Eh, it's dropping the ball to be honest.

Of recent purchases on Amazon (sold by others, but dispatched and warehoused by Amazon) 50% have been faulty and needed to be returned ... that's put friction into the process because they don't do any QC on what they're stocking.

I've also had an instance recently of something shipped by Amazon that was meant to be with me next day not turning up and needing to be re-ordered. They only admitted it was lost days later, so I didn't re-order sooner. OK, I got a free month of Prime for my troubles, but it's not the amazing friction free experience it used to be.

> it's not the amazing friction free experience it used to be

It is if you avoid third party sellers like the plague. I only order from a small handful of third party sellers I trust; otherwise it better be shipped and sold by Amazon or I'm looking elsewhere.

Yep, but - still to be fair - please list the last three items that you could find (locally or online) at a lower price but that you decided to buy from Amazon instead because of the superior customer expereince.

I won't enumerate the three items, but I do but things from Amazon that I know I could buy for a bit cheaper either in some local store or online. I so it because I value my time and looking around for the best deal takes time too

I'm sure I could find the last automotive cleaner, diet foods, and more locally, if I cared to spend the time driving to places that might have it and checking. I'm also pretty sure they'd be cheaper there.

I've also bought games and computer parts on Amazon instead of NewEgg because I dislike NewEgg's shipping system and customer service. I'd rather pay a little more and have a nicer experience. And if I have to return it, I know it'll be easy to return to Amazon without a restocking fee or shipping charge.

I wasn't clear, my bad.

For "locally" I meant "at the shop just around the corner", or however in a "convenient, known, usual, place" not a "drive in search of the lowest price across the city".

I have no experience whatever with NewEgg, from what I have seen around they seem on par with other online shops, and I - maybe I am just lucky - never needed the customer service of either Amazon of other vendors, what I can say is that at least here (Italy) Amazon is usually very fast in delivering (but all in all not that much faster than other online retailers, maybe there is a slight advantage for orders on Friday night, Saturday and Sunday).

I don't mean "lowest price". I mean at all.

For instance, I recently wanted to buy "Goo Gone Automotive" to get something off my car windshield. I'd read up online about it, and determined it was what I wanted.

My wife went to Target and the closest thing she found was "Automotive Glass Cleaner". Target has a dedicated automotive section, and I was pretty sure they'd have it or something like it, but they didn't.

In the end, I ended up buying it on Amazon rather than go from local shop to local shop hoping to find something close. (I could also have called first, but that's also very distasteful.) It was much easier to go on Amazon and just pay what they were asking.