Amazonia
Why is it that sometimes ordering books online is fun and quick and amazingly fast and easy. And then sometimes, it’s like this.
Olivia recommended a book a few days ago. After watching her review and finding out a little more about the book, it sounded like one that I would enjoy. It was kinda cold that night and I was already online, so I thought what the hell, I’ll just order it. Off to Amazon.ca, find the book and click click, done. While I was there, I remembered that Kelly wanted a few books too, so I search and click a few more times and order hers too. This also qualified me for free shipping. Beauty!!
But that’s where the excrement hit the oscillating cooling device.
It turns out that the book I ordered is not yet available in Canada, and it won’t be for another month. Never mind that people in the US are already reading it, never mind that if I were to stand on my rooftop I can see Detroit, no I am not allowed to have it because I live in Canada. And as such, the entire order would be delayed for over month.
So I log into Amazon.com, the US site. Sure enough the book is available there and in stock ready to ship. With the Canadian and US dollars nearly at par, I ordered the book there instead and then canceled it on my order at the Canadian Amazon. It turns out that Kelly’s books together cost enough to still qualify for free shipping, so I figure I am golden, and close both windows, certain that I have outsmarted the Amazon Gods.
Ok, so not really. Today I checked both orders. As it turns out, the order at Amazon.ca is still on hold for a month. I checked both books Kelly wanted and one of them states that it ships in “one to four months”. How’s that for vague? The other was available in 9-14 days, so I split the order, paid for the extra shipping and at least she will get one of the books in a week or so. Then I went to amazon.com to check my US order. Have a look at this:
Does this make any sense at all?? Shipping soon? A month is soon? And it states that I can’t change the order because they are preparing it for shipment, yet it isn’t shipping until the 14th of March?? Just how long does it take to box up a book? I have a sneaking suspicion I will have the book by the end of this week, despite what it says here. I’ll keep you posted.
AbitibiSouth 
It’s not the book boxing that is so time consuming. It’s hunting down a hundred of those air-filled plastic things so they can put your book in a giant box and make sure it CANNOT MOVE. 🙂
And of course, since they have to send each book separately, they need to find several hundred air-filled plastic things…
Oy Vey! How frustrating. Tell Olivia to stop ordering so many books, as I am sure it is her orders that are holding yours back! Making you wait in line.
You were very clever to go to the US Amazon, who knew? You did! Terrific. If they do not ship SOON I’d write a letter of PROtest. Or next time put on your superman cape and fly over to Detroit and pick them up yourself! LOL
Hey, how does Lynn know I’m ordering so many books—is she talking to LoveHubbie? How many is too many books? Is there REALLY such a thing? LOL! This must be the only downside of living in Canada! It will be worth the wait, Sylvain, but it does seem silly that they won’t let you change the order—that makes no sense!
If you don’t get it really soon, or even if you think you will, I’d call them and tell them you want it now, 206-266-2992 is the non-800 number (800-201-7575 is the 800 if it works in CA). You may get someone in India who will not understand but I call back and often get someone who does.
Amazon is so big and so farmed out to other countries that I find more and more problems like this. They still have no competition for what they do, and the best prices, but still…
Wishing you a package in your mailbox,
O
“But that’s where the excrement hit the oscillating cooling device.”
snicker. okay, the situation sucks but that statement is hilarious!
oh my – battling with the Amazon Gods. You are a brave brave man.
or foolish