Hi,
I would like to share you all with my shopping experience at amazon.
I live outside the US so amazon website is one of the first options I went for when searching for a book. I was looking to buy this book:
Gem Identification Made Easy, by Antoinette L. Matlins & Antonio C. Bonanno.
Runnign a quick search on amazon I found the 2nd edition. trying to search for another more upfated one gave me only the out-of-prinbt 1st edition. Luckily I went to see the Gemstonepress.com website and was surprised to find there is a new 3rd edition - got back to amazon and the only way I could locate the 3rd edition is by deep searching for the ISBN number. Then I placed an order for the 3rd edition at amazon - item was listed as "usually ships within 2-3 days" after a whole WEEK (7 days) I got a nice apology via email saying there is a delay in getting this item - then when I logged to my account it said that it will take then an additional 10 DAYS (!!) to ship it - that is a total of 17 days since my order - and now I also have to add the shipping time. Of course I canceled that order.
It seems Amazon are doing their best efforts and tactics of delay to motivate people NOT to order the latest editions and sell the older editions they have in stock. In addition they international shipping rates are outragous - they charged me $11 for surface shipment (international) and they say the estimated shipping time is - hold your breath - 18 to 26 business days. looking at their competitior - barnesandnoble.com - they charge only $13 for International Air Mail with a shipping time estimate of 7 to 21 business days.
I contacted Gemstonepress website at http://www.gemstonepress.com/347.htm and slthough the book is sold their at the cover price - which is approx. $11 more expensive than amazon, they charge only $12 for international air mail.
I am sure they won''t try to delay this shipment.
Just my 2 cents - I do not know about your amazon buying experiences but mine was really bad.
I would like to share you all with my shopping experience at amazon.
I live outside the US so amazon website is one of the first options I went for when searching for a book. I was looking to buy this book:
Gem Identification Made Easy, by Antoinette L. Matlins & Antonio C. Bonanno.
Runnign a quick search on amazon I found the 2nd edition. trying to search for another more upfated one gave me only the out-of-prinbt 1st edition. Luckily I went to see the Gemstonepress.com website and was surprised to find there is a new 3rd edition - got back to amazon and the only way I could locate the 3rd edition is by deep searching for the ISBN number. Then I placed an order for the 3rd edition at amazon - item was listed as "usually ships within 2-3 days" after a whole WEEK (7 days) I got a nice apology via email saying there is a delay in getting this item - then when I logged to my account it said that it will take then an additional 10 DAYS (!!) to ship it - that is a total of 17 days since my order - and now I also have to add the shipping time. Of course I canceled that order.
It seems Amazon are doing their best efforts and tactics of delay to motivate people NOT to order the latest editions and sell the older editions they have in stock. In addition they international shipping rates are outragous - they charged me $11 for surface shipment (international) and they say the estimated shipping time is - hold your breath - 18 to 26 business days. looking at their competitior - barnesandnoble.com - they charge only $13 for International Air Mail with a shipping time estimate of 7 to 21 business days.
I contacted Gemstonepress website at http://www.gemstonepress.com/347.htm and slthough the book is sold their at the cover price - which is approx. $11 more expensive than amazon, they charge only $12 for international air mail.
I am sure they won''t try to delay this shipment.
Just my 2 cents - I do not know about your amazon buying experiences but mine was really bad.
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