Costly services you never end up using.

[machineman9]

Last Thursday I decided to buy some things from Amazon and upon reaching the checkout I was given a few delivery options. Amazon are doing an introductory scheme called Amazon Prime where, for 30 days, you get a free trial of their Prime service. Basically it is cheaper delivery costs and all of that.

So, being a tad unpatient, I go ahead and start my trial and that is all well and good. For a few extra pounds I can get my delivery dispatched the same day and have it arrive before 1pm the following day.

That was Thursday night and now it is late Monday morning. The first delivery attempt failed because nobody was there to sign for it (they managed to walk up and put a note through the letter box though, so it seems completely pointless to make me sign for it when I don't want to) and then this second delivery attempt was supposed to occur today.

I tracked the parcel online and it turns out it arrived at my address at 8:30am. However, it didn't. Instead of attempting to contact me, they merely walked off. I live in flats so I don't have a great view of the front door so I can't always see who is about. My mother left the house at the exact same time they tried to deliver and I bet she will say that she didn't see them either.

I phone up City Link and ask what's going on and then ask if they can try to re-deliver it today. The response was 'sorry, but the driver is too busy'. 20 minutes later, I see the City Link van go straight by on the main road. It would've taken less than 2 minutes more to quickly pull over and give me the parcel. The online system says they left a delivery note (which was a lie) and the phone representative said they don't leave notes. However, I had one in my hand from the attempt on Friday.

So all in all I spent money on a delivery service which never delivered and it was all for nothing. They now have to send my parcel back to Amazon and hopefully they will fully refund me or deliver it properly. For all the hassle and cost, the standard delivery would've been the quicker and better option.

So my pro tip is: If you want something, go down to the shops yourselves and physically hold the object so that it can't go missing.


Now to sort out all this mess and hopefully get what I've paid for.

[Sir_Crashalot]

Although I do buy some things online (software, some clothing) I still prefer to go to town and buy in a shop. Not only faster, it's also cheaper...

Carlo

[machineman9]

Online shopping is great when it works. However, when it doesn't work, then it gets really bad very quickly.

Sadly the only times I can get into town is at weekends (excluding this last one and perhaps the following weekend) so it would've been nice to have it arrive on time.


They merely had to buzz the number on the front door and it would've all been sorted just fine 

[expat]

The papers seem to be full of stories of the post delivering delivery failed notes even when people are at home. In some cases they have even given the addressee the note saying that they are not at home. Turns out, it is a time and money saver. Less stuff to carry about and time saved in just posting a note and not waiting for you to answer, chit chat and sign.

Matt

[machineman9]

That doesn't surprise me in the slightest. I'm sure everyone says it but I just just wish it didn't have to happen to me. I paid for that service and they hardly even tried

[TacitBlue]

I do a lot of online shopping and UPS always comes through for me. Many of the things that I do for fun require stuff that is not available in stores around here, so I have no choice. For example I make a lot of things out of fiberglass. Most hardware stores sell polyester resin and one or two styles of fiberglass cloth, but I prefer epoxy resin and sometimes I need different styles of cloth depending on the project.

[machineman9]

I do a lot of online shopping and UPS always comes through for me. Many of the things that I do for fun require stuff that is not available in stores around here, so I have no choice. For example I make a lot of things out of fiberglass. Most hardware stores sell polyester resin and one or two styles of fiberglass cloth, but I prefer epoxy resin and sometimes I need different styles of cloth depending on the project.

May I ask what you get up to with this fibreglass?

And yeah, UPS seem to be alright. I've contacted this company once again and they will try and deliver tomorrow. Typically they say '2 deliveries and then we return your product' but I've asked them to make a third attempt. I'll leave a message on the wall if I have to, just so they know how to get in contact with me when they arrive. I know it may seem obvious as there is a row of house numbers you can call, but I'll make the effort anyway.

[TacitBlue]

May I ask what you get up to with this fibreglass?

My current project is a wind turbine. I needed some heavy bi-axial fabric for the blades.

[machineman9]

May I ask what you get up to with this fibreglass?

My current project is a wind turbine. I needed some heavy bi-axial fabric for the blades.

Ahh I think you might've said, yeah.


Well I emailed Amazon and they are taking full responsibility, refunding everything and getting the parcel back for me.

So I'm glad about that.

[Steve M]

If an item is small enough to fit thru your mail slot, you can specify, Do not safe drop. You don't have to sign for it. 

[Hagar]

The first delivery attempt failed because nobody was there to sign for it (they managed to walk up and put a note through the letter box though, so it seems completely pointless to make me sign for it when I don't want to) and then this second delivery attempt was supposed to occur today.

Presumably this is a recorded delivery service so they have to get a signature for it. That's how the system works.

If the package was too big for your letter box it would still have to be hand delivered if it was sent by ordinary post.

PS.

Amazon are doing an introductory scheme called Amazon Prime where, for 30 days, you get a free trial of their Prime service. Basically it is cheaper delivery costs and all of that.

As this was a free trial it shouldn't have cost you any more than usual. Don't forget to cancel it when your 30 days is up or you will be charged for it next time.

[machineman9]

Well if the delivery is sent through Royal Mail and can't be delivered then I am able to walk into town in a morning before college, or during a break, and pick it up myself. It is easier than an hour or so of driving about.

It did cost me because normally I have free delivery but this time I tried the next day delivery. I think before the scheme it would've been about

[Hagar]

[quote]Well if the delivery is sent through Royal Mail and can't be delivered then I am able to walk into town in a morning before college, or during a break, and pick it up myself. It is easier than an hour or so of driving about.

It did cost me because normally I have free delivery but this time I tried the next day delivery. I think before the scheme it would've been about

[machineman9]

[quote][quote]Well if the delivery is sent through Royal Mail and can't be delivered then I am able to walk into town in a morning before college, or during a break, and pick it up myself. It is easier than an hour or so of driving about.

It did cost me because normally I have free delivery but this time I tried the next day delivery. I think before the scheme it would've been about

[Alonso]

Online buying isn't very common here in Peru, but a couple' weeks ago I bought my sister a laptop on Bestbuy (she is now in the U.S)...

First, I couldn't choose in-store pick up because the credit card is needed for that (not only identification)... so I ordered it with shipping... it had to be fast, because she would be flying to another U.S city in 5 days, and I wasn't sure of the address (it was a thursday midnight) .. so I chose expedited 3-day shipping... (about $25)

Turns out I didn't read the small lines... it was about 12:05 midnight... so it was friday now... AND saturdays and sundays don't count for that shipping... so now it would take  6 days!

The laptop arrived like 2 hours after she left Miami for Houston... She will be back but now she's got no laptop for about 2 weeks


So I paid more than $25 for a shipping that took practically 6 days! :-/