Topic: Amazon.com - shopping, shipping, post office, customs Q&A

[firewired]

Thanks Firewired and Mr. Hankey for your replies.    My taste in movies is oftentimes niche genre or quirky movies that oftentimes Amazon don't carry but resellers do...

I was bugging the PinoyDVD.biz guys to implement some sort of "Amazon Marketplace" system in the online store precisely to address the catalog differences between what they carry and what the forum marketplace sellers carry. Unfortunately, there are technical and serious legal(!) issues that need to be worked out.

For a developing country with such a small home video industry, putting up an online business (or any business for that matter) can be so freakin' complicated because of all the legal minefields that you have to watch out for.

[nerveblocker]

I plan to pre-order an item which will be released in November. It's currently about $13.00 but there is a chance that the price will go down before the actual release date. So if I use a credit card will it be charged at the current price of $13.00 or will it be charged when the item is actually shipped (which could be lower)?

Here's an email from amazon.com:

Greetings from Amazon.com.

We thought you'd like to know that the price of your pre-release title
went down between shipment (the time we charged you) and the release date,
and that we saved you some money! Since your item was covered under our
Pre-order Price Guarantee, you automatically received a refund.



Pre-ordered Grey's Anatomy Season 2 from amazon.com and their preorder price was $3 more than the actual price when it was released.  So they notified me thru email that they will facilitate a credit refund to my credit card.  COOL!!!

[subtitle]

just a summary of my latest amazon.com dvd purchase:

- order shipped via standard international shipping: aug.28
- notice from the quezon city post office: sept.15
- no customs tax for order worth $26.47

[subtitle]

Yes. For some reason I cannot fathom until now, customs duties locally are computed WITH shipping.

My last Amazon purchase that arrived at the QC PO had everyone there laughing, since the total cost was $49.92. They even passed it around, with, "Ang galing o! 8 cents na lang" comments.

my purchase last dec.2005 (posted here also) was $50.91 total, although i only paid amazon $40.91 because of a $10 discount. the customs person at the QCPO told me that next time my order goes above $50 i will be taxed.

[Mr. Hankey]

Here's an email from amazon.com:

Greetings from Amazon.com.

We thought you'd like to know that the price of your pre-release title went down between shipment (the time we charged you) and the release date, and that we saved you some money! Since your item was covered under our
Pre-order Price Guarantee, you automatically received a refund.

Pre-ordered Grey's Anatomy Season 2 from amazon.com and their preorder price was $3 more than the actual price when it was released.  So they notified me thru email that they will facilitate a credit refund to my credit card.  COOL!!!

If that's the case, then they owe me $1.11 for my Grease purchase! 

 

For a quick laugh, here's my latest Amazon purchase:

Guten Tag,

unser Logistikzentrum hat den unten stehenden Artikel verschickt!

Unser Hinweis:

Sie koennen Ihr Kundenkonto jederzeit ueber "Mein Konto"
http://www.amazon.de/mein-konto einsehen und verwalten.

Ihre Bestellnummer 30X-4XXXXX4-29XXXXX (eingegangen 16-September-2006)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bestellt  Titel                          Preis  Versandt   Zwischen-
                                                            summe
---------------------------------------------------------------------
   1     XXXXXXXXXX       EUR 8,61      1  EUR 8,61

---------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Zwischensumme ohne Mwst:  EUR 8,61
                                 Porto und Verpackung:  EUR 15,50
                                Endbetrag inkl. MwSt.:  EUR 24,11
                                     Enthaltene MwSt.: 

Die Sendung geht an:
    XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
    #XX XXXX Street
    XXXXX, XXX XXXX, Metro Manila 1XXX
    Philippines

Der Versand erfolgt ueber: Deutsche Post Paeckchen.
 Sollte eine Zustellung nicht erfolgreich sein: Pakete und Sendungen werden
in der Regel eine Woche bei Ihrem oertlichen Postamt fuer Sie aufbewahrt.
Manchmal nimmt auch ein Nachbar die Bestellung entgegen.

Ihre Bestellung ist damit vollstaendig ausgefuehrt.

Ihr Kaufvertrag ist mit dieser E-Mail zu Stande gekommen.

Sie koennen bei uns gekaufte Artikel innerhalb von 30 Tagen zurueckgeben.
Ausgenommen sind lediglich Artikel aus unserem Elektronik-und-Foto-Shop,
elektrische Kuechen-, Haushalts- und Gartengeraete, elektrisches Werkzeug
sowie Games-Hardware aus dem Bereich PC- und Videospiele, fuer die eine
14-taegige Rueckgabefrist ab Erhalt der Ware gilt. Zu den genauen
Bedingungen lesen Sie bitte den Abschnitt "Widerrufsrecht".

Can anyone translate? 

Actually, that's what I dislike about Amazon.de and Amazon.fr - look at the shipping cost. That's the cheapest shipping option, and it's 2X the price of the disc!

[techdude]

Google on the job:

Good day,

our logistics center sent the article away standing down!   

Our reference:    They can your customer account at any time over “my account”  http://www.amazon.de/mein-konto see and administer.   

 Its part number (received 16-September-2006) 
-------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Orders title price dispatched intermediate hums
  --------------------------------------------------------------------     
1 EUR 8.61 1 EUR 8,61   
 --------------------------------------------------------------------                               
Intermediate total without VAT:  EUR 8,61                                   
Postage and packing:  EUR 15,50                                 
Total amount inclusive VAT.:  EUR 24,11                                       
Contained VAT.:     

The transmission turns on:           
#XX Street      ,
XXX, Metro Manila 1XXX     
Philippines   

The dispatch takes place over: German post office package.   
A feed should not be successful: Packages and transmissions are usually kept one week at your local post office for you.  Sometimes also a neighbour receives the order.   

Their order is completely implemented thereby.   

Their sales contract came with this E-Mail to conditions.   

They can return bought articles with us within 30 days.  Excluded are only articles from our electronics and photo Shop, electrical kitchen, household and garden devices, electrical tools as well as Games hardware from the range PC and video games, for which a return period every fourteen days applies starting from receipt of the commodity.

To details  Conditions read you please the section “right of revocation”.

Looks like online translation services still has a long way to go...

[brummie]

MY last ORder Summary:

Date Shipped: August 15, 2006
Shipping Method: Expedited Shipping
Status: Lost again!!!

Royale confirmed they received the item and sent it to their "bagsakan" post office in Pasay August 22. I call the Pasay post office and they don't have it.

Score another one for the the Pirates of the Pasay Post Office: The Curse of the lost Amazon items.

[baby]

MY last ORder Summary:

Date Shipped: August 15, 2006
Shipping Method: Expedited Shipping
Status: Lost again!!!

Royale confirmed they received the item and sent it to their "bagsakan" post office in Pasay August 22. I call the Pasay post office and they don't have it.

Score another one for the the Pirates of the Pasay Post Office: The Curse of the lost Amazon items.

The problem is not within pasay but at your local post office.  All packages from amazon are sent from royal to pasay city PO and then to your local PO's

[brummie]

The problem is not within pasay but at your local post office.  All packages from amazon are sent from royal to pasay city PO and then to your local PO's

Well it's one of them. I also inquired over at my local post office. Wala rin. They even showed me their book where they let people receive and there were a few names there but not mine.

[baby]

Well it's one of them. I also inquired over at my local post office. Wala rin. They even showed me their book where they let people receive and there were a few names there but not mine.

pasay Po kasi is the main drop off point.  The problem I can see here is from Pasay PO to Las pinas PO.  MMMMMMMM.  Call Royal logistics and ask when did they deliver it in pasay. I don't think the problem is in pasay.  Pag sa Pasay lahat then I would never get all my packages and the same goes to Makati Q.C and others.

[brummie]

pasay Po kasi is the main drop off point.  The problem I can see here is from Pasay PO to Las pinas PO.  MMMMMMMM.  Call Royale logistics and ask when did they deliver it in pasay. I don't think the problem is in pasay.  Pag sa Pasay lahat then I would never get all my packages and the same goes to Makati Q.C and others.

I checked and they said they turned it over August 22 to Pasay. I think the thieves are randomly selecting which items to take home. Unfortunately for me it looks like it's always my item they like select.

ANyway I complained to AMazon and they said they will refund my Credit card. Lugi lang ako sa exchange rate since the peso is stronger now then when I ordered it.

[riverfan]

Nakakainip. Pati-replacement order ata MIA. 

It's been more or less 7 months since i ordered from amazon (check previous posts,  ), and requested a replacement... i finally received my FIRST and FINAL NOTICE from the Parañaque PO. Wala naman akong ini-expect na package so i guess this is it!

 

[emvi_2000]

My Sept 2 order of"bewitched Season 2" arrived last Sept 18 here at d office! 

[brummie]

Am I entitled to a refund if my replacement order does not arrive past the estimated delivery date??

[subtitle]

summary of my latest amazon.com dvd purchase:

- order shipped via standard international shipping: sept.19
- notice received from the quezon city post office: oct.5

not bad, considering the big storm that hit metro manila last week. i was expecting a little delay. although there is a 35 pesos customs examination fee written on the notice this time, the last 3 packages there were none. my package is only worth 38.96 USD.

[Munskie]

my ordered items are in the "items shipping soon"  status for four long days na.  I emailed their customer service and it seems they give you an answer that doesnt exactly address the complaint...hmmmm....

[RadicalDude]

that's odd, i haven't experienced that yet...

[dench]

summary of my latest amazon.com dvd purchase:

- order shipped via standard international shipping: sept.19
- notice received from the quezon city post office: oct.5

not bad, considering the big storm that hit metro manila last week. i was expecting a little delay. although there is a 35 pesos customs examination fee written on the notice this time, the last 3 packages there were none. my package is only worth 38.96 USD.

good for you. in my case, im always charged P35 per parcel even if its value is only 5$ pwede na rin basta nakakarating ang goods

[brummie]

summary of my latest amazon.com dvd purchase:

- order shipped via standard international shipping: sept.19
- notice received from the quezon city post office: oct.5

not bad, considering the big storm that hit metro manila last week. i was expecting a little delay. although there is a 35 pesos customs examination fee written on the notice this time, the last 3 packages there were none. my package is only worth 38.96 USD.

Oh good. My package was sent out last Sept 18. That  means I should get it in a day or two.

[Munskie]

that's odd, i haven't experienced that yet...

cguro nabasa yong post ko.....my ordered items shipped just now...

[Mr. Hankey]

my ordered items are in the "items shipping soon"  status for four long days na.  I emailed their customer service and it seems they give you an answer that doesnt exactly address the complaint...hmmmm....

That happened to me once, but mine was like two weeks of "shipping soon" before I sent an email asking what was up. Their response was, "We don't know exactly what happened, but we apologize for the inconvenience," and they shipped my order within 24 hours.

[Moks007]

hello anybody near sta. cruz, manila area near binondo any bad experiences or hopefully very good experiences, wana try ordering hehe thanks

[brummie]

Latest Order

Date Sent Out: September 18, 2006
Date Arrived: October 6, 2006
Total days: 18 Days (16 if you don't count the last two days last week due to MIlenyo)

So far out of the 6 shipments I have only 3 have made it to me in order. 2 for 2 in Makati. 1 for 4 in Muntinlupa.

[subtitle]

good for you. in my case, im always charged P35 per parcel even if its value is only 5$ pwede na rin basta nakakarating ang goods

i picked it up this morning, and i didn't pay for anything again.

[hubes]

i picked it up this morning, and i didn't pay for anything again.

where are you located and what qc post office did you go to?
basta ba not more than 50 dollars no tax?

tnx

[Mr. Hankey]

where are you located and what qc post office did you go to?
basta ba not more than 50 dollars no tax?

Hubes, if you still live in the same area, our packages go to QCPO along NIA road. They're never taxed if they're under $50.00 (including shipping), but at 50.01, they will tax you. Watch out also for separate orders that arrive on the same day - they'll total all your packages and if the total exceeds $50, they'll tax you.

Maybe subtitle has a different experience... sumabat lang ako sandali...  

[hubes]

Hubes, if you still live in the same area, our packages go to QCPO along NIA road. They're never taxed if they're under $50.00 (including shipping), but at 50.01, they will tax you. Watch out also for separate orders that arrive on the same day - they'll total all your packages and if the total exceeds $50, they'll tax you.

Maybe subtitle has a different experience... sumabat lang ako sandali...  

Thanks for reply Francis - right?

[subtitle]

i went to the post office along NIA road. yes, as long as the package is under 50 dollars, they will not charge you customs tax. but this is different from the customs examination fee of 35 pesos, that dench says he's being charged for every package. ako wala pa akong binabayaran.

Mr. Hankey, nangyari na ba sa yo yung two packages on the same day na over $50 yung total?

[Mr. Hankey]

i went to the post office along NIA road. yes, as long as the package is under 50 dollars, they will not charge you customs tax. but this is different from the customs examination fee of 35 pesos, that dench says he's being charged for every package. ako wala pa akong binabayaran.

Yes, along NIA road, Amazon.Com packages do not incur the 35 peso fee, but other Amazons (co.uk, .de, .fr) are subjected to the fee.

Mr. Hankey, nangyari na ba sa yo yung two packages on the same day na over $50 yung total?

Yeah, the bad part is, I ordered these packages three weeks apart. Total for both packages was about $95, the assessed duties were about Php 2000! Even though I tried to explain that they were separate packages (which worked in the past), they said, "Malas na lang po, sabay dumating."

I've noticed that QCPO/NIA has more recently been stocking up on packages before sending out notices. As a result, I sometimes have to wait almost a month for something that already arrived (as confirmed by the postmark) 10 days after I placed the order!

So the package overlap doesn't happen again, when I have multiple shipments arriving, I've developed the habit of going to the post office about 2 weeks after my first order ships, whether or not I already have a postal notice. QCPO/NIA is just around 10 minutes from where I work, anyway. I ask them if they can please check if anything from Amazon arrived for me. Usually, it's already there! And then they just make a postal notice which I then sign and immediately return to them.

Thanks for reply Francis - right?

Nope. It's me, the guy who buys the Cheers boxed sets from you. 

[DVD_Freak]

Same thing happened to me.  Two different packages that I need to claim at the same time.  I'm not sure though if they also arrived at the same time.

Anyways I was being charged since both packages' total was $85.  I said these were two different packages and that I received two different notices.  They said both are for me and their total was over $50.

Told that person..."Ok no problem.  I'll just claim one and get the other tomorrow."

And so I did.  He was also the same person I transacted the day before.  Got both packages and did not pay anything.