To express amazement at Lakeland's customer service?

[junerat]

I ordered a few items from them which arrived earlier this week. One of them (a "magic wonder cream" that guaranteed to get any stain out of anything) was rubbish (and certainly did not get hair dye out of Amtico flooring).

I know Lakeland are good for returns, but as I don't live near a store, I started filling out their returns form which came on the despatch note. Then I realised there was no returns label. "Bugger," I thought, "I bet I'm going to have to pay to return it." I called their helpline to make sure.

The lady processed the refund immediately and said I could donate the product to charity or pass it on to someone who wanted it!

AIBU to think this is possibly the best customer service ever, and a really smart, eco friendly way of thinking about (fairly low value) returns?

[bbcessex]

Love the statelet, hotbot

Should be a new word for Mimi statement!!

[Iamnuts]

Some years ago I bought a set of saucepans with a free milk pan as part of the offer. Within 48 hours the pans arrived, but no milk pan. I phoned them, the following day it arrived (or so I thought) then the following day another milk pan arrived. Obviously the first pan had been missed off the delivery. I phoned again to explain and they told me to keep the extra pan. It was just before Christmas, so I donated it to my favourite charity for a raffle prize.

[loveyouradvice]

I adore them... and think they're very wise... I always buy far more than I mean to from them so they're definitely making money .... Ive only had to complain twice and both times they were amazing ... yup, love that they want me to give it to a mate or a charity shop ... And also love that the people you talk to use their products so give you great advice! This used to be normal with other companies and now is rare....

[Brandnewstart]

The heated aired is a godsend! Mines in my spare room and up all the time but they fold away if you are short of space.

[AutoCat]

Quote from 'Justgivemesomepeace': "I've heard of this- apparently it's more cost effective to just refund the goods (below a certain value) than it is deal with checking in the returned goods and processing refunds."

Last year I ordered something from GLTC, it cost around £12. They sent the wrong item. The item they sent cost around £20. It was lovely, but not what I wanted. They told me to keep the item and said that they'd send out a replacement. The replacement arrived - they'd sent the wrong item out again! It was something different and was worth just under £30, and was again really lovely but not what I wanted! I offered to send the items back but they refused and said it wasn't cost-effective. They sent the correct item out the next time!

It was great customer service because although I really wanted the item I'd ordered and it did delay receiving it I couldn't get too annoyed. And I must add, I've ordered from them a number of times and this was the only time that this has happened - I normally get the right item the first time!

Amazon have refunded/ replaced and told me to keep the item a couple of times, but only for very low cost items. Or they've sent a courier to collect, which is great.

[Liz38]

I think they're brilliant. I had a problem with an espresso machine that I didn't have a receipt for because it was a gift. Manufacturer shrugged their shoulders, despite being shown the email confirming it had been bought and was ready to collect. Called Lakeland from whom it had been bought, they said just call your local store to check they've got it in stock and you can go in and pick it up or have a replacement sent to the original purchaser. Same day, 4 before Christmas, I picked up my replacement. Christmas wouldn't have been a happy place without a functioning espresso machine! They have my total loyalty for that.

[Stoprightnowplease]

The heated airer is brilliant for dc at uni too.

[Beeziekn33ze]

There seems to be a big discrepancy between responses to complaints online and in store. Everyone who phoned the lovely local people in Kendal (?) got positive, even generous responses. The two posters who complained in 3 stores got unsatisfactory, even rude, responses.
Are the shops franchises? I would have assumed not. If they are a full part ofLakeland some retraining seems necessary! What a pity that some shop staff apparently let down an otherwise respected company.

[Arealhumanbeing]

Oh yes. They're brilliant.

I bought one of those plug in heat up clothes horses (can't remember the proper name) and it just dried the strips of fabric the pipes were in contact with and filled the air with moisture.

I rang them and they refunded immediately. Just asked me to drop off the used product with no packaging or receipt when I was next near one of their stores.

I don't live nearby so they picked it up instead!