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Shopping online drives me absolutely crazy! It seems the larger and more expensive the item, the better the customer service, yet with smaller items there just doesn't seem to be the same level of customer care.
I am hosting a party at the end of next month, and I thought it would be nostalgic fun for all guests to leave with an old-fashioned party bag. As there is a theme to the party, I have shopped for certain items specifically with that in mind...
Of the eight UK online shopping suppliers I have bought from:
One supplier sent an order that was twenty short of the required number of items.
One sent the wrong items altogether, contrary to both my order and the despatch note supplied with the parcel. No explanatory phone call or note. The same supplier has also taken the longest time to despatch, and when I rang to complain, an automated message explained the business was closed for annual leave until July 31st.
One supplier levied an express charge of 30: items were ordered two weeks ago and are not needed until the last week of August - this seems a trifle excessive.
Another supplier phoned today: the items are out of stock until the second week of August. Again, I had ordered these two weeks ago.
And yet all these online shopping companies are supposedly accustomed to dealing with bulk and wholesale orders! I know there are always extenuating circumstances, but I do feel sorry for anyone trying to run a business that is dependent on companies such as these.
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Reviving an old gripe here! Amazon drive me mad sometimes; they don't seem to have any rules about how stuff for sale is described or if they do they don't bother enforcing them.
Yesterday I decided to look for a new handbag and Amazon was one of the places I looked. I found something that looked like what I wanted, it was reduced from £46.50 to £28.99 and described as "washed leather vintage". I didn't want an old one, but I already knew that "vintage" means nothing to Amazon. As it turned out on reading the blurb it wasn't leather either! So I had wasted my time looking at it. Then I found loads of them all described as "leather".
As to the word "vintage"; to me that means something old. Genuinely old. Otherwise it should say "vintage style". I happen to have a small collection of genuine vintage evening bags between 120 and 70 years old and every so often decide to see if I can add to the collection. I don't look at Amazon for these as I know that most of the stuff for sale there is new, even when it's described as "vintage"! Ebay isn't always too reliable either, but at least some of the vintage stuff on there really is!
08/11/17 grumpyoldwoman
Yesterday I decided to look for a new handbag and Amazon was one of the places I looked. I found something that looked like what I wanted, it was reduced from £46.50 to £28.99 and described as "washed leather vintage". I didn't want an old one, but I already knew that "vintage" means nothing to Amazon. As it turned out on reading the blurb it wasn't leather either! So I had wasted my time looking at it. Then I found loads of them all described as "leather".
As to the word "vintage"; to me that means something old. Genuinely old. Otherwise it should say "vintage style". I happen to have a small collection of genuine vintage evening bags between 120 and 70 years old and every so often decide to see if I can add to the collection. I don't look at Amazon for these as I know that most of the stuff for sale there is new, even when it's described as "vintage"! Ebay isn't always too reliable either, but at least some of the vintage stuff on there really is!
0
Online shopping is brilliant, recent purchase an element for an oven, many thousands of choices, would have no idea where to begin to find a shop selling oven elements for thousands of makes and models. A few minutes online, email to supplier with size and spec of faulty element and new one in post same day. Just bought 100 blank dvds, that's the only way I buy computer stuff, half the price of any High Street store, including postage and takes 5 minutes instead of hours. My experience of unhappy customers is that these people order the wrong stuff, don't read instructions so only have themselves to blame when things go wrong. I have had some problems but have always had money refunded and bank have refunded credit card payment when merchant wouldn't, even that was quicker and easier than trekking to store and arguing with shopkeeper.
17/07/11 artuk
-3
''Shopping online drives me absolutely crazy!''...Quick question, what did you do before internet shopping was possible. Enough said.
15/12/10 Bored@work
-18
I love online shopping. I have had no probs sorry to say!!! Yes you can find Trading Standards online just use a search engine. Easy peasy.
27/06/09 Frannie
-2
I ordered Tshirts from EBTM website in December, and despite numerous phone calls, emails, am still without the goods I have paid for. Is there a complaints body for Internet shopping? Anyone any ideas as what to do next as I am fed up hearing the same old story of 'we're trying to trace where your order has gone......we'll get back to you as soon as we find out' - needless to say they never do.
18/03/09 ThelasttimeIbuyonline
-14
HI,
eventually got my internet problem sorted out by dsuk, the owner was on holiday, the item was out of stock & they forgot to answer any of my emails regarding the dress???
Eventually they phoned my husband back ( wouldn't talk to me but rang my husbands work number....??) and a dress arrived about week and a half later....about 7 to 8 weeks late but it did arrive.....BUT what was cool about 6 weeks later & totally out of the blue, a free biba top arrived free of charge in the way of an apology.....I wouln't have bought the top myself but my daughter loved it and I was impressed with them remembering & bothering to send the free top, So DSUK is cool with me now.......xxxxxxxxxxxx
18/10/08 higgy
eventually got my internet problem sorted out by dsuk, the owner was on holiday, the item was out of stock & they forgot to answer any of my emails regarding the dress???
Eventually they phoned my husband back ( wouldn't talk to me but rang my husbands work number....??) and a dress arrived about week and a half later....about 7 to 8 weeks late but it did arrive.....BUT what was cool about 6 weeks later & totally out of the blue, a free biba top arrived free of charge in the way of an apology.....I wouln't have bought the top myself but my daughter loved it and I was impressed with them remembering & bothering to send the free top, So DSUK is cool with me now.......xxxxxxxxxxxx
-7
I purchased a Biba sale dress from Designer Sales UK ( DSUK, the Firm which does the designer sample sales at Brick Lane in London...) on the 29th August 2008 for £55.00 and it has not arrived yet.... it is now the 19th September 2008...
I have tried ringing ( only get a answerphone...), I have tried emailing (nearly everyday now) and nothing has happened... No dress, no reply, no response, no nothing... they are totally ignoring me but they did do one thing, they cashed my payment of £55.00.. Nightmare firm!
This has really put me off buying off the internet as basically I have lost my money & if they keep ignoring me, I supposed they have nicked my money...anybody got any ideas???? Cos I haven't!! A very Depressed internet user.
19/09/08 Higgy
I have tried ringing ( only get a answerphone...), I have tried emailing (nearly everyday now) and nothing has happened... No dress, no reply, no response, no nothing... they are totally ignoring me but they did do one thing, they cashed my payment of £55.00.. Nightmare firm!
This has really put me off buying off the internet as basically I have lost my money & if they keep ignoring me, I supposed they have nicked my money...anybody got any ideas???? Cos I haven't!! A very Depressed internet user.
-12
In response to the initial gripe about it being small deliveries and customer service. I have just spent money on what I would consider two very large purchases of £800 (bathroom suite) and £250 (Xmas present) both companies sub-contracted to delivery companies, failed to deliver and could not correspond to any of my complaints, hence I still have an incomplete bathroom suite which I have been wrangling with the company for 4 weeks now, and will not receive the christmas present in time for christmas now.
Does anyone know of on online shoppuing tading standards or valuable feedback site, because I would sure like to make these companies known to other people.
I am certainly put off internet shopping and fail to see how certain businesses manage to operate when they cannot provide a basic service
18/12/07 King
Does anyone know of on online shoppuing tading standards or valuable feedback site, because I would sure like to make these companies known to other people.
I am certainly put off internet shopping and fail to see how certain businesses manage to operate when they cannot provide a basic service
12
Instead of buying on line - go out and get some air. Nothing compensates for actually turning the pages of a book or, feeling and trying on a garment.
02/11/07 Vicky
1
Like Lilian, I ordered and paid for goods from Unusualonline.Co.Uk which were not received. I have since found out that the company have gone into Administration and that the Director cannot be traced. BUYERS BEWARE.
02/10/07 Tom
2
I made a purchase on the internet from 'unusualonline' found through google.
I paid through Wordpay and received an email confirmation from both the retailer and worldpay.
That was on the 23 July I am still waiting for the delivery of the goods.
I have tried to contact unusualonline via email and telephone, the number is not in use.
I have contacted Worldpay who are part of the royal bank of scotland, they say they cannot do anything my issue is with the supplier. So they can take your money on behalf of these scammers that makes them part of it.
Also although the site uses the ISIS accredited retailer internet shopping is safe logo,
ISIS withdrew their accredited status from this company in june.
BUYERS BEWARE, CHECK OUT ALL SITES BEFORE YOU PURCHASE. DONT BUY FROM UNUSUAL ON LINE,,,,
14/09/07 LILIAN
I paid through Wordpay and received an email confirmation from both the retailer and worldpay.
That was on the 23 July I am still waiting for the delivery of the goods.
I have tried to contact unusualonline via email and telephone, the number is not in use.
I have contacted Worldpay who are part of the royal bank of scotland, they say they cannot do anything my issue is with the supplier. So they can take your money on behalf of these scammers that makes them part of it.
Also although the site uses the ISIS accredited retailer internet shopping is safe logo,
ISIS withdrew their accredited status from this company in june.
BUYERS BEWARE, CHECK OUT ALL SITES BEFORE YOU PURCHASE. DONT BUY FROM UNUSUAL ON LINE,,,,
4
As the original griper, I would like to say sorry for having sooooo p****d off certain readers of this gripe - yes, those who would prefer to hijack the Weekly Gripe to use as a political forum, rather than as what it really is - a place to get something off one's chest, have a good old moan, and even a bit of a chuckle...where I thought I could do this without being labelled "totally stupid"...!!!
Some of you need to step away from the keyboard, pull back the curtains, and go out to re-direct that energy put into unnecessary anger where it may have some positive and tangible effect!
Alternatively, go stroke the nearest animal or buy yourself a nice jammy doughnut...
13/09/07 Moaning Minnie
Some of you need to step away from the keyboard, pull back the curtains, and go out to re-direct that energy put into unnecessary anger where it may have some positive and tangible effect!
Alternatively, go stroke the nearest animal or buy yourself a nice jammy doughnut...
5
Using the phrase 'rocket science' gets up my tits. oipon jhbUHS HJWUEDHANX BSGWYDGWQ
13/09/07 Algy Bra
1
Are you totally stupid? Wake up? Walk...go on...one foot in front of the other. Before long you'll reach a shop.
07/09/07 Thales
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grumpyoldwoman