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Original poster

Marks and Bastard Spencer have RUINED ds2's birthday

425 replies

Greensleeves · 18/08/2011 15:24

ds2's birthday tomorrow, he's 7

it will be the first birthday dh has ever been away, so I have busted a gut to make it special for him

I ordered something off M&S online which he really, really wants and opted for the extra charge to have it delivered today, in time to be wrapped etc

They said the payment wouldn't go through, there was a problem with the card etc, I put it through over and over again

eventually dh phoned them, from Brazil, and gave all the details over the phone and double-checked with the woman that it had gone through and would still be delivered today, 18th August

so I rang up customer services today to ask if they had an approximate time as I have to take ds1 out to a party later

they said it hadn't gone through and was marked as not paid for

eventually after more schenanigans it turned out that it was because our visa debit card is a co-op bank card - they accept visa debit cards but not visa electron (which ours isn't) - apparently, this woman laughingly told me, the first four digits of the co-op cards are the same as electron cards, so they don't work! nobody asked dh whether it was a co-op card ffs

so the present isn't paid for and won't be arriving after all

I know it sounds trivial but I am SO upset, it has been a tough two weeks without dh here anyway and I really thought I had done a good job of making his birthday lovely Sad

BASTARDS

OP posts:
honeymom · 18/08/2011 15:41

A 7 year old is old enough to understand a post mix up. Why not just put a picture of the present in a card and a note explaining that you are going into town to get it together as a birthday treat? Make a adventure out of it?

Pepa · 18/08/2011 15:41

I second minipie's suggestion

Hang in there - there is still time to figure this out!

honeymom · 18/08/2011 15:43

I just don't get how someone can order something online the day before they want it. And seriously expect it to arrive on time.

Insomnia11 · 18/08/2011 15:43

M&S have let me down, or rather their couriers have with next day/named day deliveries a couple of times, and it wasn't a case of payment not being accepted or someone not being in.

Ok, it falls under the realm of 'first world problems' but it can be very frustrating.

LineRunner · 18/08/2011 15:43

To be fair to the OP, I think the title of her thread shows her frustration levels and ire quite openly.

CheeseandPickledOnion · 18/08/2011 15:44

Bit of an over reaction surely? Just get down your local M&S and buy the item?

You did leave it a bit late anyway.

Original poster
Greensleeves · 18/08/2011 15:44

no, honeymom

I ordered it several days ago

I paid (or tried to) the extra fee to have it delivered by recorded courier on a specific day

I said today, because I was going to be in until 5pm today

I didn't order it yesterday fgs

OP posts:
ClaireDeLoon · 18/08/2011 15:45

There was a big thread about how rubbish M&S online ordering/delivery is. They don't seem to have improved any.

honeymom · 18/08/2011 15:45

I think someone might have anger issues. It isn't exactly clear from your OP that you ordered it days ago. so don't throw your toys out of the pram love and grow up.

ruddynorah · 18/08/2011 15:47

What they will do is speak to your nearest large store that has the item and get them to taxi it over to you. What is the item and where do you live? I work in a large store and quite often end up solving stuff like this when m&s direct lets customers down.

Original poster
Greensleeves · 18/08/2011 15:47

I only have anger issues when I am fucked over by incompetent twats and then wilfully misunderstood by misplaced nethunners on MN

and if they had delivered my toys I wouldn't need to throw them out of the pram

OP posts:
LineRunner · 18/08/2011 15:47

honeymom, A lot of stores and suppliers do advertise and promote 'same day' and 'next day' delivery for an extra charge. It's reasonable to expect that service if you pay for it, I would think.

I got a mobile phone couriered to me on the same day as my phone call. (I hate the supplier for other reasons so won't mention it!)

ThePosieParker · 18/08/2011 15:48

He's one, not ten!! Seriously OP it's far more important to you than him.. He won't know or care what you've got him, he'd probably just rather have the wrapping paper.

LineRunner · 18/08/2011 15:48

Or, in the OP's case, 'specific day' service.

LitByCandlelight · 18/08/2011 15:49

Probably better not to leave it to the last minute in future.

Original poster
Greensleeves · 18/08/2011 15:49

ruddynorah I spoke to the customer services manager at head office, she actually laughed when she realised it was a co-op card cock-up (presumably it happens a lot) and said there was nothing at all she could do other than apologise

I told her my son's birthday was ruined and she said "I appreciate that" Hmm

she gave me an address in warrington I can write to if I want another anaemic insincere apology

OP posts:
Original poster
Greensleeves · 18/08/2011 15:49

He's seven posie

and he will be disappointed, of course he bloody will

OP posts:
TheMonster · 18/08/2011 15:50

I can understand your anger. We had endless problems with Co-op cards not being accepted, despite them not being electron cards.

Is there any way you can get to an M&S and buy it today? Could you take your child tomorrow to buy it on his actual birthday, and make a bit of an outing of it?

LineRunner · 18/08/2011 15:50

Posie, he's 7. Looks like a 1 especially if you're continental, but it's 7.

Original poster
Greensleeves · 18/08/2011 15:50

I didn't leave it till the last minute fgs, they just failed to let us know there was a problem - in fact the told my dh over the phone 3 days ago that it had gone through, was fine and would be delivered today

is there some sort of language barrier here? Or have we had another mothercare drive?

OP posts:
UsingMainlySpoons · 18/08/2011 15:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

honeymom · 18/08/2011 15:51

Maybe I'm just a bit more relaxed than you lot. I don't see the issue. It's not the end of the world your child isn't going to suffer (unless said child is spoilt) because his present. Is a bit late.

I just think your getting upset over something very minor. Several people have offered very useful solutions however you are choosing to pick up on my post because I assumed (incorrectly) that you tried to order it the day before.

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 18/08/2011 15:51

I am so sick of people coming onto threads and playing the 'If that's all you have to worry about...' card. Obviously sometimes people need a sense of perspective, but to suggest that you can't be fucked off at M&S's incompetence is ridiculous.

I'd hold on to the fact that it will upset you more than it will him. His birthday will still be lovely, and he'll have a bonus day when he gets his present. Is your DH away for much longer?

Tortington · 18/08/2011 15:51

love the thread title

and greeny M&S are spectacular fuckers of the fucking highest order - i hope they go to spectacular birthday fuck up hell.

xxxxxxx

ChippyMinton · 18/08/2011 15:51

Will M&S not take payment at all then, as it's a Co-op card? Their cock-up, known problem, they should be putting it right Shock