Not so great experience with Amazon, don't worry its just a glitch

Moving back to Manila had its drawbacks.  One major setback was the loss of broadband as we know it.  Broadband here is just broadband in name.  I guess everything is relative.

In any case, I attempted to carry out my first international experience with Amazon when i ordered text books for school.  Unfortunately part of the restriction for international orders is that you can't get used material to be sent over. 

To make a long story short my books never arrived.  The local postal carrier lost it.  So i had to order a new set after waiting for two weeks.  Of course that took forever so i finally get my books after a third shipment.  Good thing was that Amazon sent over the third shipment via UPS, bypassing the perils of the Philippine postal system. 

I guess that's whats going to keep Amazon from degenerating into the other online websites.  They listen to the customer and they try to stay two steps ahead.  Most other companies probably would have been all hands off with the situation.  I'm quite happy (although equally peeved about getting hold of my books more than midway through the term!), with the way Amazon handled the situation.  And i guess for all the great years of service, I let this one slide and deemed it just a hiccup in the process of getting better.  As Bezos noted, its day one and they'll work that kink out.  Because of their almost consistent commitment to my needs, it built such a good impression that one infraction was negligible for me. Constant attention to detail is noticed by the customer, and it creates a lasting image of a good company.  In short, i still value Amazon, because i feel they value me.

I guess thats how we have to live breathe die as business students.  Think customer first.  Think customer second.  Its all about providing value to our clients because ultimately thats also how we provide shareholder value, by providing customer value.  Kelley connect week for me was a constant barrage of Phil Powell up in your face threatening to hunt any of us down if we even thought about destroying value to customers and value to shareholders. 

It should be in our blood. Our DNA.  Whether or not we're going to go full time into strategic marketing or not.  Inventing on behalf of customers to provide value will be key in our success as leaders in our respective fields.