Today, Amazon practically gave me a copy of Battlefield 4 for the PlayStation 4 for free and they didn’t even do anything wrong. It wasn’t because of an error in the system nor was it the fault of some careless intern. Essentially, it was customer service at its best and another reason why the online retailer is one of the best destinations for video game shopping.
I pre-ordered a PS4 bundle at the very last minute. Yes, I was one of those people who were strongly adamant about not getting a next-generation console at launch citing bugs and lack of games to play. However, I eventually gave in to peer pressure and temptation when the PS4 bundle for Battlefield 4 was released.
Admittedly, that wasn’t my first choice for a bundle but beggars can’t be choosers. Don’t get me wrong, Battlefield 3 was really fun and I loved it. I just don’t have the luxury right now to commit to online multiplayer, and we all know that’s where the fun is when it comes to first-person shooters.
Consequently, I wanted to find a way to return or trade-in the game for another title. My first option was to sell it used once it arrived, but I would have to list it at a lower price for me to get cash back quickly.
So, I went to Amazon and asked if it was possible to switch the game I had in my bundle. Unfortunately, I couldn’t since it required switching the entire bundle and everything else was sold out. I was disappointed, but I completely understood why I couldn’t.
However, I contacted the retailer again after a few days. I wanted to ask if it was possible for me to return the game for a refund instead. I knew that they were going to say either “yes” or “no,” but then this happened:
I bet you had to read the chat again or even blurted out “wait what?” at some point. Amazon promised to refund the price of Battlefield 4, and the best part is I didn’t need to return it. I even wanted to type, “But why?” to express my disbelief.
I feel like other companies only give their customers discounts and bonuses to placate the latter’s dissatisfaction when it’s already too late. On top of that, other businesses seem to push you into dropping complaints by dragging the conversation or putting you on hold for an unreasonably long time.
In Amazon’s case, the company extended their courtesy even if they weren’t at fault. I wasn’t even mad at them since it was just a simple inquiry. They didn’t have to give me the game for free, but doing so strengthened my loyalty to the online retailer.
Amazon is my go-to choice for physical copies of video games. As an Amazon Prime member (USD $79/year, but I pay $39 since I’m a student), some of the perks include video streaming and free two-day shipping on eligible items. I prefer Amazon because I can get video games delivered on the day of release with free shipping as opposed to paying GameStop $10 each time.
It’s extremely worth it for me since I buy a lot of video games. There’s never a time when it came a day late, and customer service was always prompt, generous, and accommodating if there were any issues.
In the end, the best companies are the ones that make their consumers feel valued 24/7. They don’t wait until you’re about to walk out the door, because every interaction is a chance to win you over.
My thanks go out to Justin and Amazon for making my day.
