Amazon.com launched a new site

[sandbox]

AmazonMP3

QUOTE

Every song and album is available only in the standard MP3 format using the a high 256Kbps data rate for increased fidelity. These songs can be played on all existing music hardware devices including the iPod, Zune, iRiver, RAZR, etc…. No special software is needed to download the songs (other than a web browser), although Amazon provides a tool you can optionally use to install the songs into your existing iTunes or Windows Media Player music collection. So although Amazon MP3 competes with the iTunes store, it also fits seamlessly into the iTunes application which then syncs with your iPod.

Since the music is free from digital rights management (DRM) restrictions, you can burn it to CD, copy it to your other computers, etc. without having to worry about the content expiring or otherwise becoming unusable in the future. Of course you still have to respect copyright law and just use the music you buy for your own personal enjoyment. But with songs going for as little as $0.89 and albums for $5.99 to $9.99, there’s no excuse any more for illegal download sites.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Burnette/?p=389

[kimmer]

And here I thought you were going to talk about their hideous new site redesign, and then I was gonna rant about the probs I've had with them lately and the outsourcing of their customer service ... and blah, blah, blah.

Some good songs listed there.

[sandbox]

Well no, didn't know there was a problem with them. I've had an account with them for years and their stock has more than  tripled in the past year.

[kimmer]

Well ... Amazon and I have been going round and round for a few months now. They refuse to use my PO Box for shipping, and then they send stuff via the UPS (rather than USPS) ... and so my orders all go back, and then I have to contact customer service and complain, then I reorder, then I contact customer service to tell them I've reordered and they do something on their end and it all works. I now go through this garbage with every order. Since I've had both my PO Box and my house address listed with them for years, and never had a problem -- I figure it's something they've changed on their end. It's really frustrating. Plus they keep putting my old address back in, and that causes more problems ... and well ... it's just not fun.

The last 3 times I've spoken with their customer service department, the call was outsourced and the person barely spoke English. If you use the email system to contact them you get a "canned response" that is next to useless and they are signed by: Srinivas, Prity P. and other charming names that shout OUTSOURCED.

I still shop there, and I have an Amazon credit card ... but I have to jump through hoops now to order and they now refuse to send things in dribs and drabs like they used to do. All my orders now come in one big box. So I spend a LOT LESS money with them.

It's very frustrating to see Amazon take such a crummy step backwards.

But the music looks cool.

edited because I typed it sdrawkcab

[sandbox]

NO One should send a UPS package to a P.O.Box. Your asking for something that can't be done.
if a package is larger than the P.O.Box the post office doesn't have to receive it.

A P.O. Box is property of the US postal service and can not be used for anything other than mail handled by U.S. Mail.

If there are exceptions I've not heard of them.

[kimmer]

Oops ... my bad. I typed that backwards. Should be:

they send stuff via UPS (rather than USPS)

QUOTE

If there are exceptions I've not heard of them.

Here's an exception for you.  The area we live in is very rural. The PO and UPS have agreements in place and will deliver each others stuff. Yup. Depends on where in the area it is going.

When we first moved into our house, we had several large, heavy items delivered by UPS to the PO because the UPS guy didn't know us or that there was a new house here. Now that the UPS guy knows us and knows where the house is, he just brings things on up the hill.

[jepinto]

Kimmer-I live too close to the post office to have mail delivered to my house.  I talked to our Postmistress.  She was brand new on the job, here, but VERY experienced with USPS.

Her suggestion- Use your physical address, follewed by your box number.  123 Main Street #754.  We don't have anywhere here that has 1.  home delivery, and 2.  Apt numbers, so the PO knows what to look for, and if they send it UPS, Jeff will know whether I'm at the house of the office anyway, so it keeps Ms Annette (the Postmistress) happy, and I don't get those funny stickers on my mail.

[sandbox]

Kim, I've had deliveries to my house and office from UPS via USPS but not to my P.O.Box. I don't think a UPS guy can actually place an item in your PO box or mailbox.
We also live in a small town; the post office is in the back of the novelty store.
Mary the Postal Clerk is an avid reader; she and Jane constantly exchange books.
She has a pretty shiny Soft Tail tOO.  

[kimmer]

QUOTE(sandbox @ Sep 27 2007, 10:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Kim, I've had deliveries to my house and office from UPS via USPS but not to my P.O.Box. I don't think a UPS guy can actually place an item in your PO box or mailbox.

LOL! Okay, sandbox. I give.  

QUOTE(jepinto @ Sep 27 2007, 03:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Kimmer-I live too close to the post office to have mail delivered to my house.  I talked to our Postmistress.  She was brand new on the job, here, but VERY experienced with USPS.

Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a try, since I want to order this nice slow cooker.

I'd ask our postmistress, but she's the 3rd (or is it 4th) one since 10/2005 and considering what's taken place since her arrival, I don't have much confidence in this gal.

[sandbox]

Kimmer, I just called Amazon for the first time, got a lady in W. Virginia named Anne. I was calling about giving a gift certificate and wanted to know if it would apply to the MP3 download store, IT DOES NOT.
I told her that I was surprised that she spoke english, having read that their call centers were in India, she said that the calls go to various centers around the world and that my call ended in W.V. by happenstance.

The call back was instant, and I mean instant, as soon as I clicked the call button the phone rang, no waiting, straight to a pleasant voice and clear information.

Good Luck

[sandbox]

I just downloaded my first order from Amazon, a 31 cut double album for $8.99
Downloading an album requires using a small 500k MP3 amazon program that places the files in iTunes or WMP.
The MP3 program is for OS10.4 and up so I switched over to Virtual PC, used the MSXP program, downloaded the 31 files that automatically deposited themselves in iTunes. OneClick sends an email the process is seamless.

From TidBits