it's kind of like the sorceror's apprentice

[cellio]

A few days ago I wanted to order some books from Amazon. While I was getting a delivery anyway, I decided to throw in a small kitchen item that I hadn't been able to find locally and that Amazon sells directly. I wanted two of said item.

The shopping cart would not allow me to order two of them, though I saw no "almost out of stock" notice on the product page. So I split it into two orders, since I was ordering enough to be able to do that and keep the free shipping, and I was able to put one of the kitchen items in each order. Mission accomplished, though it felt a bit silly.

Then yesterday the email came. For my convenience (and at no extra charge), each of these orders was split into two, one for books and one for the kitchen item. (Presumably they ship from separate warehouses.) I will apparently be receiving four packages from them, two on Tuesday and two on Wednesday. This is more than "a little" silly. :-) It could have been two instead of four, but the interface stumped me. I'm glad I didn't also throw in, say, a clothing item, a DVD, and some electronic gadget into the order; mail carriers have enough hassles this time of year without my help.

Comments

[loosecanon.livejournal.com]

My postal reps asked me to start subscribing to every catalog possible, to justify their continued employment. Don't feel too bad, but do send "erk?" feedback, because that's ridiculous.

[http://users.livejournal.com/merle_/]

Really? Because catalogs cost next to nothing for bulk companies to send out (far less than first class mail) and it must means more junk for them to lug around and shove into your box. And more recycling. And...

Yeah. Ridiculous.

[cellio]

But also more justification for why mail service is needed -- "look at all the stuff we deliver every day!".

[http://users.livejournal.com/merle_/]

All the proposed cuts to the mail service.. let's just say I am convinced they are trying to kill their own business. Land's End alone could keep them quite profitable.

[cellio]

I sent feedback and got a better-than-average form letter in response. I think it was still a form letter, but either a human reviews them or their AI is getting credible because it wasn't the misfire I often get.