Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Amazon.com : Condition Guidelines (5)

For a detailed description of the conditions used by Amazon Marketplace sellers to describe their items, select a product type below:

Toy & Baby

Collectible toys and games must be rare, exclusive, one-of-a-kind, or otherwise unique.

*New: Just like it sounds. A brand-new, unused, unopened product in its original packaging and with all original packaging materials included. The original manufacturer's warranty, if any, should still apply, with details of the warranty included in the conditions comments.
*Like New: An apparently untouched toy item in perfect condition. The original plastic wrap may be missing, but the original packaging is intact. There are absolutely no signs of wear. Suitable for presenting as a gift.
*Very Good: A well-cared-for item that has seen limited use but remains in great condition. The item and its instructions are complete and undamaged, but may show some signs of wear. The item works perfectly.
*Good: The item shows wear from consistent use, but remains in good condition. The original instructions are included and are in acceptable condition. The item may be marked or identified, and show other signs of previous use. The item works perfectly and is in good overall shape.

Watches

*Like New: This product may have been worn but shows no signs of wear. There are no visible scratches, scuffs, nicks, or dents to any part of the watch including crystal, bracelet and case. The watch is in perfect working order.
*Very Good: The watch shows very slight wear with only minor scratches and scuffs on the bracelet or case but not on the crystal. In working order.
*Good: In working order, shows visible signs of wear including scratches to the case and bracelet and/or minor scratches to the crystal. This wear can be polished out or repaired.
*Acceptable: The watch does not have to be in working order, but can be fixed with only minor repair. Some scratches or dents noticeable on case, bracelet, and crystal.

Musical Instruments

Used, refurbished musical instruments must be refurbished and warranted by the manufacturer or remanufacturer.

*New: Just like it sounds. A brand-new, unused, unopened product in its original packaging and with all original packaging materials included. The original manufacturer's warranty, if any, should still apply, with details of the warranty included in the conditions comments.
*Refurbished: A product that has been professionally restored to working order. Typically, this means the product has been inspected, cleaned, and repaired to meet manufacturer specifications. May or may not be in its original packaging. The manufacturer's warranty or warranty of the company performing the refurbishing services may apply to the product and should be included in the conditions comments.
*Like New: An apparently untouched musical instrument in perfect condition. The original packaging is intact. There are absolutely no signs of wear. Suitable for presenting as a gift.
*Very Good: A well-cared-for item that has seen limited use but remains in great condition. The item and its instructions are complete and undamaged, but may show some signs of wear. The item works perfectly.
*Good: The item shows wear from consistent use, but remains in good condition. The original instructions are included and are in acceptable condition. The item may be marked or identified, and show other signs of previous use. The item works perfectly and is in good overall shape.
*Acceptable: The item is fairly worn, but it continues to work perfectly. The signs of wear can include scratches, dents, and other aesthetic problems. The box and nonessential instructions may be missing or damaged. The item may be marked or identified, and show other signs of previous use.

Amazon.com : Condition Guidelines (4)

For a detailed description of the conditions used by Amazon Marketplace sellers to describe their items, select a product type below:

Outdoor Living

Used, refurbished outdoor living items must be refurbished and warranted by the manufacturer or remanufacturer.

*New: Just like it sounds. A brand-new, unused, unopened product in its original packaging and with all original packaging materials included. The original manufacturer's warranty, if any, should still apply, with details of the warranty included in the conditions comments.
*Refurbished: A product that has been professionally restored to working order. Typically, this means the product has been inspected, cleaned, and repaired to meet manufacturer specifications. The product may or may not be in its original packaging. The manufacturer's warranty or warranty of the company performing the refurbishing services may apply to the product and should be included in the conditions comments.
*Like New: An apparently untouched product, in perfect condition. The original plastic wrap may be missing, but the original packaging is intact and pristine, and instructions are included. There are absolutely no signs of wear. Suitable for presenting as a gift.
*Very Good: A well-cared-for product that has seen limited use but remains in great condition. The item is complete, unmarked, and undamaged, but may show some limited signs of wear. The product works perfectly.
*Good: The product shows wear from consistent use, but remains in good condition. The item may be marked or have identifying information on it, and show other signs of previous use. The product works perfectly.
*Acceptable: The product is fairly worn, but it continues to work perfectly. The signs of wear can include scratches, dents, and other aesthetic problems. The product may be marked or have identifying information on it, and show other signs of previous use.

Computers

Used, refurbished, and new computer items may be listed at any price. Refurbished computer items must be warranted by the manufacturer or remanufacturer.

*New: Just like it sounds. A brand-new, unused, unopened product in its original packaging and with all original packaging materials and software included. The original manufacturer's warranty, if any, should still apply, with details of the warranty included in the conditions comments.
*Refurbished: A product that has been professionally restored to working order. Typically, this means the product has been inspected, cleaned, and repaired to meet manufacturer specifications. May or may not be in its original packaging. The manufacturer's warranty or warranty of the company performing the refurbishing services may apply to the product and should be included in the conditions comments.
*Like New: An apparently untouched computer item in perfect condition. The original plastic wrap may be missing, but the original packaging and software is intact. There are absolutely no signs of wear. Suitable for presenting as a gift.
*Very Good: A well-cared-for item that has seen limited use but remains in great condition. The item and its instructions and software are complete and undamaged, but may show some signs of wear. The item works perfectly.
*Good: The item shows wear from consistent use, but remains in good condition. The original instructions and software are included and are in acceptable condition. The item may be marked or identified, and show other signs of previous use. The item works perfectly and is in good overall shape.
*Acceptable: The item is fairly worn, but it continues to work perfectly. The signs of wear can include scratches, dents, and other aesthetic problems. The box and nonessential instructions may be missing or damaged, however discs for installed software are included. The item may be marked or identified, and show other signs of previous use.

Cell Phones & Service

Refurbished cell phones and accessories must be refurbished and warranted by the manufacturer or remanufacturer.

*New: Just like it sounds--a brand-new, unused, unopened product in its original packaging and with all original packaging materials included. The original manufacturer's warranty, if any, should still apply, with details of the warranty included in the conditions comments.
*Refurbished: A product that has been professionally restored to working order. Typically, this means the product has been inspected, cleaned, and repaired to meet manufacturer specifications. It may or may not be in its original packaging. The manufacturer's warranty or the warranty of the company performing the refurbishing services may apply to the product and should be included in the conditions comments.
*Like New: An apparently untouched item in perfect condition. The original plastic wrap may be missing, but the original packaging is intact. There are absolutely no signs of wear. It should be suitable for presenting as a gift.
*Very Good: A well-cared-for item that has seen limited use but remains in great condition. The item and its instructions are complete and undamaged, but may show some signs of wear. The item works perfectly.
*Good: The item shows wear from consistent use, but remains in good condition. The original instructions are included and are in acceptable condition. The item may be marked or identified, and show other signs of previous use. The item works perfectly and is in good overall shape.
*Acceptable: The item is fairly worn, but it continues to work perfectly. The signs of wear can include scratches, dents, and other aesthetic flaws. The box and nonessential instructions may be missing or damaged. The item may be marked or identified and show other signs of previous use.

Amazon.com : Condition Guidelines (3)

For a detailed description of the conditions used by Amazon Marketplace sellers to describe their items, select a product type below:

Camera & Photo
Used, refurbished cameras and photography items must be refurbished and warranted by the manufacturer or remanufacturer.

-*New: Just like it sounds. A brand-new, unused, unopened product in its original packaging and with all original packaging materials included. The original manufacturer's warranty, if any, should still apply, with details of the warranty included in the condition comments.
-*Refurbished: A product that has been professionally restored to working order. Typically, this means the product has been inspected, cleaned, and repaired to meet manufacturer specifications. May or may not be in its original packaging. The manufacturer warranty or warranty of the company performing the refurbishing services may apply to the product and should be included in the "conditions comments."
-*Like New: An apparently untouched camera or photography item in perfect condition. The original wrapping may be missing, but the original packaging is intact. There are absolutely no signs of wear. Suitable for presenting as a gift. On the 1-10 point used-equipment scale, this must be 10- or higher.
-*Very Good: A well-cared-for camera or photography item that has seen limited use but remains in great condition. The item and its instructions are complete and undamaged, but may show some signs of wear. The item works perfectly. On the 1-10 point used-equipment scale, this must be rated 9-, 9, or 9+.
-*Good: A camera or photography item that shows wear from consistent use, but remains in good condition. The original instructions are included and are in acceptable condition. The item may be marked or identified, and show other signs of previous use. The item works perfectly and is in good overall shape. On the 1-10 point used-equipment scale, this must be rated 8-, 8, or 8+.
-*Acceptable: A camera or photography item that is fairly worn, but continues to work perfectly. Signs of wear can include scratches, dings, and other aesthetic problems. The box and nonessential instructions may be missing or damaged. The item may be marked or identified, and show other signs of previous use. On the 1-10 point used-equipment scale, this must be rated 7-, 7, or 7+.

Kitchen & Housewares

Used, refurbished kitchen and houseware items must be refurbished and warranted by the manufacturer or remanufacturer.

-*New: Just like it sounds. A brand-new, unused, unopened product in its original packaging and with all original packaging materials included. The original manufacturer's warranty, if any, should still apply, with details of the warranty included in the condition comments.
Refurbished: An item refurbished by the manufacturer or remanufacturer in Like New condition whose purchase price includes a manufacturer's or remanufacturer's warranty. Details of the warranty should be included in the condition comments.
-*Like New: An apparently untouched kitchen item in perfect condition. The original plastic wrap may be missing, but the original packaging is intact. There are absolutely no signs of wear. Suitable for presenting as a gift.
-*Very Good: A well-cared-for item that has seen limited use but remains in great condition. The item and its instructions are complete and undamaged, but may show some signs of wear. The item works perfectly.
-*Good: The item shows wear from consistent use, but remains in good condition. The original instructions are included and are in acceptable condition. The item may be marked or identified, and show other signs of previous use. The item works perfectly and is in good overall shape.
-*Acceptable: The item is fairly worn, but it continues to work perfectly. The signs of wear can include scratches, dents, and other aesthetic problems. The box and nonessential instructions may be missing or damaged. The item may be marked or identified, and show other signs of previous use.

Software & Computer Games

-*New: Just like it sounds. Brand-new, unused, unopened software or computer game in perfect condition in its original packaging and with all original packaging materials included. New games should include the original UPC.
-*Like New: Apparently unopened software or computer game in perfect condition (although it may be out of its original wrapping). The box and jewel case are pristine, with no signs of wear. The UPC should be visible. Suitable for presenting as a gift.
-*Very Good: Well-cared-for software or computer game that has been used but remains in great condition. The software or computer game and its original packaging are complete and slightly worn, but unmarked and undamaged, with the UPC visible.
-*Good: The software or computer game may show wear from consistent use, but it still remains in good condition. There may be clear external signs of wear and damage to the original packaging or instructions, but the software or computer game itself works perfectly. The original UPC should be visible.
-*Acceptable: The software or computer game is fairly worn, but it continues to work perfectly. The box and instructions may be missing or damaged. Use this condition when the original UPC and/or the original jewel case is missing.

Amazon.com : Condition Guidelines (2)

For a detailed description of the conditions used by Amazon Marketplace sellers to describe their items, select a product type below:

Video Games

*New: Just like it sounds. A brand-new, unused, unopened video game in perfect condition in its original packaging and with all original packaging materials included.
*Like New: An apparently unopened video game in perfect condition (although it may be out of its original wrapping). The box and item are pristine, with no signs of wear. Suitable for presenting as a gift.
*Very Good: A well-cared-for video game that has been played but remains in great condition. The game and its original packaging are complete and slightly worn, but unmarked and undamaged.
*Good: The video game shows wear from consistent use, but remains in good condition. There may be clear external signs of wear and damage to the original packaging or instructions, but the game plays perfectly. The video game may have identification markings from its owner.
*Acceptable: The video game is fairly worn, but it continues to work perfectly. The box and instructions may be missing or damaged. The video game may have identification markings from its owner.

Electronics

The sale of some items in our Electronics store is restricted to pre-approved sellers only. Learn more about pre-approved selling.

*New: Just like it sounds. A brand-new, unused, unopened product in its original packaging and with all original packaging materials included. The original manufacturer's warranty, if any, should still apply, with details of the warranty included in the conditions comments.
*Refurbished: A product that has been professionally restored to working order. Typically, this means the product has been inspected, cleaned, and repaired to meet manufacturer specifications. The product may or may not be in its original packaging. The manufacturer warranty or warranty of the company performing the refurbishing services may apply to the product and should be included in the conditions comments.
*Like New: An apparently untouched electronics item in perfect condition. The original plastic wrap may be missing, but the original packaging is intact. There are absolutely no signs of wear. Suitable for presenting as a gift.
*Very Good: A well-cared-for item that has seen limited use but remains in great condition. The item and its instructions are complete and undamaged, but may show some signs of wear. The item works perfectly.
*Good: The item shows wear from consistent use, but remains in good condition. The original instructions are included and are in acceptable condition. The item may be marked or identified, and may show other signs of previous use. The item works perfectly and is in good overall shape.
*Acceptable: The item is fairly worn, but it continues to work perfectly. The signs of wear can include scratches, dents, and other aesthetic problems. The box and nonessential instructions may be missing or damaged. The item may be marked or identified, and show other signs of previous use.

Tools & Hardware

Used and refurbished tools and hardware items must be refurbished and warranted by the manufacturer or remanufacturer.

*New: Just like it sounds. A brand-new, unused, unopened product in its original packaging and with all original packaging materials included. The original manufacturer's warranty, if any, should still apply, with details of the warranty included in the conditions comments.
*Refurbished: A product that has been professionally restored to working order. Typically, this means the product has been inspected, cleaned, and repaired to meet manufacturer specifications. The product may or may not be in its original packaging. The manufacturer's warranty or warranty of the company performing the refurbishing services may apply to the product and should be included in the conditions comments.
*Like New: An apparently untouched product, in perfect condition. The original plastic wrap may be missing, but the original packaging is intact and pristine, and instructions are included. There are absolutely no signs of wear. Suitable for presenting as a gift.
*Very Good: A well-cared-for product that has seen limited use but remains in great condition. The item is complete, unmarked, and undamaged, but may show some limited signs of wear. The product works perfectly.
*Good: The product shows wear from consistent use, but remains in good condition. The item may be marked or have identifying information on it, and show other signs of previous use. The product works perfectly.
*Acceptable: The product is fairly worn, but it continues to work perfectly. The signs of wear can include scratches, dents, and other aesthetic problems. The product may be marked or have identifying information on it, and show other signs of previous use.

Amazon.com : Condition Guidelines (1)

For a detailed description of the conditions used by Amazon Marketplace sellers to describe their items, select a product type below:

Books

To be considered collectible, books should be unique in a way that increases value for a collector, for example:

First edition and first printing, signed, inscribed, or scarce
Not ex-library, a remainder, or a book club edition

Guidelines for New and Used Books items:

*New : Just like it sounds. A brand-new, unused, unread copy in perfect condition.
*Like New : An apparently unread copy in perfect condition. Dust cover is intact; pages are clean and are not marred by notes or folds of any kind. Suitable for presenting as a gift.
*Very Good : A copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.
*Good : A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact (including dust cover, if applicable). The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include "From the library of" labels.
*Acceptable : A readable copy. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact (the dust cover may be missing).

Music

To be considered collectible, the item should be unique in a way that increases value for a collector, for example:

Signed, inscribed, or scarce
Unique characteristics like special pressings, unusual aesthetics (for example, colored vinyl), or limited edition packaging

Guidelines for New and Used Music items:

*New : Just like it sounds. A brand-new, unused, unopened CD or cassette in perfect condition.
*Like New : An apparently unopened CD or cassette in perfect condition (although it may be out of its original wrapping). The jewel case or cassette case is pristine. The liner notes, inclusions, and/or sleeve are in perfect condition. The CD or tape itself is unmarked, with no sign of wear. Suitable for presenting as a gift.
*Very Good : A well-cared-for CD or cassette that has been listened to, but remains in great condition and plays perfectly. The jewel case/cassette case may show limited signs of wear, as may the liner notes and inclusions.
*Good : The CD or cassette plays perfectly but has clear signs of wear. The jewel case or cassette case is undamaged, and original liner notes are in good, unmarked condition. The CD, cassette, or packaging may have identification markings from its owner.
*Acceptable : The CD or cassette plays perfectly, but is otherwise the worse for wear. The jewel case or cassette case may be damaged, and the liner notes may be marked (but remain complete and legible). The CD, cassette, or packaging may have identification markings from its owner.

Videos and DVDs

Guidelines for New and Used Video and DVD items:

*New : Just like it sounds. A brand-new, unused, unopened video or DVD in perfect condition in its original packaging and with all original packaging materials included.
*Like New : An apparently unopened video or DVD in perfect condition (although it may be out of its original wrapping). The box or jewel case is clean and vivid, with no signs of wear. Suitable for presenting as a gift.
*Very Good : A well-cared-for video or DVD that has been listened to, but remains in great condition. The film is complete, without interruption, and does not skip. The box or jewel case may show limited signs of wear, as may the liner notes.
*Good : A video or DVD with clear external signs of wear, but one that continues to play perfectly. The video or DVD may have identification markings from its owner.
*Acceptable : A video or DVD with extensive external signs of wear, but one that continues to play perfectly. The box or jewel case may be damaged, and the notes or other inclusions may be marked (but remain complete and legible). The video or DVD may have identification markings from its owner.

Amazon.com : Buying from Outside the U.S.

Countries Covered by Amazon Payments

To use Amazon Payments to make a purchase from an independent seller, you must be located in a country covered by the Amazon Payments program. This coverage is steadily increasing and has already been extended to 29 countries. Please note: if your country is not yet covered, you cannot make a Marketplace purchase.

Until your country is covered by Amazon Payments, you may want to purchase the item directly from Amazon.com.

The following countries are currently covered by Amazon Payments: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales), and the United States (including U.S. protectorates).

Rest assured that the list of countries covered by Amazon.com Payments will expand in the future.

Seller Restrictions

You can see whether a seller will ship internationally by looking at the information on a third-party listing. If international shipping is supported, the listing details will read, "International shipping available."

Please be aware that if your shipping address is located outside the continental United States, but within a supported protectorate, the listing must be enabled for international shipping for your purchase to be completed. This includes Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. However, APO/FPO addresses are considered domestic U.S. addresses.

It is important to consider all terms of sale carefully before ordering. If you have questions, contact the seller. To contact a seller, click on their nickname. From the next page, you will see a link to "Contact seller."

Product Restrictions

Please note: Buyers outside the U.S. cannot purchase the following items via Amazon Marketplace: Video Games, Electronics, Camera & Photo, Tools & Hardware, Kitchen & Housewares, Software, and Computers. Nutritional supplements that are considered to be regulated drugs in Europe may not be purchased by buyers located in Europe.

Buying at Amazon Marketplace

Amazon.com offers millions of new items. But what about used DVDs, second-hand videos, and collectible books signed by the author? Now, with Amazon Marketplace, you can buy (and sell) used products on the same page where Amazon sells the item new.

Locating used and collectible items is easy. You'll see links to used items in search results and on product information pages.

To submit an order, just click the "buy used" links in search results or the "used" links located on product information pages. You'll then see a listing of all the used and collectible items available from our Marketplace sellers. Click the "Add to cart" button to begin the ordering process. After you've completed the order, the seller receives payment notification as well as your shipping address, and within two days, the item is shipped directly to you.

Amazon.com : General Returns Policy

You may return new, unopened items sold and fulfilled by Amazon.com within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. Items should be returned in their original product packaging. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error. Just visit our online Returns Center, and we will guide you through the process and even supply you with a return mailing label you can print out.

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days). We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.

Items that are Not Returnable

Amazon.com does not accept returns of the following items:


Hazardous items that are gas-powered or contain flammable liquids. (These items will say "This item cannot be returned" on their product detail page.)
Computer laptops and desktops more than 30 days after delivery.
Any product missing the serial number or UPC.
Downloadable software products.

Gift certificates.
Grocery products and Gourmet gift baskets.
Pay As You Go (or prepaid) phone cards.
Items purchased from sellers other than Amazon.com.
Some Jewelry orders (Learn more)


Partial Refunds
Partial Refunds will be issued for the following items:


Most items that are returned more than 30 days after delivery.
Any item that has obvious signs of use.
Any opened laptop or desktop computer. A 15% restocking fee will apply.
Any CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened/taken out of its plastic wrap. (If you discover that the item is defective after the package is opened, a full refund or replacement will still be granted.)
Any item not returned in the condition it was received.

To find out more about how refunds are calculated, visit our Refunds page.


Orders Returned After 30 Days

Orders that were delivered more than 30 days ago will not appear in the list of orders eligible for return in our online Returns Center. Such an order will receive only a partial refund if you do choose to return it. If you still wish to return it, follow our instructions on the Packing & Sending Your Return page (be sure to include the packing slip in the box), and ship the order to:


RETURNS CENTER - AMAZON.COM
172 Trade Street
Lexington, KY 40511 USA


Exchanges

If you received a faulty item and need to exchange it for the same item, visit our Returns Center to request a replacement. If you would like to exchange an item for a different one, please return the original item through our online Returns Center (you will be refunded your original purchase price once we receive the item) and place another order for the item you wish to purchase. You do not have to wait for us to receive the original item before placing the new order.

Please note that it takes us 3 to 5 business days to process returns once they arrive at our Returns Center. You can view completed returns and refunds by visiting Your Account and accessing the relevant order summary.


Items Purchased from Other Sellers

As the Amazon.com Web site offers items for sale both by Amazon.com and by registered third-party sellers, it is important in the returns process to know from whom the item was purchased.


Visit Your Account and view the order. Click on the order number and the seller is listed at the top of your order information.

If the item to be returned was not sold by Amazon.com, you will need to contact the seller directly or follow the specific Amazon Merchant's return instructions found in the order summary of Your Account.

For more about third-party seller return policies and additional instructions, visit the following pages:


Amazon Merchants Returns (for items sold by companies such as Macy's or Eddie Bauer)
Amazon Marketplace Returns (for new, used, or collectible items sold by individual sellers through Amazon Marketplace)

Subsidiaries

Amazon.com subsidiaries operating on third-party platforms, such as Warehouse Deals, may have different policies. Merchant policies are accessible before ordering, wherever product details are made available.


Large Items Shipped By Specialty Carriers

We are happy to accept returns for large items that are shipped via our specialty shippers. These items do require a special type of return and cannot be returned with a pre-paid return mailing label like standard shipments. If you need to return an item shipped via a specialty shipper, you visit our online Returns Center and request the return. We will follow up with instructions for returning the item. Note: Returns that are not the result of our error will be subject to a return shipping fee which will be deducted from the refund.


In-Store Returns

Items purchased from Amazon.com cannot be returned to a physical store (such as Borders, Target, or Office Depot stores). Items purchased from Amazon Merchants such as Eddie Bauer or Macy's are subject to the individual merchant's return policy; please click the related link in the order summary in Your Account for more information.


Using our Return Mailing Label

The return mailing labels obtained from our online Returns Center are valid only for returns shipped within the U.S.

Each return mailing label is coded for a specific shipment. Please do not include items from other orders, or other shipments from the same order, in the same box, or you will not receive the correct refund. Each shipment must be returned using a separate mailing label.

If you use this mailing label and the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.), we'll pay the return shipping costs.

If you use this mailing label and your return is not the result of our error, the shipping cost of that returned item will be deducted from your refund. The amount deducted will be equivalent to our standard shipping cost for that item.

Monday, June 30, 2008

How to become an Amazon.com's customer

Placing Your First Order

Placing an order with Amazon.com is easy. There's no need to create an account first. You automatically create an account when you place your first order online. (We cannot accept orders by phone, fax, or e-mail. All orders must be placed online.)

Here are the steps you need to follow to place an order. If you have any problems when following these steps, please read our Troubleshooting Tips.

1. Find the Items You Want

First you will need to browse or search for the items you would like to order. Keyword search boxes are located on nearly every page of our store. You will also find links to browse lists and more detailed product-specific searches in the top navigation bar of each store. When you find an item that interests you, click the title or name of the item to see its product detail page. Here you will find more information about the item, including an availability estimate of how long it will take before the item will be ready to leave our fulfillment center.

If you don't find what you're looking for in one of our Amazon.com stores, you may want to visit one of our international websites, including Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.fr, Amazon.de, and Amazon.at.

2. Add the Items to Your Shopping Cart

If you want to order an item from Amazon.com, click the "Add to Shopping Cart" button on the item's product detail page. (If you want to buy the product from another seller, click the link in the More Buying Choices box instead and follow the directions.) Once you've added an item to your Shopping Cart, keep searching or browsing until your cart contains all of the items you want to order. You can access the contents of your Shopping Cart at any time by clicking the at the top of every page of our website.

3. Proceed to Checkout
Take a moment to review all of the items you've placed in your Shopping Cart. If you decide that you don't want to purchase a particular item right away, click the "save for later" button next to the title. The item will move from your current Shopping Cart to the "Saved Items--To Buy Later" list below. If any of the items are to be gifts, click the "add gift-wrap/note" checkbox under the item. (You'll be given a chance to order gift-wrap and/or add a note during the checkout process.)

When you're ready to place an order for everything in the "Shopping Cart Items--To Buy Now" section of your cart, click the "Proceed to checkout" button. You will be taken to the first page of the order form.

The instructions below outline each step of our online order form. If at any point you encounter difficulty or receive an error message, please consult our troubleshooting tips.

4. Sign In
Enter your e-mail address. (Keep in mind that the e-mail address you provide here will be the only e-mail address to which we can send information about subsequent orders.) Indicate that you are a new customer. (Do not fill in the password field; you will be asked to provide a password for your account later in the process.) Click the "Sign in" button.

5. Enter a Shipping Address

Tell us where you would like to ship your order. If you are shipping to an APO or FPO address, click here for further instructions. If you are shipping to a post office box, please enter the words "PO BOX" before your box number to ensure that the order is delivered by the U.S. Postal Service.

6. Choose a Shipping Method

Consider how quickly you would like to receive your order, and choose a shipping method. If you would like to take advantage of FREE Super Saver Shipping and your order qualifies, be sure to select it as your shipping option; you will not receive free shipping automatically. Please note that it's not possible to request a specific carrier.

We will estimate shipment dates for you on the order form, just before you submit your order. You will see estimated shipment and delivery dates in the e-mail we send you to confirm your order.

If there is more than one item in your order, you will be given the following options:

Group my items into as few shipments as possible
I want my items faster. Ship them as soon as they become available (at additional cost)

If you choose the first option, we'll consolidate your items into the fewest shipments possible. We'll show you the minimum number of shipments needed to complete your order. If you choose the second option, we will ship items to you as they become available, beginning with those already in stock. You'll be charged a per-shipment fee for each shipment. Read more about shipping preferences, and find domestic shipping rates or international shipping rates.

Also, please note that the availability listings on our website are intended for single-copy orders. Orders for many copies of the same item may take longer to assemble.

The shipping charge for your order will be displayed on the order summary page just before you submit your order.

7. Provide Payment Information and a Password

Next, let us know how you would like to pay for your order. We accept American Express, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, Eurocard, MasterMoney, Visa, Visa Check Cards, Amazon.com gift certificates, or a check, money order, or cashier's check denominated in U.S. dollars and drawn on a U.S. bank. All orders must be prepaid. If you're paying with a credit card, enter the number without spaces or dashes.

Choose a password for your account so that when you come back to Amazon.com in the future, you can use the same shipping address and method of payment you provided during this first order. You will also be able to use your password to make changes to your order and account information. Make sure to choose something you will remember the next time you want to place an order. Passwords should be 4 to 16 characters long and can contain any combination of letters or numbers.

8. Review and Submit Your Order

Check the accuracy all of the information you provided and make any necessary adjustments. When you are ready, click the "Place Your Order" button to submit your order. Once you place your order, we will send you a confirmation e-mail message. We will send you another e-mail message at the time of shipment. 1-Click shopping is automatically turned on for you so that it's even easier to order in the future.

9. Check Your Order Status
If you would like to review or change something about the order you placed before it enters the shipping process, click the Your Account link in the top right corner of most pages on our site. Here you will be able to change the particulars of your order without having to contact us.

Note: Some items offered on our website are fulfilled by Amazon Merchants or through Amazon Marketplace. Payment, shipping, and return policies may vary by type of order and by seller. The seller of each item in your order will be clearly noted on the View Shopping Cart page.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Amazon.com : International Shipping

Amazon.com gladly accepts orders from all around the globe. Available product lines, shipping rates and fees may vary depending on the delivery address for your order.

To see the shipping rate information specific to your order's destination, click the link for your region at the bottom of this page under the heading "Related Topics."

Items from Amazon Marketplace can be shipped to several international regions, but cannot be shipped to Africa, Island Nations, Israel, Latin America, or the Middle East. Read more about Amazon Marketplace shipping rates.

Some items sold by Amazon Merchants may be shipped internationally. In addition, some items sold by Merchants are available via the International Direct program. Amazon Merchants set their own shipping rates and policies.

Read more about shipping to U.S. protectorates or APO/FPO addresses.

Your packages may be subject to the customs fees and import duties of the country to which you have your order shipped. These charges are always the recipient's responsibility. For further details, read about Restrictions (which apply to all international shipments) and Import Fees Deposits (which apply to Priority International Shipping only).

Restrictions

The following items can be shipped to almost all destinations outside the U.S.:

books*
DVDs
music
VHS videos
Additionally, some consumer electronics, health and personal care, home and garden, jewelry, pet supplies, shoes, software, sporting goods, tools, video games, and watches can be shipped to the following countries:

Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom
Visit our International Direct store to browse products that are available for shipping to these destinations.

All products shipped to these countries via Priority International Shipping are included in the International Direct program and subject to an import fees deposit. We use this ship method for all non-media products; customers can also choose this method for books, DVDs, music and VHS videos. For further details about this service, read about the International Direct program.

We're sorry, but Priority International Shipping is not available for P.O. Box addresses.

*Note: Books that require special handling because they are extremely heavy (for example, multi-volume sets) cannot be shipped outside the U.S. If this is the case, it will be noted on the product detail page.

Limitations

For products shipped internationally, please note that any manufacturer warranty may not be valid; manufacturer service options may not be available; product manuals, instructions and safety warnings may not be in destination country languages; the products (and accompanying materials) may not be designed in accordance with destination country standards, specifications, and labeling requirements; and the products may not conform to destination country voltage and other electrical standards (requiring use of an adapter or converter if appropriate). You are responsible for assuring that the product can be lawfully imported to the destination country. When ordering from Amazon.com, the recipient is the importer of record and must comply with all laws and regulations of the destination country.

Privacy

Your privacy is important to us, and we know that you care about how information about your order is used and shared. We would like our international customers and customers shipping products internationally to be aware that cross-border shipments are subject to opening and inspection by customs authorities.

Also, we may provide certain order, shipment, and product information, such as titles, to our international carriers, and such information may be communicated by the carriers to customs authorities in order to facilitate customs clearance and comply with local laws.

If the order is a gift, the package is marked "Gift," but the cost of the item is still stated on the customs form.

Customs authorities require the value of the gift item to be stated directly on the package.

Returns & Replacements

The above terms (including, if applicable, terms related to the Import Fee Deposit) also apply to the shipment of any replacement product that might be shipped if there is a problem with the original shipment. If you return a product to us, you will be the exporter from the destination country. Title and risk of loss transfer to us upon receipt at our fulfillment centers. For additional information please use the "Contact Us" form accessible on the right-side of this page. For products sold by Merchants, please see the applicable Merchant's return and replacement policies.

[http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=596184]

Amazon.com : Products and services

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Amazon.com has incorporated a number of products and services into its shopping model, either through development or acquisition.


2001
Honor System and donations
The Honor System was originally launched in 2001 to allow customers to make donations or buy digital content, with Amazon collecting 2.9 percent of the payment plus a flat fee of $0.30 USD.

2002
Web Services
Amazon launched Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2002. The service provides programmatic access to many features leveraged behind the scenes on its website.

2004
Amazon also created "channels" to benefit certain causes. In 2004, Amazon's "Presidential Candidates" allowed customers to donate US$5-200 to the campaigns of 2004 U.S. presidential hopefuls. Amazon has periodically reactivated a Red Cross donation channel after such tragedies as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. After the 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean, Amazon set up an online donation channel to the American Red Cross, waiving its processing fee. As of January 2005, over 162,000 individuals had donated over US$13.1 million.[citation needed] Similar channels were set up for the British, Canadian, French, German and Japanese Red Cross organizations. Over 7,000 Britons donated more than US$350,000; 900 Canadians over US$56,000; 660 French over US$23,000; 2,900 Germans over US$145,000; and 1,900 Japanese over US$66,000.[citation needed]


2005
Prime
Amazon Prime offers customers free 2-day and discounted priority shipping for a yearly fee of US$ 79. Amazon launched the program in the continental United States in 2005, Japan in June 2007 and the United Kingdom and Germany in November 2007.
Shorts
Launched in 2005, Amazon Shorts offers exclusive short form content, including short stories and non-fiction pieces from best-selling authors, all available for immediate download at US$.49. As of June 2007, the program has over 1,700 pieces and is adding about 50 new pieces per week.
Mechanical Turk
In November 2005, Amazon.com began testing Amazon Mechanical Turk, an application programming interface (API) allowing programs to dispatch tasks to human processors.

2006
S3
In March 2006, Amazon launched an online storage service called Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3). An unlimited number of data objects, from 1 byte to 5 gigabytes in size, can be stored in S3 and distributed via HTTP or BitTorrent. The service charges monthly fees for data stored and for data transferred.
Discussion boards
In August 2006, Amazon launched product wikis (later folded into Amapedia) and discussion forums for certain products using guidelines that follow standard message board conventions.
EC2
In August 2006, Amazon introduced Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2), a virtual site farm, allowing users to use the Amazon infrastructure with its high reliability to run diverse applications ranging from running simulations to web hosting.

2007
Amapedia
In January 2007 Amazon launched Amapedia, a collaborative wiki for user-generated content to replace ProductWiki.
Unbox
In March 2007, Amazon launched an online video on demand service, which has been criticized for its use of digital rights management (DRM).[citation needed]
MP3 downloads
In September 2007, Amazon launched a new music store (currently in beta) called Amazon MP3, which sells downloadable tracks, all in the MP3 format and most recorded at 256 kilobits per second variable bitrate (VBR).[28] Amazon's terms of use agreements legally restrict use of the music, but Amazon does not use DRM to enforce those terms.[29]
Amazon MP3 is selling music from the Big 4 record labels, EMI, Universal, Warner Bros. Records, and Sony BMG, as well as many independents; as of January 2008 they are the only store to sell DRM-free music from all Big 4 labels.[30][31][32][33] Previous to the launch of this service, Amazon made an investment in Amie Street, a similar music store with a variable pricing model based on demand.[34]
Vine
In August 2007 Amazon launched Amazon Vine, which allows top product reviewers free access to pre-release products from vendors participating in the program.
FPS
In August 2007 Amazon launched a payment service specifically targeted at developers. Amazon FPS has facilities for developing many different charging models including micro-payments. The service also gives developers easy access to Amazon customers.
Kindle
In November 2007, Amazon launched Amazon Kindle, an e-book reader which downloads content over "Whispernet," a free EV-DO wireless service on the Sprint Nextel network. Initial offerings include approximately 115,000 books, newspapers, magazines and blogs.[citation needed] The screen uses E Ink technology to reduce battery consumption.
SimpleDB
In December 2007, Amazon introduced SimpleDB, a database system, allowing users of its other infrastructure to utilize a high reliability high performance database system.

2008
Amazon MP3
In January 2008 Amazon announced they would be rolling out their Amazon MP3 service to their subsidiary websites worldwide throughout the year.[35]


Connect
Amazon Connect enables authors to post remarks on their book pages and to customers who have bought their books.
WebStore
WebStore by Amazon allows businesses to create e-commerce websites using Amazon technology. Merchants can customize their sites using their own photos and branding. Sellers pay a commission of 7 percent, which includes credit-card processing fees and fraud protection, and a subscription fee of $59.95/month for an unlimited number of webstores and listings.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Do you know current business of Amazon.com ?

Amazon.com

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) is an American electronic commerce (e-commerce) company in Seattle, Washington. Amazon was one of the first major companies to sell goods by Internet, and was an iconic "stock in which to invest" of the late 1990s dot-com bubble. After the collapse, the public became skeptical about Amazon's business model, yet, it still turned an annual profit in 2003.
Jeff Bezos founded Amazon.com, Inc. in 1994, and launched it online in 1995. Amazon.com started as an on-line bookstore, but soon diversified to product lines of VHS, DVD, music CDs, MP3 format, computer software, video games, electronics, apparel, furniture, food, toys, etc. Amazon has established separate websites in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, and Japan. It also provides global shipping to certain countries for some of its products.

Product lines
Amazon has steadily branched into retail sales of music CDs, videotapes and DVDs, software, consumer electronics, kitchen items, tools, lawn and garden items, toys & games, baby products, apparel, sporting goods, gourmet food, jewelry, watches, health and personal-care items, beauty products, musical instruments, clothing, industrial & scientific supplies, groceries, and more.
The company launched Amazon.com Auctions, its own Web auctions service, in March 1999. However it failed to chip away at industry pioneer eBay's juggernaut growth. Amazon Auctions was followed by the launch of a fixed-price marketplace business called zShops in September 1999, and a failed Sotheby's/Amazon partnership called sothebys.amazon.com in November.
Amazon no longer mentions either Auctions or zShops on its main pages and the help page for sellers now only mentions the Marketplace.[8] Old links to zShop ([1]) now simply redirect to the Amazon home page, while old links to Auctions ([2]) take users to a transactions history page. New product listings are no longer possible for either service.
Although zShops failed to live up to its expectations, it laid the groundwork for the hugely successful Amazon Marketplace service launched in 2001 that let customers sell used books, CDs, DVDs, and other products alongside new items. Today, Amazon Marketplace's main rival is eBay's Half.com service.
Beginning August 2005,[9] Amazon began selling products under its own private label, "Pinzon"; the initial trademark applications suggested the company intended to focus on textiles, kitchen utensils, and other household goods.[9] In March 2007, the company applied to expand the trademark to cover a larger and more diverse list of goods, and to register a new design consisting of the "word PINZON in stylized letters with a notched letter O whose space appears at the "one o'clock" position.".[10] The list of products registered for coverage by the trademark grew to include items such as paints, carpets, wallpaper, hair accessories, clothing, footwear, headgear, cleaning products, and jewelry.[10]
On May 16, 2007 Amazon announced its intention to launch its own online music store.[11] The store launched in public beta September 25, 2007, selling downloads exclusively in MP3 format without digital rights management.[12].
In August 2007, Amazon announced AmazonFresh, a grocery service offering perishable and nonperishable foods. Customers can have orders delivered to their homes at dawn or during a specified daytime window. Delivery was initially restricted to residents of Mercer Island, Washington, and was later expanded to several ZIP codes in Seattle proper.[13] AmazonFresh also operated pick-up locations in the suburbs of Bellevue and Kirkland from summer 2007 through early 2008.
In 2008 Amazon expanded into film production and is currently funding the film The Stolen Child with 20th Century Fox.[14]
[edit] Review and Recommendation Feature
Amazon.com is known for its candid reviews and its capabilities for recommending products to its customers. The customer reviews are monitored for all negative or indecent comments that are directed at anything, or anyone, but the product itself. In regards to the reviews lacking relative restrictions, Robert Spector who is the author of the book Amazon.com, describes how “when publishers and authors asked Bezos why Amazon.com would publish negative reviews, he defended the practice by claiming that Amazon.com was ‘taking a different approach...we want to make every book available – the good, the bad, and the ugly...to let truth loose’” (Spector 132).