Why didn’t you just head on over to the HD or a local appliance store and pick one up? That would’ve been the valiant thing to do.

I understand how much of an aggravation this is for you, losing the rental and all.

But I laughed. That's a doozy of a screwup.

I feel bad for the person who is waiting for his/her electric scooter.

Dh was just telling me about a local issue with Amazon Prime. New facility that isn't delivering packages on time or not delivering at all. Similar situations may exist in other areas of the country.

Article with video:

https://www.wafb.com/2018/11/22/look-inside-amazons-overwhelmed-baton-rouge-facility/

A couple of years ago I order several children's winter coats that were on clearance at Old Navy (7 of them IIRC). Imagine my surprise when I opened the package to find 2 dozen flip-flops ordered by someone in American Samoa! I wonder if he got the coats!

Bob, what an aggravation!!!

Amazon: too big for current britches.

lol Now...that is a crazy story! I'm sorry you lost your AirBnB renter.

Despite promising that it would be delivered on Friday, it didn't arrive until this morning. The box was slightly damaged, but the cooktop wasn't damaged.

I loaded it in the car and drove it over the the house, removed the old unit and installed the new one. Fortunately in time for the next guests who check in tomorrow.

Sorry you had such a hassle, but glad it turned out okay later on.

Thanks. I did slightly smash my fingers while removing the old unit, which still hurts quite a bit. And we still have to take the scooter to a UPS store to ship it back to Amazon before they will refund the money we paid for the first one.

I've been lucky with Amazon so far, but I believe the nearest large distribution facility is in Las Vegas. It's a lot cheaper to store things in Nevada than in California. I do try to order from someone else besides Amazon whenever possible, providing the prices are similar. I don't like the idea of Amazon becoming a monopoly.

And we still have to take the scooter to a UPS store

I do not drive so they always send UPS to pick up my returns. I believe all you have to do is ask and they will make arrangements to pick up at your home.

There are Amazon distribution centers all over California. They're typically outside the core urban regions in lower cost outlying areas - places like Sacramento, Tracy, Fresno in the North, San Bernardino, Ontario, etc., in the South, where land is cheap and available and wages are lower (though they announced they were raising pay for the lowest paid workers).

I'm glad the new cooktop has been installed, but sorry about your fingers. Making you ship the scooter back before they will refund is adding insult to injury - they are making you, their customer, jump through extra hoops which isn't very good customer service IMO.

Hubby once ordered electrical parts and when he opened the box it contained swimming pool chemicals. We don't even have a pool! They told him to keep the chemicals and then shipped out the correct items. Hubby later sold the pool chemicals on ebay.

There are currently 138 US fulfillment/return centers for Amazon and an additional 47 'sortation' centers. Most states have more than one, although the northern Rocky mountain states and parts of the midwest are noticeably lacking in these facilities. California has 21!!

Average pay rate for fulfillment center workers is $13.00 per hour although bonuses, Amazon stock and incentive pay boosts that just over $15 per hour before overtime.

"although the northern Rocky mountain states and parts of the midwest are noticeably lacking in these facilities"

I suspect it's because they're also lacking in population. One drives the other.

I'm glad Amazon decided to raise wages at the low end and as with any business who does this, I personally understand and am happy to pay higher prices to support it (which is what happens).

$15 per hour is something less than a get-rich-quick position. At the same time, it's each individual, not Amazon, who's responsible for their personal situations and if a low end or minimum wage job is the best they can qualify for, then that's what it is. As these centers are often (intentionally) in areas with less than robust job markets, I'm sure there are long lines for such jobs and that people who get them are grateful to have the opportunity.

$15 is well above minimum wage in most areas. And is about the same that Costco warehouse workers/stockers receive.

In the areas that lack any Amazon fulfillment centers I would think access to Amazon Prime would be limited as well.....hard to efficiently accomplish a 2 day delivery schedule when everything has to come from out of state.

I know that the $15 is an enhanced wage at the low end, but still. Perhaps in lower cost parts of the country an individual (not supporting a family) can get by on $30K per year ($15 x 2000 hours) but there are many places where it's not possible.

There's a minimum wage dispute that appears to be tinged with racism going on in Alabama, maybe you've heard of it? The prevailing minimum wage level in the state is the federal amount of $7.25. The City of Birmingham (the population of which is more than 50% African American and whose politicians are majority blue in a red state) passed an ordinance to raise the minimum wage in the city to a bit over $10/hour. In response, the state (with a majority Republican political power base) passed a law preventing localities from enacting their own rules. The city won a federal appeal to overturn the state law. I don't know if the case is still open but what a situation that is down there.

You wouldn't need to wait until the package is received by Amazon to get your refund. From my experience, you should get the refund as soon as UPS rings up the receipt of the return shipment. That is if you're using the UPS label Amazon provided to you. Hope your finger gets better soon ^_^