Amazon warning.

[JimX]

If like me you use Amazon to buy products not usually available on Cyprus and if you do not already know this, I have been caught out twice now ordering items from Amazon UK, the sellers are not always in the UK, and some items are sent from Asia, if that happens you will normally have to pay Customs Tax and maybe VAT, this will make your purchase expensive, so if possible make sure the seller is in the UK or Germany (De) not China or Asia.

[Uncle D]

I read some reviews on Amazon DE regarding some Oakley sunglasses I was looking to buy, some people have said they are of inferior quality and the seller would not accept return or refund, so they maybe fakes.
I have lately been ordering stuff through AliExpress most of the stuff comes from China.
I bought an android box for €50 it would have been €75 with Amazon DE, this and the other items I have bought came straight to our village Post office. I expected to have to picked them up at Paphos PO and pay customs etc, cant explain it only that they are only smallish packages the Android box being the biggest.

[Dominic]

If a seller refuses returns or refunds it is irrelevent. Amazon will issue the refund.

[Uncle D]

Only stating what I read in the comments, the excuse of the seller was that they have been worn and will not be replaced
See for yourself
https://www.amazon.de/Oakley-Twoface-So ... +twin+face

[Dominic]

A bad review left by somebody who doesn't know how to file for a refund? And lets face it, compared to most online places, getting a refund off Amazon is dead easy. You contact the seller. Wait however long you have to before going further. Usually a couple of days. Then you file for the refund and get the money back.

[Uncle D]

Ive never had to get a refund, so had no experience, but I do take note of the comments and that buyer wasnt the only one who complained about the dodgy quality.
But point taken

[Dominic]

Dodgy quality is one thing. Not getting a refund is something else entirely. Seriously, Amazon's refund policy is pretty much second to none.

[glang3000]

My Daughter ordered some Jules socks on Amazon, when they came they were of poor quality and without doubt a fake, we contacted Amazon who did not help at all, they have different types of sellers such as the high street and not all are covered with the refund policy, or so they told us, we tried to make a fuss and the seller called our house, informed us that of course they knew where we lived and if we didn't shut up they would come over and sort us out.
they sounded Eastern European.
We threw the socks away and bought some at the shops.
Not worth the bother.
Gary.

[JimX]

Yes have to say albeit not easy to contact Amazon have always offered refunds and on my first post Amazon say they will pay for tax and extra VAT but nevertheless they should warn buyers or tell them if they have like myself inadvertently purchased Amazon items give you a chance to cancel Items that do not ship from the UK.

This maybe a real problem if the UK leaves the EU, as items from the UK may have to pay for PO Customs maybe even VAT, the answer I guess is buying from Amazon De, as I will.

I am happy usually with Amazon, my only gripe is contacting them is not that straightforward.

eBay not so good for me, I used to have a PayPal account that was scammed in the US, as I have never been there so I was a little perturbed, over 2K was taken from my Lloyds Bank, fortunately, the bank reinstated my account within minutes, I closed down my PayPal account shame as it was very useful.

[Dominic]

Try this link:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/custom ... eId=471044

It should take you to their contact form, assuming you are logged in etc.

[JimX]

Thank you, I have already asked for a VAT and postal charges to be refunded, this they say they will oblige to do so, a good company usually to deal with.

[josef k]

If like me you use Amazon to buy products not usually available on Cyprus and if you do not already know this, I have been caught out twice now ordering items from Amazon UK, the sellers are not always in the UK, and some items are sent from Asia, if that happens you will normally have to pay Customs Tax and maybe VAT, this will make your purchase expensive, so if possible make sure the seller is in the UK or Germany (De) not China or Asia.

Sound advice. However, once the UK has left the EU then customs duty may well be liable on items sent to Cyprus from the UK (and, I assume, vice-versa). My suggestion is only to use Amazon.de from that point on.

[JimX]

Jo as I pointed out, none of us know what this divorce from the EU will mean or cost us all. I fear the worse, I do use Amazon De mostly these days but on this occasion, I will have to pay TAX's but Amazon UK said they will refund this, but it is a faff..

[Dominic]

And remember to use the affiliate links before buying off Amazon UK or DE!

For Amazon UK:
https://amzn.to/2Fw5KuM

For Amazon DE:
https://amzn.to/2K1dLdf

[memory man]

What's the advantage to me for using the affiliate links to buy from Amazon?

[Dominic]

The knowledge that you have helped fund the upkeep and maintenance of the website you love.

[darrow]

Yes have to say albeit not easy to contact Amazon have always offered refunds and on my first post Amazon say they will pay for tax and extra VAT but nevertheless they should warn buyers or tell them if they have like myself inadvertently purchased Amazon items give you a chance to cancel Items that do not ship from the UK.

This maybe a real problem if the UK leaves the EU, as items from the UK may have to pay for PO Customs maybe even VAT, the answer I guess is buying from Amazon De, as I will.

I am happy usually with Amazon, my only gripe is contacting them is not that straightforward.

eBay not so good for me, I used to have a PayPal account that was scammed in the US, as I have never been there so I was a little perturbed, over 2K was taken from my Lloyds Bank, fortunately, the bank reinstated my account within minutes, I closed down my PayPal account shame as it was very useful.

I too was hacked with pay pal. I had 3 lots of money taken out during the small hours, in €'s, which I never used, only £'s because it was associated with my sterling account. I contacted the bank immediately, it stopped the card and managed to stop one payment goung through. I got my money back about 5 weeks later and shut my paypal account immediately. Never had one since. It was concerning to me that they didn't pick up on the unusual activity. One was Nigeria, one was India and I don't remember the other but all what we might consider 3rd world coubtries, although I know that isn't necessarily so.

[darrow]

Yes have to say albeit not easy to contact Amazon have always offered refunds and on my first post Amazon say they will pay for tax and extra VAT but nevertheless they should warn buyers or tell them if they have like myself inadvertently purchased Amazon items give you a chance to cancel Items that do not ship from the UK.

This maybe a real problem if the UK leaves the EU, as items from the UK may have to pay for PO Customs maybe even VAT, the answer I guess is buying from Amazon De, as I will.

I am happy usually with Amazon, my only gripe is contacting them is not that straightforward.

eBay not so good for me, I used to have a PayPal account that was scammed in the US, as I have never been there so I was a little perturbed, over 2K was taken from my Lloyds Bank, fortunately, the bank reinstated my account within minutes, I closed down my PayPal account shame as it was very useful.

I too was hacked with pay pal. I had 3 lots of money taken out during the small hours, in €'s, which I never used, only £'s because it was associated with my sterling account. I contacted the bank immediately, it stopped the card and managed to stop one payment goung through. I got my money back about 5 weeks later and shut my paypal account immediately. Never had one since. It was concerning to me that they didn't pick up on the unusual activity. One was Nigeria, one was India and I don't remember the other but all what we might consider 3rd world coubtries, although I know that isn't necessarily so.

[Dominic]

It was concerning to me that they didn't pick up on the unusual activity. One was Nigeria, one was India and I don't remember the other but all what we might consider 3rd world coubtries, although I know that isn't necessarily so.

That would worry me, too. Have to say, I was very impressed with Nat West's anti fraud department. At times it meant I needed to phone them to say it was ok (buying a car) but I would much rather do that than them be lazy.

Banks get stick, but Nat West's anti fraud department is top notch.