Why, Amazon? Why?!

[imp]

Several Mego Heads on the boards have expressed disappointment in Amazon.com.

I feel badly for those who have had difficulty trying to get the book from Amazon. Having no control over their distribution, however, I tried not to get too caught up in the frustration.

With the information I learned today, however, I cannot help but join the masses of peeved people. Check this out:

My publisher apprised me that Amazon has had the book on back-order for the past three weeks.

The good news is that this means Amazon blew through their original order, as well as the additional copies my publisher supplied. The bad news is that there are 171 standing orders for the book, which are not being fulfilled.

I suppose Amazon's buyers are so suuuuuper busy, they cannot be bothered to order the products their customers have purchased.

But it gets worse. Much worse.

My publisher got an order from Amazon today…

…for 150 copies.

That's right. Amazon didn't even order enough books to fill the standing orders.

What am I supposed to do with that information? Wow. How disappointing.

My publisher plans to over-ship the order, in an effort to fulfill the orders more expeditiously.

For anyone who is awaiting their copy of the book, I apologize on behalf of Amazon and their inexplicably shoddy buying department. Another shipment of books is going out tomorrow, and I expect Amazon to place another order shortly.

Or whenever they realize they have no inventory.
Or whenever they acknowledge the potential revenue loss.
Or whenever they get around to it.

Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

Benjamin

[toys2cool]

well atleast that means your book is doing very well,there's nothing you could do bro.You have no control over that

[Bo8a_Fett]

Most of the people here will understand that it's not you and you have no input or control over what's happening....but it is bad business from a company such as Amazon...I mean they are up there in .com traders. On one hand I find it hard to believe the level of incompetance at Amazon but then on the other hand it's to be expected once a company starts to get "full of itself"...

[starsky]

this seller seems to have a lot of inventory...pretty good price too! AND IT'S NOT ME!!

NEW Mego 8" Super-Heroes: World's Greatest Toys! ... - eBay (item 180200402899 end time Jan-26-08 18:44:36 PST)

[Meule]

AHA! I was beginning to think I was the only one who had complaints. I pre-ordered the book in March, Amazon then delayed shipment 3 (!!!!) times before finally shipping it early December. It's now almost February and I still haven't received the book. I have already cancelled my order and I now await the book from Larry.
Ben's book was my first purchase on Amazon and I can guarantee it was also my last. NEVER AGAIN, especially after what Ben has just told us.

[nvmbrsdoom5]

Your book should be there soon Thomas, just letting you know

I can't understand why Amazon would under-order the book when they've got guaranteed orders to fill. I'm sure everyone here knows that it's not your fault and out of your hands, Ben. But I know it's extremely frustrating nonetheless.

[Hotfoot]

I will never buy from them. Just read some of the over 600,000 complaints about them

amazon.com complaints - Google Search

I click on the links and do searches to help with the traffic count which in turn makes them believe that advertising on the site they were linked to from is working!

[Sideshow Spock]

My publisher apprised me that Amazon has had the book on back-order for the past three weeks.

I ordered the book from Amazon on Jan. 10, and it shipped a day later, no problems. I guess I got in under the wire. It said in stock then, and it still does now. Weird.

Is the book in stock at places like bn.com and buy.com? It was last time I looked..

[dumbldor]

this seller seems to have a lot of inventory...pretty good price too! AND IT'S NOT ME!!

NEW Mego 8" Super-Heroes: World's Greatest Toys! ... - eBay (item 180200402899 end time Jan-26-08 18:44:36 PST)

I started out with a case of 10 books thru Diamond, and I still have a few left. If anyone needs one, you can have one for $40 shipped anywhere in the US. Send me a PM.

[cjefferys]

Wow, that's crazy. I now consider myself lucky that I got the book from Amazon when I did! I've ordered many DVDs and Blu-ray discs from Amazon and have had near flawless service, but I have to admit, after all I've read, I don't think I'd order another small press book from them in the future. At any rate, I'm sure everyone realizes that all of this is completely out of your hands Benjamin. But it must be frustrating for you to hear about none the less.

[johnmiic]

I have never had the nightmare scenarios that you guys have had w/Amazon. I found them preferable to the great satan: Barnes & Noble bookstore. But honestly, I have never pre-ordered an upcoming book from them-only ordered books that were out sfor some time already. I got my copy 2 days ago at Jim Hanley's Comic Book Store as they had a 30% off everything in the store sale day.

[Bionic Joe]

Well wish me luck, I just ordered a copy from amazon

[MegoGeek]

this seller seems to have a lot of inventory...pretty good price too! AND IT'S NOT ME!!

NEW Mego 8" Super-Heroes: World's Greatest Toys! ... - eBay (item 180200402899 end time Jan-26-08 18:44:36 PST)

That's Buy.com's eBay store.

I have no idea why they have 300+ copies and Amazon has none.

On another note. I was checking Diamonds inventory on an almost daily basis for a few weeks after the book came out and they had hundreds of copies, all the sudden one day they they had none.

I don't know if Diamond blew them out to buy.com or what.

[Marvelmania]

I must have got lucky. I ordered mine (through Amazon) on Dec. 29th and had it 5-6 days later. with free shipping. I absolutely love this book and am looking/reading through it probably every day since receiving it.

[imp]

That's Buy.com's eBay store.

I have no idea why they have 300+ copies and Amazon has none.

On another note. I was checking Diamonds inventory on an almost daily basis for a few weeks after the book came out and they had hundreds of copies, all the sudden one day they they had none.

I don't know if Diamond blew them out to buy.com or what.

I meant to come back and correct this thread and my erroneous inventory-deficit attribution. I had a miscommunication with my publisher and it turns out that Amazon has PLENTY of copies of the book. It is actually Diamond that has a deficit of 171+ orders. That explains Charlie's facts, but doesn't address why Thomas (Meule) never got his copy, and I've heard reports that others never got their order from Amazon.

But, to set the record straight, Amazon has never run out of inventory. Diamond has been on back-order for four weeks now, ordering fewer copies than they actually need.

I apologize to the Amazon ether for unfairly accusing them.

Benjamin