Amazon Prime - Dont have it then you can wait.

The things annoying me about Amazon ( and hence shopping elsewhere) is they actually hide products being the Prime pay wall, will only certain certain shipments to NI etc.
 
I am currently losing my temper with amazon and feel they now have a 2 tier system for their customers.

I Per-ordered a nokia 3310 (the new version) for my fathers birthday back in June, knowing there was limited stock, My order has been push 2 times now and and it is now showing as shipment date unknown.

Ok so this annoyed me something rotten but limited stock so to be expected.

Last Monday I grabbed a new TV off them, took 4 days to leave the warehouse to be shipped. looking at the reviews people who bought it the same day (was a sale item) had i next day, I however im still waiting for it to be delivered. However the HDMI cables i bought form a marketplace vendor turned up the next day

I now feel that Amazon have dropped their service to non-prime customers to such a point that if you don't pay for it then things are not just normal they are worse.

Cant help but feel that they have got too big for their boots now and if any other retailer tried this crap they would have no customers, just look at Game with their subscription loyalty scheme.

I know some people will say prime is a value product, that maybe the case but i don't think you should be pushed to the back of the line if you don't have it.

I will be taking my shopping else where moving forward.

/rant

I ordered a 3310 from EE on Pay as you go and it arrived the next day.
 
I had a similar experience on something I bought. Chose free delivery, it was being dispatched from amazon, not another seller, it said estimated delivery between x & y, the day before y it still hadn't been dispatched, this was about 5 days after placing the order, got onto the live chat and they said it was delayed but they didn't know why, they upgraded the delivery to next day FOC and later that day it was dispatched and delivered to me the next day.
 
They have Amazon Business if that's what you mean:
www.amazon.co.uk/business

No that is not what I meant, i dud not explain myself very well. This is a system where those with medical conditions can buy certain items VAT free. It involves little more than filling in a self declaration form and most retailers have the form either on the item page or at checkout. Here is a quick exampke https://www.doability.co.uk/keep-warm-plate
Amazon does not make claiming zero VAT very easy.
 
TV turned up yesterday, box looked a little worse for wear but the TV inside was fine so happy enough to finally get it.

Phone still doesn't say anything and the price on the website has gone up 80% now so i think that is not going to happen anytime soon.
Will have a look in some of the local stores, as this was a gift for my father birthday and its now nearly 2 months late gonna need to sort something out.
 
I have no idea what this says :confused:
Sorry phone typing!
Basically when you go to order something small, rather irrelevant..on MANY products, they wont ship them to NI...unless you are a Prime member...but..if you order 3 of the same item at once..thats okay.
 
No that is not what I meant, i dud not explain myself very well. This is a system where those with medical conditions can buy certain items VAT free. It involves little more than filling in a self declaration form and most retailers have the form either on the item page or at checkout. Here is a quick exampke https://www.doability.co.uk/keep-warm-plate
Amazon does not make claiming zero VAT very easy.

Are you sure about "most retailers" as I've never seen that as an option on the websites I've visited (although I've not looked) and your example website is a specialist store.
 
Are you sure about "most retailers" as I've never seen that as an option on the websites I've visited (although I've not looked) and your example website is a specialist store.
I've only seen it as an option on sites that are heavily aimed at supplying items to the disabled who would be eligible for it.
It requires a fair bit of due diligence on behalf of the retailer, and in my experience some still require you to fax or mail them a human signature as opposed to just ticking the box on the website (the retailer can get in trouble if it's misused).
 
I'm always switching between Netflix and Amazon Prime and I totally agree that if you're non-prime with Amazon the service is starting to suck. They seem to be actively trying to make their non-prime service (especially delivery) a much less effective service. Also they don't seem to care about the history of your account and how much you've purchased historically with Amazon......
 
Are you sure about "most retailers" as I've never seen that as an option on the websites I've visited (although I've not looked) and your example website is a specialist store.

It is very common just some firms do not make the process very obvious until checkout.
This from Boots, who cannot be considered a specialist store.

'What is VAT exemption and can I claim it?'
Items eligible for VAT relief

Some products that we sell have been specifically designed for use by persons who are disabled or chronically sick. HM Customs and Excise rules allow these items to be purchased by the customer at a VAT exclusive price as long as they are purchased by or for a disabled or chronically sick person. The goods must also be for personal or domestic use only and must be applicable to that person's disability or sickness. These products are shown on our website whether they are eligible for VAT relief.

How do I claim VAT relief for eligible products?

As long as you meet the qualifying criteria (above) the exemption process in the checkout works as follows:

1. Please ensure that you have registered or logged in before placing an order containing an item that you wish to claim VAT relief for.

2. Once you place an item in your basket you will be presented with a 'pop up' which will ask 'will you be claiming the VAT back?' As long as you feel that you meet the criteria above, click on 'yes'.

3. You will then be presented with a page asking you 'who is this product for?' Please click on the appropriate button and then click 'continue'.

4. In order to meet yours and our legal obligations to HM Customs and Excise and in order to avoid paying VAT you will then be presented with a straightforward on-line VAT relief claim form to complete. Please note that we are only able to exempt VAT from the actual goods, but not from the delivery charges (which will attract VAT as normal). After completing the form you will be taken back the normal shopping page and can carry on checking out as normal and you will see the 'VAT saving' as part of your savings total.

5. If you are in any doubt as to whether you are able to claim this relief you should consult notice 701/7 VAT reliefs for disabled people.

What does 'disabled or chronically sick' mean?

A person is 'chronically sick or disabled' if he/she is a person:
  • With a physical or mental impairment which has a long term and substantial adverse effect upon his/her ability to carry out everyday activities
  • With a condition which the medical profession treats as a chronic sickness, such as diabetes
  • With a terminal illness
It does not include a frail elderly person who is otherwise able bodied, or any person who is only temporarily disabled or incapacitated, such as with a broken limb.

Can I claim VAT relief on behalf of someone else?

Yes - but you will be required to put the claimants details on the VAT relief claim form.

Are all products in the 'mobility and daily living aids' subject to VAT relief?

No - only products clearly identified are subject to VAT relief.

Do I have to complete a separate on-line form for every VAT exempt product I order?

No - If you order a number of VAT exempt items on 1 order, you will only need to complete the form once.

How can I find out more about claiming VAT relief?

Please Refer to H M Customs notice 701/7 VAT reliefs for disabled people.
 
I'm always switching between Netflix and Amazon Prime and I totally agree that if you're non-prime with Amazon the service is starting to suck. They seem to be actively trying to make their non-prime service (especially delivery) a much less effective service. Also they don't seem to care about the history of your account and how much you've purchased historically with Amazon......


could this simply be because so many people are now prime members with next day delivery that non prime are going to have to wait unless Amazon expands its distribution network to support everyone next day prime or not.
 
It is very common just some firms do not make the process very obvious until checkout.
This from Boots, who cannot be considered a specialist store.

.
Boots is however a chemist, one of the key things many chemists stock are items for use by the disabled or that will be able to have vat exemptions, most will be able to order in things like walking sticks and disability aids in, in addition to those they may carry as stock items.
Hence they'd pretty much be expected to deal with the VAT exemption, my mother (from memory) signed such an exemption for a walking stick from one of the other smaller chemists in our town years ago.

Amazon is closer to a supermarket like Tesco than a chemist.
 
Prime is irrelevant if the seller doesn't have the stock. Remember, Amazon isn't a shop anymore, it's a glorified eBay BIN marketplace. You want something with Prime, ensure the seller is actually Amazon.
 
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