skip to main content

The Kitchen Table

Amazon.com customer service

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I've had a couple of incidents lately that lead me to surmise that Amazon may have word recognition software and not actually be reading every message sent to them in person. I sent them a compliment on a warehouse purchase I made and they are responding as if I had made a complaint.

I'm not beefing about it, just mentioning what I'm thinking.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

pudgeder
8 years ago
It may take a few days before a "human" reads the email.

My experience w/Amazon's customer service has been excellent. Through my work, I probably spend 20K on Amazon every year.

If you go to your "my orders" area, scroll down to the HELP and search for CONTACT. You can click on a link that says "Amazon Call you" and they will call. It's AWESOME!

They like receiving compliments by phone too!
socks
8 years ago
Good to know, pudge.

I'm not calling them about this, but I've seen a lot of reviews (too many in my opinion) which are by people who were given a discount on the item in exchange for a fair review. It always seems they really like the item a lot. I don't care for this tactic. Nevertheless, I'm an Amazon fan and order a couple times a month.

Heard on the radio today they are starting their own clothing lines, not called Amazon, but other names.
Related Discussions
Today Show / Amazon.com
Q
Comments (9)
"How on earth did this book even get published??? Really?" It was a self-published book. There are companies that will, for a fee, publish anything you write. The technology has advanced to the point where some books that you order from Amazon aren't printed until you order them--then the publisher will print one copy and it gets sent to you. Or you just download the electronic version onto your electronic reader. Amazon has its own self-publishing program, and I suspect that's how this "book" got on to their website. I doubt Amazon inspects each and every title that is self-published from their site. But I suspect they will have to start doing so soon. Here is a link that might be useful: Self-publish your work
...See More
From horrible customer service to excellent service!
Q
Comments (8)
I always call back if I don't get a satisfactory answer/result to my request. 9 times out of 10 I get the results I was hoping for the second time around. And always get names. I've started telling them that I too am recording this phone call. I have an app on my phone that records both sides of a conversation. I have it for work related phone calls so if I'm not where I can write down information I can recall it at a later time. I've also found that (most of the time) women take their jobs way too seriously or act like they have a chip on their shoulders. Men are much easier to deal with. As always, keeping the high road and keep calm pays off...except for the time I told one Eastern Indian (who had no business dealing with the American public) that if I knew where he lived, I'd fly a plane thru his tent! This was shortly after 9-11. I think I broke my phone that day :(
...See More
Thermador Customer Service
Q
Comments (2)
Based on the photo below, your Thermador bottom-freezer refrigerator shipped with two glass shelves. On the claim form, I would provide the model number of the refrigerator, proof of purchase, and request replacement of the broken shelf. Include the upper photo of your refrigerator; add an arrow to clarify that only one shelf remains.
...See More
More Great Customer Service - EB
Q
Comments (14)
My grandson (14) is quite fussy about his hair and always has a great style. He recently found a young man on youtube (with great hair) selling a product my grandson wanted to try. Since he knows I exist to ensure his happiness, lol, I told him I'd send for some. I was issued a tracking number right away, but the product never seemed to leave the station. I finally wrote an email, then another, and finally one saying I was going to cancel and if they didn't refund my $ I would report to my CC company. I never got any response. My grandson was quite disappointed. When I looked at their website again, I noticed a newly posted customer service phone #, which I called. A very nice woman answered and when I explained the problem, she was so apologetic and said they'd been a little overwhelmed with orders so she was working very hard to get caught up. She said this was the 2nd time she had personally taken an order to the USPS, gotten a tracking # but the products never left the PO. She wasn't sure if someone was stealing them, or what. I told her it was for my grandson, who had seen a video on youtube. She said that is her son and he'd be thrilled to hear my grandson is a fan. She said she would have her son write a note to my grandson and that since her son wears a puka shell necklace in the videos, she would have him send a necklace, too. Remember those? I guess they are back in style, at least for boys. And she would reship the order priority mail the next day, which she did. My grandson was thrilled with the note (he's a big fan of some of these youtubers) and the necklace, which he has been wearing. Not sure if he loves the product as much as he hoped. Now he wants a perm so it will have more wave, lol.
...See More
plllog
8 years ago
I've also had great experiences with their customer service, but I've also had that computer (or clueless foreigner in his native country) reading an e-mail and getting it all wrong. A follow up usually fixes it. :) The Call Me works great, as does the chat, though on that one, do anticipate foreign workers who don't really know what you're talking about.

My recent issue, however, was when the delivery driver left a big heavy box with my parents' correct packages. It was for a street not that far away but where there's nowhere even a little way away to park, and it was just too big and heavy to go trotting down the sidewalk with if we'd rustled up someone to drive around the block (no possibility of waiting, either). Normal thought would be that they'd send someone to pick up the box and deliver it to the right place. The delivery services just park in the middle of the road and pay the fines as a cost of doing business.

Because I didn't have an order number, because it wasn't my box, they said they couldn't do that. Couldn't. So I asked to speak to a supervisor. After waiting half an hour, I was told that the supervisor would call me back. Didn't happen. So I e-mailed. And got another e-mail back asking for the info on the label (i.e., so they could identify the order), then they told me to keep or ditch the box, that they couldn't pick it up because it wasn't my order!!

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, because the cost of restocking is so high that a lot of mass distributors like Amazon give all their returns, or all under a certain price, to jobbers to resell, getting no more than dimes on the dollar. I wasn't so happy with their policy on that, especially because the heavy wrong box was distressing my mother, and it would have been easier to dispose of if they'd come and gotten it. In general, however, their service is very good.

Related Stories

WORKING WITH PROS How to Commission Custom Wood Furnishings

By Tiffany Carboni

Can't find just the right table, shelf, desk or what have you? It's woodworkers to the rescue

WORKING WITH PROS What to Know About Working With a Custom Cabinetmaker

By Laura Gaskill

Learn the benefits of going custom, along with possible projects, cabinetmakers’ pricing structures and more

DECORATING GUIDES Custom Draperies 101

Say yes to great fabric, liner and hardware

ART Your Guide to Custom-Framing Photos and Art

By Karen Egly-Thompson

Get the lowdown on framing materials, methods and more

WINDOW TREATMENTS Embellishing Tricks for Cost-Effective Custom Curtains

By Nicole White Designs Interiors LLC

Get curtains that look high end — even if you don't sew — with just a little trim here or a little banding there

DECORATING GUIDES 6 Cost-Effective Ways to Go Custom Made

By Apartment 46 for the Home

Get a look that’s totally you — and possibly for a lower cost than you might think

CURB APPEAL Houzz Call: Show Us Your Mailbox!

By Stacy Briscoe

Celebrate the U.S. Postal Service’s 240th birthday by uploading photos of your fabulous mailbox

Your Guide to Stylish Slipcovers

By Beth Dotolo, ASID, RID, NCIDQ

Get the Look You Want With Custom, Semi-Custom and Readymade Slipcovers

LIFE Make Money From Your Home While You're Away

By Laura Gaskill

New services are making occasionally renting your home easier than ever. Here's what you need to know

DESIGN PRACTICE Design Practice: Start-up Costs for Architects and Designers

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

How much cash does it take to open a design company? When you use free tools and services, it’s less than you might think

Sponsored

More Discussions

Let's start a chain reaction game -- Part 4

143

Can we start a Chain Reaction Game - Part 4

164

House buyers LOVE this

29

I'll show you mine/you show me yours - M 4/29/24

18

Monday's Daily Quiz

5