While at Barnes & Nobel, my wife told me she wanted an Nook for Christmas. Since I'd read on Mashable that some reviewers thought that even though the full-color Nook promises to be a formidable rival, it may have been released a little prematurely — before all the software bugs were completely worked out. So, I thought I'd order her an Amazon Kindle (I'd recalled seeing a "guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve" on their website.)
Christmas Eve came and went, and Kindle did NOT come. I called Amazon's customer service on Christmas Day and mentioned I did not get it. The representative could only tell me it was still in transit per the tracking history. I asked if there was any chance it would come today and he responded no, and offered nothing to resolve the issue.
I'd set my cell for up to receive SMS message whenever the package status changed. Prior to calling Amazon customer service on 12/25, I hadn't received a single package update. About 30 minutes AFTER calling Amazon customer service, I received my first SMS message. Unbelievably, it stated:
12-24 09:22 PM:
The carrier attempted to deliver your shipment and will try again.
Received: Fri, Dec 25 10:24 am
WHAT A BLATANT LIE! Check out my package tracking history (at http://hirning.Us) — pdf-ed from my account on Amazon's own website! Newburgh NY is the FedEx facility that loads packages on vans for delivery to homes. According to my tracking history, the shipment with my Kindle arrived at this facility at 9:21 PM. The actual package was then scanned at this facility at 9:23 PM. So how did FedEx attempt a delivery at my home at 9:22 PM, when I was at home and my home is at least 15 miles away?
Of course, by this time I was fully engaged (or enraged, as the case may be) so I e-mailed Amazon's customer service and asked how they could be so stupid as to state that they'd attempted delivery at 9:22 PM. Their response was:
I apologize your Kindle gift did not arrive on time. Severe weather conditions have delayed pickups and deliveries in your region, but our carriers have assured us they will deliver packages as swiftly as possible. I'm sorry for the inconvenience and hope you understand that occasionally a shipment may be delayed by circumstances beyond our control.
Text tracking that allows you to track your Amazon.com packages via SMS text messages are sent to your mobile phone automatically as order information is updated.
With regard to the text tracking comment — why is it that the only text I'd received, in NO WAY appeared in my tracking history???
Do you sense a little bitterness? Unfortunately, you are right on target. What really irritates me is that I let this circus get to me and interfere with an otherwise pleasant Christmas. My own fault, I guess. I should have just waited until a more convenient time (like today) to express my frustration with Amazon and their Kindle.
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