to buy from Amazon anymore. I had to source the book elsewhere and paid more for it but with the knowledge that it would 100% be exactly what I was expecting.

Squiz81 · 30/07/2021 12:04

I agree, it’s got to the point where I don’t trust any of the good reviews.

I have found them always very good at returns and refunds though.

The pictures in the news recently, of perfectly good stock being destroyed - including expensive Macs, just highlights what’s wrong with this kind of business model. That kind of wastage makes me want to weep.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 30/07/2021 12:07

Agree. Prime used to be next day delivery, now it can be anything from same day to a week plus. So random.

Theunamedcat · 30/07/2021 12:09

I was looking for a certain hairbrush i checked the reviews on the one I wanted only to find reviews like "fit is not as good as expected size up" and "tasted great!" This is not what you expect from a hairbrush

EishetChayil · 30/07/2021 12:11

I thought you were after a Pot Noodle at first and was about to say YABU!

Yondergoat · 30/07/2021 12:12

I have noticed the same recently. I mainly use Amazon because of next day delivery but it seems to take longer and longer.

I live in an area with lots of actual shops but since Covid none of them have anything in stock. I went to John Lewis for a school blouse because after months in PE kit, DD had to go back into proper uniform and it wouldn't do up. They are now only online and take ages, with a delivery charge!

Same story in M&S. Size and style we needed not in stock, order for store pick up next week. Ended up at school outfitters paying £40 for ONE.

Arrowheart · 30/07/2021 12:14

I don't buy from them anymore and I'm saving a fortune. Too many times they say they'll deliver next day for me to then be told it is 'on the way but running late'. I just cancel the order and get a refund. Easier to go to a shop now.

WhereYouLeftIt · 30/07/2021 12:16

I stopped using Amazon years ago, when Marketplace was still fairly new.

Stopped selling when they rejigged the seller fees to favour business sellers and penalise personal sellers - it just wasn't viable any more.

Stopped buying soon after, because already the prices were creeping up. They were still presenting themselves as the cheapest, but every time I searched elsewhere I found cheaper / better / quicker; so my use of Amazon just withered on the vine.

I still go on the site to have a look, but really, should I have to filter it THAT much just to find what I'm looking for (especially when my search terms were pretty damned specific)? It is drowning in crap, and I just cannot be arsed wasting my time there.

Add in that they are tax-dodging bastards who are crap employers, and I can only presume they're trading on their reputation; the reputation they gained a long, long time ago and which is now inaccurate.

enjoyingscience · 30/07/2021 12:18

Agree - it’s so hard to find normal stuff now. Electronics are especially bad - lots of Chinese knock off stuff and you can’t trust reviews. I use it for second hand books now and not much else.

Vitallyli · 30/07/2021 12:21

Recently I wanted to return items it used to be free but now they asked £4.99!!! Each! for no packaging no label myHermès return that suppose to eliminate packaging waste. I pay for prime and have the original Amazon box for my return.

FizzGivesYouWhizz · 30/07/2021 12:22

Despite a tight budget I always look for alternatives to Amazon (because of working conditions and employment practices). I'm finding Argos quite good atm, genuine reviews and really fast delivery.

I feel bad when I do press the order button because I think of the poor guy who'll be running up and down with his trolley there to get my item.

MyMabel · 30/07/2021 12:22

There’s plenty of pool noodles to be delivered by Monday when I search. Yes are a couple of non-prime ones but there is a good choice.

I do agree though, lots of cheap Chinese rubbish about at the moment. I’ve stopped using Amazon so much

AIBU to think that Amazon has gone to shit?

SchrodingersImmigrant · 30/07/2021 12:24

@Vitallyli

I returned month ago and it was free. Probably seller dependent.

InpatientGardener · 30/07/2021 12:24

I agree too, I was trying to find an mp3 player that was an actual brand recently and its all just cheap tat with poor reviews, even if I typed in 'Bush mp3 player ' I still got reams of products that weren't a particular brand. Noticed this with car window shades too, I tend to use argos for things like this now.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 30/07/2021 12:25

How are people finding stuff in Argos😂 EVERY single item I wanted there in last year has been out of stock in my area)(not driving 50 miles🤨) and for home delivery

supermoonrising · 30/07/2021 12:25

Seem totally fine to me, and I'm in Ireland - virtually never have to wait more than 3/4 days for anything. Perhaps the service is worse now if you don't have Prime.

clickychicky · 30/07/2021 12:27

@SchrodingersImmigrant

How are people finding stuff in Argos😂 EVERY single item I wanted there in last year has been out of stock in my area)(not driving 50 miles🤨) and for home delivery

It is hard but where I am once I've found something there it can be delivered the same day sometimes.

drpet49 · 30/07/2021 12:28

Too many poor, fake cheap Chinese brands full of tat.

crimsonlake · 30/07/2021 12:28

Agree, that hardly anything is noe delivered by yhe next day and it always says 'delivery by 10pm' Also so many films and box sets that you are expected to pay extra for to watch.

cariadlet · 30/07/2021 12:29

When I do order from amazon, stuff comes in a couple of days but I mostly use it for research and when I find something I like, go to the seller's own website. That way they don't get charged by Amazon for the sale.

WhereYouLeftIt · 30/07/2021 12:39

@enjoyingscience

Agree - it’s so hard to find normal stuff now. Electronics are especially bad - lots of Chinese knock off stuff and you can’t trust reviews. I use it for second hand books now and not much else.

For second-hand books I can recommend Abebooks, a long-established network of booksellers, or Betterworldbooks and Worldofbooks. The latter two also sell through Amazon, sometimes they're cheaper on their own sites (plus Amazon doesn't get a cut if you buy from there). I think they might also be charities.

ancientgran · 30/07/2021 12:39

I nearly always get goods delivered next day. They have recently lost something in transit, bit annoying as it was the last one available so we are hanging on hoping it arrives.

I've relied on Amazon so much during covid.

Smalldogbigdog · 30/07/2021 12:40

Yep, after learning about their commingled inventory system, I've completely stopped using Amazon, you can find everything somewhere else, and often it's cheaper and quicker elsewhere.

ancientgran · 30/07/2021 12:41

@SchrodingersImmigrant

How are people finding stuff in Argos😂 EVERY single item I wanted there in last year has been out of stock in my area)(not driving 50 miles🤨) and for home delivery

Yes I've had problems with Argos but lately seems better.

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