please empty your brain below
Amazon continually try to deliver when I'm in, only for me to get an email that says "you were not in when we tried to deliver". And, no - you can't change the delivery destination after you've ordered it, you can only do that at that time of ordering, hopeless.

Geoff | 17.07.15 - 7:11 a.m. | #

I feel for you. That said, I think I would have bought from John Lewis so as to get the 2 year guarantee.

I think you should name and shame the companies and bank!!!!!

100andthirty | 17.07.15 - 7:13 a.m. | #

I think I'm quite fortunate in that the driver who delivers locally for the two parcel companies with the worst reputation (the same guy does both) is actually pretty decent. What's more, he's got a good idea of which neighbours are usually in during the day, so it's been a while since I've had to make the trek to an out-of-the-way business park to collect something.

That said, I do have to lug a big parcel down on the bus to Stratford later, because according to the retailer, it's the convenient way to return goods to them.

martin | 17.07.15 - 7:21 a.m. | #

Debit card? Suggest always pay by credit card for something like this. I'm hoping the PC (when it eventually gets to you) is marvellous. But if there's an issue, paying by credit card is an extra layer of protection. In the event of a problem (hope not) if the vendor can't / won't solve it, the credit card company has to help as they are jointly liable.
Naturally, being a prudent chap, you pay the cc bill in full so it doesn't cost extra.

IslandDweller | 17.07.15 - 7:31 a.m. | #

Isn't the internet wonderful!Life is so much easier and better connected. I think I may go and pat a unicorn now.

Waterhouse | 17.07.15 - 7:32 a.m. | #

I had similar antics with Habitat and Yodel. Ended up waiting at home on 5 different days over three weeks before it was finally delivered. Habitat had given Yodel a slightly wrong address (no flat number) and despite 10 or more phone calls to Yodel and Habitat, including it being sent out from the depot again, nobody seemed able to do anything about it. Ended up getting it only by standing at my front door for two hours waiting for the (equally annoyed) driver to arrive trying to deliver it to next door.

Habitat gave me £5 compensation for the 5 days of my life they wasted.

Ed | 17.07.15 - 7:48 a.m. | #

On the plus side, not many laptops come with a free spider.

martin | 17.07.15 - 7:49 a.m. | #

@100and thirty
"That said, I think I would have bought from John Lewis so as to get the 2 year guarantee."

For almost any product, I would agree with you. But their guarantee is worthless when it comes to fixing faulty computer equipment, as they haven't a clue. Go to PC World for that. (But always back everything up before you entrust your machine to them: a free hard drive is not adequate compensation for lost A-level coursework)

timbo | 17.07.15 - 8:12 a.m. | #

I'm a receptionist in a big office building in the West End, and I sign for numerous parcels every day, delivered by various different courier companies. Most of our regular couriers say they prefer working in the Central London area, even with all the parking problems. That's because, compared to residential areas, a much higher percentage of Central London addresses have someone around to sign for the parcels and a much smaller number have to go back to the depot. I realise we can't all get everything delivered to work, but it does seem a lot more straightforward.

Receptionist | 17.07.15 - 8:34 a.m. | #

Receptionist - a growing number of workplaces are banning delivery of personal parcels.

I've given up using Amazon since they switched to using courier companies rather than Royal Mail. Previously, if I wasn't in when they tried to deliver an order, I could go to the sorting office, a short walk away, and pick it up. Now, as DG says, it almost always ends up at the Trading Estate at the End of the Universe, and has gone back to Amazon by the time I get there.

And I once received a card from Hermes with a tracking number but no name on it. Since several different people live in my house, I rang them up, gave them the number and asked who the parcel was for. They said they couldn't tell me, but also couldn't rearrange delivery unless I could give them the name. I managed to establish that it wasn't for me, and then gave up. Courier companies - pah!

Baldassaro | 17.07.15 - 8:53 a.m. | #

I always get parcels delivered to work, but I'm fortunate that the office I work in is manned 24 hours a day so no problem with missed deliveries. Don't think I've ever had a problem doing that, the only downside is having to carry it home if it is bulky, but it's not far away.

Looking forward to the Windows 8, WTF were they thinking post!

Jon Combe | 17.07.15 - 8:57 a.m. | #

While reading this, this email popped up:

"Your [obscure small online-only merchant] order will be delivered today by [name], your XXX driver, between 11:33 and 12:33.

If you'll be out, it's not a problem: you have a range of 'in-flight' options such as [list of options just a click away].
Why not click below to see exactly where [driver's name] is with your order [on a map!] and we'll regularly update the page so you can see your final 15 minute delivery timeslot."

Never seen anything like it - that courier gets top marks from me (if the item arrives).

commonliner | 17.07.15 - 9:16 a.m. | #

Island Dweller - You only have to pay a penny on your credit card to be covered. The rest can still go on the debit card.

Otherwise, use shops while we've got them!

Chris | 17.07.15 - 9:27 a.m. | #

Buying a laptop from the "other side of the world"...not using a credit card to pay for it...is all asking "for trouble". Could understand it if poor and lived in the "middle of nowhere"...but not if reasonably comfortable and live in a major world city such as London where surely one can find somewhere close that will sell one a fairly decent laptop that meets most peoples requirements...even if those requirements are a little "top end". We all await the post that tells us how good it is...or that something is not quite right and it got to go back!

Grumpy Anon | 17.07.15 - 9:33 a.m. | #

cf my comments yesterday...oh the days of the old Royal Mail......

B | 17.07.15 - 9:34 a.m. | #

I feel your pain!
I bought a gift for a friend 3 weeks before it was needed. I was given a 2 week window for delivery!
When it didn't arrive within those 2 weeks I emailed them.
Was eventually told it was lost!!!
Was assured another one would be delivered on the day before it was needed.
I was in all day. Nothing arrived.
Emailed the next day and went to friends event.
Returned home to an email saying they'd tried to deliver on the agreed day, but no one was in!!
Delivery was now rescheduled for 2 days AFTER it was needed.
Refused to accept delivery and it was sent back for a refund!

Cornish Cockney | 17.07.15 - 9:53 a.m. | #

Surely there are shops in London from which you could have bought what you require - taking it home by tube might have been a tad difficult, but nothing like the runaround you've been given. Some people really bring things on themselves! Hope it arrives soon.

@100andthirty - someone locally bought a computer from Knight and Lee for that very reason. Only to be given all sorts of grief when they tried to get it repaired/replaced. They eventually had to get the Customer Watchdog at the local paper involved before they got anything like satisfaction.

DG - have you thought of involving your local paper and naming and shaming the courier company? Possibly after they've actually delivered!.

Bronchitikat | Homepage | 17.07.15 - 10:26 a.m. | #

A few thoughts...

Wish DG and commentators would Name and Shame the Bad Guys and / or Name and Praise the Good Guys. That way we'd know whom to use and avoid.

If you use a free Halifax Clarity credit card, in addition to Section 75 protection you get a fiver whenever the monthly spend is £300 or more, and there are no foreign loading fees.

National Rail have recognised this problem by opening 'Doddle' collection points near commuter stations. Sadly they've shot themselves in the foot by charging fees: I've never seen a customer in my local Doddle, and I can't see it lasting much longer. The amount of time and diesel saved by minimising the number of addresses visited and the number of failed deliveries should surely make it worthwhile for the courier companies to pay Doddle's fees.

Gerry | 17.07.15 - 10:55 a.m. | #

Yeah, the business model behind Doddle is fundamentally flawed. Who would pay extra to pick up a parcel? In Dragons' Den they would've been told "It's ludicrous!"

Re today's post: it's always better to use the merchant's shopfront on Amazon, eBay etc if they have one, as this gives you extra protection, and pay with PayPal for the same reason.

Greg | 17.07.15 - 11:53 a.m. | #

Hope you are taking close note of the comments, DG, so you will know how to Get It Right in five years time. Me? I refuse to buy laptops that do not come with free kittens.

Seriously, having been caught up in the UK passport dramas of 2014, I completely feel your pain ...

Antipodean | 17.07.15 - 1:48 p.m. | #

I walk past Doddle in Brighton station every day and see nobody in there and the staff hanging around looking bored. They're running an expensive business that nobody (or at least very few people) actually need.

If they're still running in a year, I'd be very surprised.

Ed | 17.07.15 - 2:37 p.m. | #

You should definitely name & shame the companies concerned, they'll keep getting away with being crap and taking the piss unless they are shamed into bankrupcy or adequacy. Royal Mail is the worst in my experience, I live 400 yds from the regional "delivery office". hollow laugh. I have caught the postman in the act twice slipping the red 'you were out' card thru my letterbox when I was home, cos he chose not to bring out the slightly larger than letterbox sized parcel. He made no attempt at giving me a reason, knowing full well he controls the future of all mail addressed to me should I consider complaining in any way. My partner routinely comes home to find parcels in her 'safe place', red card thru the door stating as much, her safe place being on her doorstep outdoors in full view of the street.

Sciurus Carolinensis Nemesis | 17.07.15 - 2:45 p.m. | #

@Greg: It's not a good idea to use PayPal because you lose the Section 75 protection that a credit card would have given you.

See http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/PayPal-Section75 for details.

Gerry | 17.07.15 - 2:54 p.m. | #

Thx Gerry, it's good to know.
I just used PayPal's dispute resolution once, and I got a refund very soon. If the same happens with a credit card, I don't even know where to go as a card doesn't have an "interface" where I can just click and raise my complaint. I guess it's worth to be savvy nevertheless ;)

Greg | 17.07.15 - 3:39 p.m. | #

> "Halifax Clarity credit card...you get a fiver whenever the monthly spend is £300 or more"

That simply is not true. It's a great card, but you just made that up. You may be confusing your credit card with your Reward Current Account.

Another +1 for naming the company. I know DG generally prefers to stay classy, but this could save a lot of people a lot of trouble.

Simon | 17.07.15 - 4:24 p.m. | #

I moan on a daily basis about poor web form design which hasn't been properly thought through. Some time ago I came across an excellent (and entertaining if you're a nerd like me!) free ebook about web form design at http://www.grcdi.nl/book4.htm. (For the avoidance of doubt I have no connection whatsoever with the author)

Tim | 17.07.15 - 5:23 p.m. | #

@Simon: I can assure you that it is true. I have a both a Halifax Reward current account into which I pay £750 per month, and a Halifax Clarity credit card. The current account is credited with a fiver at the beginning of every month, and the credit card is always credited with a fiver whenever my monthly spend is £300 or more.

However, the Ts&Cs may have changed.

I don't recall the requirement to also have a Reward current account and to fund it, although I can't remember which I opened first, so it may have always been a requirement.

The Ts & Cs are unclear as these recent posts show:-

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?s=55a837551537b185a837f9bdf1e73d71&t=5276308

but the Halifax Clarity credit card certainly does pay £5 if you qualify.

Gerry | 17.07.15 - 5:56 p.m. | #

I have had nothing but excellent service from Royal Mail in W6; and the last time I took a delivery from John Lewis they notified me by text message of the one hour delivery slot and delivered it two minutes after it began. The Amazon guy also knows my circumstances and leaves parcels in a sensible place. So they get my business. But I appreciate I may be lucky.

westville13 | 17.07.15 - 8:54 p.m. | #

For all the mucked-up deliveries I've suffered, and the fact that my local Royal Mail delivery office has moved from directly opposite the station to a trading estate in the middle of nowhere four miles away, I do have a 'spare' large homewares item worth almost £200 as the first one was lost by major dept store, then 'found' delivered after I requested a replacement. No, I didn't send it back...

EskimoPie | 18.07.15 - 6:37 a.m. | #

I have a feeling this is the same computer company who I tried to use once and who never managed to get my laptop beyond Shanghai. And who, after nearly a month, I had to demand my money back from. Only when I got my credit card company involved did they do so.

Instead I went to PC World. Ordered online and picked up instore the same day. The next PC I bought came online from John Lewis. I will never buy a custom PC from that company again.

Andrew Bowden | Homepage | 18.07.15 - 7:04 a.m. | #

re: Doddle. I spent about 15 minutes at their Stratford branch yesterday, trying to return some parcels - and while I was there, a small queue formed. It may yet catch on.

martin | 18.07.15 - 8:40 a.m. | #

Having read the two related posts in the wrong order I see DG has named and shamed UPS. However having set up the tracking account for myself I instantly recognised the rigmarole described by DG as being UPS's website.

I also now understand the spider reference in Sat's posting.

Oh and I know bank security processes can be annoying but having recently had "persons unknown" trying to steal money from my account I am grateful to my bank's computer and algorithms. It was irritating trying to speak to the bank's fraud protection section (took over an hour to speak to a human) but nonetheless I haven't lost any money. I suspect the thieves somehow stole details via my PC despite relevant protection software being installed. I haven't made a single online transaction since as I'm a tad wary as to what's gone on.

PC | 18.07.15 - 11:24 a.m. | #

At least with Amazon you get reviews from other customers that can warn you about "delivery took ages"/"delivery came from China!"

Anon | 18.07.15 - 8:10 p.m. | #

I have a huge sense of relief when Royal Mail is the delivery company as I pass their delivery office to and from work so can easily pick it up. Until they tried to use their initiative once and left my parcel with the management office (presumably thinking at least it was near my flat), however the office is only open Monday to Friday 9-5.

Anders | Homepage | 19.07.15 - 10:38 a.m. | #











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