Hacked off with the Amazon website

[RogerS]

Both SWMBO and I are hacked off with the Amazon website because it bombards any page you access with junk.

That 'someone who bought XYZ also bought this' and 'We thought you might like this'. No I bloody wouldn't, Amazon, I will tell you want I want.

Are we alone ?

 

[Boz62]

I agree. I've stopped using them for similar reasons. Their page just got so complicated. I'm simple. I like simple. I got fed up of having to be really sure who I was buying from as well and working out under what conditions I payed for postage. For books I moved to The Book Depository and for other stuff I go straight to relevant specialists.

Boz

 

[RogerS]

I also like simple. What has been your experience with TBD?

We've used them a couple of times but just recently a couple of books have arrived very damp with curled pages. The packaging is bone dry and so it has to be how they are storing them or their suppliers are storing them. They did replace the books without fuss but the replacements were just as damp!

 

[bugbear]

Both SWMBO and I are hacked off with the Amazon website because it bombards any page you access with junk.

That 'someone who bought XYZ also bought this' and 'We thought you might like this'. No I bloody wouldn't, Amazon, I will tell you want I want.

Are we alone ?

I doubt if you're alone, but I have (before now) found the Amazon recommendations (AKA other people's knowledge) helpful.

BugBear

 

[blurk99]

This generally makes Amazon a bit cleaner...

Click the link on the Amazon.co.uk front page that says "not (your name)?". Then, leaving the e-mail and password spaces blank, click the "Welcome" tab (immediately below 'Shop all departments') the website will no longer recognise you but it does still tell you what other people bought. You can still add stuff to the basket and only need to login in order to checkout and arrange delivery

Jim

 

[RogerS]

This generally makes Amazon a bit cleaner...

Click the link on the Amazon.co.uk front page that says "not (your name)?". Then, leaving the e-mail and password spaces blank, click the "Welcome" tab (immediately below 'Shop all departments') the website will no longer recognise you but it does still tell you what other people bought. You can still add stuff to the basket and only need to login in order to checkout and arrange delivery

Jim

That's a neat idea, Jim. We'll give it a go.

On a slightly separate note but still Amazon related, if anyone is looking to buy any computing goods from one of their Marketplace sellers read everything. Click on every tab you can find. I bought a USB hub that "supports high speed USB". That to me suggests USB 2. Buried in their spiel is 12MBits/sec and Localised for France aka it does not come with a UK mains plug. The hub arrived today, localised for Brazil, continental plug, and so old it claims to support Windows 98. We shall see how that pans out vis a vis refunds.

 

[Boz62]

What has been your experience with TBD?

I've had no problems with them at all. Deliveries might be a day longer than Amazon were at times, but they've always come well packed and in good condition in the box, and a little cheaper. I'll keep an eye out for your damp issues. Waiting for one from them now

Boz

 

[RogerS]

.......
On a slightly separate note but still Amazon related, if anyone is looking to buy any computing goods from one of their Marketplace sellers read everything. Click on every tab you can find. I bought a USB hub that "supports high speed USB". That to me suggests USB 2. Buried in their spiel is 12MBits/sec and Localised for France aka it does not come with a UK mains plug. The hub arrived today, localised for Brazil, continental plug, and so old it claims to support Windows 98. We shall see how that pans out vis a vis refunds.

The seller says 'It does support USB 2 - just that it can't write at that speed' !!! Bit like saying my 12" planer comes with only a 6".

 

[Anonymous]

Both SWMBO and I are hacked off with the Amazon website because it bombards any page you access with junk.

That 'someone who bought XYZ also bought this' and 'We thought you might like this'. No I bloody wouldn't, Amazon, I will tell you want I want.

Are we alone ?

If you're not interested, then don't read them and don't get worked up about it!!. They are not making you read it, just offering things that might be of interest.

Personally, I buy books from Amazon every month (often every week or 2) and find their recommendations quite useful - it is much the same as walking into a bookshop and finding a table of their latest offers just inside the doorway (although more focussed in Amazon's case)

 

[wizer]

I can't believe any of you use the same website for buying books\music\dvds etc? In most cases, It takes 5mins to find a better price than amazon. I don't see why I should pay extra to be loyal to amazon (or any other site).

I've also recently taken to buying 2nd hand books through places like amazon. The large majority of what I have bought has looked brand new and pristine. A couple of have had the odd blemish. Earlier in the year I bought a novel called 'A Fraction of the Whole' and the dust jacket was damaged but this was only because the design had a bunch of folds and holes in it that were easily torn if caught.

But in answer to the original post, I also find amazon useful for the recommendations. It's the first place I go for the ISBN to search for the cheapest option. Their site is very slow at times, but that's because it's so popular.

 

[RogerS]

......

If you're not interested, then don't read them and don't get worked up about it!!. They are not making you read it, just offering things that might be of interest.
.....

But as the screen is filled with dross I have to waste time while it downloads (and it does someties take a while) then I have to waste more time trying to find on the page the bit I want. The page istoo large to fit on one screenful so you end up having to waste yet more time scrolling down to get to where you want.

What's wrong with a nice uncluttered screen. Or at least the option to opt out of all crud.

 

[RogerS]

.....Their site is very slow at times, but that's because it's so popular.

And why is that? Precisely my point. Because their servers have to waste time pushing out all the crud. I took a look at a typical page. Out of the data and images I calculated about 10% was actually relevant.

 

[paulm]

.....Their site is very slow at times, but that's because it's so popular.

And why is that? Precisely my point. Because their servers have to waste time pushing out all the crud. I took a look at a typical page. Out of the data and images I calculated about 10% was actually relevant.

Roger, mate, you need to get out more :lol: :lol: :lol:

No offence intended, but really :lol:

Cheers, Paul

 

[matt]

Roger's just Mr Angry

I can't dispute it does what you describe but it's not the end of the world. No worse than having more pages of "New Posts" to download because someone (or two, three, or four it seems these days) are having a vent.

:lol:

 

[Shadowfax]

I think Amazon's website is dreadful. If anything could be simple Amazon make it ponderous and bloated. It drives me nuts whenever I try to use it!
I do use it, though, and I don't mind being told what others have bought etc. but the site itself needs a makeover and soon.
Intuitive and easy to use it definitely ain't!

Cheers,

SF

 

[llangatwgnedd]

I find E bay has gone bloated.

Anyway, Amazon warehouse is just five miles down the road from me and one of my son's has found work with them for the Christmas period.

Around the back of the warehouse is a skip and a guy with a sledge hammer breaking up all the faulty returned large screen plasma and LCD TVs, laptops. Apple laptops ipods Playstations and X boxes.

Must be cheaper to do that than send them back to the manufacturer.
:shock:

 

[Anonymous]

......

If you're not interested, then don't read them and don't get worked up about it!!. They are not making you read it, just offering things that might be of interest.
.....

But as the screen is filled with dross I have to waste time while it downloads (and it does someties take a while) then I have to waste more time trying to find on the page the bit I want. The page istoo large to fit on one screenful so you end up having to waste yet more time scrolling down to get to where you want.

What's wrong with a nice uncluttered screen. Or at least the option to opt out of all crud.

Roger, I have to say I feel the same about this site - there is so much posted in 'off topic' and so many pointless posts along the lines of 'sorry, I can't help but.....' that the frustration felt here by myself and others is greater than that felt by you about Amazon. A 'crud' filter as you call it would be very beneficial here and might restore the site to a woodworking forum where useful help and advice is easily found.

 

[wizer]

yeh I find certain things annoying too, like when people don't bother to read the whole post and then bleat on in their own little world.... If you're that 'annoyed' with this site Tony, then why do you bother to come here?

 

[Dave S]

Seems odd to have an 'off topic' section and to have a mod bemoaning people posting in it! :roll:

Dave

 

[Dave S]

Interesting comments overall - at one time Amazon was held up as an example of the best in e-commerce. But it does seem to be rather 'busy' these days (in the sense of the amount of stuff ont he page, rather than number of customers).

My own thoughts are similar to Roger's but no-one is forcing me to shop there and most of the time I choose not to. At the moment, at least, there are alternatives for most things.

cheer
Dave