Amazon.co.uk > Reviews (821)

I am sure there is no one here who would not know what Amazon.co.uk is, but, on the off chance...

Amazon.co.uk is a website that started originally as an online book store. Now over the years it has grown and developed to sell a whole range of items. Including, Electrics, DVD's, CD's, Appliances, Toys, Games and many more.

Layout and Navigation
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Amazon.co .uk has an orange/blue and white theme throughout; it's clear and well laid out. There is a search bar at the top of the page to type in what it is you're looking for. You can narrow this down by category.

One feature I really like about Amazon is the suggestions that appear on screen, you can see what other people who brought the product you are viewing also looked at, so if you have similar tastes, might show you a great product to go with what you are looking at.

I also like the fact that the prices are clearly shown, along with the options for purchasing new or used items, and how the prices change.

The items you view are displayed with a large picture, so you can assure you are viewing the correct item you intend to buy.

Sign Up and Account
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The best way to benefit from Amazon is to have an account. You can sign up easily from the home page, or be prompted to join once you are checking out with you items.

The process is quick and simple, the usual type of form with a user name, email address and password being required.

The account feature if extremely handy, as you can track any outstanding orders, see previous orders, amend your personal details as well as change payment details and get details on returning items etc.

Prices and Purchasing
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Once you have found an item you would like to buy, you can either add it straight to your basket for the Amazon price, or follow the "used and new" link to view different sellers of the item, and their differing prices based on the condition of the item in question.

I always look through this part as usually you can find the same item in new condition for cheaper. One thing to be aware of with this is that some sellers will be overseas in USA of example, so postage and the time allowed for delivery will be higher.

Once you have selected your item and price, the usual online shopping process begins. You can add the item to your basket and continue browsing. In your basket you can review the items and delete or amend quantities.

The checkout process will need an invoice address (usually where the card you are paying with is registered) and a delivery address. You can add multiple delivery addresses as well as multiple payment details to your account. At first I was a bit sceptical at having my card details saved on the website, but have never had any problems, and it really does speed up the payment process not having to input it all every time.

Delivery and Quality
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You can select when checking out, any preferences on delivery. You can go for the super saver delivery which, as long as you've spent over a fiver, is free but takes longer or you can select special delivery, or the standard delivery.

Once an order is placed you will be sent an email confirming the order details, and also receive another email when the order is dispatched. I have never had to trace an order, as they have always arrived when specified.

As for the quality, I have always received the items I purchased in the condition described and the correct item.

Other Uses
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Amazon has a good feature where you can leave feedback on a seller, so other potential buyers can see a rating. You can comment on whether an item was as described when received and if the process went smoothly, or if delivery was wrong or took too long etc. I like this feature, as when viewing an item, you can see this and may choose to spend a little extra on a different seller with a better overall score rating.

Now my favourite feature on Amazon is the wish list. You can look up items you would like and save them to a wish list. This list can be sent to friends and family (or girlfriends as my BF has discovered) in the hope they might buy something off it for you. Amazon has a gift wrapping service, so it's ideal for Christmas and Birthdays.

My only gripe with the wish list is that once something has been brought, it shows on the list as purchased, or disappears completely. Now I know this is to stop anybody buying the same gift for someone, but it also appears to the creator. A few years back I brought my BF quite a few things off his list for Christmas, I did so quite a bit in advance, now he doesn't usually check it often, so normally wouldn't have been a problem, but he wanted to add something. Once adding another item he noticed a lot of things he had added weren't there and immediately asked if I had brought them. I of course denied it and fobbed it off as a glitch, but when the day came for him to open his presents, he'd guessed most before opening. This is maybe not the best way to go for surprises but perfect for perhaps weddings or people who like to know what they are getting. I now look at my boyfriends list, open a separate browser window and search for the item through Amazon there, so it doesn't take it straight out of his list.

Conclusion
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Amazon is a reliable and easy way to make purchases online. In my personal experience, they have a large selection and I have always received them as described and on time.

I've never had any problems with the site or the sellers and will continue to use it. If anyone who has never heard of, or used Amazon before is reading this, then have a look. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Thanks for reading :)