Amazon

[The Doctor]

Chums! Beware! Amazon now charge for pre-orders 5 days after you make it, not when items ship. I just got hit for one and have now been told of the 'improved' policy. Am used to budgeting for when items ship (which was very convenient) and so boggled to be hit today for a large item I hadn't expected to pay for up until mid-July!

So if the release date is more than 5 days after you place the order you get charged in 5 days time rather than the release date of July 12th (in my case). As this was a stealth policy change I can see Amazon getting a TON of complaints...

'I understand you are concerned about the charge for your preorder item.

We're introducing some improvements to payments and authorisations in order to simplify your shopping experience on Amazon.

When you pre-order an item that is yet to be released, we charge you the full order amount when the item gets dispatched. If the shipping date is set after more than five days, that charge occurs on the fifth day since your order was placed.'

-Ralph

[Philip Ayres]

Can you mail them back and ask for a link to where on the site this policy is displayed?

I can't find it.....

[Philip Ayres]

You can point out to them it's contrary to the process publicly stated at www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201455290

Note: If you place an order which will be paid by a payment card, we won't charge the card until the order enters the dispatch process.

[Pinwig]

Ooh, that's nasty. I can understand maybe they want to cut down on the number of cancelled pre-orders so they can keep their stock ordering more accurate, but that's a disappointing change.

[The Doctor]

May 31, 2019 8:56:55 GMT Philip Ayres said:

You can point out to them it's contrary to the process publicly stated at www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201455290

Note: If you place an order which will be paid by a payment card, we won't charge the card until the order enters the dispatch process.

I have sent in a second complaint with that link, thanks!

-Ralph

[Philip Ayres]

This appears to have been widely reported in the last 24 hours as an issue relating to Video Games preorders:

mynintendonews.com/2019/05/30/europe-amazon-charging-for-pre-orders-immediately-rather-than-dispatch/

[The Doctor]

Reply from Amazon:

"I've checked and can see that other pre order items were ordered before 11 April 2019. This is the reason why you haven't been charged for the other pre order items as per this policy."

Refund refused for a second time. I am escalating the matter!

-Ralph

[Philip Ayres]

I note the text on the Greenlight preorder which went up last night:

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KMN92WY/

Temporarily out of stock.
Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon as we have more information. Your account will only be charged when we dispatch the item.

[The Doctor]

Left hand not knowing what right hand is doing?

I finally got my money back after many emails back and forth to customer service. I certainly won't be placing any more pre-orders with Amazon unless I have the cash put aside at time of ordering!

-Ralph

[Dezzeh]

Well that is a big old pile of shite, I think I am all out of pre-orders with them but now I need to check!

Wait wait, no, I have MP44 pre-ordered on amazon.co.jp.. oh shit oh fuck.

[Philip Ayres]

Only been reported on .co.uk so far.

I have four pages of pre orders and not yet been affected.

[Dezzeh]

I suppose it's lucky I only pre-order Bluray on UK then, at least they're low cost

[The Doctor]

The new policy appears to be random but to be on the safe side I would not recommend making pre-orders unless you have cash for it, er, 5 days later.

-Ralph

[The Doctor]

Alas my woes continue. Hermes has got my Siege Megatron from Amazon! He should have turned up on Wednesday as part of another order but went missing. Enquiry led to him apparently being due today but was lost twice. Now it will turn up sometime in the next 5 days, somewhat mocking Prime's 1-day delivery system.

I am cursed! I couldn't find the toy in a brick and mortar store!

A First World Problem but I am a bit miffed.

-Ralph

[The Doctor]

Getting quite used to complaining to Amazon Customer Services of late!

*hits send button just like the way a button was preased in TFUK Second Generation*

-Ralph

[Fortmax2020]

And lo, literally five mins later your parcel arrived.

[The Doctor]

I know! Amazing customer service!

-Ralph

[The Doctor]

'Prime Day' is tomorrow. Will there be Transformers sales, we wonder.

-Ralph

[Benn]

Was there?

[The Doctor]

Not that I am aware of. The Prime Day thing seemed very difficult to navigate so I didn't give it much time.

-Ralph

[Philip Ayres]

Sideswipe & Skywarp boxes shipping from Amazon.com

[Pinwig]

Oop. There goes sixty quid I could have done with this weekend, but I do need me a Skywap.

[The Doctor]

One for payday, for me.

-Ralph

[legios]

I am tempted by the Sideswipe set. Mostly for the redecoed Battlemaster, but the Angry bot colour scheme does look good on that mould.

Not so fussed about the Skywarp. It looks nice, but it I was going to get one of that design I'd probably want it to be Redwing, rather than someone I already have a version of.

Karl

[Philip Ayres]

Ah, but, you have to get Skywarp for the Battlemasters

[The Doctor]

Ah but it is not G2 Sideswipe! It is Covert Clone! The sensational character find of 2019.

-Ralph

[Philip Ayres]

Amazon UK have Primemasters Overboard and Ptero in stock for £6.99

www.amazon.co.uk/Transformers-Generations-Masters-Overboard-Action/dp/B01BY1KX6O
www.amazon.co.uk/Transformers-Generations-Titans-Return-Autobot/dp/B01BY1KX64

[Shockprowl]

Aug 15, 2019 6:58:48 GMT Philip Ayres said:

Ah, but, you have to get Skywarp for the Battlemasters

When I get my Skywarp (still hoping Amazon UK get him so I can use my Wickes vouchers), I'm going to sell the Battlemasters on.

[Philip Ayres]

You mean you've not got TR Scourge and aren't getting Siege Spinister?

[Shockprowl]

Aug 15, 2019 16:12:24 GMT Philip Ayres said:

You mean you've not got TR Scourge and aren't getting Siege Spinister?

Correct. I'm in this for the Siegeker love.