Aim for Amazon (amazon.co.uk)

Member Name: clubbruggekvfc

Product:	amazon.co.uk
Date:	06/05/01 (18 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Reliability, Range, Customer Reviews

Disadvantages: Price (some items), Postage Charges, Returns Policy

I've used Amazon's U.K, U.S and German websites, for the majority of my on-line CD, DVD and book purchases for the last three years, and to-date, I've had little to no problem with them.

I think one of the key factors for Internet shopping of any type, is trust, knowing that when you order something, a) your credit/debit card details are being securely dealt with, and b) what you actually part with your hard-earnt cash for, is actually going to make that satisfying thud(O.K. little thud) on your inside doormat, in the shortest possible time. This 'ideal' shopping experience is the one I tend to get with Amazon.

The U.K websiste,(the one I use most) is very easy to navigate (as are all), with a good in-house seach engine, has a great range of stock, and above all, carries reviews of the product (as do all sites) you are interested in buying, not only by Amazon staff, but by fellow shoppers like you, who more often than not, take the time and effort to pass on their views of the thing you want to buy. I have found these reviews invaluable on many occassions, for example, when ordering a CD of greatest hits by a band or solo singer, checking the customer reviews, only to find it contains a lot of horrid old re-recordings, by the artist/s long-past their best! Or, when about to order a DVD, reading bad review after bad review, on the movie or the extras offered on the disc itself, or both, has saved me from possibly wasting my wonga.

Amazon, also offers a range of other products and services, including on-line auctions, and computer software, video games etc etc.. I've found it to have professional and quick customer serivce too. When your order is accepted, an e-mail is immediately dispatched to you, confirming it, as is another, when the goods are ready to send. If you do have a query or problem , as I did last Christmas, when a DVD I ordered never arrived, ( the only cock-up to-date) it was sorted out with courtesy a
nd without argument or allegation on their part, and a replacement, sent to me straight away, which I did get. Most major titles are dispatched within 24 to 48 hours. The more obscure your needs, be prepared for a wait of up to, six weeks, although it's usually much quicker than that.

On the downside, (isn't there always!) price is not always competitive, I've found. Some things I've noticed slightly/a lot cheaper elsewhere, when I've used Shopsmart-type sites. That said, I'd rather pay £10.99 for a CD I know I'm going to get, than pay £8.99 and never receive it at all! Generally though, prices are fairly competitive, and if you use Amazon Germany or U.S, you can make some nice savings(even with the extra shipping charges) and benefit from a wider and more bohemian range of music and film too. By the way, although Amazon Germany's site is mainly in German (rather unsurprisingly!!), their staff will send e-mails and converse in English, once you request it.

I do find Amazon's postage rates expensive. I object to paying £2+, for example, on a CD to be sent from Amazon, when I can get one sent also 1st Class by HMV for a quid. I think they should look at their postal charges, items do come well packaged and quick, but if others can do it cheaper and as speedily, they should look at things again in that department, I feel.

Returning goods is 'allowed', but, Amazon say, if you take off the wrapping from a CD/video tape for example, you can't send it back. Obviously, they would say, they don't want people copying them, and then asking for a refund, but there are sometimes, valid and genuine reasons for wanting to return such an item, and I don't see any flexiblity in Amazon's stance on this issue, though I'm yet to test the waters on it, as it were.

To sum up, I'd recommend Amazon, and all their main websites, with just one or two aforementioned reservations. The vast m
ajority of my shopping with them has been positive.

Summary: