Amazon.co.uk (amazon.co.uk)

Member Name: chris212

Product:	amazon.co.uk
Date:	21/08/09 (69 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wide range of products - cheap prices

Disadvantages: None

Amazon.co.uk is the big internet company that almost everyone that has used the internet has either come across or have heard their name, and even people that have not used the internet will have heard of the company.

The company is a jack of all trades, as it does not really specialise on one area, as the products that it sells are quite wide. As the areas that the company sell in are, computer games and consoles, electronic equipment, mobile phones, laptops and PCs and many other things.

On Amazons main home page you are give some items that you have either searched for previously or have been show to you as other people have bought them or they related to products that you have searched for previously.

Along the side of the screen at the top left the user is given the option to search for an item through the menu system. I would only recommend going through the menu system if you are just browsing a particular category, such as a TV, then it is ok. But if you are looking for a particular model of TV then the menu system is not suitable.

If you are looking for a particular type of product such as a TV then you are better off using the search bar tool. This is located at the top of the screen, and you are given the opportunity to search through the entire site or through a specific category.

One problem that I have found when I was looking for a product was knowing which category that the product was located in, as some times you would think that a product is under one category when on fact it has been placed under another.

The main types of products that I order from the site are computer games, book and computer related items. The reason why I tend to use Amazon is the wide range of products with a category, as when I look for games, I have found older games that I have been looking for that I could not find on other sites.

When you go onto the page of the product, you are given the images that are uploaded by Amazon of the product and on certain products there will also be user photos. Alongside this there is the product description and details such as specifications. While these are normally accurate, there is the odd occasional mistake, such as when I was looking at the PS3 on the site, it stated PS2 backward compatibility, when in fact it has been removed from that model, so I would always doubt check the specification. At the bottom of the page you can usually find user reviews on the product, but they are not always the most helpful, as they are often one line comments.

The reason that I tend to use Amazon over other stores is the fact that they sell items a lot cheaper than other stores. As I have often found games to be up to £10 cheap, and the same with books that I have to order for my university course. Another reason is the wide selection of products that Amazon have on offer, as it is far wider than any physical store can offer. This is one of the reasons why Amazon are able to offer prices at a lower rate, as they only operate warehouses and not stores.

In terms of delivery Amazon are quite good, although they do not necessarily stick to the dates that they state the products will be delivered, as they often come earlier. What Amazon do is give a date when the product will be sent out from one of their warehouses and the range date of expected delivery. So far when I have ordered products from the site, I have always received the items either within the date or earlier. But what I have found on occasions is that I have actually received items on the date of when they were supposed to be dispatched.

There are a number of levels of delivery that you can chose from when deciding how you want your products delivered. There is the super saver option, which is free. The only thing with this option is that you have to order products with a minimum total of £5, whereas before the total had to be £15. It is stated by Amazon that it should take between three and five days for the package to be delivered.

Next is the ability to have the products ordered delivered by first class post, this is intended to be 1 to 2 days after the product has been dispatched from the warehouse but cost to have the package delivered by this method, usually £3 to £4. There is the new Amazon Prime that has not long ago been introduced, that means all products can be delivered by first class post, I have tried this service while it was on a free trail run, but I have found that it is not really any difference to the super saver option, and super saver is cheaper, Prime costs in the region of £80 to £90; and unless you order quite frequently from the site it will be a waste of money.

Finally there is the next day delivery, which costs you about £8, which can seem expensive but if you want the product the next day you pay for what you get, but there is a time limit or cut off point as to when the package has to be sent out to be received the next day, this is displayed with the products description. I have never used this service, as I really cannot see the point of paying £8 to receive something the next, whereas you can wait an extra couple of days and have it delivered for free.

For delivery I would recommend super saver, as it is not that difficult get the total cost up to £5, and really there is no difference to the first class post option. The deliver is also the fast, when I compare it to other sites that I have used such as Play.com, that also offer free delivery.

When the packages have arrived, I have found that they are reasonably packed to protect them while they are in transit.

Overall I would recommend Amazon as it is one of the best online retailers that I have used so far. As there are a wide range of products on offer for low prices, with quick delivery; also with the ability to purchase items just not from Amazon but also other people that are selling through the Amazon Market place.

Summary: One of the best web based stores