Questions about buying from amazon

[Coopmv]

I like Amazon, but my experience with their packaging isn't the same as others here.

Dave,  You are located in a different part of the country, somewhere in MN I believe.  You probably deal with different warehouses than George and I.  George and I probably get our stuffs from the same few warehouses in the northeast and the packaging has been horrendous lately.  I have ordered a generous supply of jewel cases of different variety from Sleeve City to be ready for replacements.  Some of the breakage lately has rendered the original case totally unusable, i.e hinge on the jewel case has broken off.
Amazon has gotten quite skimpy in its packaging.  You know the USPS is merciless when it comes to packages.

[George]

Dave,  You are located in a different part of the country, somewhere in MN I believe.  You probably deal with different warehouses than George and I.  George and I probably get our stuffs from the same few warehouses in the northeast and the packaging has been horrendous lately.  I have ordered a generous supply of jewel cases of different variety from Sleeve City to be ready for replacements.  Some of the breakage lately has rendered the original case totally unusable, i.e hinge on the jewel case has broken off.
Amazon has gotten quite skimpy in its packaging.  You know the USPS is merciless when it comes to packages.

When we discuss amazon purchases, we should distinguish between:

1. Amazon Marketplace sellers - Newbury Comics, importCDs, caiman, etc. They do in print and OOP. Service and shipping speed is variable.

and

2. (regular) Amazon - These guys are fast and packing is always in a cardboard box, even for one CD. I have been very impressed with their services. You pay more but can bet it will get there safely and quick. They only do in print stuff, though, a major drawback for me.   

[Coopmv]

When we discuss amazon purchases, we should distinguish between:

1. Amazon Marketplace sellers - Newbury Comics, importCDs, caiman, etc. They do in print and OOP. Service and shipping speed is variable.

and

2. (regular) Amazon - These guys are fast and packing is always in a cardboard box, even for one CD. I have been very impressed with their services. You pay more but can bet it will get there safely and quick. They only do in print stuff, though, a major drawback for me.   

George,

I have received CD's from Amazon in a cardboard wrap-around a few times and ended up having cracked CD jewel cases everytime.  Amazon does not always use a box all the time even though I always order multiple CD's from them in any given order.

[George]

George,

I have received CD's from Amazon in a cardboard wrap-around a few times and ended up having cracked CD jewel cases everytime.  Amazon does not always use a box all the time even though I always order multiple CD's from them in any given order.

Sorry to hear that. I have only used them a handful of times, but each time the CD arrived in an oversized box. 

[Dr. Dread]

I assume the free shipping items are sent media mail and therefore get more abuse.

[George]

I assume the free shipping items are sent media mail and therefore get more abuse.

Not in my (albeit limited) experience.

[DavidRoss]

I have never had a problem with Amazon, except that before we joined Amazon prime (two day shipping on all items) the "free" budget shipping took a couple of weeks.  There are many Marketplace sellers that I have had long and happy relationships with, Newbury chief among them.  There are some Marketplace sellers who do not honestly disclose the condition (a scratched disc is hardly "like new") or whether an item is a cutout or a club edition.  Such sellers obviously don't expect repeat business and they certainly don't get it from me.

[Jay F]

It can be a crapshoot ordering from the Marketplace. The more you order the greater the risk. Yes it's worth it for the OOP and rare items; no it's not worth it for the headaches. I've even written Amazon proper in the past to complain about the abysmal service from some of their vendors. Don't know if it helped.

Overall though I stick with the Marketplace since I don't know where else to go for the rarities they list. And the service usually is pretty good.

I consider cutouts and record club issues as *new* as long as they're listed as such on the Marketplace listing. At least I know what I'm getting. If an item ISN'T listed as such (even though it's wrapped) I've in the past written to complain to a seller and received recompense (forget what, now). But this doesn't happen often.

I don't notice usually whether things are record club copies. My vision isn't what it used to be, and I hardly ever look at my CDs or their packaging.

For the larger problem of items received NOT in the condition listed (open/used listed as new) I've taken to asking for a compromise: I simply request a partial refund and I keep the item. This has worked every time - and I've even had a seller propose the compromise to me once. I took it.

It seems a good compromise as it saves me the hassle of repackaging the disc, going to the post office, and spending the extra $$ on return shipping. Not to mention it's a huge time-waster doing all this. It makes the seller happy too as they still make the sale and don't have to read angry emails from me demanding they pay for return shipping!    

I do this, too. And sometimes the distance between actual and described conditions is so great, I get a 100% refund. I learned this one when I sold someone a dish that somehow wasn't in the condition I described. It made no sense to have her return it, as I wouldn't've been able to sell it for anything like a profit, so I just let the buyer keep it and refunded her money.

[Lethevich]

Amazon has been great for me too. I've made over 100 orders (mostly using free shipping) and they have always been in the nice large boxes...

[Coopmv]

I really do not buy from Amazon that often anymore after I started to use MarketPlace two years ago.  When my first order of Solti's Wagner Tannhauser arrived from Newbury in record time and excellent condition, I started to buy mostly from the MarketPlace vendors, which generally have much better prices anyway.  But whenever Amazon has good deals such as the 80 CD Glenn Gould's set last year for $109 plus free shipping and the Martha Argerich's Solo set, I would go back to Amazon.  The latest good deal was the Karajan Symphony Edition from Amazon UK, which should arrive this week.  I always buy from MarketPlace vendors that have a rating of at least 93% and such selectivity has served me well.

[Solitary Wanderer]

I've recently had several bad experiences with OOP disc's from Ebay, GEMM and Amazon. In all the cases the disc's were not in the condition described - being much poorer in all examples. Yes, you can complain and stuff around with returns etc, but as George points out you don't get a refund on your return postage expenses and it's a hassle.

Generally though, I find the Amazon marketplace to be excellent and I've bought hundreds of CD's and books with minimal problems - usually I'm happy when I recieve my package.

But isn't it horrible when you open a new arrival and it's not what you were expecting - my heart sinks 

[George]

I've recently had several bad experiences with OOP disc's from Ebay, GEMM and Amazon. In all the cases the disc's were not in the condition described - being much poorer in all examples. Yes, you can complain and stuff around with returns etc, but as George points out you don't get a refund on your return postage expenses and it's a hassle.

Yep, I hate going to the post office and then waiting for the refund, waiting for the replacement from another seller to arrive...

Anyway, the seller agreed to refund $5 of my purchase, so all is well. I opened up the CD and it looks like someone shot a BB through the corner, but otherwise it's fine.

[karlhenning]

Not in my (albeit limited) experience.

Nor mine (sorry, Dave!)