Amazon - out of stock after ordering

Tlain123

Hey, recently on prime day I ordered a security camera which usually cost around £150 but on prime day I got it for £85. There was nothing to suggest that it was going out of stock until a week later when it was meant to be delivered I was told it is now temporarily out of stock. They gave me promotional credit but that would no where near cover the cost of buying the device again as they kept telling me which now sells for just over 150. I ordered the black version and amazon have the white one in stock but say that they cannot just send me that one to fulfill my order so instead I should expect to wait untill at least the middle of next month to receive my order. I also know that often when Amazon says the item is temporarily out of stock the item actually never comes back in stock. Obviously if I hadn't bought this on their one day sale then I would cancel my order and buy again but that would mean I would have missed out on other similar items I could have bought that day for a huge discount. Surely they can do more for me and surely they should just send me the white one instead (which actually sells for less on their site)? Thanks for any help.

cono1717

They probably can do more for you, the question is weather or not they are obligated to, did they give you a confirmation of a delivery date and a dispatch notification? Usually online stores don't form the contract until dispatch prior to that there is no contract of sale and can be dropped by either party.

CoolHotCold

Nope, sorry, for web sales a contract can be formed at the retailers discretion (essentially), it is normal for a offer to be accepted when the retailer has dispatched goods.

Unfortunately issues happen when stock levels are incorrect, or prices are incorrect, or batch fault or supplier issues etc, and as there is little to no human interaction retailers can determine (based on their T&C and backed by law) when a offer is accepted and a contract is made.



Thats the way it is.

[Deleted User]

Tlain123 wrote: »

surely they should just send me the white one instead

If you want a white one, then why don't you simply cancel the original order and then order the white one? If it sells for less than the one you ordered, where's the problem?

Amazon do not take payment or form an actual contract until goods are despatched

Tlain123 wrote: »

if I hadn't bought this on their one day sale then I would cancel my order and buy again but that would mean I would have missed out on other similar items I could have bought that day for a huge discount.

You are stretching credibility with that logic, I'm afraid. What specific other items would you have bought at a "huge discount" and what evidence do you have that you would definitely have otherwise bought them?

Tlain123

Thank you for your replies. The white one is only cheaper than the black one if bought now. But on that day there are very large discounts (like i said the item I bought for 85 has now gone back up to 160).Therefore I would have bought the white one which on that day was the same price (£85) but has now gone back upto £150. Therefore by cancelling the item I would have to pay much more to get the same item but just a different colour as the sale is no longer on (different colour as only one Amazon itself has in stock). Hope that all makes sense. Thanks again for the replies.

cono1717

Ultimately whilst annoying Amazon had no legal obligation to give you anything, the fact they have given you the promotional credit is above and beyond their statutory obligations.

[Deleted User]

cono1717 wrote: »

Amazon had no legal obligation to give you anything, the fact they have given you the promotional credit is above and beyond their statutory obligations.

In addition, the product ordered will doubtless turn up within the timescale Amazon have suggested. Other than the delay, therefore, the OP will have suffered no loss and has a "promotional credit" to spend elsewhere.

Geoff1963

There was nothing to suggest that it was going out of stock until a week later when it was meant to be delivered I was told it is now temporarily out of stock.

Amazon must have known that they wouldn't meet the promised delivery date, a day or two earlier ; so should have informed the OP then. This is too much like a waiter taking your order for food, then coming back 15 minutes later to say they have none ; or an airline saying a plane due to arrive imminently will be late, because it hasn't set off yet.

Agree about "temporarily out of stock" ; that's often code for "we've had so many complaints, we've stopped selling it".

[Deleted User]

Geoff1963 wrote: »

Amazon must have known that they wouldn't meet the promised delivery date, a day or two earlier ; so should have informed the OP then.

You are assuming the delivery date came and went without there being any communication from Amazon.

Why all the conspiracy theories? Amazon have said they'll be re-stocked next month. If this wasn't the case, the OP would receive the dreaded

Amazon wrote:

"Not yet dispatched.
Delivery estimate: We need a little more time to provide you with a good estimate. We'll notify you via e-mail as soon as we have an estimated delivery date."

message.

There is no evidence to suggest Amazon will never re-stock of this item.

Tlain123

Thanks again for the replies. That is the message I received - but then when talking to Amazon they told me they think it might be back in around the middle of next month.

Tlain123

And no I was not told about the problem untill they day of delivery after I emailed theml