It’s a jungle out there.

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It is, at least, when it comes to Amazon.ca. I recently bought three DVDs – Searching For Bobby Fischer (in honour of Michelle’s new interest in the game), Noises Off! (a very funny comedy that I’ve been waiting to have released on DVD for some time now), and My Life, with Nicole Kidman and Michael Keaton, in one of his really good roles.

Now, the Web site clearly shows that My Life is presented on the DVD in both Full Screen and Widescreen. When I got the order, there was no mention of Widescreen at all, it only showed text describing Full Screen. I immediately suspected that something wasn’t kosher.

Try as I might I could not find any reference to a customer service number for Amazon Canada. The only option I had was to fill out a form to have my complaint / question emailed to somebody. I did that, then went for lunch. (Which also turned out to be a disappointment because several of the menu items I was used to being available at The Rude Native had been removed since the last time we’d visited.)

When I got home again, I did a quick Google search and came up with some information. Apparently, neither Amazon US nor Amazon Canada publish an actual customer service number on their sites. It was suggested that the US site does – but only on the screen you get right after you’ve purchased something. I can’t confirm if the Canadian site functions the same way or not – I’ve never bothered to look at its post-order screen for the phone number. However, I did find references, on Google, to the customer service numbers. Apparently, customer service deals with equally with both amazon.ca and amazon.com.

Here they are:

  • Amazon (Canada): 1-877-586-3230
  • Amazon (US): 1-800-201-7575
  • Amazon (UK): +44-208-636-9200
  • Amazon (International): 1-206-346-2992

Hopefully the above will help some other desperate sole track down how to get in personal contact with somebody.

I must say that, having actually found a number to call, my support experience was quite nice. Amber was friendly and understanding of my situation. I’m getting a replacement sent (hopefully in widescreen format this time) and have already printed out a postage-paid stamp I can attach to the new package – in which I’ll simply return my old copy of the movie. Hopefully it will work out better this time.

Lastly, I find it rather ironic that of the three DVD titles I’d ordered the one that happened to be wrong was “My Life”. How appropriate…