I wanted to get in touch fairly recently to moan about something, couldn't find the option I wanted, and in the end just gave up - which I'm sure is their intention now. Just making it as difficult as possible.

They aren't alone. I recently wanted to ring my local Game store, just to check if they had something in stock. Couldn't find contact details and got quite flustered, convincing myself their site just wasn't working properly. I popped into the store next time I was in town and mentioned this, and was told they don't give out phone numbers now; you can't even ring a shop to ask a question. I can't understand that one - they lost custom, as by then I'd just gone elsewhere for the items I was after.

Game - yes, that is weird, and the main benefit of a local shop.

Wearing headsets would make it much easier and less intrusive to keep up with calls. 🎧 

It's quite common now for shops to not give out telephone numbers, and if they do it's usually a contact centre rather than the actual store you want to talk to.

As to Amazon, I've seen a couple of reports of people having the prime membership cancelled for complaining. Not a good look.

Anyone contacted Amazon customer service recently ?

I bought a shaver 6 months ago that has developed a very obvious fault, despite being well cared for.

I'm going round in circles again with their automated system, and they seem to tell me to contact the manufacturer if >30 days.

The other option of a repair/return isn't being offered (> 30 days).

I had to contact them a few weeks ago. I'd bought a printer and between delivery and actually opening the box I realised it wasn't what I wanted - so I was able to return it unopened, and to Amazon, not a third party. They really dragged their heels over issuing the refund. Despite me knowing from tracking that they had received it, it wasn't showing in my account as having been received. After the usual autobot runaround I decided to give it a few more days and it was some time before I contacted them again. Eventually I got into a 'live chat' with some sort of entity I'm not convinced was a human, asking why they hadn't refunded my £300. It was offered to me then and a few days later it was in my account - but only after I'd had to chase it up.

It really is a nightmare getting results now. I missed the annual renewal window this year so have Prime for a few more months, but I am using Amazon less. It is handy for quick delivery but I'm trying more to look elsewhere. I can certainly live without Prime Video and don't use any other service, so I'm pretty sure I'll be cancelling Prime before next renewal. Customer service counts a lot for me and they barely have any now.

I returned two items a few months ago. They gave me the one QR code and listed both items as being in the same package. I took it to the local packageless Envi place (who have no idea they're a packageless place so you still have to package stuff up). Package duly scanned and refund issued. 6 weeks later an email asking to send back one of the items or I'll be re-charged. Go through the automated systems, chatbot says to return it, phonebot says it's already been received. Went round the loop multiple times before finally managing to find the exit that led to a supposed person. They struggled to find the item it was returned with from my orders, with my ending up having to copy/ paste the title. It then confirmed that I won't be charged as it's been sorted. Week later I get an email saying as I didn't return the item, they're now charging me. Again, on to customer services. They issue the refund again. Their own Ts & Cs says that they take all responsibility once an item is scanned into the courier for return, but clearly that's not the case. And how you lose one of the two items in a box I'll never know. And it was only a £5 clear plastic protective cover for a smart watch.

And another moan. I was looking for a cover for my car, a 2020 Fiesta. Up comes a cover which is a custom fit for a fiesta. Fits over 800 models, from the original right up to mine. The 2020 Fiesta is bigger than the Escort was when the original Fiesta was released. So I'm sure it'll fit, but hardly a custom fit. Last one I bought for my old 2004 Fiesta, fitting it was like a chuckle brother's sketch. Pull it back to cover the rear screen, expose the windscreen, pull it forwards to cover the windscreen, expose the rear.

Posted by: @shteve

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They gave me the one QR code and listed both items as being in the same package.

Yes - I was wary of this too - when I arranged for return, I did it separately in 2 boxes, as I imagine that many items are missed when boxes are opened up. 

Posted by: @shteve

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... packageless Envi place (who have no idea they're a packageless place so you still have to package stuff up)

Haha, yes ... same ! But it always struck me as weird to go there brandishing a naked item, so I always package up anyway (and it gets rid of the packaging clutter too).

Well I never ... after faffing for ages with the proffered options against the faulty item in my Amazon account, and not getting anywhere at all, I just sent a twitter DM to @AmazonHelp and received a reply with minutes !

Let's see how this pans out ...