"A few seconds ago, I just signed up and ordered an eBook because they posted it as ePub. I didn't know that you have to download an Adobe Software to view it, not in ePub format!. I'm wishing to transfer this to my kobo reader since the wifi doesn't work on my kobo device. Anyways, I downloaded their app to cope with the problem and just view it on my iOS device. What a crappy app! The book that I bought was downloading for a while now(it has been 20mins already and I have good internet connection). NEVER GOING BACK AGAIN! WHY IS THIS STILL IN BUSINESS?!"
"I picked up a flyer that says: ENTER TO WIN A DOCTOR WHO FAN PRIZE PACK.
The link : booksamillion.com/doctor who DOES NOT EXIST.
Also the selection of DOCTOR WHO dvds is slim."
"Don't bother! - Shop elsewhere! They are just wasting your time!
OK, so I'm based in Australia - Not that my location should really matter in this day & age of the internet and certainly dealing with a retailer who offers international delivery!
I placed an order for a book that was 'on sale' (15% off the RRP) on their website back on the 23rd of September, 2013 (Actually, the same item is STILL on sale with 15% off today!). Shortly after placing my order, I received an order confirmation via email with a note telling me the order was 'pending' and the item on backorder, which could take 2-4 weeks…..and that payment had not been charged to PayPal at this time. OK, fair enough, this happens some times and at the time, I was in no major hurry for the item back then. - However, at the time, I did think it was strange that an item was on sale but was not is stock....Hmmm.
Move forward to today (26th of October, 2013) and still no news on my order. I have received NO correspondance since placing my order and have only had the 'account log-in' section to track the status of my order. Apologies…..I HAVE received numerous emails from booksamillion bombarding me with other titles 'on sale'. I logged into my booksamillion.com account this morning and there were no new updates on the order status, so I emailed customer support. - I must say the customer service email replies were very quick (within 10 minutes of sending my query) - however, the response I received advised me of the following:
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"Insert Book Name here" is unavailable at this time and has been placed on backorder. If this title becomes available it will be shipped to you and you will be notified via email. However, if after 40 days the item is still unavailable, it will automatically be cancelled, as it will have been declared unavailable from the publisher. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. Please note if you would like to cancel this backordered item, you may do so by emailing or calling us at the number below. We hope to have a chance to better serve you in the future.
We value you as a customer. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance. Thank you for choosing booksamillion.com.
Best regards,
Staff Member Name - Customer Service.
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OK, a standard and very non-personalised response. Hmmm….Now, I DO know the particular title I am wanting to purchase IS available via other sellers (in-stock online; and in-store here in Australia) and I know this title IS still available from the publishing house! The customer service person's statement of: "...if after 40 days the item is still unavailable, it will automatically be cancelled, as it will have been declared unavailable from the publisher" made me seriously re-think this seller and my order. "Declared unavailable from the publisher"????? - Ummm, the publisher says this title is STILL in print!!!! Honestly, who wants to wait another 40 days (after already waiting 4 weeks) to see if a retailer can fill your order!?!?! - Also, given the email reply also invited me to "cancel this backordered item" made me think I will never receive this book from this retailer! So given this response; the very lengthy delay; and some of the reviews I have just read about bookamillion.com on this site (and other sites), I have just cancelled my order and shall be shopping elsewhere!
While typing this review, I have just received confirmation emails from booksamillion and PayPal advising me that my order has been cancelled by booksamillion and that I will not be charged via PayPal…..geee, now that response was a bit quick…..they didn't even ask me to reconsider my decision or let them try to fill the order! So, in short - Don't even bother placing an order with this mob as you're only wasting your time. Sure the prices look good but the overall service is just pathetic."
"Wow, I truly can't believe these jokers are still in business. They list EPUB as the format for their electronic books right there on the page for the book. However, once you make the purchase it turns out that the format of the book is not EPUB at all, but you must have a proprietary Adobe software, which only runs on Windows, to read it. What a joke. And they refuse to refund the money.
STAY AWAY.STAY AWAY.STAY AWAY.STAY AWAY.STAY AWAY.STAY AWAY.STAY AWAY."
"I have been a repeat customer at Books-A-Million stores for many years. Our local store is always well-stocked and the staff is knowledgeable and courteous. However, I cannot say the same about the online customer service representatives. I recently placed an order online for a book that is not available in the store. I had to contact customer service because 3 weeks after placing the order, I had not yet received the book. I spoke with two different representatives on consecutive days. They were not helpful, and acted as if they couldn't care less. Needless to say, I ended up cancelling the order. From now on if my local store doesn't carry the book, I'll find it somewhere else."
"I ordered Nenten Wii console w/ Mario Kart online. Later I was told the item was out of stock. They never seems to update the website.
Bad company"
"I bought an $8 book from Booksamillion.com as a present for my nephew. I was ordering a lot of things online, so it took me a while to notice that I still hadn't received the book, or even a shipping notice in my email. When I logged into their site to check my order, it said it was canceled. Apparently they had canceled it because they ran out of stock, even though the order page clearly labeled it as "in stock" when I placed the order. When I contacted customer service to voice my displeasure at having my order canceled without being told, I was (politely) blown off without an explanation or apology.
That was my first and last order ever from Booksamillion. "
"I order at least one time a year from their website (almost always some Christmas gifts)and have been doing this for years and have always been happy with their service. Never had a problem with any order.
My last order was ordered Dec 10th and shipped on the 12th. I think good response for the time of the year and the fact that there is free shipping."
"After waiting for weeks to receive my order, I checked the status only to see that my order was still only in the processing state.
After a full month, I received an email stating that they would be canceling my order because the book was no longer available. What? Why even allow me to order the book and PAY for it if they didn't even have it? And why did it take a FULL month for them to notify me? Very bad business practice. This was to be my first order with Books-a-million and now it will be the last. I won't want to risk that happening again. Thank goodness the book I ordered wasn't a Christmas gift."
"As of today September 28, 2008 I checked on their website and it still states my order (placed on September 2, 2008) is still being processed. I haven't even received an update from them. "
"I just (November 18, 2006) received the book I ordered from them on November 2, 2006.
Wow it took so long... but I guess that's what you get for $0.00 shipping & handling.
I was looking to purchase the latest edition of "Patent it Yourself" by David Pressman. List price is $50. If I buy it directly from the publisher it would cost me a minimum of $48.50 (including S&H). I ended up paying BAM $34.43 and getting exactly the same - only much slowlier...
Yes, there are other vendors who will "sell" you this book for a lower price, but their ratings were so low... I don't have time for unreliable vendors. So I chose BAM - and I was not sorry.
The only problem is that while I expected slow delivery, it was simply too slow (17 days to deliver a book???).
They shipped it 4 days after receiving the order and it took 13 days to arrive. Take that into account if you need the book quickier than that.
"
"We are in Australia and bought 2 sets of books from BAM. One was in stock and the other was "preorded". It was 7 weeks before we got the books but they had not been published from what we knew. Their prices were very good, book price and postage. All correspondence was clear and prompt from them. Very happy to recommend BAM. "
"I HAVE PLACED 14 ORDERS WITH BOOKSAMILLION OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS. NO PROBLEMS WITH ANY OF THE ORDERS. VERY GOOD PRICES. ONCE THE ORDER IS PLACED IT WILL TAKE 2-5 DAYS BEFORE SHIPPING AND ANOTHER 3-5 DAYS TO ARRIVE (SEATTLE) SINCE I AM ALWAYS USING THE FREE SHIPPING DEAL. A FASTER SHIPPING SERVICE IS AVAILABLE AT AN ADDITIONAL COST BUT I NEVER USED IT.
IF YOU CAN LIVE WITH A SLOWER SHIPPING PROCESS, YOU WILL REALIZED SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS (33%+ DISCOUNT AND FREE SHIPPING). "
"I ordered two books which showed "in stock" on December 12th. On the 17th I emailed an inquiry asking when I would receive the books. They shipped on the 18th and I received them on December 30th - by the way - these were Christmas Gifts. I have no idea why these folks are so slow to process an order, their prices are great, but if I need a book in a hurry I will not go back here!"