I wasn't going to blog any more before Christmas, because everyone's too busy to read or write posts, right?And I should be, too. But this is a good place to vent my wrath, so here goes.Eight days ago, I ordered an item from John Lewis. In time for Christmas. Ok? Yesterday, I checked the status of my order; not dispatched yet. Today, it was "processing". Hmmm. Thought I'd phone for clarification
After the usual prolonged press-this-press-that routine, (while waiting, I was regaled by a jolly voice telling me "it's nearly Christmas". Just in case I hadn't noticed), I got through to a nice man who told me that my item was out of stock. But it's being processed! I wailed. Ah. Not exactly, he said. They're in the process of waiting for a new delivery. Which might - might, mark you - arrive "in a day or two". Or not. In which case one of the 35-plus people we buy presents for would have to go without. (By this stage, I was in the process of getting very cross indeed.)
I didn't shoot the messenger, but he was left in no doubt as to how I was feeling. I cancelled my order.
As I said. Aaaaaargh!
(Next year I might even go back to old fashioned shopping; the kind where you go into shops and buy things and take them away in carrier bags, and then go and have a rewarding cup of coffee. Oh - and you don't even need a password to get in...)
I selected some lovely garden ornaments for a relative from a (paper) Christmas catalogue. When I went to order them online I was told they'd be coming into stock in February. (Good job I didn't send off the form in the catalogue!) So he's getting a shirt ...
ReplyDeleteYes, there's something to be said for physical shopping.
But then you have to park, and get rained on, and pushed about by grumpy crowds...
DeleteSorry to hear that, Frances. John Lewis are one of the few shops to retain my good opinion. They have always been very efficient about delivering things, and upfront about when they can't.
ReplyDeleteDisappointing to learn that they too have feet of clay...
I love the shops, but their online service isn't that good in my experience. Have a lovely Christmas, Tim!
DeleteI like old fashioned shopping, and very seldom buy anything online, but sometimes my husband does and this 'being processed' malarky drives us mad. You were very kind not to shoot the messenger!
ReplyDeleteI try to be nice to messengers, but sometimes it's tempting to let rip, Libby!
DeleteI too, do try not to shoot the messenger on the phone, they `re only young people trying to earn some money, but I have said.....tell your employers what is going wrong. Do they? I doubt it. John Lewis and Waitrose ( where I buy all our food ) are always superb. Never had a problem with them.
ReplyDeleteYou're right of course, Frances...
DeleteWhile the internet shoppers are keeping me in a job and I am very grateful I am much more in favour of old fashioned shopping. I went out and got the book i wanted for my daughter cos amazon couldn't dispatch it for two weeks.
ReplyDeletehope you have a peaceful christmas
martine
Happy Christmas, Martine!
DeleteThere's a lot to be said for normal shopping isn't there Frances. Enjoy Christmas.
ReplyDeleteYou too, Susan Jane.
DeleteAt times this Christmas season has made me feel like the woman covering her ears so she can't hear herself scream.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Yvonne! My poor daughter has just phoned for a scream. Kids, food, guests, shopping....All getting to her, poor girl!
Delete35 people - that is a LOT of presents! No wonder you thought to make things a little easier by ordering online. The only people who'll have a present from me are the ones that are going to be there on Christmas Eve at my parents' (5), RJ (1) and the closest family in Yorkshire (5). Three of these presents I ordered online and they all got there quickly, the rest I bought in shops or took them from my Mum's Etsy shop :-)
ReplyDeleteEveryone can run out of stock with things, but they should have been honest about it.
We have a big family, Meike!
DeleteMust confess the only online shopping I've done is at Amazon - might keep it that way! Have a wonderful Christmas, Frances!
ReplyDeleteActually, all you really need is Amazon, Rosemary. I don't care about their tax thing. Their customer service is second to none!
DeleteSometimes I don't feel like such a dinosaur after all. Have never ordered anything on line, which must be a rare thing these days. You must cut that present list down though. It's enough to make anyone scream.
ReplyDeleteI'll still shop online, Maggie. On the whole, it works. On the whole...
DeleteExcept for some book purchases via Amazon - I shop the old way - which is an odd thing to do as I sort of hate shopping. I need a shopping servant.
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas to you and your family Frances.
Anna :'
Thanks, Anna. Have a lovely Christmas yourself.
ReplyDeleteWhen one lives as I do half the year on an Island 30 miles across The Minch from the Scottish mainland on-line shopping for many things s a real boon. John Lewis have never let me down and will deliver FREE to Lewis (when many UK suppliers won't even post the simplest of things as if it were an unknown foreign country).
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm in New Zealand being able to sit at my computer and shop on-line in the UK is very convenient.
Given your antipathy to post 1970 inventions I'm surprised at your use of on-line shopping Frances. I thought you'd be at the counter of John Lewis where you could wait patiently for an assistant to find what you were looking for. Then take it home on the bus, wrap it with loving care and entrust it to the Royal Mail for onward delivery.
GB, it's not me but my son who has the post-70s antipathy! And my husband worked for John Lewis all his life, so we have a certain loyalty. But this experience was something else. The saga went on, but I won't bore you with the details!
DeleteI did appreciate that it was your son with the antipathy but I rather got the impression that you shared it. My tongue was, of course, firmly embedded in my cheek anyway because nothing is ever that simple.
DeleteRe-reading my comment it did look as if I was springing to JL's defence and in a way I suppose I was though not really intentionally and I do accept that every company - especially as things get put into systems lacking the ability to be diverted by human reason - has its failings. When it's happened to me with a supplier to whom I have become loyal I feel a sense of terrible let-down which, given the nature of large supply operations, is not really rational. Now if your old corner store let you down......