20-10-2001 02:15									#1
	Molly, amazon and me Suffering from ads?

After I sent the same mail three times Amazon decided they may as well reply to one of them in order to shut me up.

I said
______________________________

quote: I recently ( earlier today ) placed an order at your website for Civilization 3 from Infrogames ( 026-8516722-9540416 ) When reviewing the website I had been told of release dates for sites similar to your own lying in the late october, early november region. This to me made sense as the release date published by the programmes Firaxis was the 30th december ( the date it was expected to reach retailers ). It was expected to be released in the UK on the 17th of November. I was delighted therefore to believe that you had what I believed to be the release date of the 28th October on your website. I was therefore confused when I re-read my order more closely and I noticed that the Amazon release date for this item was in point of fact the 28th DECEMBER. This to me makes little sense - This would be almost two full months after retialers have recieved the game. In lieu of cancelling my order I would like to pose a hypothetical question - were you at Amazon.uk to recieve your shipment of the game before ( hopefully much ) the date given on your website, would you ship it upon receipt of the game or would you deliver it upon the release date you have specified. Please respond as soon as possible.

______________________________

To whit dear Molly did reply.
_______________________________

quote: Thank you for writing to Amazon.co.uk. The information we have regarding "Civilization 3" is the latest information we were given by the manufacturer. In this case, we expect to be able to dispatch orders for it after 28 December, 2001. I have asked our ordering department to look into this, and perhaps they will find information that coincides more with your information. Of course, should the game arrive earlier than that, and we are allowed to send them, we would do so. Please know that many publishers and manufacturers restrict retailers from selling or dispatching their products until the official release date. I hope this information is helpful. When your order is dispatched, we'll send you an e-mail message to let you know that it's on the way. Please don't hesitate to contact us should you have any further questions, and thanks for shopping at Amazon.co.uk. Warmest regards, Molly Barry Customer Service Amazon.co.uk

_______________________________

What do you think? Is it a good thing? Is it a bad thing? What does it mean. Are they just ignoring me and excusing in advance their delivery upon December? Is it possible to get someone from Firaxis to speak to them?

What? How? Why? and most importantly WHEN?

	20-10-2001 02:22									#2
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

more proof that typical costumer service is not really a service

i am afraid waiting is the only thing you can do

	20-10-2001 02:30									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

Wait till what? Wait till it comes out in the shops and I cancel my order? The whole reason I pre ordered it in the first place was I thought I'd get it quicker.

How are the Greece release dates looking by the way?

	20-10-2001 03:39									#4
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

This letter might as well be an automatic reply. I would find out what the UK release date really is from a shop, or Infogrames themselves. If it is closer to 17 Nov, I would push Amazon.co.uk for a firm answer. If they confirm, fine, If they can't deliver, then I would cancel the order and buy it in a shop. If the UK release date is after Christmas, I'd cancel the order and order it fron the States.

	20-10-2001 03:48									#5
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

It's all very confusing. Firaxis say October, Amazon say December, and Electronics Boutique and various other UK suppliers say November.

I'm betting that it will really be released on 16th Nov. Whatever the date, it's going to be a friday.

	20-10-2001 04:08									#6
	Tired of ads?

quote: Originally posted by Faboba Wait till what?

wait until october 30 which firaxis says is the uk release date and see if it actually happens

quote: How are the Greece release dates looking by the way?

greece is in the pan-european release date(according to infogrames)



on second thought, mail back amazon, and tell them infogrames says it's november 17th(well, that's what they told us)

	20-10-2001 09:19									#7
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

quote: Originally posted by MarkG on second thought, mail back amazon, and tell them infogrames says it's november 17th(well, that's what they told us)

Yeah what is up with that Mark? Dan keeps saying UK US same time, but Infogrames says other wise. I guess Infogrames is probably the one that will be right, but if Dan don't know than why is he saying anything?

	20-10-2001 10:39									#8
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by tniem Yeah what is up with that Mark? Dan keeps saying UK US same time, but Infogrames says other wise. I guess Infogrames is probably the one that will be right, but if Dan don't know than why is he saying anything?

well, you can be sure for one thing: neither Dan(read Firaxis) or me are making the decisions. we were both informed from someone in Infogrames. apparently there is some misunderstanding....

i'll try contacting Infogrames again on Monday...

	20-10-2001 11:08									#9
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

The game has been gold since, what, the 8th? I can't imagine it shipping any later than the 30th for the US/UK, and then a few weeks after for the locals.

And why Infogrames would postpone the release is beyond me, so I guess that the 30th is probably the logical assumption here.

Not that the 30th is even an assumption, since there are many sources that state this date.

	20-10-2001 14:30									#10
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

quote: Unfortunately, we have no dates to report on release dates other than the North American / U.K. release date which is currently scheduled for 10/30. As soon as we get confirmed dates from Infogrames, we will post them here on Civ3.com. We know it's tough to wait, but we appreciate your patience.

They kept that quiet...... you'd have thought they'd have been shouting it from the rooftops.

Does this mean I'm going to get the game 2 months after it's released here ( in theory )

No use asking the stores. They dont fking know either.

Ah well, guess it comes when it comes.

	20-10-2001 14:58									#11
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

It just doesn't make any sense to release it three days AFTER Chritmas...

	20-10-2001 15:24									#12
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

Sure it does, that means they don't have to try ship it at Christmas time. Remember they're an online site, not a department store.

	20-10-2001 20:04									#13
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

guys i'm 100% certain that december 28 is WRONG

that date has been there for ages!

it's either october 30 or november 17...

i sent a new mail to infogrames but they probably dont work on saturday's

	20-10-2001 22:37									#14
	Inflate your Upload Space

quote: Originally posted by MarkG i'll try contacting Infogrames again on Monday...

Thanks Mark for all your hardwork.

	20-10-2001 23:17									#15
	Got spare money?

Agreed. I think a certain macedonian deserves a metaphorical hug.

	20-10-2001 23:21									#16
	Tired of ads?

quote: Originally posted by Faboba Agreed. I think a certain macedonian deserves a metaphorical hug.

Yeah.... We all love you Mark