Ain't Technology Wonderful

Lucky you. I am in the process of returning a unit to Amazon. I printed off the label and stuck it on the box to wait for the replacement unit to arrive and hand it to the courier. He simply left the parcel by the door and never rung the bell

Anyone know how to get the bastards to pick it up?

Amazon Lockers.

I think the item is too big.

Amazon Logistics don't do collections AFAIK, because returns go to a different warehouse from their fulfilment centres (often Dunfermline I think). All returns I've done are Royal Mail / Evri / ...

(some other couriers have separate deliveries and collection rounds too and won't collect during a delivery)

When you started the return they should offer you various options which depend on the size and value of what's being returned (Royal Mail pickup, Evri dropoff, RM print-at-Post Office, etc). Then follow the instructions on the return label as to whether you need to drop it off or how to (re)book a collection.

Tip: if there's a Royal Mail print-at-home label you can go on the RM website and book a free collection based on the barcode number, even if Amazon wants to charge you for that. You can't do that if RM are going to print the label - you have to take it to a Post Office or RM delivery office for that.

Amazon's practices vary based on where you are in the country, so YMMV.

Theo

They say they will pick it up if I let the know it needs it or something. There is no way I have found to contact them to let them know. I've printed off all the paperwork and packed it a lot better than when it arrived. But there are no instructions as to what to do next.

Did you get an option for Royal Mail collection?

I use that service for Amazon returns even if I have to pay for it, on the grounds that a) it avoids using Hermes/Evri, and b) I don’t have to go out, they come to me complete with prepared label.

This is an Evri teurn

Ah

" * Evri will collect your parcel on next business day (Mon-Fri: 8 AM – 8 PM, excluding Bank Holidays), as long as the collection is booked before 11 PM local time. Please note Evri does not offer specific time slots and will not call prior to collection.

• Print your return label and securely pack your item(s) to be returned before collection. Please ensure flat pack furniture is disassembled. If the item is too large to be boxed, please wrap the item in another form of packaging, such as plastic wrapping. Evri will be unable to collect the item(s) if you do not have a printed Amazon return label secured to the outside of the package. Make sure the print quality of the label is of good quality so the barcode can be scanned. Please only use this Returns label to return items mentioned on this page.

• Make sure an adult is present at the time of pickup. If you cannot be present for the collection, cancel your collection request and create another collection by going to Your Orders on your account.

You see I have to 'book a collection', but there is *no way to do that*, that I can see! There is no Amazon helpline either.

Go to 'Returns and Orders' (top right of most Amazon screens when logged in), find the item, click on 'return' (the wording changes slightly based on status, probably a white or yellow button on the RHS), and then see what it says inside.

For a completed return from December the button is 'View return/refund status' and there's a fold-down for 'Participating Evri Return Instructions'.

Theo

Evri only.

They are supposed to collect it if I 'book a collection' No one tells you how to do that.

If I try to book it with Evri they tell me they have no retailer called 'amazon'

Or they try to charge me money to accept it.

I have a feeling I am being given the digital runaround.

Oh, sorry to hear that. Wherever possible we don’t buy where Evri returns are specified, or their deliveries either come to that. So far we’ve avoided using them for quite some time.

You have to scroll down for the Royal Mail Collection, bit sneaky but it's not necessarily immediately visible.

Ah, thanks. Mrs Spike normally does the returns, but now you mention it I do recall having to scroll down to find the RM option. It certainly saves a lot of hassle over the other collection options.

RM like it because they don't have to pay the Post Office anything.

If you have issues with Amazon use their chat service. It will take a little time to get to a human, the "No it's something else" button is quite useful for that.

As somebody somewhere once pointed out to me if it's a standard thing like a missed collection then they will sort it fairly quickly. If it's not standard they won't know what to do so you will get passed around a bit but eventually end up with somebody whose shift is close to ending. He/she won't have any idea what to do but wants to go home so will offer your you money back and let you keep the product.

Happened to me a couple of weeks ago. All I wanted was to tell them they MUST knock/ring the bell but it's not on their list so they gave me a refund.

No, there isn't.

It just says that I have requested a return. Plus a button marked continue that doesn't work and the expiry date of the RMA

I went to Evi's website with teh track 'It's booked

We've received your return request and we're expecting it from you shortly.'

I definitely expected them to pick it up. That was the box I ticked.

I love that bit! "Some people", eh?

NB! This is not relevant to TNP's problems --his quote above comes from Evri's T&C and advice.

For me, this is another illustration of how the Internet, or rather Our Digital World, has to be *dumbed* down to the most basic level, and how we all have to pay the price, in terms of being buggered about!

In The Old Days of one-to-one dealing with real human beings you could walk out of the shop (or put the phone down), keeping your money in your wallet.

(But Yes! I do realise that we do not now live in The Old Days - possibly a good thin; on balance; in the long run; with a fair wind.)

The next hymn will be Number 357 ...

John

PS Yes Evri are not too good in my own experience too. Don't they employ odd-jobbers who have to provide their own vehicle?

Ha ha! Yes indeedy. Do you remember when people (i.e. most of us plebs) thought it was a good Idea to have The Royal Mail (now known as the "Royal Mail", the name having been bought with the business) and The Post Office as one company?

Bitter and twisted?! Of course! I'm over 65!!! 8-D

John

As I have mentioned before, our local Evri have been excellent for years, even back into their Hermes days. It all depends on the people involved.

Why don't you take it to a parcel shop?