Amazon delivery drivers put me off making high value purchases from Amazon

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I’m planning to buy a MacBook. It’s 10% cheaper if I buy it from Amazon. It would be a pain to have to travel to the nearest Apple Store or to John Lewis.

But Amazon don’t employ their own drivers and the white van guys that make the deliveries seem sketchy. I appreciate it’s a terrible job for them too, maybe that’s another reason why the company shouldn’t be supported.

They also often leave items outside the house where anyone can see them. Some Amazon items don’t come packaged either which makes theft more likely.

There have been stories of delivery drivers stealing high value items or replacing them with printer paper etc. Amazon or the credit card company will eventually refund but it can take weeks.

It might also increase your chance of being burgled as these sketchy randoms will now know what you’ve purchased.

AIBU for this to put me off Amazon for high value items? Am I better off paying the extra £150 and buying in person from John Lewis or the Apple Store?

With high value purchases you usually get a code that you have to give to the driver

Have your package delivered to a locker?

You usually need a code.

Or can you use a delivery locker?

I read there have been cases where the driver asks for the code, says it doesn’t work, and drives off with your item, never to be seen again!!

We ordered high value smart lighting a couple of weeks ago. Amazon sends you a code and the driver will not hand the parcel over without that code, you have to be in and receive in person. They are a retailer, it’s all about the money and have cottoned on to the fraud!

They won't leave a mac book outside.

It's high value so you need to answer the door and give a security code to the driver.

Why are you dramatising so much? Ironically Amazon are the only company I've not had delivery issues with.
Answer the door with your phone recording if you're that paranoid.
Or pay the extra 10% to go elsewhere

Don't use amazon then. I've got quite good drivers where I live but I still wouldn't for something that expensive I don't think. It does feel risky.

My dd is at university and uses the lockers but I don't think I would use one for a MacBook to be honest.

Buy your MacBook from a shop. No drama.

Thanks yes I understand I’m overdramatising but it’s a big purchase.

Amazon don’t recognise customer’s unboxing videos as valid evidence, apparently.

I’d be very wary of ordering expensive items on Amazon because of the issues with OTP scams. You accept the delivery and confirm it with a one time passcode, but after the driver has driven away, you open a box with a team of printer paper, and Amazon won’t refund you because you’ve confirmed delivery. Some credit card providers refuse a charge back for the same reason and you’re left battling customer service departments for Amazon and your credit card for months. I saw one person whose case wasn’t picked up properly until it hit the media.

I’d order from Apple directly and include AppleCare. I’ve needed it for my last two laptops. I think Apple and JL will both deliver for free as well, so if going to the store is inconvenient they’ll deliver.

Yes I was thinking if I did use Amazon I could get it delivered to the nearest shop, then I wouldn’t worry about burglary. But paying the extra £150 and walking away with it same
day may just make more sense all round.

I mean your options are use Amazon or don't. Not sure why all the drama about them driving off with your parcel

A friend of mine had to use a code to get her tablet, but there was no tablet inside the package, just bits of stuff to make the weight. So no you're not unreasonable to be wary.

I just bought an expensive new phone from Amazon and the delivery felt very secure. The only problem was my bank kept blocking the payment and though I eventually spoke to them and sorted it, they still keep blocking other things I'm trying to pay for now. Must phone again to sort it!

I always prefer to buy big purchases from a shop where possible. Plus John Lewis pays their taxes, unlike Amazon.

Amazon exploits its warehouse workers, drivers and 3rd party sellers, that’s the reason they’re so cheap.

Never forget.

Get your phone out when he knocks the door and start recording - video yourself answering the door, giving the code and unboxing the mac book as one continuous video. So if there is something else in the box you can prove it. This does happen regularly so it is worth taking extra precautions.

This used to be a tourist scam in Europe in the 1990s if not earlier. You’d buy a camcorder from a market, only to get home and find he’d done the old switcheroo and you’ve bought a brick in a box.

I loathe Amazon. They're cheap because they benefit from tax loopholes, their after sales service is rubbish and they treat their staff like crap. So you get what you pay for.
You can order on line from JL and get delivery to your home or your nearest Waitrose.
Risk-wise, though (to answer your actual question), if you get a code from Amazon you should be fine.

Amazon are fantastic. We get multiple deliveries daily, both running businesses from home. Never lost a parcel, had anything damaged etc. but I despair when they use royal mail. I have £2000 of stock due this morning and just checked and they have sent it RM not Amazon's fault of course it's the retailer. Unlikely to arrive today though.

Personally I'd pay the extra 10%

I'd be wary of using Amazon - We used Amazon for a high value purchase last year (VR headset) and when we opened the package we found a set of food containers! The items had been swapped at some point during the packing/delivery.
Was a worrying few days trying to talk to someone sensible to get our money back, as the Amazon helpdesk were useless - although they were more helpful when we posted on Twitter about it!.

Id always use John Lewis or someone reputable in future for anything of high value.

Make them wait and open it? I just ordered a tv from them, had to give a code. The box was damaged, so I told the guy I wasn’t accepting till I checked. No biggie. The code means they have to give it to the buyer, and if you’re worrried it will be full of paper, which I assume is vanishingly rare, then just say you can’t accept till it’s open.

Not related to deliveries, but a word of warning - if you're buying an expensive item (as a present) double-check who the seller is. I bought something "fulfilled by Amazon" but sold by a third party, and received an empty box. Checking the reviews of the company, they had a lot of one-star reviews that had been crossed out by Amazon (which presumably means the reviews don't count towards the company's overall score). Luckily I got my money back (after hassling Amazon a lot), but it was a pain, and rather spoiled the gift-giving experience!