Any regular Amazon users here?

[Ghost Lemur]

As the title says.

At the moment needing some advice as I have never used Amazon, but may also need a favour.

Looking at getting a limited edition dvd collection. As with most dvds I want (have what could be called eclectic tastes but with a special place for fringe works) it's not available here so I'm going to have to get it from the states.

[Keystone19]

Yeah, I've used Amazon a bit. Only for books but have never had any problems. It's good for hard-to-find stuff. Always order through Amazon though, don't go direct to the seller. It's possible to do that but not a good idea. At least with Amazon you have some security on the site.

[parsley]

I've used them a few times. Always reliable, usually value for money, but what I really like is last time I ordered some stuff the retards at the post office left the package sticking out of my postbox rather than leaving a card like they normally do. When I came back from America a few days later all that was left was the packaging. I left it a few days then emailed them to say the package hadn't arrived and they sent me another one free of charge, no questions asked. Dishonest? Yes, but compare that to trying to get compensation out of the bloody post office...

[Slim]

Yup. Use Amazon.com regularly for books & DVDs. Never had any problems. Might pay to build up a couple of things you want to defray the freight costs though, which can sometimes be more than the item you're buying!

Never had a problem with security in regards to using my credit card.

[MikeL]

Likewise. I've bought heaps of books and DVDs without any problems. But as has been mentioned, if you buy just a single item the postage and package may outweigh any cost savings.

[Ghost Lemur]

Have any of you used the "new & used" feature?

It's just the collection I was is US$150 but through the new&used there are one's as cheap as US$90 new.

On the shipping side of things. The shipping page says it's under US$10 for international shipping on dvd's. Is that right?

[parsley]

Have any of you used the "new & used" feature?

It's just the collection I was is US$150 but through the new&used there are one's as cheap as US$90 new.

Yeah, I've used the New & Used feature. It's fine, although you have to remember that you're not dealing with Amazon but with someone else, so if they screw you over all Amazon will do is pull them from the site. If you're dealing with someone who's done business before you're probably sweet.

[Ghost Lemur]

Another question.

How does the payment work. Obviously a credit card is needed, but besides the cost of the dvds and shipping are there any extra charges? From the credit card company, or Amazon, etc?

[Artifice]

I've started using fishpond instead. they are a kiwi company. if you can trak down the isbn number of what you want they probably can get it in for you. besides i'd rather support kiwi's.
http://www.fishpond.co.nz/index.php?

[MikeL]

At least half the books I've bought have been used. The service is just as good as buying direct from Amazon. I think that any dealer who didn't perform would quickly be dropped. Most of the second-hand books Ive bought have been exactly as described (in many cases "as new") and the savings are considerable.
No hesitation in recommending this. Credit-card payment seems to be as secure as anything on the net, and there are no hidden charges.
Obviously with the declining $NZ you should have bought your stuff weeks ago...

[geoffm]

Amazon is dangerous - i always buy far more books than I had planned when I went there... Bought thousands of dollars of stuff, with no problems.i go for surface mail 6 week delivery, as it is the cheapest.
note that their DVDs will be NTSC format - not a problem with a modern PAL/ NTSC TV and player.

Another useful site is the ABEbooks second hand books search engine: www.abebooks.com

[TwoSeven]

Just remember the dvd's will likely be zone 1. Also check you have the pal ver.