This is the exact same item I've ordered multiple times in the recent past.

Everybody makes mistakes.

A wise man (or company) learns from them. The fool repeats them.

I discovered I actually like this Amazon Basics medium roast Arabica coffee. You can't beat the price.

Nearly a year ago I started ordering two 3-bag boxes every few weeks for a total of six 12oz bags of whole bean goodness. Fifty-eight cents an ounce. Things rocked along great for months, then something went horribly wrong.

Just Another Order

On June 22th I placed the usual order: 2 packs of 3 12oz bags each. Six bags of coffee.
On June 24th the items were delivered: 2 12oz bags of coffee. Two bags, not six.
On June 24th Amazon apologized profusely and issued a full refund of the purchase price. No need to return the two bags of coffee.
I now had two free bags of coffee, a nice apology from Amazon and all my money. I just needed four more bags of coffee.

Second Try

On June 25th I re-ordered my usual order: 2 packs of 3 12oz bags. Six bags of coffee.
On June 28th I was out of town, so when the coffee showed up on the front porch, my wife called me. "You'll never guess what they delivered," she said. "You're kidding," I replied. "Nope. Two bags of coffee," she said.

I got online and started a chat with someone or some thing at Amazon. I don't know how to tell anymore. The first representative handed me off to a second, who, after hearing my sad story handed me off to a third. I explained to this third rep that I had originally paid for six bags of coffee and I now had four. All I needed was two more bags of coffee and we'd be good. The third rep was unable to assuage my coffee conundrum, so I was handed off again to a fourth and, yes, on to a fifth representative who offered to refund the entire purchase price.

I now had four bags of coffee and all my money back. I almost felt guilty, but I had done nothing illegal, immoral or even unethical. It's not my fault if Amazon's system can't see and solve the flaw in this process.

I still needed two more bags of coffee to make the six I originally ordered.

Third Try's the Charm, Right?

On June 30th I placed an order for 1 pack of 3 12oz bags. For some odd reason, I felt ordering only one might improve my odds of actually getting what I was paying for. Perhaps I thought such a simple order would be more easily comprehended by the Amazon system.

On July 1st a single bag of coffee was deposited upon my front porch. It wasn't even in a shipping bag, the shipping label was stuck to the retail coffee bag. I could barely comprehend what was happening. Once is understandable. Twice makes an eyebrow raise. Three? Three strikes and you're out, bub.

I followed the Returns path and was rewarded with the promise of a replacement. No need to return the coffee.

I now had five bags of coffee, half my money and three bags on the way. "This is stupid," I thought. "I can barely believe it."

Fourth Order: An Attempt at Closure

On July 1st A replacement order for 1 pack of 3 12oz bags of coffee was shipped. This time I held no hope they would actually deliver three bags of coffee. I just wanted to end this nightmare with six bags of coffee.

On July 5th a paper shipping package arrived. Inside was a single 12oz bag of coffee. I was not surprised, but I was terribly disappointed. I am disappointed that the Amazon system is unable to see and solve this obvious flaw in their process. I find it baffling that there are no safeguards to flag such a scenario. I guess I expect too much.

One last time I followed the Returns process and was refunded the purchase price.

I now had six bags of coffee and all my money. How does this make sense? Come on, Amazon! You have to do better than that.

I have no idea how much Amazon lost on product cost and on shipping, but it couldn't have been insignificant. Of course it is insignificant in the larger scheme of Amazon's business, but if this sort of thing is endemic, it can add up to an uncomfortable loss of revenue.

I don't know if I'll try ordering their coffee again or not. I haven't decided if the hassle is worth the flavor. Maybe it is.

Would it be unethical of me to work this system again to my benefit? Hmmm.

Free coffee is a thing that works, but repeating the same failure to deliver what you promise does not.

I hope they fix this. I'd like to get back to ordering two 3-packs and getting it two days later. I'll pay for that.