Slightly improved review from original
Written: Aug 26 '01
| Customer Service: |
 |
|
| On-Time Delivery: |
 |
|
| Selection: |
 |
|
The Bottom Line
Product variety is strong, prices not quite as good as other businesses; overall, a fairly good service
|
| Full Review |
Ah...the 'granddaddy' of internet retailing, Amazon.com....it's managed to sell enough of their inventory to have relatively stable cash flow.
Amazon.com is an internet retail shopping outlet. Currently, the website offers ( by their own business ) auctions, books, camera and photo products, cell phones and support, computer games, DVDs, electronics, gifts, kitchen products, recorded music, outdoor living products, an outlet store, software, and video ( VHS ); through other companies they offer baby registration, cars, health products, and toys & games.
The pricing of their products is FAIRLY good; for lower priced items ( $9 or $10 retail price ) there may not be any discount; for items at a $20 retail price there may be a %10 discount; for items at $30 ( retail ) there may be a %20 discount. These prices aren't as good as some other retailers ( such as buy.com ).
The website has a search box where you can look for a product; you can search for an item in a specific Amazon category ( such as software or kitchen ), or have the search done for all product categories; i've had trouble looking for something if I use words that are too common; the result of the search may give at least a 100 returns; I look for a link that would show all the resulting items, but I can't find the link. :(
When you get to the webpage of a product, some of these categories of information are there: the name and production year of the product; the suggested retail price, the Amazon price and discount % compared to the suggested price, the availability of the item ( the time between Amazon receiving your order and when the product leaves it's warehouse for shipment ), the format or condition of the items, a mention if the item is available to be purchased used ( with a link to a web page that shows each selling offer ), a button that sends you to a site where you can offer to sell a used version of the prodcut, locations in the U.S. where the item is popular, a small list of items ( similar to the item ) purchased at Amazon by people who purchased the main item, a few reviews by professional reviewers ( of that type of item ), some reviews by Amazon customers ( if the amount of reviews is too large ), and a link to show all customer reviews ( if the amount is large ), a category named 'Listmania!' highlighting lists where the product is mentioned, along with other categories.
To review a product, you need to register an account with Amazon; the name you use must be unique among all Amazon account. The account has many features availalbe: you can enter a link to a picture, enter an e-mail address, write a small essay about yourself, and create a wish list. Having an account also allows you to track any orders you have sent in.
To review a product you must go it's main page, then click "write a review of this product"; you will be asked for a rating in stars ( 1-5 ) and an essay on the product; other people will be available to see your name, rating, and essay.
If you write a review, when you visit Amazon with the cookie installed ( the result is that the website knows you are on ), you may receive recommendations of products similar to products you gave positive reviews to.
Amazon prides itself on customer satisfaction; they've tried to deliver products within the promised shipment time; in the past, they've struggled to get packages delivered during the Christmas shopping season; I don't know if they've decreased that trouble or not.
Amazon has associates program; if you put a link on your website, someone clicks the click ( the HTML code is supplied by Amazon ) to Amazon, then a purchase is made, you receive a %15 commision.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
randallw
|
|
Location: CA
Reviews written: 148
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
Yes! :-) They pay out
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.