Frank Fusco
Member
- Messages
- 12,791
- Location
- Mountain Home, Arkansas
Shopping through Amazon has always been a pretty smooth process, part of the charm. But, last night, I was looking at an item I'm considering as an accessory for my yet-to-be-purchased new lathe. While looking at it a message pops up that says if I order within the next 32 minutes shipping will be free. Well, OK, sounds like a good deal so I click it into my shopping cart. Next page, as Amazon does, shows other items I might be interested in. They were right. One of the items is the Steb drive center at a great low price. So, I click it into my cart also. Then I go through the check out process. That's where the frustration started. The system has changed within the past couple weeks. At no point did the site say the order had been placed and at no time did a "complete order" or "check out" button come up. So, I called. (that changed too, now you send an e-mail and an automated system calls you right away and puts you on hold. G-R-r-r-r.) Eventually a live person came on who did not speak intelligible English. Now, in my old age, I try not be a bigot. But, fact is, to do business one must be able to communicate with folks at the other end. We went round and round with me telling him I could not understand him and he just kept talking. Finally he put me on hold and another man came on......just as unintelligible. Like the first, he just kept talking I kept telling him I couldn't understand a word he was saying. Finally, I just hung up. Later, I called a number not specifically for customer service and eventually got switched to a man I could communicate with. Of course, my 32 minute limit for free shipping had expired. I explained this to him and he made the adjustment and placed the order. But, an hour or more, of frustration should not have happened. Without the site telling a customer when the order has been completed will cause a lot of confusion for others, I'm sure. And, in the Christmas shopping season, this could hurt Amazon. I know, I'll be reluctant to go back until they fix things. I sure know I don't want to try talking to those non-English speaking folks again. :soapbox: