Why Amazon is shit
On most of my sites I accept Paypal - everyone knows that Paypal is nice and easy and in general works well. For UK clients I also offer other payment methods.
On the odd occasion, nonUK clients don't want to use Paypal - which is fair enough. In this instance I have an Amazon Wishlist which serves as a payment method - in 4 years only 1 person has ever used it as far as I recall.
Anyway, a few days ago someone else wanted to use it - but instead they purchased me a Gift Certificate so that I could spend it at Amazon as I wished. Great, you say, and great I say!
However, did you know that Gift Certificates purchased at amazon.com cannot be used at any other amazon site (eg .co.uk, .de etc). And Gift Certificates bought at .co.uk or .de cannot be used at .com. WHAT A CROCK OF SHIT!
So, basically, as I am in the UK, I have an unusable Gift Certificate as Amazon refuse to simply exchange my.com Certificate for a .co.uk certificate.
I was looking at one particular product which is £25 (about $50) on Amazon UK. Switch to amazon.com and the SAME product is $120 (about £60) - so double the price. On top of that, I'd have to pay import duty (tax) as well as extra shipping cots…
KISS MY ARSE AMAZON.
How easy would it be for them to simply understand that UK buyers need to buy from their UK site?
I asked the person who bought the Gift Certificate to ask for their money back - again, Amazon won't even do that. Amazon is worse than useless.
Comment by Stu — August 28, 2008 @ 11:23 am
Looks like you're stuck with ebooks or music burt!
You could maybe give it away as a prize in a competition or something?
Comment by burt — August 28, 2008 @ 2:00 pm
Stu - ebooks don't float my boat, but good thinking! Digital products would work, so I wentt o buy some MP3's from Amazon.
o O - MP3's are only available if you are in the USA. Can't get DVD's as they'd be incorrect region. Looks like it's CD's or paperback books.
If I order 1 CD or 1 paperback at a time I wont get hit with import tax, I reckon. FsCK YOU AMAZON.
Comment by SarahG — August 28, 2008 @ 10:28 pm
That's certainly not a selling point. That's like saying you can only use that voucher you got from your Aunt at Christmas in the same shop that she bought it in.
You and Khalid should swap notes
Comment by Khalid — August 29, 2008 @ 10:01 am
Interesting article Burt. This didn't use to always be the case, as I've used a voucher from the .com on the .co.uk site in the past - however this was many years ago!
It does seem silly, but on a business level, I can understand why they do it. Amazon US and Amazon UK are two separate entities, and I'd imagine it'd be an accounting nightmare with the vouchers!
You could try flogging it on ebay….
Comment by burt — August 29, 2008 @ 3:17 pm
I've admitted defeat and just bought a load of books. 1 jQuery book and a few novels. Gotta wait until god knows when for them to be delivered though.