Posts Tagged ‘amazon’
Post Office cagey about Amazon
The Star, 20 June 2008
After Amazon’s unannounced decision to stop offering regular shipping to South African customers, the Post Office will neither confirm nor deny whether it has made contact with the US-based Internet retailer.
“This being a long process, we don’t find it productive to speak with the media until we have some results to share,” said Post Office spokesperson Lungile Lose.
Amazon narrowed its South African shipping options on its US site, Amazon.com, as of June 12 to “ensure a better customer experience”, according to director of corporate communications Patty Smith.
“Priority shipping enables us to better track the package and ensure that it reaches the customer when promised,” wrote Smith in an e-mail.
According to a statement on Thursday, the Post Office had not registered a single complaint about a lost Amazon item in the past year. It is now appealing to any customers who have experienced a problem with their Amazon orders in the past six months to call the Post Office customer line on 0860 111 502.
Shoppers can still find a range of shipping options, including regular post, if they order from Amazon’s three European websites. On the UK site Amazon.co.uk, customers ordering one book can expect to pay £7,98, or R125, for airmail.
Amazon suspends postal business with SA after ‘rampant theft’
Cape Times, 19 June 2008
THE Post Office is trying to contact US-based online retail giant Amazon for details on why the company no longer offers shipping via regular post to customers in South Africa.
Currently the retailer offers only courier shipping to South Africa, a service that costs $49.98, or about R400, for one item.
Business Day reported yesterday that “rampant theft” by Post Office workers led to Amazon’s decision.
“We were surprised. It is unexpected and regrettable,” said Post Office spokesperson Lungile Lose.
According to Lose, Amazon had not notified the Post Office of the change because the two organisations do not have any special arrangements. Despite that, “we will still pursue a discussion with them,” said Lose.
During the 2007/2008 period, 1 699 complaints of mail tampering, including mail theft, were logged by customers and Post Office staff.
All of these cases are recorded and investigated by a special team.
The weight of evidence in each case determines whether the Post Office will prosecute and discipline staff members, although Lose said that he does not know what percentage of cases lead to hearings.
“I expect that there have been people who have been fired or suspended, but the figures don’t help us in trying to isolate the number of cases of mail crime,” said Lose.
He said that it’s not known if any stolen items were recovered.
Over the past few years, the Post Office has installed additional cameras and met regularly with its staff to make them aware of how mail crime affects the economy and the Post Office’s image.
According to Amazon’s website, South Africa is the only African country in which shipping via post is not an option. Amazon could not be reached for comment.
