UPDATE 1: After contacting seller again I was refunded yesterday BY AMAZON (22/04/2025):
I am glad to hear that they did not leave me hanging…
I was wrong. Read Update 2 below. Seller refused to refund me. Amazon did.
Today 23/04/2025 I was contacted by the seller.
My best guess is that they were not sure about what happened and why did I requested a partial refund.
I did my best to explain the situation and provided them with link to this post. /UPDATE 1
UPDATE 2: 23/04/2025 later in the afternoon:
I was mistaken. The seller did not refund me. Amazon did.
I received a response from Ben, a seller from BigWhiteRabbit on Amazon. As you can see in the screenshot below Ben’s response is formal but dismissive. He’s making it clear that his company operates separately from Amazon and follows its own policies, and he is also shutting down the possibility of offering any compensation or further assistance. His wording suggests that he’s more focused on explaining what they don’t do rather than addressing my concerns in a way that acknowledges my frustration. While he does express some regret for the situation, it’s more of a polite formality rather than genuine empathy. He’s keeping it transactional rather than engaging in real customer service. His response frustrated and annoyed me as it lacks a proactive approach to resolving the issue and doesn’t offer much reassurance.
I decided to reply after I had a chance to cool off. My response to Ben was direct yet civil, expressing my frustration over the price change and inconsistent shipping policies. I made it clear that I felt misled and disappointed by the way the situation was handled, but I tried keeping it professional while emphasizing the importance of transparency in customer relations. I have also pointed out that Amazon had already refunded me, and mentioned possibility of reporting the issue to Amazon. Additionally, I provided screenshots to support my claims, reinforcing my points with clear evidence. Overall, I believe that I was firm but fair, ensuring that my concerns were heard without escalating the tone unnecessarily.
Everyone deserves a fair shot at making a living, but greed and dishonesty are no way to go about it. I don’t make a habit of giving my money away to those who take advantage of others, and neither should you. If you ever find yourself in a situation like this, stand your ground and fight for what’s rightfully yours – because, as this experience proves, even when you deserve something, there will always be those who try to keep it from you. /UPDATE 2:
Hello beautiful peoples!
I was previously an Amazon.co.uk Prime member, during which time I purchased many items, including this “Tefal Jamie Oliver Cook’s Classics Frying Pan, 30cm, Non-Stick, Oven-Safe, Induction, Riveted Handle, Hard Anodised Aluminium, H9120744, Black” in March 2023.
Just before the warranty expired in late March of 2025, I have noticed that the pan was no longer non-stick in some areas. Scrambled eggs would stick to the middle part of the pan. I have contacted Amazon.co.uk customer service via chat and was informed that I could receive a full refund if I returned the pan. I followed their instructions, returned the pan, and was successfully refunded.
Shortly before that happened Amazon.ie was launched. I was excited about the prospect of better product availability, competitive pricing, and enhanced features. Eager for an improved shopping experience, I cancelled my Amazon.co.uk Prime membership and switched to Amazon.ie without hesitation.
However, in hindsight, I may have been overly optimistic, naïve one might say… Over time, I have found myself questioning whether the switch was the right decision. The reality has not quite matched my expectations, and I am now seriously considering returning to Amazon.co.uk. Perhaps I was too quick to embrace the change.
As a resident of the Republic of Ireland, I was eager to support Amazon.ie, hoping for a seamless and competitive shopping experience. However, I did not anticipate that switching from Amazon.co.uk would leave me at a disadvantage. I expected comparable service, pricing, and convenience – not to find myself worse off than before.
To give context to my frustration, let me continue with the frying pan story. As I previously mentioned, I returned my original pan and received a refund. Now, in urgent need of a replacement, I decided to repurchase the exact same model.
Thinking this would be a straightforward process, I simply edited the previously used Amazon link – removing the “.co.uk” and replacing it with “.ie,” and I was on my way to purchase “Tefal Jamie Oliver Cook’s Classics Frying Pan, 30cm, Non-Stick, Oven-Safe, Induction, Riveted Handle, Hard Anodised Aluminium, H9120744, Black” from Amazon.ie…
It all seemed straightforward at first, right? That was until I came across something that not only raised my eyebrow but also my blood pressure. The price difference between Amazon.ie and Amazon.co.uk was staggering : €81.97 on Amazon.ie versus €69.79 on Amazon.co.uk. Adding to the frustration, Amazon.co.uk offered free shipping, while Amazon.ie charged €4 for shipping.
Amazon Ireland:
Amazon United Kingdom:
Wait – what? If I had kept my Amazon.co.uk Prime membership, I could have saved €16.18. That realization was a real shock!
I thought it had to be a mistake… I have contacted Amazon.ie customer service to inquire about the price discrepancy and why one Prime account offers the item cheaper with free shipping while the other does not. Their response was for me to “buy the item, and once delivered, I will refund of the shipping charge.”
The pan was delivered yesterday. I waited 24 hours before contacting them via chat. Just before initiating a chat with the Amazon.ie customer service representative, I checked the product page (to copy the order #, purchase date and full product name which are very helpful during the chat) and discovered something frustrating: the item I had just purchased for €81.97 was now discounted to €70.25. If I had waited just five days, I could have saved €11.72.
And its not even MARKED as a discount. Admittedly, this was disappointing – but not entirely unexpected, sometimes it happens. In the past, when dealing with Amazon.co.uk customer service, they typically refunded the price difference directly to my original payment method or to my Amazon.co.uk gift card balance if an item was discounted shortly after purchase.
As You can clearly see it was easy peasy…
With that experience in mind, I approached the chat feeling hopeful. The representative was polite and understanding as I detailed my frustrations, including the fact that I paid €85.97 (including shipping) for an item that I could have purchased for €70.25 if free delivery was an option with Prime membership. I emphasized my dissatisfaction with the service Irish customers receive, the inconsistent search results, and the significant price variations. I explained that it felt like Irish customers were being treated as second-class citizens once again. I have asked for the refund of the price difference (€11.72) and the shipping charge (€4) so €15.72 in total…
The representative informed me that my concerns had been escalated “with relevant team” – though I’m not optimistic that this will lead to any meaningful resolution. Still, progress, I suppose.
However, he also refused to refund both the price difference and the shipping cost. Instead, he forwarded a request to the seller, asking them to issue the refund. I fail to understand why an Amazon.co.uk representative was able to process this type of refund directly, yet an Amazon.ie representative could not.
Now, I have to wait 24+ hours for the seller to decide whether refunding my €15.72 is in their best interest. I won’t be holding my breath.
Adding to my frustration, even with the discount on Amazon.ie, the frying pan remains more expensive than on Amazon.co.uk. On Amazon.ie, the item is priced at €70.25, whereas on Amazon.co.uk, the exact same product costs €69.79 – and includes free shipping.
At this point, I am hoping for a refund of €15.72, or at the very least, €11.72 if they opt to price-match without reimbursing the shipping cost. But like I said – I am not holding my breath… I will update this post and add a UPDATE section at the top when I know more about this.
And if all this weren’t aggravating enough, I’ve encountered yet another issue – product availability glitches. Recently, I was window-shopping Amazon.ie for a “LG 1080p 43” TV”. I expected a range of options. One. I got one result. Absolutely baffling
Switching from Amazon.co.uk to Amazon.ie was a decision made with enthusiasm and hope for better prices, product availability, and an enriched shopping experience. However, it has often left me frustrated due to higher costs, reduced convenience, and inconsistent service. Moments like the frying pan saga and disappointing search results have made me question whether the move was worth it.
That said, I remain optimistic about Amazon.ie’s future. I truly wish for the platform to grow, improve its offerings, and address these issues, ensuring it meets the expectations of Irish customers. I’m sticking around for now to see them evolve and succeed. However, if the financial strain on my already tired and overburdened wallet becomes too great, I’ll seriously consider switching back to Amazon.co.uk. Here’s to hoping for a turnaround that makes staying worthwhile!
Catch you on the flip side,
AndrzejL
