Accidental Technologist

Musings about Entrepreneurship, Technology and Software Development

Amazon.com Provides Some of the Worst Customer Service

by Leave a Comment

The title says it all, Amazon.com provides some of the worst customer service. Just try to contact them and see for yourself. They are so big that they create their own rules and we have to live by them.

I placed an order last night and here is the email I received this morning:

I never contacted Amazon about unauthorized activity on my account.

When I called their Customer Service, they could provide no good explanation other than I placed an order for a higher dollar amount than usual and this was the way they ensured I was being protected.

This was for MY benefit. The order was cancelled, my account was locked and all of my payment methods removed. I think Amazon expects that I should be grateful for their astute attention to security.

It’s now up to me to change my password after 5 hours, add my payment accounts back in and recreate the order they deleted.

This is how Amazon treats customers. I’ve been placing thousands of dollars worth of orders for years with never a problem, until Amazon thinks I ordered something too high priced.

I’ve been contacted by the fraud department of my credit card companies before; some was valid fraud while others were my purchases. The process was simple, they sent a text or called me to verify the purchase. I like this feature, it’s saved me. Amazon saved nothing but added aggravation.

I’d love to have another place to order from for the items we need. Amazon is getting too big and we need other options. If we had real options, I would take my business elsewhere today. I know they wouldn’t care but if enough people did this, then they might.

MacMall : Winner of the Worst Customer Service on the Planet Award

by 4 Comments

GlobalImages hdrLogo

I deal with a lot of companies online and in-general, they are all pretty good. ?My recent dealing with online Apple retailer, MacMall, forced me to create an award here and present them with the Worst Customer Service on the Planet Award. ?I hope they like it because they certainly have earned it.

Once Upon a Time

I have never bought anything from MacMall before but have witnessed a barrage of email begging for my business. ?When the new Apple MacBook Airs were released I decided I might give MacMall a try because they had free shipping, $50 price tag less than Apple, an additional discount code from AppleInsider and no sales tax. ?In all I would save about $175.

Upon deciding to order the 13.3″ MacBook Air with 4G RAM, 256G SSD and the upgraded i7 processor, MacMall’s web site indicated the item would ship in 5-7 days. ?Being the inpatient person I am, that seemed too long for me but decided I would forgo the need to have it now and order any way. ? The first attempt at ordering failed when I attempted to use my Bill Me Later account. ?MacMall web site said they had a problem with my Bill Me Later account and I needed to select another source of payment. ?Fine, just use my reliable MasterCard and be done with it. ?Order placed on August 9, 2011.

MacMall Air

The screen capture above is exactly what the web site said when I placed my order and it is exactly what is says today, 8/24/2011. ?The wording is deceptive.

The following day I received 2 emails asking me to call their credit department to verify some information. ?I thought this was sort of strange, you know for an online retailer and all, but I gave them a call. ?After sitting on hold for the better part of 30 minutes with a recording telling me how important my call was to them, I was cut off after customer service hours ended for the day. ?I decided to respond to their email, hoping they could resolve the issue in an email exchange. ?Two emails went unanswered.

The next day I received a call from their credit department while I was out, telling me it was important they received a call from me about my order. ?I went back to the phone to give it another try, sat on hold for 15 min. or so and finally connected with a live person. ?I indicated I was calling about my order, was asked for my order number and she looked it up. ?Her first question..”what’s the problem?”. ?Dumb founded, I told her that I was asked to call in regarding my order. ?Finally she said she needed to go over my order to sure what I ordered was actually what I wanted to order. ?What?? ?This is 2011 and I shouldn’t have to call in to reiterate my order. ?What is the point of ordering online if I only have to call in anyway?

So after 10 minutes of answering questions and telling them that I really did want to order this laptop, the graciously accepted my order. ?I would told it would ship in a few days.

A Few Days Later

When a week had gone by and I hadn’t received an email or any updated notification about my order I decided to contact their customer service department about the order. ?A quick email sent looking for an update.

Did I get a reply back via email? ?Nope! ?I received a call later that day from someone who could barely speak English telling me my order should ship on about 8/23/2011, a full 2 weeks after the order was placed. ?At this point I am about fed up with MacMall and really wanted to tell them what they could do with their MacBook Air but I am saving nearly $200, right?

As 8/23/2011 came, I waited until the middle of the day to check my MacMall account for an update?nothing. ?I don’t think it is too much to ask to give me something, I mean, I called in last week so they know I am following this. ?I decided to give them a call so they might be able to tell me when my Air is ahipping.

A brief time on hold reveals I have a new *estimated* ship date, the end up the month. ?Huh? ?It didn’t compute, 8/31 is the end of the month and a full 3+ weeks after placing the order and it is still estimated. ?Apple’s web site says 1-3 days for this model and by the time I see this from MacMall it will be a month. ?I’m sorry but not acceptable..CANCELLED.

Moral of the Story

I ordered the MacBook Air from Apple right after my happy divorce from MacMall. ?I will pay more but the price will be worth every penny knowing I am not giving it to MacMall, not now, not ever.

This post would just be a rant if I didn’t learn some lessons and share with readers. ?I think good customer service is just common sense, treat people the way you want or expect to be treated:

  • Set realistic expectations to your customer. ?If you say 5-7 days, make it 5-7 days, not some unknown time frame which is longer. ?Better yet, say 5-7 but mean 2-4. ?This way you went above my expectations.
  • You offer a phone number to take orders but also allow for online ordering. ?If I order online that means I don’t want to talk to you on the phone so don’t call me. ?This goes for customer service too, if you have a form which I fill out, respond back to me in an email and not bothering me with a phone call.
  • If you do force your customers to call you, don’t leave them on hold for more than a couple minutes. ?Telling your customers during their hold time that they are important to you means nothing after being on hold for 1/2 hour. ?Sorry, but it doesn’t.
  • Keep in contact with your customers, don’t leave them hanging. ?If you tell them you will do something for them by a certain date, do it or at least have the courtesy of a follow-up email or phone call (depends on their preferred method of contact).

This experience has been the worst example of customer service I have ever witnessed. ?I order a lot online and I mainly order only online and MacMall is the hands-down winner of the?Worst Customer Service on the Planet Award. ?Congrats, you are truly #1.

Thank you for reading my rant, I hope I have saved you some pain. ?Also remember, price should not be the only deciding factor..lesson learned.

?

When Will Amazon Stop Running and Face Reality?

by 2 Comments

I have been an Amazon Associate for a long time and a Connecticut resident even longer. ?Here is the sad email I received this morning:

Hello,

For well over a decade, the Amazon Associates Program has worked with thousands of Connecticut residents. Unfortunately, the budget signed by Governor Malloy contains a sales tax provision that compels us to terminate this program for Connecticut-based participants effective immediately. It specifically imposes the collection of taxes from consumers on sales by online retailers – including but not limited to those referred by Connecticut-based affiliates like you – even if those retailers have no physical presence in the state.

We opposed this new tax law because it is unconstitutional and counterproductive. It was supported by big-box retailers, most of which are based outside Connecticut, that seek to harm the affiliate advertising programs of their competitors. Similar legislation in other states has led to job and income losses, and little, if any, new tax revenue. We deeply regret that we must take this action.

As a result of the new law, contracts with all Connecticut residents participating in the Amazon Associates Program will be terminated today, June 10, 2011. Those Connecticut residents will no longer receive advertising fees for sales referred to?Amazon.com,?Endless.com,?MYHABIT.COM or?SmallParts.com. Please be assured that all qualifying advertising fees earned on or before today, June 10, 2011, will be processed and paid in full in accordance with the regular payment schedule.

You are receiving this email because our records indicate that you are a resident of Connecticut. If you are not currently a resident of Connecticut, or if you are relocating to another state in the near future, you can manage the details of your Associates account?here. And if you relocate to another state after June 10, 2011, please?contact us for reinstatement into the Amazon Associates Program.

To avoid confusion, we would like to clarify that this development will only impact our ability to offer the Associates Program to Connecticut residents and will not affect their ability to purchase from?www.amazon.com.

We have enjoyed working with you and other Connecticut-based participants in the Amazon Associates Program and, if this situation is rectified, would very much welcome the opportunity to re-open our Associates Program to Connecticut residents.

Regards,

The Amazon Associates Team

The sad part of this email is what Amazon chooses to handle this….run. ?This is exactly what they did with a distribution center in Texas at the beginning of the year.

The reality here is states are losing big tax revenue to online businesses and now they want the revenue they feel they deserve. ?I pay my fair share of taxes and don’t really want to pay any additional taxes but it doesn’t seem fair that the local Mom & Pop establishment has to collect sales tax and others do not.

I just don’t agree with Amazon’s actions here and find them spineless. ? One part of the email I particularly funny:

To avoid confusion, we would like to clarify that this development will only impact our ability to offer the Associates Program to Connecticut residents and will not affect their ability to purchase from?www.amazon.com.

Translation, sorry to stick it to you but we still really want your money. ?Thank you!