We all "Google" so when will we "Amazon?

Without doubt, Amazon and Jeff Bezos have been a modern day commercial success story, without equal. It's not quite got to the point yet where the brand has become a verb, like Google, but with Alexa-controlled devices becoming ubiquitous in many homes, how long before we say "Amazon it?"

Amazon is not without its critics though.

That retail domination has exacted a heavy price on physical and digital store-owners; there are criticisms of its tax affairs and the way it handles wellbeing of its employees. There's no question, however, that Amazon is a byword for great customer service, as I found out recently.

Indulge me in this anecdotal vignette for one moment please.

I was buying a new microphone and did the usual consumer routine of heading for Google, reading some online reviews and hitting "Shopping" on the Google tab, where, unsurprisingly, the microphone I chose was best priced and available on Amazon.

Product duly ordered with an ensuing email notification in nanoseconds.

It arrived the next day, with one problem - the clip was missing to attach it to a lapel.

This "clip" was one of the main reasons I ordered it - when I'm creating short clips on my smartphone I didn't want the sound to be ruined by interference.

Now what Amazon did was a little unexpected - in a quick live chat, whilst I was logged in to report the omission, I was offered a refund for the missing part, which we agreed a cost on and a bank credit for a modest amount was received instantly.

I don't know about you but when you return goods to physical shops or online retailers, there's a normal void period of a few days to a few weeks for the credit to land. Not with Amazon.

Vignette over, it did get me thinking about property and transactions. Too often, tensions are caused by little things that accumulate. The tenant - tenant relationship, landlord - tenant relationship, landlord - property agent relationship can quickly find itself strained over mundane matters, akin to a missing clip.

I think what this minor omission did was remind me that communication is key. Amazon has open channels to communicate. It was easy and quick to chat and express disappointment. A solution that suited both of us was created quickly. And what that meant was that I'd go into a future transaction with Amazon for all manner of products with full confidence that the customer experience would be outstanding.

It's something we're ambitiously trying to replicate with co-living at No White Walls - instant chat, community insights, shared social media groups with the intention of making life as stress free for everyone as possible.

I don't know about your company philosophy but I do think we could all emulate Amazon, without its negative aspects of workforce wellbeing?