Amazon sent me a USED and BROKEN MacBook

[tjwett]

man that is a drag. i've always had bad experience with Amazon. back when they were a book dealer, they were known for selling "b stock" defective books. every book i've bought from them has misprinted, missing, ripped or other defective pages. Amazon's book stock is primarily supplied by publishers' defective copies that, until Amazon came along, were considered "unsellable" and were thrown away. in your case i might even skip Amazon and go straight into an Apple Store with it and show them everything and stage a sit-in until they hand you a brand new machine. that's just wrong.

 

[generik]

man that is a drag. i've always had bad experience with Amazon. back when they were a book dealer, they were known for selling "b stock" defective books. every book i've bought from them has misprinted, missing, ripped or other defective pages. Amazon's book stock is primarily supplied by publishers' defective copies that, until Amazon came along, were considered "unsellable" and were thrown away. in your case i might even skip Amazon and go straight into an Apple Store with it and show them everything and stage a sit-in until they hand you a brand new machine. that's just wrong.

Really? I buy books from them quite often and they are good... are all their books b-grade stock?

 

[Flowbee]

You've got to be ***** kidding! What were you demanding? Wouldn't they send you a replacement?

From his original post, it looks like he was demanding a new computer by Saturday. I'm not surprised that Amazon wouldn't send a replacement before at least getting the original computer back first... I'm pretty sure Apple wouldn't do that either. He didn't say that they refused to give him a replacement.

 

[Flowbee]

Amazon's book stock is primarily supplied by publishers' defective copies that, until Amazon came along, were considered "unsellable" and were thrown away.

Sorry, but that's completely untrue. Care to point us to your source for this "fact?"

 

[FFTT]

Not only should you be furious with Amazon, but you should also be talking to Apple Customer Relations.

If your machine's serial number shows a previous registration, you've got Amazon
by the gonads.

 

[tjwett]

Sorry, but that's completely untrue. Care to point us to your source for this "fact?"

i used to work for a large independent book store, in the inventory and accounting department. years ago we used to take defective books and remove the cover and charge them back to the publisher for a refund. then the policy changed when Amazon came along and we were instructed to not destroy the books and they were returned to the publisher intact so they could be sold to Amazon. and years ago in Seattle i knew people that worked for Amazon in town and they told me the same thing. i don't think it was ever a secret. in addition to that, every book i've ever bought from amazon has been defective. every_single_one. that's enough for me.

 

[Abstract]

Not only should you be furious with Amazon, but you should also be talking to Apple Customer Relations.

If your machine's serial number shows a previous registration, you've got Amazon
by the gonads.

Good idea. Get Amazon's gonads in your hands.

 

[Flowbee]

i used to work for a large independent book store...

Sounds a lot like "independent book store" sour grapes to me. The kind of story that's spread on the Internet to scare people away from using Amazon... but it just doesn't make sense. You can't honestly believe that the millions of books Amazon sells are all defective returns from book stores across the country. If that was the case, how could Amazon possibly fill orders for new releases? Amazon gets its stock directly from the publishers just like any other book stores do. And what you may have heard from "friends in Seattle" isn't actually proof otherwise.

BTW, I've never received a defective book from Amazon. Guess I'm lucky.

 

[yojitani]

From his original post, it looks like he was demanding a new computer by Saturday. I'm not surprised that Amazon wouldn't send a replacement before at least getting the original computer back first... I'm pretty sure Apple wouldn't do that either. He didn't say that they refused to give him a replacement.

Perhaps it is different with a $1000 computer, but with all the items I listed, they sent me a replacement before I returned the items. In fact, if I remember correctly, the replacement was shipped with a sticker for return postage (via UPS, I think). They really should have in this case. They have an inventory list, they would simply need to check his computer against the defective one sent out to Mr. Worboys. Should be as no-brainer, but then customer services are usually a bit depleted in that department (no offense to MR members who are CS agents, I'm sure you are all the exception).

yt

 

[tjwett]

Sounds a lot like "independent book store" sour grapes to me. The kind of story that's spread on the Internet to scare people away from using Amazon... but it just doesn't make sense. You can't honestly believe that the millions of books Amazon sells are all defective returns from book stores across the country. If that was the case, how could Amazon possibly fill orders for new releases? Amazon gets its stock directly from the publishers just like any other book stores do. And what you may have heard from "friends in Seattle" isn't actually proof otherwise.

BTW, I've never received a defective book from Amazon. Guess I'm lucky.

hey, it's all good. and i'm glad you've had good experiences with them, from one david lynch fan to another . but i really couldn't care less if people use Amazon or not, i have no kind of vendetta against them or anything like that. unfortunately (for me) i just haven't had good luck with them and knowing what i know, or think i know, doesn't help my opinion of them. but i still buy books from them too when i need to. just to clarify, i wasn't implying that their entire stock was from store-returned defects but from publisher defects mostly, which can be hundreds and even thousands of books per pressing cycle. anyway, no big deal. i just hope the original poster gets his situation sorted out.

 

[dpaanlka]

That is beyond ridiculous.

My roommate last year got a used iMac that was a little beat up. Was replaced with a new one.

 

[NEENAHBOY]

BTW, I've never received a defective book from Amazon. Guess I'm lucky.

Ditto, and I've ordered dozens.

 

[mrbrown]

That's nuts. What excuse did they give? I can't think of ANYTHING that would make sense...

They basically told me with laptops and high cost electronic equipment that they do not ship replacements until they have received the return. I pointed out to them that some manufacturers send out a replacement ASAP and charge your credit card if they do not receive the return (i recall HP doing this, and Apple did this while my iPod was under warranty). Their position was that their policy is non-negotiable.

 

[savanahrose]

My husband bought a receiver from Amazon and it has not had any problems, it was still in the original package. He couldn't find that specific one any where else. I myself have bought books from them. As for a computer, I dont think I would have done that. I would prefer to go to the Apple store personally.

 

[Trekkie]

enlighten us with what Amazon said and what you were asking for. I've been doing business with them since the 90s and never had an issue I didn't get resolved. Are you sure it was an amazon.com purchase and not a marketplace seller?

 

[DEXTERITY]

first, thats fraud. You can't advertise a new product and send someone a used one. Also, I would goto the better business bureau website and file a complaint. They are actually really good when it comes to helping customers and I bet Amazon calls you the day they receive the complaint.

There is no way they can get away with that, especially if you contact your credit card company....

 

[levitynyc]

first, thats fraud. You can't advertise a new product and send someone a used one. Also, I would goto the better business bureau website and file a complaint. They are actually really good when it comes to helping customers and I bet Amazon calls you the day they receive the complaint.

There is no way they can get away with that, especially if you contact your credit card company....

The BBB can't actually do anything. They are just there to log complaints. As a business owner who has had impossible to please customers call the BBB on me, I know that the BBB doesnt do anything. If someone wants to check your company with the BBB before buying from you, they will see the complaints, but I hardly think anyone calls the BBB before ordering from Amazon.

 

[mrbrown]

enlighten us with what Amazon said and what you were asking for. I've been doing business with them since the 90s and never had an issue I didn't get resolved. Are you sure it was an amazon.com purchase and not a marketplace seller?

Again, I bought directly from Amazon.com, not a marketplace seller, and I was asking for an immediate replacement sent out one-day, like my original purchase, with Saturday delivery. They sent me a used and broken laptop, advertised as new. This is not a major demand - they can charge my credit card, like a normal company, if I didn't return the used merchandise - they could've even done a "hard charge", which would've guaranteed their money, if necessary.

Amazon has given me hell with laptops in the past. I previously purchased a PowerBook G4 thru Amazon a few years ago, which was "lost" (i.e. stolen) by a UPS employee in transit. They refused to give me a refund for nearly 2 months while they completed this own investigation (the UPS investigation was completed in 14 days). So, quite frankly, I have reason to be pissed.

 

[DEXTERITY]

The BBB can't actually do anything. They are just there to log complaints. As a business owner who has had impossible to please customers call the BBB on me, I know that the BBB doesnt do anything. If someone wants to check your company with the BBB before buying from you, they will see the complaints, but I hardly think anyone calls the BBB before ordering from Amazon.

While they don't actually resolve the issue, they do something. They act as a mediator and they contact the retailer and inform them of the complaint. This usually results in the store/company contacting the person who complained and hopefully leads to a resolution. Most BBB complaints get escalated to someone in corporate customer relations. They also follow up on any resolution the retailer may have agreed or not agreed upon and try to mediate one more time.

IT also helps future people who may plan on doing business with Amazon as they will be able to see how many and what type of complaints are filed against them.

 

[mrbrown]

Here's my update for today -
I got an email from, who else but Mr. Worboys himself. He's going to be filing a privacy complaint with Amazon.com, for obvious reasons.

I've also filed a complaint with the BBB. I know that they can't really do anything, but it still brings the issue up.

Finally, Amazon.com gave me a $15 gift certificate that is basically useless because it has all sorts of terms and conditions.

 

[RedTomato]

If you're attracting bad luck from amazon, then don't shop there for a few years.

I've had good service for a few years, but it's possible that whoever deals with your area is just an *******.

I sympathise with your bad amazon karma, and wish you good luck with your future purchases. And suggest you avoid amazon for a few years.

 

[mrbrown]

Good News!

I got an email from Amazon.com's "Executive Customer Relations Group" today. Why? Because (believe it or not) of my complaint with the Better Business Bureau!

Amazon has immediately refunded my money, and said that they should've sent me an immediate replacement. They've also credited my account with a promotional gift certificate for the difference in price between the MacBook in the local store and Amazon's MacBook+rebate (about $200).

SO, to my amazment, the BBB actually worked!

 

[Cowinacape]

I got an email from Amazon.com's "Executive Customer Relations Group" today. Why? Because (believe it or not) of my complaint with the Better Business Bureau!

Amazon has immediately refunded my money, and said that they should've sent me an immediate replacement. They've also credited my account with a promotional gift certificate for the difference in price between the MacBook in the local store and Amazon's MacBook+rebate (about $200).

SO, to my amazment, the BBB actually worked!

Here's hoping the replacement comes in a shiny new box which I am sure after all this it will. good job!

 

[Felldownthewell]

I got an email from Amazon.com's "Executive Customer Relations Group" today. Why? Because (believe it or not) of my complaint with the Better Business Bureau!

Amazon has immediately refunded my money, and said that they should've sent me an immediate replacement. They've also credited my account with a promotional gift certificate for the difference in price between the MacBook in the local store and Amazon's MacBook+rebate (about $200).

SO, to my amazment, the BBB actually worked!

Well, alls well that ends in...complaints and profuse appologies and the refunding of large sums of money.

 

[drake]

The squeaky wheel gets oiled!