Trouble on Amazon Marketplace?

[chris566]

I purchased a 2013 MacBook Air from a seller on Amazon on June 25th. It shows being shipped on the 27th by USPS. The status has not change and still reads as "Electronic Shipping Info Received." From what I've read, this means that the seller just printed a shipping label. I sent a msg to the seller because I want to be around my home when it arrives and Amazon said his email is no good.

Now I'm worried. The seller does have a brief history of selling a few items in the past year. I'm just worried because it was a thousand dollar purchase. I tried sending another Amazon message today with the same results. According the Amazon receipt, it can be delivered anywhere between July 2nd and July 18th.

Does this sound fishy? Am I protected? Could this be a problem with USPS tracking? Am i being too untrusting and making a big deal out of nothing at this point? Do I have to wait until the 18th (last day of delivery) to contact Amazon directly about this?

Thanks for any info.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Does this sound fishy?
Yes

Am I protected?
Did you pay via CC?

Could this be a problem with USPS tracking?
USPS tracking is notoriously poorly updated.

Am i being too untrusting and making a big deal out of nothing at this point?
Nope. A failed e-mail to the seller via Amazon would piss me off.

Do I have to wait until the 18th (last day of delivery) to contact Amazon directly about this?
No, I would contact them now. Tell them you are unable to reach the seller.

Word of advice, do not ever buy something from a reseller on Amazon with a rating that is questionable and they do not have a history of selling much. You have so many choices, how much savings was there and was it even really worth it?

 

[chris566]

Does this sound fishy?
Yes

Am I protected?
Did you pay via CC?

Could this be a problem with USPS tracking?
USPS tracking is notoriously poorly updated.

Am i being too untrusting and making a big deal out of nothing at this point?
Nope. A failed e-mail to the seller via Amazon would piss me off.

Do I have to wait until the 18th (last day of delivery) to contact Amazon directly about this?
No, I would contact them now. Tell them you are unable to reach the seller.

Word of advice, do not ever buy something from a reseller on Amazon with a rating that is questionable and they do not have a history of selling much. You have so many choices, how much savings was there and was it even really worth it?

Thanks. I'll go ahead and shoot a message to Amazon then. It saved me around 200 dollars and another 100 in taxes. I don't mind buying used Apple gear. The seller had a few good feedbacks. Thought it looked like a deal. Now it kind of looks like it was too good to be true.

And it was for an Apple MacBook Air MD712LL/A for $975, so it wasn't like a ridiculously scammy looking deal that you find on Amazon Marketplace sometimes.

 

[killerrobot]

It's a bit fishy that the email is not going through. I'd contact (as GoCubsGo suggests as well) Amazon ASAP. Hopefully they'll be able to get in touch with the seller.
USPS tracking is awful and it's pretty pointless IMO. The seller might have sent it, and it's completely within the shipping time frame so there might not be a problem after all (the bounced email does suggest something weird though.)
Best of luck.

 

[Arelunde]

Another possibility is it's being shipped from Hong Kong. Beware...

I ordered an iPad Mini keyboard via Amazon (not Prime, though) and I got a notice it was being shipped after a week or so. Then NOTHING for FIVE WEEKS!! No one could find that package - not Amazon, who essentially signed off on it once it was shipped; not the USPS either. That REALLY worried me.

So, I cancelled the keyboard and requested a refund. Amazon told to not accept the package when/if it arrived. So, in total frustration, I ordered a different (and as it turned out far superior) keyboard from a Prime seller. Lesson learned.

But the original keyboard eventually showed up suddenly. When I checked the tracking at that point, the keyboard (a piece of junk as it turned out, but I kept it - too complex to return and get a refund) had gone from Hong Kong to Singapore (two stops at "customs") to Alaska (another two stops at "customs") to USPS in Tennessee and then finally to Central California - spending at least a week or more in each place.

Never again. ONLY Amazon Prime (preferably "Sold and shipped by Amazon.com" when possible) and only something with lots of reviews, lots of positives and many stars. Never been disappointed since. Good luck!

----------

PS - I bought an Apple product on Amazon - Sold by Apple and shipped by Amazon - and got it with 2-day delivery and no problems.

 

[MaxinMusicCity]

Online Purchases

I often buy on ebay and sometimes on Amazon. I always choose my vendors very carefully. I prefer the top sellers limited to the US or Canada for any big ticket item. Not one problem in the last five years

 

[Macsonic]

Amazon sometimes have shady sellers and due to their large database, they cannot screen and check the intergrity of each third party seller. For high value items, I usually request the seller to avoid USPS for big packages. If you have problems getting your order, you can always contact Amazon customer service to solve the problem. I purchased a DVD writer from a third party seller before but the item was DOA Seller was not cooperative so I contacted Amazon customer service. They refunded my money after I returned the defective item. Good luck and hope things work out fine.

 

[LaunchpadBS]

If a delivery date has passed just open an A-Z claim, that'll get them moving a little faster.

 

[crzdcolombian]

I sell a ton on amazon and they are totally all about the buyer even if they are an idiot(not that you are). I have had some buy the wrong game/camera and Amazon takes their side because the price goes down or a newer model shows up by the time I mail it to them. Amazon expects every seller to be Walmart/Target no matter who you are. If this guy is selling computers then they expect even more from him. Just contact Amazon before leaving any feedback and the seller. You will probably get a some sort of compensation. The Air is also new so probably they are out of stock.

 

[old-wiz]

Amazon sometimes have shady sellers and due to their large database, they cannot screen and check the intergrity of each third party seller. For high value items, I usually request the seller to avoid USPS for big packages. If you have problems getting your order, you can always contact Amazon customer service to solve the problem. I purchased a DVD writer from a third party seller before but the item was DOA Seller was not cooperative so I contacted Amazon customer service. They refunded my money after I returned the defective item. Good luck and hope things work out fine.

I try to avoid the Amazon marketplace sellers unless it is something I can't get from Amazon directly.

 

[chris566]

Thanks for the info and advice, folks.

I spoke with Amazon and they obviously were not as concerned as me. They said all I can do is wait until the last day of the shipping promise date of July 18th. They said that they would get in touch with the seller....or try to at least. But they assured me that I would be covered if this is a scam. That's comforting news.

I know that USPS doesnt have the best tracking/notification system, but it sounds like the seller printed a shipping label to make it look like the deal is in progress and to keep Amazon offof their back for a bit. Maybe I'm just a cynic.

 

[Macsonic]

I try to avoid the Amazon marketplace sellers unless it is something I can't get from Amazon directly.

Same here. The item I purchased was no longer available at Amazon and I had to get this from a third party seller at the Amazon marketplace.