Random Amazon packages arriving, not happy

[tmm99]

Another article on how Amazon reviews are being gamed.

Her Amazon purchases are real, the reviews are fake...plus she gets reimbursed....

"Third-party sellers know what it takes to make it on Amazon: Get good reviews and a high search ranking. But attracting genuine customers is tough, so some sellers use a reliable cheat — bribes. Because of Amazon’s vast scale, inscrutable algorithms, and capricious enforcement of its own rules, unscrupulous sellers and paid shills largely get away with it.
Amazon has banned giving away free products in exchange for reviews, so Jessica requested anonymity out of fear that the company would suspend her account."

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/articl...the-reviews-are-fake?utm_source=pocket-newtab


omni

Wow! Thank you for posting this. Another way to cheat the system, and it sounds pretty lucrative for the buyer (the co-scammer).

 

[JoeWras]

Wow! Thank you for posting this. Another way to cheat the system, and it sounds pretty lucrative for the buyer (the co-scammer).

Another amazing article.

The whole system is sad. I really mourn what the internet could have been, if only people had even an ounce of decency.

My career from 1994 onward involved some aspect of making the internet work. I remember from those days the first time a guy advertised his legal services on usenet. It was a Big Deal and people went crazy. Suddenly, a system based on trust was being breached, and everyone knew the party was over.

The dams opened from there, and we've had halcyon periods which only seem to decay rapidly. The whole system of reviews and ratings went through an early great period, only to decay into the mess we have now. (And it isn't just Amazon, of course.)

We should have known. From the start, there were bad actors on the internet. (Phone Phreeks, Hackers, Spammers, and porn galore.) Why wouldn't they take advantage of honest review systems?

I was naive. Many of us were. I'm too idealistic sometimes.

Basically, Trust No One. Sad.

 

[Sunset]

Wow! Thank you for posting this. Another way to cheat the system, and it sounds pretty lucrative for the buyer (the co-scammer).

Funny, I had the opposite thought, it's a waste of time.

The buyer puts in a couple of hours of effort each day minimum, so 60 hours per month and makes $100 a month. That's $1.50 per hour.

Plus she ends up with a pile of junk, stuff even she does not try to use, and when she wanted a pressure cooker, she bought a real one, and didn't use the one she got for free. She doesn't trust the electrical stuff she reviews because even to her it's cheap crap.

 

[aja8888]

Funny, I had the opposite thought, it's a waste of time.

The buyer puts in a couple of hours of effort each day minimum, so 60 hours per month and makes $100 a month. That's $1.50 per hour.

Plus she ends up with a pile of junk, stuff even she does not try to use, and when she wanted a pressure cooker, she bought a real one, and didn't use the one she got for free. She doesn't trust the electrical stuff she reviews because even to her it's cheap crap.

Regardless of the incentives of the fake buyer, it's just a way for cheap goods being sold on Amazon getting to the top of the Amazon food chain. Guys like you and I are getting hoodwinked.

 

[Sunset]

Regardless of the incentives of the fake buyer, it's just a way for cheap goods being sold on Amazon getting to the top of the Amazon food chain. Guys like you and I are getting hoodwinked.

I totally agree.

This woman is (IMHO) a lazy, stupid, inconsiderate individual who cannot even recognize she is destroying a tiny part of the system. She does however no longer trust product reviews on Amazon, and still doesn't make the connection of her actions.

Maybe someday, karma will strike her, and the car repair garage will use cheap brake parts based on this type of fake Amazon reviews and she will die.

 

[Chuckanut]

“I definitely feel like I have to keep [the reviewing] a secret from people who have strong morals,” Jessica added.

Imagine that, the real problem is other people's strong morals, not Jessica's apparent lack of a moral compass.

Please excuse me while I check to make sure I have plenty of time left on my subscription to Consumer Reports.

 

[CaptTom]

We should have known. From the start, there were bad actors on the internet. (Phone Phreeks, Hackers, Spammers, and porn galore.) Why wouldn't they take advantage of honest review systems?

Now hold on there. You have something against porn?

Oh, wait. You said "bad actors." Yeah. That fits. Never mind.

I was naive. Many of us were. I'm too idealistic sometimes.

This I can agree with. I was there at the dawn of the internet, too.

Anyway, my real point is that, in the beginning, we called these things "computers." That's what we thought they did best. We were wrong.

It wasn't until they began to be used as "communicators" that they really took off with the masses.

It's hard to blame the medium, when it's the message which is rotten. Seems like "social media" is more like "anti-social media" to me. Apparently, this is what people want.

 

[JoeWras]

Now hold on there. You have something against porn?

Oh, wait. You said "bad actors." Yeah. That fits. Never mind.
...
This I can agree with. I was there at the dawn of the internet, too.

Anyway, my real point is that, in the beginning, we called these things "computers." That's what we thought they did best. We were wrong.

It wasn't until they began to be used as "communicators" that they really took off with the masses.

It's hard to blame the medium, when it's the message which is rotten. Seems like "social media" is more like "anti-social media" to me. Apparently, this is what people want.

No arguments with what you say.

I worked on so-called high-tech stuff that was anywhere from compute to communicate, including cell phone communication.

After seeing how it went, it was one of the many reasons I decided to get out and retire.

As for retail sales, from toothpicks to automobiles, it was nice in the early days to at least have a somewhat even playing ground with the sales folks. That's gone. It is gamed. It always has been, and anyone thinking stuff they see on the internet avoids the game, well, think again.

 

[imnontrad]

Yes. this can be annoying. Your address got circulated by shady companies and they are making a profit by sending you this random stuff. Except for the sex toys, some of the items may be able to be donated somewhere. Or have fund with it. create a FB page and every time you get a "present", post a pic of it on th epage.

 

[ERD50]

SUGGESTION:

You can set up unique names for your delivery address. I have one set to my name, one to DW's name. So when she asks me to order something, I use her name. When it arrives, I know by the label if it was the order for her, or for me.

So create some rather unique variation of your names that would not be known to the public. At least you know before you open it.

-ERD50

 

[Alexi]

I'm done with Amazon.

For the past several months, I've had items arrive broken. Amazon is not using secure shrink wrap packaging anymore. They just put loose breakable items in a box. The last box I received not only had loose and broken items, somehow the outside reinforced Amazon tape was cut, the box was not securely closed at one end and a couple items were missing.

 

[jjuneau]

New to me

Have never had this problem. I don’t know if it is happening with other retailers. Depending on what I am shopping for, I look at Walmart or Home Depot before trying Amazon. I sometimes use EBay, but my first choice is always local stores if they have what I want.

 

[JoeWras]

Fakespot says 33% of the reviews are fake. Amazon says 1%.

I say it is probably somewhere in between.

https://www.fastcompany.com/9043775...day-beware-a-third-of-online-reviews-are-fake

 

[JoeWras]

SUGGESTION:

You can set up unique names for your delivery address. I have one set to my name, one to DW's name. So when she asks me to order something, I use her name. When it arrives, I know by the label if it was the order for her, or for me.

So create some rather unique variation of your names that would not be known to the public. At least you know before you open it.

-ERD50

Interesting!

Again, in my case, I know it isn't for me. It just comes to my address. In other words, I get a package for "Chadwick Monthrockton" instead of "Joeseph Weedlebottoms".

 

[Venturer]

Interesting!

Again, in my case, I know it isn't for me. It just comes to my address. In other words, I get a package for "Chadwick Monthrockton" instead of "Joeseph Weedlebottoms".

I just read thru this because I have an email from USPS that I have a package scheduled to arrive today. The thing is I haven't ordered any thing from Amazon in a few months. So now I'm thinking it may be something like y'all are talking about. We shall see.

 

[COcheesehead]

I can count the number of items I’ve ordered on Amazon on two fingers. Not sure really why that is. I find more of what I am looking for on eBay or Costco and I never liked the cookies that Amazon drops when you search for something. I have those searches then follow me all over the internet.

 

[CaptTom]

...I never liked the cookies that Amazon drops when you search for something. I have those searches then follow me all over the internet.

Totally agree. I search Amazon in a clean browser, not logged on. If I find something I want, I copy the URL and close the browser (which I have set to delete cookies.) I then re-open the browser, log on to Amazon, and paste in the URL. I also use the Ghostery add-on so no trackers are ever loaded. I never have searches follow me anywhere.

On the other hand, my wife likes having the stuff she's searched on follow her around. She keeps cookies and trackers on, and stays logged on to anything she can. No harm in that, I suppose. I just find it creepy.

Tip: Whenever you copy a URL from an Amazon product, only copy the first part, and stop before the "/ref." Everything after that is just tracking information. You can send the trimmed link to anyone, post it on a forum, or save it as a favorite to go back to later, all without it being tracked back to you.

One unrelated comment: I, too, search Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, eBay, and whatever other site might offer similar products before I buy on Amazon. So far, Amazon wins out about 90% of the time. Small, inexpensive items are probably the biggest exception, along with large, heavy items. Anything relatively expensive to ship is probably better purchased locally.

 

[Venturer]

I just read thru this because I have an email from USPS that I have a package scheduled to arrive today. The thing is I haven't ordered any thing from Amazon in a few months. So now I'm thinking it may be something like y'all are talking about. We shall see.

well I did get the package,and it wasn't random. My DD had a Christmas gift for her DH sent to our address.LOL so I guess I'm safe now.

 

[SpinDoctorTX]

We use Amazon prime for a lot of purchases, and get Prime TV for free. They always have the cheapest price on the heavy things that we buy, such as Dr. Elsey's cat litter & Sci Diet- both heavy to lug around. That said, we do return about 1/4th of what we buy on other things. Most of our AMZ issues have been caused by 3rd party sellers, but we do not buy from anything other than AMZ direct. The good thing is you can just take things to Kohls to return- easy peasy if you are in a city.

We used to buy more on EBay as I sell a lot of my handmade art/ jewelry so always have a bunch of $ in my PP account, but the quality of packaging is dicey at best. And dealing with EB sellers on a return can be a challenge.

We've never gotten anything free from anyone!

 

[SpinDoctorTX]

We use Amazon prime for a lot of purchases, and get Prime TV for free. They always have the cheapest price on the heavy things that we buy, such as Dr. Elsey's cat litter & Sci Diet- both heavy to lug around. That said, we do return about 1/4th of what we buy on other things. Most of our AMZ issues have been caused by 3rd party sellers, but we do not buy from anything other than AMZ direct. The good thing is you can just take things to Kohls to return- easy peasy if you are in a city.

We used to buy more on EBay as I sell a lot of my handmade art/ jewelry so always have a bunch of $ in my PP account, but the quality of packaging is dicey at best. And dealing with EB sellers on a return can be a challenge.

We've never gotten anything free from anyone!

 

[NateW]

Thanks for posting this, very helpful. Yesterday DW, who buys lots of stuff through Amazon Prime, received from them a bottle of an enzyme supplement she did not order. She checked her orders and she was not billed for it either. Per Amazon Prime's website, the item sells for $150.00. This is an item we can't use and do not want. I also don't want to take the time to try and sort this out with Amazon, but feel I should at least call them about it, knowing it sells for $150.00.

 

[target2019]

Last two Amazon orders were problems.
#1 went God know where. Instead I go package for family next door. Too much time spent on that one. Had to cancel order. That was an Amazon truck delivery, and I wonder if it was driver theft.
#2 went to family two doors down. That was local USPS delivery, who are delivering incorrect mail up and down the street.

Also, in both cases the delivery date was not even close to what's promised.

 

[JoeWras]

Thanks for posting this, very helpful. Yesterday DW, who buys lots of stuff through Amazon Prime, received from them a bottle of an enzyme supplement she did not order. She checked her orders and she was not billed for it either. Per Amazon Prime's website, the item sells for $150.00. This is an item we can't use and do not want. I also don't want to take the time to try and sort this out with Amazon, but feel I should at least call them about it, knowing it sells for $150.00.

Probably costs them $2 in material. Amazon will likely tell you to toss it. They won't want it back, I can pretty much guarantee. You should let them know. They need to know how bad this problem is.

 

[CaptTom]

I've seen that in some places yhey'll send a picture of the package in the front door or wherever they left it.

I'm not sure if this is an Amazon thing, or the contract drivers thought it up. Either way, brilliant! Not only is it good customer service, but it protects the driver and removes any confusion which might cause customer complaints. It's also an incentive for the driver to get it right the first time. Send a picture of the wrong house and they've got nobody else to blame!

Around here Amazon still mostly uses the USPS. Delivery is pretty reliable, especially when it's our regular carrier. The subs sometimes put things in the wrong box. The Amazon contract drivers who occasionally deliver here are hit or miss. Some are great, some just toss it into the middle of the driveway.

Amazon has made, and is continuing to make, huge structural changes to the whole concept of home delivery. There will continue to be growing pains. But remember, this is Amazon's core business. If they don't get it right, someone else will come along and eat their lunch. It benefits all customers, long-term.

No way do I want to go back to the old days of inflated "shipping and handling" fees and "allow four to six weeks for delivery!"

 

[tmm99]

I've seen that in some places yhey'll send a picture of the package in the front door or wherever they left it.

We get that with one courier here too in Canada. They email me a photo of the delivery when the delivery is complete. I order from amazon very often, at least a couple of times a month. I subscribe to some items also. I haven’t had a single problem with not receiving an item. I had a couple of delays and they told me in advance that the shipment was delayed. Two day items sometimes arrive in one day. I had one digital order mixup once and they gave me $5 for my trouble.

Overall very good experience.