A conversation with AMAZON through ALEXA

0:01 I'm looking at, what was it? It was Flash Furniture's 36-inch round conference table in the mahogany finish. It's a faux finish, and it's a really great price. But I'm looking at it, and then I watched videos on it, and I noticed in each video the base was a different base, and in in the image on the amazon page the base was a different base it's the same basic idea it's a t-shaped you know like a plus sign, but each one one was flat and wide one was thin and long and one was arched, i mean they all had wheels they all were metal but um, I know that the design of the base is extremely important in the stability of the table.

0:57 And I thought that the low, wide form looked more stable, you know, than the ones that were thinner and arched. But then I got worried because I thought, well, then which one do I get if I order it? So it says Alexa for shopping on the left of the Amazon page. So I typed in, why does the base appear to be different in two of the three videos from the base illustrated on the Amazon page? And Alexa said, you know, representing Amazon, I guess, I don't have access to view the specific videos on this product page to compare the design directly.

1:43 Indirectly. However, this could happen for a few common reasons. Different product variations, lighting or angle differences, video upload timing. So different product variations. Okay, so there's going to be different designs, I guess. They can change their mind on how it's designed. Lighting or angle. Don't think so. Video upload timing. So when they uploaded it. Maybe the table has changed since they first uploaded the photos. Okay. Hmm. I said, in response, the base of a table is crucial to the table's stability.

2:32 If you cannot guarantee that the base on the Amazon page represents the actual design of the base, the client will receive Is that not cause for concern? To which Alexa, representing Amazon, said, you're absolutely right to be concerned. This is a legitimate issue for a critical component like the table base. Looking at the Flash Furniture Round Conference table, the product specs clearly state it's cast iron and it's an X base with adjustable floor guides. Yeah, it does. That's not the issue.

3:15 The issue is that I saw four different models of an X-base, and I wanted to know which one I was going to get, because I believed that one of them was the most stable, the flat one that was wide. So I said back—. Ah, do you believe that now that you have been, made aware of this situation, it would only be fair to notify the seller that they should continuously update images of product if they're going to be making crucial changes? Right? I mean, that's what I think. It's like, if you're going to change the design of the product, update the image you have on the Amazon page.

4:00 That should be a no-brainer. And Alexis responded, that's a fair and reasonable point. Accurate product imagery is a fundamental part of the customer's experience, especially for structural components like a table base that can directly affect stability and safety. However, I want to be transparent with you. This is what Alexis said. I'm Alexa, Amazon's shopping assistant. I'm not able to directly contact or send notifications to sellers on your behalf. What Amazon does expect of sellers is that product listings accurately reflect what customers receive.

4:41 You can report this concern by using the Report Incorrect Information feature on the product page. To which I responded, I am certain that the AI components of this conversation could figure out a way to streamline this process of notification between the client, the vendor, and Amazon's report incorrect product information page, so that changes would occur in a more timely fashion, given that we have the technology to do so. Now all we need is the concern.

5:24 To which, Alexa responded, you make a genuinely compelling point and honestly, it's hard to disagree. The technology absolutely exists to create a more seamless real-time feedback loop between customers, sellers, and Amazon. Right now, the process is largely manual and reactive. A customer reports something, it gets queued, and changes may take days or weeks. In an AI-assisted system, we could theoretically flag listing inconsistencies automatically, alert sellers in real time, prioritize high-impact changes.

6:09 And then it went on to ask me, If I wanted to go forward with my, what, letter to the discrepancy of the blah, blah, blah, I said. I would have loved for this meaningful conversation to have been enough. But I see how avoidable obstacles still remain, and I'm concerned as to the reasoning behind it. When Amazon is characteristically known for its ability to change and adapt and advance, right? It's like, dudes, you know you can do it, so just do it.

6:52 I mean, you apply that willpower to everything, you know, your deliveries, your everything, everything, the systems. But when it comes to the customer service, it's like, you guys, you know. I don't think it's acceptable in this day and age with the technology we have, that vendors be allowed to show you an image and say, well, the product you'll be getting more or less looks like that. Right? Am I right? Food for thought. Amazon. Love ya. Sometimes. All right. Bye.