Online Shopping - the Backlash Begins

[EternalOptimist]

I dont know about buying stuff online, but this home delivery from supermarkets seems to be a cracking service.
The missus must save hours a week and I thinkl she enjoys browing on line as well

[Old Hack]

I can not honestly remember the last time I bought something in a shop. Outside of the can of Coke Zero and Mars bar cycling 'home' last night.

Every single electrical item, toy, book, map, anything has been bought online.

That's just quite shocked me actually.

I remember now, we were in Glastonbury and went into a hippy shop as my eldest wanted soem incense sticks. 5 weeks ago...

[TheFaQQer]

Problems with couriers, faulty goods having to be returned, dealing with unhelpful call centre staff - this is the catalogue of woes that has got me heading back to the high street.

If I resorted to that, my purchases would be limited to bookies, charity shops and coffee shops.


Oh, and Greggs, of course.

[BrilloPad]

Is it possible to actually "live" in Guildford. Exist, sure, but "live"?

+1

I always hated existing in places like that.

[d000hg]

If I didn't work from home I've no idea how many things we'd have to go and collect. Lots.

[Spacecadet]

Never had much of a problem with online shopping and I've done a lot over the years, in fact if I can buy it online and save myself a trip to the shops then I will.

I have got a big test of this perfect run coming up though - need to return a high value item to amazon after using it for a week as its not fit for purpose

[cojak]

Problems with couriers, faulty goods having to be returned, dealing with unhelpful call centre staff - this is the catalogue of woes that has got me heading back to the high street.

The whole guaranteed next day delivery is a sham. They don't guarantee it but will refund your premium if they fail to deliver in the agreed time. Recently, I ordered something for my girlfriend's birthday & selected the express delivery option. It didn't come. Nor did it come the next day or the day after that. I could see from the tracking no. that it was sat in a warehouse in Reading and was going nowhere. So I rang the courier (Yodel) and found it was like banging one's head against a brick wall: "We'll try our best to get it out today but can't guarantee it"
In the meantime, the missus's birthday is rapidly approaching and my nuts are on the line.

Then I ordered a toy for my nephew. It arrived promptly but didn't work. So, I rang Amazon who told me that the supplier was an affiliate & that I should contact them. Cue a round of one slopey shouldered party contradicting what the other was saying. Eventually they said I would have to box it up and return it, they'd refund me and that I would have to place a new order. Another lunchtime wasted in that snakey queue down the post office then

Seriously next time I want a TV or HiFi, I'd rather nip into Duck Son and Pinkers in Bath and pay 20 or 30 quid more than I'd pay online safe in the knowledge that, in the event of a problem, they'll be attentive as they value my custom. Contrast this with some spotty teenager in a call centre who couldn't give a toss if I write to Anne Robinson or not.

I never really got on with online buying apart from books.

[NotAllThere]

Is it possible to actually "live" in Guildford. Exist, sure, but "live"?

[BrilloPad]

These problems are just limited to people who live in Guildford.

HTH

[The Spartan]

About the next day delivery, often they say once the order has been processed. So you may order it on Monday but it won't be processed and dispatched till Wednesday. That one really winds me up

[OwlHoot]

The whole guaranteed next day delivery is a sham. ...

If you plan what you need and buy it well in advance, why would you care much if it is next day or next week?

My main bugbear, with Amazon for example, is that you can't specify a delivery date. So on saturday I often have to make a special visit to the post office with one of those red cards.

[xoggoth]

You must be pretty unlucky, I rarely have a problem and when something hasn't worked they have soon sorted it. You must have upset de lawd or something.

[Diver]

Problems with couriers, faulty goods having to be returned, dealing with unhelpful call centre staff - this is the catalogue of woes that has got me heading back to the high street.

The whole guaranteed next day delivery is a sham. Seriously next time I want a TV or HiFi, I'd rather nip into Duck Son and Pinkers in Bath and pay 20 or 30 quid more than I'd pay online safe in the knowledge that, in the event of a problem, they'll be attentive as they value my custom. Contrast this with some spotty teenager in a call centre who couldn't give a toss if I write to Anne Robinson or not.

WHS

[Malcolm Buggeridge]

Problems with couriers, faulty goods having to be returned, dealing with unhelpful call centre staff - this is the catalogue of woes that has got me heading back to the high street.

The whole guaranteed next day delivery is a sham. They don't guarantee it but will refund your premium if they fail to deliver in the agreed time. Recently, I ordered something for my girlfriend's birthday & selected the express delivery option. It didn't come. Nor did it come the next day or the day after that. I could see from the tracking no. that it was sat in a warehouse in Reading and was going nowhere. So I rang the courier (Yodel) and found it was like banging one's head against a brick wall: "We'll try our best to get it out today but can't guarantee it"
In the meantime, the missus's birthday is rapidly approaching and my nuts are on the line.

Then I ordered a toy for my nephew. It arrived promptly but didn't work. So, I rang Amazon who told me that the supplier was an affiliate & that I should contact them. Cue a round of one slopey shouldered party contradicting what the other was saying. Eventually they said I would have to box it up and return it, they'd refund me and that I would have to place a new order. Another lunchtime wasted in that snakey queue down the post office then

Seriously next time I want a TV or HiFi, I'd rather nip into Duck Son and Pinkers in Bath and pay 20 or 30 quid more than I'd pay online safe in the knowledge that, in the event of a problem, they'll be attentive as they value my custom. Contrast this with some spotty teenager in a call centre who couldn't give a toss if I write to Anne Robinson or not.