Zacht Ei - Online shopping: Albert versus Amazon.Com

Friday, December 24, 2004

Online shopping: Albert versus Amazon.Com

I've been fond of Amazon.Com ever since it went online. In fact, Amazon.Com was the main reason for me to apply for a credit card, which weren't as common in the Netherlands in the 90's as they were in the USA (come to think of it, they still aren't, although we're catching up).

Once, I ordered a shipment of books which turned out to have been damaged in the shipping process. One email to Amazon.Com was enough to have a completely new set of books shipped off to me. The Amazon.Com customer rep didn't even demand that I send the damaged books back for proof. The undamaged copies arrived within two weeks, which is fast for an intercontinental shipment.

Compare that to Albert, the Dutch online supermarket which is owned by Ahold. Apparently, bookkeeping isn't the only thing they suck at. On Sunday, I placed an order of nearly 200 euros for Christmas supplies. Today, I was pleasantly surprised to find the bill a tad lower than that. I soon found out why. Twelve items hadn't been shipped, including such essentials as toilet paper. The website of Albert is supposed to inform you of logistical problems when an order is placed.

So you can imagine how glad I was when an Albert customer rep gave me a call just now. Because I am such a valued customer, he was delighted to offer me a 50 percent discount on delivery costs on my next order. According to Albert, a 3,40 euro discount makes up for having to go into the supermarket on the busiest day of the year, because of the incompetence of a company whose services you used to avoid said shopping hell in the first place.

Needless to say, Albert will henceforth have one fewer 'valued customer'.

I just hope I've got enough of their marketing materials to wipe my bum with till Monday.

9:54

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as they were in the USA (come to think of it, they still aren't, although we're catching up
*********************

Yes, we are racing to a near cashless society caused from the three-day crippling effect of 9/11, when planes routinely used for transportation of securities were grounded. In fact, a new law just took effect whereby if a person cashes a paper check, the recieving bank makes an electronic substitute which is forwarded via the internet to the clearinghouse at the Federal Reserve which routes the check on to the issuer's bank for debit. We also have debit card that are tied to one's checking account that is debited as soon as you use it. I carry very little cash on me ever.

As an aside did you know, the Federal Reserve calculates that between 50--70% of our currency resides outside the US in world use?

A final thought about books and Amazon. You will in the very near future if not now, get book delivery via the internet. See eBook Central and Amazon's selection. Works quite well, actually having just read the _Da Vinci Code_. Saved alot of paper edition, no taxes or postage, all in all a good value. Enviromentally friendly too. Why you can even publish your own book!

Michael in SC (ip:68.209.214.4) 24 December 2004 - 18:34 uur

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Doorbakken kan altijd nog

Online shopping: Albert versus Amazon.Com

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