Another no-good shop..

[cornflakecrunchie]

Where on EARTH are people shopping for Christmas this year? I've already warned about the shops-that-used-to-be - Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins & the like. Terrible reviews.
I've recently ordered lots of little Christmas bits & books from The Works. Had lots of stuff in the past & it's been great, so I didn't bother checking Trustpilot. Silly me. I've waited & waited & despite promises, nothing's turned up. Here's the truspilot review. You've been warned. :-(

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.theworks.co.uk

The Works have apparently moved their warehouse or got a new system or something so deliveries can take up to ten days where before it could be 3 days.
It says this on their website.
How long have you been waiting?

This is what the website says.

I wouldn’t be trusting online deliveries over the Christmas period , there’s going to be a LOT of stuff going missing . Delivery people are leaving parcels anywhere they can , I certainly wouldn’t be buying anything that you’re relying on for Christmas delivery.

@cornflakecrunchie unless you live miles from a branch wouldn't it be easier to just go to the shop?

Debenhams used to be great, lovely clothes and good customer service.

Not any more, sadly.

However, would highly recommend Live Unlimited, their stuff is great quality.

I ordered a gift from Menkind (standard delivery) on Thursday, it arrived yesterday.

Been waiting about 15 days.
@Needmorelego I tried going instore to Sports Direct, to try on a coat. They didn't have those coats, needed to get them online. You couldn't make it up.

Amazon. Used it for years. No issues.

That is unusual for The Works (I use them a lot).
Any delays are usually because of the courier or royal mail.
I have noticed a lot of retailers now have a lot of "online only" for items on their websites.
I would agree that's annoying.

@Needmorelego I agree, it never entered my head to check out The Works on Trustpilot initially, as I've used them so much in the past & they've been great. It was only when nothing arrived & I got in touch with them, they just ask what's missing from the order - I keep telling different people there the same thing, & have now told them to cancel my order, which they seem to be ignoring.
I couldn't believe how BAD the Trustpilot review was!

Frasers Group (who owns Sports Direct) have approx 500 stores in the UK and sells many items across the same "retailer". If they were to stock a coat with say 3 smalls, 4 mediums and 3 largest in every store they'd need 5000 coats and never sell them all. They'd also need to pay to ship them out to each store. Driver wages, fuel etc.

I cannot explain to you how much retail stores eat into profits. I would wager they sell the same number of those coats if they just buy 2000, pay once to get them from China or wherever into a warehouse and the buyer pays the shipping.

@TidyCyan I worked in retail so do understand, but just one in each store for shoppers to examine would help. Some stores charge a fortune for orders & returns, so I was trying to avoid that.

@BelatrixLestrange & @TidyCyan If I shop with Amazon (which I do) I'll check with Temu too, as such a lot is on the Chinese sites but cheaper!
Tbh I'm trusting the Chinese suppliers more than the British ones, these days. I NEVER thought I would say that. :-(

💯

I try to get any essential online orders in by end of first work December at latest precisely for this reason.

I really miss Debenhams. I used to get all my bras in there, from their own range, and the sizing was incredibly consistent. Their kitchenware and bedlinen was good, too.

I did almost all my Christmas shopping in there one year, all in one go.

My nearest department store now is a John Lewis nearly 20 miles away.

The problem with review sites is that people who have zero issues very rarely go and make a review.

They only get the negative side.

So, IMO total waste of time.

I live in France in a very small town with few shops apart from supermarkets. Over the years I have loved shopping in the UK, but on our last visit we were horrified to discover that these days it's mainly on line .....but due to bloody Brexit we can't buy stuff from the UK online any more.

Temu etc may have better deliveries but the lack of safety/quality checks on nearly ALL aspects of the items production make them significantly more dangerous to the consumer than items bought in uk.
From dangerous/banned dyes in clothing, fabric items etc, to high levels of dangerous /toxic elements etc ie lead, in paint/on toys which children then handle, to downright illegal electrical items with no standardised /safety checks, the safety totally outweighs the thought of ordering from them.
And thats not even taking taking into consideration the state of the lives of those people, adults AND children, who are 'paid' to produce the items.

Strongly agree with this

@workingcocker I usually try to thank companies who do a good job.. but did you check the Works Trustpilot review? It's abysmal..
@Mama2many73 Yes, you have to be wary of what you buy - I wouldn't buy toys from Temu.It's all the same on Amazon etc though!
@LakieLady All the British shops that have gone.. :-(
@MoominMai Yes, all my 'big' online shopping is ordered & delivered, thank goodness..

Update - The Works are refunding me. I'll check my bank..

You may have more joy delivering your order to your local The Works store.

:-)

I shop at John Lewis, Next and M&S, all deliver next day to store which is much more reliable. I also shop on Amazon which is very reliable

I think we must have the one good Evri and DPD driver in the country as I always seem to get my stuff ok. I buy a lot online but admittedly most is from smaller retailers so if you’re looking for one stop shops it’s not v helpful for you to know where I bought candles and niche calendars 🤣. For mass shops I find Next is consistently reliable and Amazon so long as Amazon is the seller.

I'm done with the Works!
I've warned everyone, & shown their trustpilot review.. I can't do any more if people don't believe me.
I never do deliver to store, that's the worst of both worlds, still having to go & collect, might as well have it delivered to home. Our Evri delivery guy is great, but he can only deliver what he gets.. if The Works don't send, he can't deliver!

I had a delivery from theWorks 2 days ago, a few bits and bobs as stocking fillers. Only took a couple of days no problems