Amazon launches probe after customer charged 'offshore' prices despite living on mainland
AMAZON has launched an investigation after a customer was charged for an “offshore” delivery despite living on the mainland – 33 miles from Glasgow.
Ian Stevenson was billed £12.99 for delivery despite living in Ardrossan, Ayrshire, about 50 minutes’ drive from the country’s biggest city.
The foster carer ordered a £80 punchbag from an Amazon-approved third party seller, Naik Sports.
But, when the item failed to arrive on time, he got in touch with the company.
The seller replied to Mr Stevenson, claiming his postcode came up as offshore on their systems.
It was offensive. It’s also outrageous. They could have checked my address on Google maps. There’s no excuse for it
An email reply read: “Sorry to know that you are still waiting for your item. Upon checking on my system, your postcode is offshore and courier companies are charging extra for delivering your item – £12.99. Please confirm.”
Responding to the message, Mr Stevenson wrote: “The item was well overdue and you did not initiate communication with me to say there was a problem. My postcode is UK mainland. This can be easily checked. This is the first time you have raised this fantasy excuse. You are disappointing a customer at Christmas and damaging Amazon’s reputation. I will be charging Amazon at a professional rate for the time I have spent on this.”
Then, as a “goodwill gesture”, the seller said the punchbag would be sent “without any extra offshore charges”.
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Speaking about the debacle, Mr Stevenson said: “It was offensive. It’s also outrageous. They could have checked my address on Google maps. There’s no excuse for it. The principle here is how people in Scotland can be treated like this over deliver charges, never mind the nonsense about me apparently living ‘offshore’.”
Following further complaints from Mr Stevenson, Amazon said they would investigate the matter.
Couriers this month were criticised after some charged up to 50 per cent more for sending parcels to some areas of Scotland compared with the rest of the UK.
A report by Citizens Advice Scotland discovered that 15,000 firms – including in locations such as Fort William and Inverness – were landed with unfair charges.