An Ode to Amazon
I’ve already praised Amazon to the skies: “Amazon is simply the best store that ever existed, by far, with incredible selection and unearthly convenience.” Recently, however, Amazon managed to exceed my sky-high expectations.
Over the last few months, my Sony Blu-Ray player has been losing streaming services one after the other. Apparently I’m such a dinosaur that Hulu can’t be bothered to update my software. Such is the price of progress…
Last week, Amazon joined this rush for the exit, sending me an email to let me know that my Amazon Prime streaming would soon be discontinued. My knee-jerk reaction was, “Et tu, Amazon?”
Yet happily, the email didn’t end there. Amazon informed me that I could restore service by buying a Fire TV device – and gave me a $25 coupon for such a product. How much was the normal price of such a product? You guessed it – $25. Somewhat incredulously, I entered the coupon code – and confirmed that Amazon was giving me cutting-edge electronics for $0.00.
Two days later, I received my Fire TV Stick and easily installed it. To my delight, it was superior in all respects to my previous streaming system. Most notably, I often host Youtube karaoke parties, and the new interface works like a charm. Amazon, I love you.
Am I overreacting? I think not. When I was a child, no one would have believed that a major company would treat its customers so well. In all candor, Amazon treats me with far more respect and appreciation than I’ve ever received from the United States government. Democratic government, Republican government, divided government; Amazon outshines them all. If the feds ever go after Amazon, I know what side I’m on.
P.S. Here’s a screen cap of Amazon’s email to me.
P.P.S. If you’re thinking, “This isn’t a fair comparison. Running the federal government is much harder than running Amazon,” I’m thinking, “Another great thing about Amazon is that it doesn’t email me excuses.”
The post appeared first on Econlib.
In December 2023, I bought a Speediance home gym machine (which I love, BTW). I could order it either directly from the company or through Amazon. I chose Amazon because I've been a customer since 1997 and I trust them. The machine weighs about 200 pounds. I live in a 3rd-floor condo with no elevator. Amazon contracted with a 3rd-party shipper. When the machine arrived, they refused to bring it upstairs, saying that wasn't in their contract. I had to leave it on the ground outside the building, and the next day hire a moving company to bring it up to me, for $250. I called Amazon to complain. The rep I spoke to apologized, agreed that that wasn't right, and asked if a $250 credit to my account would make it right. Of course it would. She did not ask for a receipt, did not pass me off to a supervisor. Just fixed the problem on the honor system in less than 5 minutes.
We live in an amazing time.