[US] - Did everyone's kindle ship via UPS Ground"?

[matt314159]

I emailed them about this yesterday, and received the following boilerplate response:

Hello,

The availability and shipping times listed on our website are estimates, not guarantees. Unfortunately, unexpected fluctuations in our inventory occasionally happen, and that can add time to our original availability estimate. I know it's frustrating when that happens, and I'm very sorry for the inconvenience.

Thanks for your interest in Kindle.

Did I solve your problem?

To me that's not a satisfactory answer. In fact, it sounds so generic, a computer might have scanned my email for key-words and auto-responded. I guess I'm alright with them shipping via ground method if it will get there in the promised time-frame, but I think they should work to ensure (there's that word again!) that if they're going to ship via that method, that they can reliably keep that promise. Shipping with a courier that doesn't do saturday delivery doesn't help things, especially when you're shipping on a thursday via "2nd day" anything. That sounds like it's doomed from the start!

i've had a 3-month trial of Prime in the past, and actually just signed up for Amazon student, and it has been my experience that almost everything I use 2-day shipping or overnight shipping on, comes via that method with fedes. They'll usually us the next day air saver equivalent option, not sure exactly what fecex calls it, can't remember. So on a high-ticket item like this, that's why I'm disappointed.

[Piper_]

Originally Posted by carld

Rather than slacking off, I don't think Bezos's whip-hand would allow that, Amazon is probably just overwhelmed with a higher demand than even they expected.

Edit: Also, no kindle shipment yet (sigh), but my case shipped UPS ground and should be here today.

I agree that the size of the rollout, and I would add the complexity of personalizing each package with the proper account, excuses a lot.

I also think most early orderers will be pleasantly surprised today. Those who ordered after August 1st should all be cheering, since they should get theirs much earlier than expected. Bravo to Amazon for it.


What the size of the rollout does not excuse is the lack of the most basic communication within the customer service department.

There were CS representatives, as late as yesterday evening, insisting that it was impossible that a single Kindle could be shipped (never mind delivered) before today, the release day.

At least I can't think of any excuse for that, but I'm willing to hear ideas!

[TenaciousBadger]

oy, if you've got complaints about receiving your kindles in the US, i'm imagining weeks and months before it gets delivered in the land of far far away as i ^lovingly^ call my country.
i ordered at the beginning of August and the message is still "not shipped yet".

if the number of buyers is indeed that unexpected for amazon, i for one think you're lucky for receiving it with only one or two days delay.

[Piper_]

Originally Posted by TenaciousBadger

oy, if you've got complaints about receiving your kindles in the US, i'm imagining weeks and months before it gets delivered in the land of far far away as i ^lovingly^ call my country.
i ordered at the beginning of August and the message is still "not shipped yet".

if the number of buyers is indeed that unexpected for amazon, i for one think you're lucky for receiving it with only one or two days delay.

I bet you get it much earlier than you expect, Badger. Those messages are commonly slow to update, and once they start, things can happen really fast.

If you ordered before August 5th, I expect they'll send it in the next few days, if it's not already shipped.

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by TenaciousBadger

oy, if you've got complaints about receiving your kindles in the US, i'm imagining weeks and months before it gets delivered in the land of far far away as i ^lovingly^ call my country.
i ordered at the beginning of August and the message is still "not shipped yet".

if the number of buyers is indeed that unexpected for amazon, i for one think you're lucky for receiving it with only one or two days delay.

I have to admit, I'm rather spoiled. I live in a fairly dense part of the US. I'm fairly close to one of their distribution centers and I'm a Prime member. It's often quicker for me to get things shipped than to find time to go to the store.

I'm amazed how well they generally do on big releases. It's not surprising that a few people aren't getting them as promised on release day. It's a wonder so many of us are. However, it's still disappointing for those that were eagerly awaiting their new toy. I have a Kindle already. This is just an upgrade, but if it doesn't show up today, I'll be rather pouty.

[tlrowley]

[carld]

Originally Posted by Piper_

What the size of the rollout does not excuse is the lack of the most basic communication within the customer service department.

There were CS representatives, as late as yesterday evening, insisting that it was impossible that a single Kindle could be shipped (never mind delivered) before today, the release day.

At least I can't think of any excuse for that, but I'm willing to hear ideas!

Poorly trained temp employees brought in to cover the rush. That's not really an excuse, but it's a likely reason.

/off topic

I once worked a temp job for a credit card company, approving cc claims with basically no training. The first week it was me and a bunch of high-school kids, the second week it was just me re-doing everything the high-schoolers had done.

Not to slag off on kids, but do you really want high-school juniors processing credit card damage and theft claims running into hundreds, even thousands of dollars?

[kathyfitz]

Mine shipped ground as well. It shows on the UPS site that it is out for delivery as expected. But I just had a bit of a scare when I checked the Amazon site for the tracking number to see how it shipped. When I track through Amazon this is what I see:


Track your package
Date Time Location Event Details
August 27, 2010 05:35:00 AM San Marcos CA US Arrival Scan
August 27, 2010 05:32:00 AM San Marcos CA US Out for delivery
August 27, 2010 05:32:00 AM San Marcos CA US Arrival Scan
August 26, 2010 10:16:00 PM Cerritos CA US Departure Scan
August 26, 2010 06:03:00 PM Cerritos CA US Shipment received by carrier
August 25, 2010 03:06:02 AM US Shipment has left seller facility and is in transit

Out for delivery and then it arrived there again? I really hope it is on the truck!!

[matt314159]

Mine's still showing:
TEMPE, AZ, US 08/26/2010 8:05 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
08/26/2010 6:54 P.M. ORIGIN SCAN
US 08/26/2010 11:38 A.M. BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED

I suppose there's a *chance* it might arrive today, but the estimated delivery date via UPS is still showing Monday.

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by matt314159

Mine's still showing:
TEMPE, AZ, US 08/26/2010 8:05 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
08/26/2010 6:54 P.M. ORIGIN SCAN
US 08/26/2010 11:38 A.M. BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED

I suppose there's a *chance* it might arrive today, but the estimated delivery date via UPS is still showing Monday.

Yeah. It would be lovely if it did, but it's been my experience that it will show "Out For Delivery" by the early morning if it's going out that day. Sorry.

[matt314159]

Yeah, that's always been my experience. In fact, it's next stop is going to be Vernon, CA, followed by Victorville, then Out For Delivery. I've never seen those last two not show up.

[kathyfitz]

It was! It was on the truck!! I met the UPS guy at the top of the stairs, I think I scared him!

[Mike 01Hawk]

Late August 1st order here (but before it went OOS). 2 Day Prime, It shipped today (27th) via carrier ONTRAC with estimated delivery of the 30th.

[clintbradford]

When I ordered on 7/29/10, I was given 2-day UPS shipping as a no-charge item.

[clintbradford]

>> ... i'm imagining weeks and months before it gets delivered in the land of far far away as i ^lovingly^ call my country ...

Well, that what you get for living in BadgerLand. (grin)

When I was in retail, it always was interesting that other countries' policies were somehow my fault. I mean, I'd ship something to Canada or England, and the receiver got hit with fees from THEIR government. So I asked out-of-US clients, "What, exactly, do you want me to place on the customs label?" And if it were an honest request, I'd do it.

ANYWAY - very off-topic. If you've ordered a unit, I hope you receive it soon.