Amazon.co.uk > Reviews (821)

• * * NEWS FLASH * * *
• * * SUPERSAVER DELIVERY NOW ON ORDERS OVER £15 * * *

This was my first ever review on "ciao!" written February 2004, when I was very frustrated at the site's verification procedures to process me through the checkout when I had forgotten the password I had set up some years previously. At the time, I only wrote about password verification and warned about the need to keep a note of the LAST 5 DIGITS of any card REGISTERED with AMAZON even if you have never made a purchase - and even if that card has subsequently EXPIRED, as the site will require this detail to verify your identity. © '05 ≈≈≈≈{; -)-{{::::: |||||<<p>=======================UPDATE:=​========================Further to comments made and as an update of my own experience, I re-presented this review on 19th March 2004. I took on board the comments particularly that, although there are MANY reviews of the site, a "prospective buyer" will not want to read HUNDREDS of reviews to get the information they require, so EACH review should be as informative as possible and include all essential information. Many people associate AMAZON with Entertainment Media (Books, CDs, Films. Games) and are surprised to realise that Amazon.co.uk is now MUCH MORE.

As my TITLE clearly states that I am discussing the purchase of BOOKS on AMAZON, I will be discussing THIS in much more detail. However, it is worth noting that AMAZON have been expanding their range, so I will include brief details of what is available.

The website has a brand new featured category link (featured in turn as you change pages) in the top corner of the page to entice you to explore another area you may not have considered - "Do It Yourself & Tools" - "Garden and Outdoors" - "Personal Care" - "Kitchen & Home" - these may or may not be related to the category tab you have pressed.

The following are the Specialised Categories which have Main Page Tabs you can choose:

Welcome
(Jessie's) Store (personalised from your own choices made in past visits)
Books
Electronics & Photo
Music
DVD
Video
Software
PC & Video Games
Home & Garden
Toys & Kids
Travel

Travel is actually a direct link to the homepage of one of Amazon's "Trusted Partners" - Expedia.co.uk - and offers a special link to "Learn more about our trusted partners" - which brings you right back to the Amazon.co.uk site on a page which gives you contact details and telephone numbers to follow-up on any order you may have made with Expedia.co.uk as a result of ordering through Amazon Travel Shop. This is actually done very well!

***[A similar partnership exists with Amazon.com and Hotwire.com - I have just today assisted my niece and nephew-in-law to find the cheapest fare (and book it) to come to my son's wedding in November - at nearly $100 less per person than with the cheapest airline when booked directly!!!]***

There are separate charges for the different categories ordered, depending on what you are ordering, and all charges are added to the total at the end when you checkout.

SUPER SAVER DELIVERY is now available if you order £15 of "ELIGIBLE PRODUCTS" directly from Amazon. All ineligible products will incur delivery charges at the appropriate rate, which will be added on at checkout. Each item will be flagged on the final summary as to whether or not eligibility exists.

To receive this special offer, you first have to choose over £15 worth of eligible products. A banner will come up at the top of the page letting you know that SUPER SAVER DELIVERY is NOW AVAILABLE. However, Super Saver is no longer AUTOMATIC. You will still have to make the CORRECT CHOICE at the checkout. [© '05 ≈≈≈≈{; -)-{{::::: |||||