Amazon delivery scam

disgruntedeastlondon

I just wanted to add my two cents to this thread.

I ordered a high value item from Amazon yesterday, for delivery today. Not sure what warehouse it came from, but it departed their Bow (East London) depot first thing this morning, with delivery by 9pm.

From around 6pm I checked the tracking every 10 mins or so, Amazon have a habit around here of not being able to deliver (yeah, right) or claim nobody was home (yeah right) often. The tracking dot hadn't moved for two hours so I gave Amazon a call to see where it was. I was told that the driver had had some issues, and another driver was going to take over his shift, and she promised me that the item would make it. Magically, the item arrived about 10 minutes later to my buildings concierge.

I picked up the item, and two smaller ones and noticed that one of the smaller ones (a letter type box, if you use Amazon a lot) wasn't sealed. The item was inside, so I didn't think too much of it. In hindsight, it's obvious that the box had been opened with a knife, as the red sticky tape they use was still intact - however that's not really the problem.

The problem arrived when I got to my main delivery - a brand new graphics card that I'd treated myself to as an early xmas present. The box was sealed. I opened it by running a knife down their christmas themed tape, and opened up the box. Two packets of pampers nappies.

Nappies.

Now, the box was sealed with amazon tape. So either someone in the warehouse has swapped out the item, or the driver has, and he has in his possession some amazon packing tape, which I imagine isn't hard to get hold if. If it was the driver was it the first one, or the second one? Was it planned all along? Two drivers makes it harder to trace and prove I guess. Was it done in the warehouse?

It was done somewhere. I called Amazon and to be honest they were incredibly rude. The person I got hold of was obviously on hands free because I could hear her eating and people laughing in the background. I told her I couldn't hear her properly and she snapped at me that she would "find a headset".

The worst thing is, they offered me a replacement or a refund on the spot, without many questions. All they wanted was a photo of the contents and me to email it to them. This is a £600 item and just like that.

I suspect this happens a great deal, especially this time of year. I don't even really know why I'm typing this to be honest, I just googled for similar instances and wanted to vent, because I'm weirdly angry even though I know I'll get a refund.

I did suggest to them that the item will have been stolen in the warehouse or swapped out by the driver(s) and they didn't even try to put up a counter argument.

[Deleted User]

disgruntedeastlondon wrote: »

The worst thing is, they offered me a replacement or a refund on the spot, without many questions. All they wanted was a photo of the contents and me to email it to them. This is a £600 item and just like that.

I suspect this happens a great deal, especially this time of year. I don't even really know why I'm typing this to be honest, I just googled for similar instances and wanted to vent, because I'm weirdly angry even though I know I'll get a refund.

Yes, I'm not sure why you are angry either.

There will always be dishonest people whether employees or customers.

You have been given the benefit of the doubt by Amazon and granted a refund without any hassle. I'd say that was the best thing about your shopping experience not the "worst"

I wouldn't make a habit of it though!

vacheron

You seem convinced that the thief could only be the Amazon warehouse staff or the driver, but I post on other tech forums and a few members have had high end PC kit delivered from Amazon containing similar stuff. An RTX 2070 box containing a 40GB PATA hard drive and a 1TB, 970 EVO M.2 drive containing six large paper clips weighing exactly 13 grams (the exact same weight as a 970 EVO) being just a couple that spring to mind.

The trick seems to be that people are re-sealing this kit and returning it to Amazon. Amazon then weigh the box when they receive it, and if it matches (and doesn't seem to have been tampered with), they just put it back into stock.

They should check each box, but in reality it appears that they have decided the risk is not worth the effort.

This may be why they were so quick to refund you, so that you stop digging and they may not have to admit that they are re-selling sold stock as new, and not checking returns thoroughly before selling them back on again.

[Deleted User]

vacheron wrote: »

they may not have to admit that they are re-selling sold stock as new, and not checking returns thoroughly before selling them back on again.

If you believe returns to physical shops are thoroughly checked prior to them returning to the shelves then I think you're in for a shock...

vacheron

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

If you believe returns to physical shops are thoroughly checked prior to them returning to the shelves then I think you're in for a shock...

I'm sure they probably aren't either, but I don't think I stated anywhere that I believed otherwise.

Lh3766

This has happened to me twice in the last year. First time with a laptop being replaced by ikea lamp that weighed the same. Took three weeks and a long long visit to the police station to get this sorted.

Yesterday instead of a microphone I ordered there were two tins of cat food that weighed the exact same.

This time I emailed the ceo and within 24 hours had a response saying they will refund me .... and I get to keep the cat food lol. Joke. Never ordering anything expensive again from them.