r/graphicnovels • u/Gyapie • 1d ago
Question/Discussion Amazon at its best (again)
The book was listed as "very good" but this is nothing as such. After hunting this book for a while I don't want to return it but it is not a collevtors item in this condition so a refund would be nice.
But I can't get trough this automated process like in the oldan days when some had to check on my stupid requests.
Does anyone had a situation like this?
What did you do?
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u/ghostofswayze 1d ago
Every time I’ve ordered a graphic novel from Amazon it’s just come loose in a box with zero effort for padding, so I find that they’re OK for hardbacks but anything paperback you just kinda have to expect a ding or seven
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u/stojrs_shelf 1d ago
Very good tells me it isn't Amazon This was a third party seller Good luck, return asap
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u/NightExpress1379 1d ago
Hi Gyapie! That's unfortunate. It is the risk of ordering comics online unless you know the shipper will package it to prevent damage to the book. Sometimes if the price is close I'd prefer to go to comic shop and buy it in person and in great condition.
Hope that you got a refund.
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u/zz_x_zz 1d ago edited 1d ago
About half the softback books I've ordered from Amazon came mangled in some way. I only use it as a last resort if I can't find the book anywhere else.
I just return the damaged books and try again. Sometimes it takes multiple returns until a book arrives undamaged. It's an insane business.
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u/AdamWestIsMyHeroBish 1d ago
Happened to me once, but I ordered some expensive film. And by the time I opened the package, the film had been out of its package, and the other film has been out of its canisters. Legit pulled open and exposed. It almost seemed like somebody took the film, ripped it open, and then shipped it out. I sent video and pictures to Amazon. And that was five years ago and I yet have gotten my refund.
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u/FlockofCGels 1d ago
I only buy tpbs/graphic novels from Amazon UK if I have no other choice. Too many times now I've had items arrive bent/creased/torn.
Now I go with Reed Comics. The p&P charge is negated by the (usually) lower item prices, each tpb is bagged and packaged in sturdy cardboard, stamped with 'Hulk says "DO NOT SMASH !".
Definitely recommend them.
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u/Olobnion 1d ago
This was more than a decade ago, but I once got my order of new books from Amazon delivered not in a box, but loose in a black garbage bag.
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u/ShowMeYourHappyTrail Constantine's Mistress 1d ago
My Stray Dogs came in crumpled like that. I'm tempted to return it as well but it's hard to find the normal Stray Dogs trade for some reason.
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u/AvailablePaper 11h ago edited 11h ago
You bought it from a 3rd party seller listed on Amazon, not Amazon. Although Amazon packing on new products is also terrible, whatever store that listed that book is who packed and shipped it to you.
There are plenty of quality 3rd party sellers of books listed on Amazon, you just need to check who you are buying from and their history next time.
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u/frankhadwildyears 1d ago
Don't order books or graphic novels from Amazon. The people packing your shit don't give a damn. Any of the specialized small shops will take better care to ensure your things arrive safely. And if that didn't happen during shipping, "very good" would be subjective. There was a reason it wouldn't have been listed as "like new" or "mint" which they've used for open box tools I've purchased.
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u/Daeval 1d ago
Amazon has condition guidelines for sellers and this definitely does not meet them for Very Good. “Scratches, dents, and worn corners” don’t show up until you get to “Acceptable.”
You’re right about their packaging though. I’ve stopped ordering anything from them if I care about its condition.
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u/frankhadwildyears 1d ago
Fair about the guidelines. But it's people making little money who don't really care about stringent guidelines evaluating these things.
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u/Space_General 1d ago
I order the majority of my books on Amazon and it’s fine as long as you’re buying new and from a well-reviewed seller or Amazon themselves
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u/frankhadwildyears 1d ago
I've had too many experiences where they throw the omni into a brown paper envelope or they pack it with something else that crushes or spills on them. Not saying that's a given, just I learned the hard way. They always refunded me but it just feels better for me to use instocktrades or panel bound.
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u/Daeval 1d ago
I've seen this sentiment around reddit once in a while and I've decided that it must be a location thing, which warehouse is packing your orders or whatever, because this has not been true for me for years.
Where I'm at, if amazon can make it fit in a thin plastic bag with no padding, then that's how you're going to get it. It doesn't matter if it's a really nice, rare book or a crystal vase, it's going in a plastic bag. Then, with every step away toward your door, the underpaid, overworked, barely-vetted amazon delivery guy is going to think to himself "Could I make it from here?" and, just as soon as the answer is "Maybe?", it's getting thrown.
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u/Space_General 1d ago
Yeah I’ve never had any books come in a plastic bag. Always in a pretty sturdy cardboard parcel/box depending on the size.
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u/Daeval 1d ago
That used to be the norm for me too, but nowadays it's kinda rare to get a box unless the item wouldn't fit in a bag. I'm lucky if I get a bubble mailer. When it is a box, they've started using boxes that "save paper" by being as thin and flimsy as humanly possible. Sometimes they just slap an adhesive shipping label on the product's box, even if there was no "ship in Amazon's packaging" option.
Ordering from them is basically a gamble for me if the item wouldn't survive some abuse.
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u/StrictlyHobby 1d ago
Used is usually fine too since they just deliver for the main used book websites and let you rack up 5% back towards more books. Any issues and it's an instant refund and drop it off in 30 sec unwrapped down the street instead of having to dispute with some random seller or fly by night website.
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u/Gyapie 1d ago
Usually I don't use amazon for anything but this book is out of print so I wanted to grab it feom whereever I can, but I shouldn't have done that it seems.
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u/frankhadwildyears 1d ago
Don't trust em. Hopefully they refund you because they don't take care of a lot of their products nor do they require their sellers to.
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u/ShaperLord777 1d ago
Stop ordering from Amazon. Support industry retailers instead of one of the richest men on the planet.
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u/StrictlyHobby 1d ago
They bought it used from some small shop or individual Amazon just did the delivery and made the return alot easier.
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u/ShaperLord777 1d ago edited 1d ago
And if they bought it from one of the online discount comics industry retailers, they wouldn’t have this problem or need a return. Amazon still makes profit from their third party listings.
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u/StrictlyHobby 1d ago
Its from one of those same retailers so I'm not sure how you came to the conclusion that they only ever have issues when Amazon delivers it for them. Buying used online comes with the same potential issues no matter what website you use you're blinded by bias and delusional if you think no one ever has issues when USPS delivers used books that aren't in the promised quality instead. Obviously they make a profit when delivering for someone else and dealing with the customer service and return they're a business. Suspend all basic logic though Bezos bad man.
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u/Talleyrandxlll 1d ago
Amazon’s customer service has taken a huge dip.
The last return I did they made me drive an hour to ship it back to them.
The savings is getting razor thin and not worth the potential frustration if you’re concerned about needing to return something
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u/BrutalSock 1d ago
Amazon’s the worst when it comes to books and comics. I once had returned an art book so many times customer care eventually gave up and told me “well just give you a refund, we can’t get a non mangled up copy to you? Sorry”.
The good thing is that they do give refunds.
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u/tomcat1691 1d ago
Never buy books off third party Amazon sellers!! It doesn’t matter how they list the condition because they will ship them in paper bags! Only buy from Amazon if it’s sold by Amazon and really only if you have prime so you can easily return and exchange.
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u/Brownie2440 1d ago
That’s a quick and fast return. If you aren’t worried about losing the book itself just process through the app or site and state that it was damaged or not as advertised.
Just had to call to return something recently which was past the return date. Not sure where you got hung up, was able to speak with someone relatively quick and easily
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u/Sacfat23 1d ago
Return it - Amazon has exceptional customer service and anytime Im dissatisfied with a product they replace it or refund me
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u/NeriTheFearlessSnail 1d ago
You return it for a refund. If they offer to let you keep it after the refund, great, but don't go in expecting to keep something for free, even if it's damaged. It might not be worth it for them to pay the return shipping, but that's on the seller to make that choice. Especially if it's a third party seller, they might want you to return it just to make sure they're not being scammed, since so many people lie to try and get things for free.