SO much headspace dealing with shit buisnesses

[Cluelessasacucumber]

I really just need to rant about how crap it feels like service has gotten, especially - I'm sorry to say - from small businesses. I'm really at the end of my tether today dealing with other people's uselessness, it takes up so much time and energy!

Firstly have contacted several dog sitters in the last month. Several just never got back to me, 3 of those that did arranged a date to visit, had all my info, I dropped a message the day before just to confirm and then 2 of them NEVER SHOWED UP. Just completed ghosted me.

Next up, ickle bubba, advertise a next to me crib low enough to fit our bed. Order crib. Turns up and is totally different dimensions from advertised, therefore does not fit bed. Tell them I'm sending back and want full refund as it's their error, luckily they do agree and arrange collection. 3 weeks later I have to chase for refund and am told item hasn't arrived at warehouse. Except it has, and I know this because I have the tracking information so someones cocked up and I'm left doing more bloody admin.

Finally, buy a table off a local business, could collect but they offer delivery so go with that. Seller pushes for prompt payment so it can be removed from display so I pay within hour. Delivery date arranged the following week and I'm told I'll receive time slot text in morning. Date rolls by, Ive arranged work so I can stay in and then hear nothing. Midday I get in touch only to be told driver has broken down. Fine these things happen but should have let me know, I have to chase updates before eventually being told delivery will be arranged, collection now not an option (from them). I'm waiting another 2 weeks for date and same thing happens, I have to chase only to be told he's now sick. Getting pretty fed up with the appalling lack of communication and I'm still without a table, so I say next week or I want a full refund. Delivery rearranged for today, low and behold have to chase up as hear nothing and now apparently there's been a family bearevement, which is very sad if true but I'm starting to worry I've been scammed. It really shouldn't be on me to resolve delivery issues, and the utter lack of communication has really angered me, as I've had to rearrange and chase her up and I'm still without the table I've paid for!

Am I doing something wrong? Is it normal for small businesses just to ghost customers now? Do they not want the business? If I was this shit at my job I would have been fired!

I have generally found small businesses to be better at customer service, especially as you are normally talking to an actual human to sort it out. But generally agree that it pisses me off to have to spend my time dealing with mistakes and fuck ups by companies or government.

Order crib. Turns up and is totally different dimensions from advertised

We renovated our house around ten years ago and this was a regular occurrence then! Just people incorrectly copy & pasting off some website onto their own. Found it with baths, other fixtures etc. Incredibly frustrating.

I found small businesses generally a lot better than big businesses. We've had no end of problems with larger businesses simply not turning up, i.e. sofa delivery from Sofology with 3 failed delivery attempts, waited in every day, despite texts the day before saying they were delivering, nothing came, no apologies, no texts etc., then the devil's own job trying to contact the right dept to arrange a re-delivery, and of course, it's at their convenience as they won't "fit it in" despite being their fault they didn't turn up, so another few weeks before the next "slot" at which they didn't turn up either. 4th time lucky and when the van driver came, he made a big song and dance saying we were "lucky" he was delivering as he had a "Big night" the night before and had been sick when he woke up that morning and had thought about phoning in sick, making out he was doing us a favour!

Local council booked in for collection of a few items of furniture from MIL's house - at a cost per item as they were old things without fire labels, or old wardrobes, etc., so paid £55 to the council for a collection. Texts and emails beforehand to confirm date and then text the night before to say approximate time slot, but again, bugger all on the day itself, waited in, nothing happened. Phoned council the next day and they couldn't give a toss, apparently the driver "ran out of time", so booked again for the following week, but that time, same thing, no text no collection so phoned again the next day to be told "he'd broken down", and she started giggling making out it was funny it was the second time we'd been let down!

Then they wonder why customers give them ear ache!

Customer service has massively worsened, with the staff making out they're doing us a favour by providing us with things we've paid for!

Agreed OP.

@taxguru yes to the doing-you-a-favour attitude, it's absolutely maddening! No, I've paid you my hard earned cash to deliver a SERVICE!