Amazon

OK so - what's the story with Amazon Gift Cards - they don't deliver them to Ireland it seems??? I tried a couple and they all say "This item cannot be shipped to your selected delivery location." (Of course you can get the email version but the ones in presentation boxes are much nicer to give)

ordered a mini PC 6 weeks ago. Just received a refund on all of the VAT I paid. happy days.

Yes to both. You get a set amount (€11 I think) for the return postage costs but if it costs more you can let them know through the chat and they will refund you the full amount. However since there's nothing wrong with it, you may possibly have to pay the return postage costs entirely yourself in this case.

If may be cheaper (and most likely quicker) to use DPD or UPS.

That is interesting. How do they treat black friday offers? I bought nearly half price tech from amazon.de. paid a few € more, about €212 than amazon UK, which worked out about €207 with exchange and extra Vat, and assuming it was delivered without a demand for more. I couldn't risk the delay if anything went pear shaped, had it in 3 days from .de, but I was wondering is everything getting through from amazon UK? Or has anyone had stuff held and had duty applied. The goods were German manufacture, about €400 full value so would they attract duty, and full value vat if ordered from the UK? (or do Amazon just use the UK site as a portal to Eu warehouse?).

Most items are showing as delivery on Tuesday 28th for me. For example:

An Post aren't resuming deliveries until the 30th so that might explain it.

https://www.anpost.com/Post-Parcels/Christmas/christmas-delivery-collection-dates

Changed to the 29th as they're delivering antigen tests from HSE to close contacts so post is back a day earlier.

I made a purchase on Amazon.co.uk last week. It had the delivery date due as 30th December so I put the delivery address down as my workplace (Dublin) as I'll be at work that day.

Now they've sent me an update saying they will deliver on the 28th. My workplace will be closed (until the 30th), there won't even be a security guy onsite to collect the item.

On the tracking page, there is an update delivery instructions box, but the only option is 'If I'm not in, leave my package at a safe place'. There is no safe place there.

Will the courier call me to arrange a new date, or will it just be sent back to the UK? Presumably if they attempted one re-delivery, it would be the next day 29th. I'm not too familiar with Amazon, do they use An Post or do they have their own couriers?

Thanks, didn't know they had a chat facility. I'll try that.

It's unlikely even Amazon do. Take it as a win.

I have to print out a separate commercial invoice to "give to my courier". I also need to attach a commercial invoice to the package.

Apparently it's for customs. But why is that needed if it's between Ireland and EU? In fact it's going to a fulfilment centre in Slovakia apparently, which is in the EU.

I will get a courier to pick it up. Do I just give the loose sheet of paper/invoice to the courier guy?

Finally - can somebody recommend a good courier that won't f&CK this up? It's an expensive piece of electronics and this returns process seems like an awful dose of a rigamarole.

When you say "the plastic sleeve" which sleeve is this? I don't have any plastic sleeve

You don't need to attach any customs forms. They're only needed for the UK or elsewhere outside the EU. I've returned items to Amazon UK's Dunfermline fulfillment centre and the UPS driver did ask for the invoice.

I've used UPS lots of times to various EU countries without issue, although collections have been a bit disorganised lately (showing up late or multiple times). They used to be pretty much flawless in my area. I see DPD aren't doing collections at all at the moment for individual shippers. There's probably staff shortages like everywhere.

UPS rates are the same for shipping to every EU country (except Cyprus and Malta) and they start from €23. You'd want to add extra insurance since it's expensive.

I actually got an An Post return label from Amazon for the first time in a good while. You don't seem to get the instant refunds when it's received at the post office anymore.

Me back again.

So apparently no courier in the entire universe will ship my product. It's a projector, with a built in battery. Amazon sent me a battery warning label to stick on the side of the package. (although it didn't have this when they sent it to me)

Any idea how I can get this fecking thing back to Amazon?

I'm using the Parcel2Go website, and in the big massive list of prohibited items is:

• Batteries And Items Containing Built In Batteries Like Hover Boards, Certain Phones Etc.

They say if a prohibited item is found in the courier network, it may be disposed of.

Any ideas?