Amazon delivery - best option?

rebeccak

Not sure if this is the right section or a money-saving dilemma at all...

I want to buy something off Amazon but need it by Friday. From what I can see, my options are either first class Royal Mail or Amazon Prime One-day-delivery (which I can get as a free trial). It's too big for the Amazon lockers.

Royal Mail, I understand - I know roughly what times of day they deliver, that it should take one or two days (after the bank holiday) but there's no guarantee and that, if I'm not in, they'll take it to the delivery office and leave a note (as I've opted out of having it delivered to neighbours). The main risk is a) no guarantee of it being delivered within that timeframe b) items aren't always immediately returned to the delivery office so, if I'm out, it may not be possible to collect it from the delivery office before the weekend.

Amazon Prime One-day-delivery - The delivery time frame is 7 am to 9 pm and there is no day this week when I will be at the same place for the whole 14 hours. If I'm not there it looks like they will either dump it nearby, leave it with someone else or return it as undeliverable - Is that the case or can I arrange a re-delivery (and do I get to set - or be given - any kind of a time frame for that?)

Presumably with the One-day-delivery option if they fail to deliver or return it as undeliverable I'll get my money back whereas with Royal Mail as long as I get it at some point (eg after Friday) it would still be classed as delivered?

What's my best option for getting it by Friday - and what are people's experiences of the company Amazon use for Prime delivery (ie is it one of the really dodgy ones that there are loads of horror stories about?)

Helix

The delivery option doesn't dictate who it is sent by really. Even First Class often isn't sent by Royal Mail, especially if it is a larger item.

Who it is sent by is mainly dependent on the area you live in. If you are in an Amazon Logistics area then that is the most likely courier, almost all my deliveries are by them now.

Otherwise it will probably be a lottery out of Yodel, DPD and Royal Mail.

Even on the one day option they will attempt multiple times, however they won't let you dictate when it is delivered other than giving you another whole day timeslot (unless you are lucky and get DPD with a 1hr slot - although you can't choose the slot).

If you can't spend a whole day waiting in this week then both options are just going to be luck really.

lr1277

Amazon will deliver to local shops on their one day delivery schedule. The shop keeps it for you till you pick it up. You will be emailed when the item is delivered.

I personally only use this for cheap items that I am not bothered about based on that I have seen how the shop deals with amazon deliveries.

If the item is not expensive, this might be worth thinking about?


This delivery option is usually not available for Marketplace sellers as they will want to deliver to your home using RM.

VoucherMan

The leave at a pickup location suggested by lr1277 sounds like a good idea to me.

Do you have any (next door) neighbours who would be in when you're out? There's an option What if I am not in? where you can choose to have it left with a next door neighbour or in a safe place if you're out.

rebeccak

Thanks for the replies. By pickup locations do you mean the Amazon lockers? The item is too big to fit into an Amazon locker (it tells me that when I try to order it) but if it was possible to get it delivered to the nearest shop that does have Amazon lockers that would be ideal.

Helix's reply says that they will attempt delivery multiple times on the same day - so does that mean the first attempt will be reasonably early (say before 3pm)?

The item is hand luggage for a flight that leaves very early on Saturday morning - I'm off work on Friday to pack so - provided I don't need to pop out to buy any last minute items - that's the one day when I will be home but I would be really stuck if it doesn't turn up til the evening - or doesn't turn up at all.

Helix

rebeccak wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. By pickup locations do you mean the Amazon lockers? The item is too big to fit into an Amazon locker (it tells me that when I try to order it) but if it was possible to get it delivered to the nearest shop that does have Amazon lockers that would be ideal.

Helix's reply says that they will attempt delivery multiple times on the same day - so does that mean the first attempt will be reasonably early (say before 3pm)?

The item is hand luggage for a flight that leaves very early on Saturday morning - I'm off work on Friday to pack so - provided I don't need to pop out to buy any last minute items - that's the one day when I will be home but I would be really stuck if it doesn't turn up til the evening - or doesn't turn up at all.

Oh no I didn't mean they attempt several times on the same day, they will do it over consecutive days.

lr1277

rebeccak wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. By pickup locations do you mean the Amazon lockers? The item is too big to fit into an Amazon locker (it tells me that when I try to order it) but if it was possible to get it delivered to the nearest shop that does have Amazon lockers that would be ideal.

By pickup location I mean a local shop.
In my case, I use a local 'NISA' store. The packages are kept in the backroom.
You need to provide ID and the barcode that Amazon email you to pickup the package.
May solve the size problem.

David_Davos

I tried the prime trial myself. I expected there to be some funny business or difficulty with un-subscribing before they billed me for the membership but it was very straight forward. I'd recommend giving it a try.

I was in a similar scenario where I wouldn't be in the house during estimated delivery time, I left a message telling the delivery man I was out of the hous, but being the paranoid soul that I am I mentioned I was only 'out for half an hour'. I'm fortunate to be close with my neighbour and they were happy to hold on to it for me for the day.

rebeccak

Thanks for all the information. I wasn't aware previously of the option to arrange delivery to a local shop (other than the Amazon lockers) but, having checked on their website, it's called 'Collect +'. There aren't as many pickup locations for this as there are for the lockers but there's one about 15 minutes walk from where I live so I've asked for it to be delivered there and signed up for the Amazon Prime Free Trial for a quicker delivery.

wdah

I went for super saver on an order I placed yesterday, and there was an attempted delivery today at 7pm. Very quick dispatch, but I hadn't realised their delivery window was so huge!