..to think that this is bloody typical...

[silverten]

I have a looong history of things-which-should-be-spontaneous-and-lovely-going-tits-up-at-the-last-minute. Proposals, romantic getaways, coming home early from work to surprise family- you name it, it has gone pear-shaped.

Ordered Christmas presents to be made last week, on the understanding that they would actually be ready by Christmas. Paid for them Sunday. Got an email on Tuesday saying that the order was being worked on, they anticipated they'd be done by Wed or Thursday at the latest.

Sent a couple of emails enquiring about delivery which made it clear I'd have to pick them up. No probs I say, I'll pencil in a trip on Friday to collect.

Now I have an email hemming and hawing about how it is a very tight deadline and they might be ready by Thursday but supplier will be going on holiday on Friday.

Bugger. I'm going to have to do emergency Christmas shopping for replacement interim gifts, aren't I?

... No idea but you left it a
Leeetle bit late

Oh yes I know it was late. But in my defence I wouldn't have ordered the bloody things if I hadn't been told they were going to be ready by Christmas....

I feel your pain. My BIL lives in Canada. Last year I sent DN's Christmas present JUST before the deadline for postage to canada and it went missing so it was months before she got it.

This year, determined to not look crap like last year I ordered at the start of Nov from a company in london, so that I had loads of time to wrap and post. the parcel went missing in the post TWICE meaning it did not arrive until the 20th December. Last day for DHL delivery to Canada... 19th. I look crap, not my fault. Next year they get an amazon voucher

Currently trying to compose an email that says 'when you said Thursday at the latest, what I actually thought you meant was, Thursday at the latest' without sounding like an arse....

Bollocks. Socks it is I think.

Can you cancel them if they aren't going to be on time?

Shouldn't think so. And anyway, I would like the items I've paid for, even if it takes a bit of time. Sure, they were supposed to be Christmas presents but in the grand scheme of things the world won't end if they aren't there for the actual day. It'll just be another thing to add to the list of nice things that didn't quite work out as planned.

I'm just bummed out that having thought I'd got a problem sorted out, I find myself in the situation of it not being sorted, and in fact starting to balloon into a whole New Problem Requiring Delicately Constructed Emails.

Why does it have to be a delicately worded email?
I am not suggesting being rude but I'd be quite blunt that you ordered them because you understood they'd be ready for Christmas and if they can't provide that service you'll need a refund or a massive discount at the very least.

Murphy's Law - "If it can go wrong, it will go wrong.

I do sympathise.

panick op

I wouldn't bother buying interim presents, if you explain to your family what happened and that they will have a lovely present in the near future I'm sure they will understand. Don't spend again and put yourself out of pocket because of this company's incompetence.

Hahaha, yesssss!

After a bit of a saga involving a complex series of phonecalls, I have most of the order, and all the bits for presents.

Now all I have to do is locate the Last Plain Chocolate Orange In Town. (wtf is this the only flavour not stocked anywhere?)

Never pay till you have the finished product in your paw!

Glad you got your stuff.

I couldn't find Plain Chocolate Oranges ANYWHERE.

I only really like the plain ones. I bet I don't get one.
Glad it's worked out.

Unfortunately it was one of those things where if you don't cough up, the thing doesn't get made....it seemed less of a cunning-trick-by-shyster and more of a bitten-off-more-than-they-can-chew type thing. But anyway. Presents are here, most of us are completely happy (was a mass order, there's only a few things missing and they weren't Christmas presents).

Yes tomorrow is reserved for the Great Plain Chocolate Orange Hunt. Cannot believe how many different flavours have proliferated since the last time I looked.... white chocolate? Honeycomb bits?? Sweet baby Gee, popping candy???

Have you tried that cheapo sweet shop on the high street? What's it called again....oh yes WH Smith

Good idea. Oddly enough that was my first port of call.

Mountains of the disgusting novelty ones heavily marked down. A few milk chocolates, but no plain ones.

I shall try Co-op tomorrow. Cover me, I'm going in...