BEWARE of using Parcel Motel to buy from Amazon

2rkehij30qtza5

Thought I'd share my story with you all as I had no idea it was such a bad idea to buy from Amazon.co.uk and get items shipped to Parcel Motel (Antrim address depot).

Long story short...I bought an item from a third party seller on Amazon. The item was defective so I contacted the seller and requested to return it. After much to-ing and fro-ing they accepted the return request and I posted the item back via international registered post. Cost me a fortune but the item was high value.

The seller then started to drag their heels so I contacted Amazon chat to ascertain my rights. I was assured that if I claimed, my money was safe.

So I claimed. My claim was denied on the basis that my item was shipped by the seller to a freight company who forwards onwards to a different address! Despite appealing the decision, Amazon dug their heels in and told me that I would not win any claim by using a freight company who forward to another address!

So just beware of this if using Parcel Motel to purchase from Amazon. You will not be covered by Amazon's A-Z in the event there's something wrong with the item you ordered!

Tails142

If it was high value wouldn't you have been entitled to super saver delivery to Ireland?

That is a PITA to hear though, Parcel Motel only accept liability to a max of €100 - say for example if someone decided to break open all the lockers some night and steal the packages.

I have had some low value stuff go missing, either enroute to parcel motel or in their charge, third party seller was kind enough to resend even though he couldn't tell whether royal mail/parcel motel were at fault, or even if it had been delivered and I was telling fibs. I guess it all comes down to how the third party seller wants to handle it.

MagicMarker

This is not a problem with parcel motel, it's a problem with third party sellers.

Had you bought directly from Amazon you wouldn't have this issue.

Not a NSA agent

Ughh, thats annoying to learn now. I bought something back in august and it appears to have died on me last night. Was wondering if it would still be covered under warranty or something.

Might still have a chance as it was obviously not damaged by PM.

2rkehij30qtza5

My item was not damaged by Parcel Motel either. My claim was for 'defective after first use'. I did get free supersaver postage...it was the return postage that cost me a lot.
Amazon's reason for denying my claim is that they don't grant claims if you use a freight company who forwards on to another address.

uck51js9zml2yt

I've never had an issue with amazon printing me a returns label for their Dublin depot when I've bought through PM.
Might be different with a third party seller though.

2rkehij30qtza5

William Hollow Zit wrote: »

I've never had an issue with amazon printing me a returns label for their Dublin depot when I've bought through PM.
Might be different with a third party seller though.

Third party printed me a return label alright but all along said they wouldn't refund. So I contacted Amazon and asked them if I posted the item back to seller with returns label seller sent me, would I be refunded. Answer from Amazon was yes but when I had to take a case I was denied due to the use of freight carrier delivering to different address as to the address item was originally posted to.

snoopy84

Tails142 wrote:

If it was high value wouldn't you have been entitled to super saver delivery to Ireland?

Only if it's fulfilled by amazon, this was shipped by third party and they don't always deliver to Ireland

Del2005

Can you not pursue it through the UK system with help from the ECC? Amazon or the 3rd party seller can't impinge on your consumer rights and I doubt that using a forwarding company is against EU law.


http://www.eccireland.ie

Slutmonkey57b

You didn't buy from Amazon, so why should Amazon refund you?

Cabaal

Colby Purring Manicure wrote: »

My item was not damaged by Parcel Motel either. My claim was for 'defective after first use'.

But can can't prove that mishandling of the item by Parcel Motel didn't contribute to the defect, I'd imagine this is why the claim was denied

I did get free supersaver postage.

You didn't though,

The seller may have not charged you for delivery, but free super saver is only offered for items shipped by Amazon
The seller merely didn't charge for delivery to a uk address,

Qualitymark

Sounds more of an Amazon problem. A friend's been trying to get his money back for months after he bought a dodgy TV. Endless, boring complications, but by now he's more or less waved goodbye to a couple of hundred.

Edit: This is the only time I've come across this problem with Amazon, and I can't understand it. Normally they're very good about accepting returns and refunding. (And I've sent goods back through Parcel Motel.) I don't think I ever paid return postage, but may have paid a small Parcel Motel fee, not sure.

Triangla

I returned an item bought on Amazon (from Amazon) because I didn't like it after one look in the flesh.
I had it delivered via parcel motel. I used the online returns function and had no problem returning and getting a refund.

I paid postage to return it but that was only a few quid.

2rkehij30qtza5

Slutmonkey57b wrote: »

You didn't buy from Amazon, so why should Amazon refund you?

Not expecting Amazon to refund me. Am expecting seller to refund me as I should be covered by Amazon a-z. The problem is Amazon are saying I am not as I used parcel motel.

2rkehij30qtza5

Cabaal wrote: »

But can can't prove that mishandling of the item by Parcel Motel didn't contribute to the defect, I'd imagine this is why the claim was denied



You didn't though

Not true, the item was hair extensions which were 100% human hair. Turned out they are synthetic hair and not real human hair and I only discovered this when I went to curl them and they melted. So in no way could Amazon claim parcel motel damaged them as that is not the issue. The value of them is €150.

Kristopherus

Colby Purring Manicure wrote: »

Not expecting Amazon to refund me. Am expecting seller to refund me as I should be covered by Amazon a-z. The problem is Amazon are saying I am not as I used parcel motel.

How did you pay? If by CC, then you could try a chargeback.

Qualitymark

Kristopherus wrote: »

How did you pay? If by CC, then you could try a chargeback.

What's a chargeback?

2rkehij30qtza5

Yes, I paid by credit card on Amazon. Amazon hold my credit card details on my file. Would this be sufficient to claim a chargeback?
I literally cannot believe the way the seller is treating me. Would be great to get the money returned one way or the other. Thanks

A Dub in Glasgo

Contact your CC company and tell them you would like to dispute the charge

Muahahaha

OP I would say either go down the chargeback route or else consider taking a case to the small claims court against the seller, it'll only cost you 25 Euros to submit and my guess is when they receive documentation they will likely stump up the refund rather than fight it.

MagicMarker

Muahahaha wrote: »

OP I would say either go down the chargeback route or else consider taking a case to the small claims court against the seller, it'll only cost you 25 Euros to submit and my guess is when they receive documentation they will likely stump up the refund rather than fight it.

How can she take a seller who isn't even based in Ireland to the small claims court?

gordongekko

MagicMarker wrote: »

How can she take a seller who isn't even based in Ireland to the small claims court?

She paid Amazon. She'd be taking them to court. Here's their Irish address http://www.idaireland.com/newsroom/amazon-to-move-dublin-dev/

Cabaal

gordongekko wrote: »

She paid Amazon. She'd be taking them to court. Here's their Irish address http://www.idaireland.com/newsroom/amazon-to-move-dublin-dev/

But Amazon isn't the seller the third part seller is.

It's like bringing paypal to small claims for a dispute with an item you bought from a company using PayPal as a payment method.

In short, any small claim against Amazon is meaningless and won't be successful.

Also, the address you've just suggested is for Amazon Web services. This has nothing to do with their retail service on amazon.co.uk.

You're wasting the ops time posting wrong info like this.

MrWalsh

This is interesting. I ordered an item from an Amazon seller using Parcel Motel and the item simply never showed up. The seller produced a proof of delivery and Parcel Motel said they did not sign for it, that the signature was not any of their staff. Also the signed name did not match the printed name.

I contacted the seller who didnt want to know because he was waving a proof of delivery. I contacted Amazon who said that they would not chase the seller for a refund because Id used a freight forwarding company. But - they did give me an Amazon gift card refund to the value - so I wasnt out of pocket, nor was the seller. The value was about 25 pounds. The seller wanted me to chase with Royal Mail despite Royal Mails website stating that they would only take claims from the person sending.

It put me off using Amazon and Parcel Motel tbh.

I have had other problems with Parcel Motel and personally find their customer service to be really appalling so I try to only use them when absolutely necessary now.

Usually I find Amazons customer service to be excellent, so I am surprised by this thread as I did receive a giftcard refund under A-Z.

Despite Amazon being unhelpful you do have rights:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/consumer_affairs/consumer_protection/consumer_rights/distance_selling.html