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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To send this stroppy email to Asda's Customer-you're-having-a-freaking-laugh Services?

28 replies

Vallhala · 20/04/2010 13:50

I am seriously pissed off with Asda and would rather use one of their competitors from now on. Here's why:

Dear Mr Sirs,

Having moved with my children (and neither a car nor friends or family for many miles) to a small village which has just one shop and a bus only every 2 hours I was delighted to find that Asda, along with Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury, deliver to my new home address.

My happiness was however premature.

Last Sunday I ordered over £132 worth of groceries. A drop in the ocean to you maybe, but a fair amount of money for a divorcee with two children and 2 dogs to feed. Along it came and there were a couple of items included which I hadn't ordered, but this was quickly sorted by the delivery driver, Jerome, who couldn't have been nicer.

It was only a couple of hours ater he'd left that I realised that Asda had omitted to deliver two very large 17kg sacks of dog food. Now, I rely on home shopping for delivery of the food for my German Shepherd and Labrador... did I mention that I have no car or support and two children, in a village with just one tiny shop and a 2-hourly bus service? So, I called Asda's Customer Services and politely and calmly explained my dilemma. I added that I had just that afternoon run out of dog food and that I was concerned as my German Shepherd cannot eat either the tinned food or the only complete food offered by our local shop as it upsets his stomach. Customer Services said that they would ensure that the Duty Manager called me early next morning (it being a Sunday evening, which I accepted without a problem).

This didn't happen.

So, I called CS back yesterday and went through the whole thing again. They apologised and said that they would chase the matter up and that I'd have the dogfood that day. And, a driver did indeed appear with my dog food... while I was out for 10 minutes at the Post Office! I tried calling her back on her mobile, without success, getting only her voicemail. I then called Asda CS, went through the whole thing YET again, and they assured me that the delivery department's Duty Manager would call me presently. I was anxious that he did, as my dogs had no food.

Guess what?

He didn't. Last night I had no option but to feed my dogs complete cat food, hoping that it wouldn't make my GSD ill as tinned food and the complete food stocked in the village store would. Feeding two large breed dogs cat food is a damn expensive way to do things apart from not being designed for them. It also depletes my stock of cat food far more quickly than I had anticipated... and quite frankly I don't feel inclined to order more from Asda at present.

So, this morning at about 9.30 I called Asda CS yet AGAIN. Can you guess what I was told? Yes, that's right, that the Duty Manager will call me very shortly and that I'll get my dog's food today. Anxious not to miss that call I'm still indoors waiting - as I explained to CS, my mobile doesn't work at present. My dogs need walking, but for that too they have to wait until Asda can provide an acceptable level of service.

I have been EXTREMELY polite, patient and understanding, despite the hanging onto the phone, the waiting in, the running up of my phone bill and cost of feeding 2 large dogs cat food. However, I am now furious and very, very upset that my dogs should suffer this, particularly as I have been placed in a position whereby I either starve them or risk giving my GSD an upset stomach, and that Asda has such a nonchalant attitude towards it's loyal customers.

Please will you address this matter immediately and ensure that I am contacted on the number below with a firm time TODAY upon which my dogs' food will be delivered.

Yours faithfully,

One VERY pissed off Vallhala and two hungry and pissed off dogs!

PS If anyone from Asda's customer "services" is reading this, I shall be posting a thread entitled "Don't order from Asda, appalling service!" in on this and other forums if this isn't resolved by 5pm!

OP posts:
FakePlasticTrees · 20/04/2010 13:57

YANBU - send it.

FYI - Ocado are very good.

Mouseface · 20/04/2010 13:58

Oooh, press send!!!!!!!

When Tesco fuck up forget bits of my order, I get money off next time!

I know that's not the point to your post but they should at least compensate you for the hassle caused and want your custom in the future!!

theyoungvisiter · 20/04/2010 14:00

Hmm... only hole I can see in your letter is whether you were given a time window for the redelivery?

Because if you were and you chose to be out in that window then to some extent, I think you are partly at fault (sorry - I know that's not what you want to hear, but if you go out during a delivery window then you can't expect the driver to hang around for 10 mins - they just can't do that).

If they didn't give you a time then I think you should mention that and make a big deal of the fact that the only reason you were out was because you weren't properly informed.

theyoungvisiter · 20/04/2010 14:04

PS - not that I am saying the lack of returned calls etc is in any way acceptable!

Just that you should put in every bit of ammo on your side before you send it.

EricNorthmansmistress · 20/04/2010 14:07

YANBU
never order from asda home delivery. Apparently ocado are great (but way out of my budget) but I rarely have any problems with tesco and when I do they sort them immediately. The last time tesco messed up and forgot half my delivery I got it in the first slot the next morning, no questions asked.

Vallhala · 20/04/2010 14:12

They did give me a 2 hour window for re-delivery... via a voicemail message that I only got AFTER the event!

OP posts:
mnistooaddictive · 20/04/2010 14:18

I have had a few problems in the past when they were implementing their new computer sysytem. I found it more effective to phone the store and ask for home delivery manager rather than phone customer services who are useless. I now know the name of the manager and ask for him personally! They will offer you free delivery nesxt time but if you are pushy and keep repeating your demand you can get a refund on the delivery you have already paid.

theyoungvisiter · 20/04/2010 14:19

Definitely say that in your letter.

They didn't confirm the delivery slot with you, so how could you be expected to be in?

theyoungvisiter · 20/04/2010 14:20

Oh and I had a problem with a Sainsbury's delivery (they delivered... hmm... 2 hours late or something?) and they gave me a £10 voucher off my next shop.

So do quote other store policies at them. If they make such a big hoo-haa over matching on price, then try matching on customer service.

OrmRenewed · 20/04/2010 14:24

God they are all bad at times. I have had trouble with Sainsburys and Tesco (really really bad!) but so far Asda have been OK. No Ocado here.

Pikelit · 20/04/2010 14:26

YANBU in sending it. Personally, I suspect they'll piss themselves laughing at the detail it contains. Cut it down to a much more direct and unforgiving missive and lose all the personal detail about your status. Why should these idiots need to know you are divorced?

TrillianAstra · 20/04/2010 14:29

Ocado have their own MN customer service representative - OcadoAnnie

Ripeberry · 20/04/2010 14:31

If you've already paid for it, they should be able to leave it on your doorstep, or 'hide it' and leave a note in your letterbox.
No initiative some people

compo · 20/04/2010 14:31

So you moved and then found out supermarkets delivered?! What would you have done if they didn't
or if they suddenly stop?!
How will you feed your dogs?
Bizarre!

compo · 20/04/2010 14:33

Hide two massive bags of dog food? Lol
yes you should have told them to leave it at your door

homicidalmummy · 20/04/2010 14:36

Complain complain...
On dh's birthday our shopping was over 2 hours late and people were due for birthday lunch ( which I hadn't made to to lack of food)! Dh phoned and complained and got delivery charge refunded- i should think so! I then complained again when dh had to go to local shops to buy his own birthday cake ( I was supposed tohave made it)-I was really pissed off and eventually got £20 in compensation.
And of course the minute I put the phone down, the shopping appears!
Typical!

Vallhala · 20/04/2010 14:48

Compo, no, I checked out the delivery facilities of the Asda and Tesco before I moved. After I moved i found that Waitrose, Sainsbury and Ocado deliver to my address too.

Sorry for delayed responses - crap mobile net connection (BT have let me down and buggered me around too!).

OP posts:
Mouseface · 20/04/2010 14:52

Cripes, BT is another ranting thread altogether - Don't get me going on them!!!

compo · 20/04/2010 14:59

You are having bad luck

I just could never move to the middle of nowhere and rely on Internet grocery shopping when it cocks up so much

padraig · 20/04/2010 15:03

YABU. I mean honestly it's Asda, what did you expect.

Especially YABU because you were out when they delivered the 2nd time.

HarderToKidnap · 20/04/2010 15:04

Sometimes they run out of stuff though. So I will do a Tesco order, they will turn up and say "we didn't have any free range eggs in stock, so here is a packet of Polo mints as a substitute" etc etc. They don't make a guarantee to provide everything you order. What will you do if they continually cannot provide on of your items?

HatetheGym · 20/04/2010 15:13

I had a shocking experience with Asda recently and would never use them again, so YANBU.

I had arranged a delivery for 7-9pm, it arrived at 9.10pm and as soon as the delivery man left I realised that a whole load of stuff was missing, including milk, cheese, fruit and veg. About £20 worth of stuff.

I immediately rang "Customer Services" and was told that I would be called the next day with a new delivery time. Of course, no phone call the next day. I then went out and bought the items that were missing as I couldn't wait any longer. I rang back a day later and the "Customer Services" man had a go at me for not ringing earlier! And there was no record of my previous phone call or that there should be a redelivery.

When items have not been delivered in the past from Tesco, I have rung up and the van has come back to my house. Asda say they have no way of contacting the driver to tell them to go back.

I got no money off or even an apology.

Vallhala · 20/04/2010 15:14

Am 6 miles outside of a city although surrounded by countryside in a amall village so it's not as remote as it sounds. Easy enough to source and have delivered items that the supermarkets can't/don't stock. It's just that this is not such a case, it's a fuck-up and subsequent incompetence and indifference on the part of Asda.

(Apologies also for typos and further delays, my spacebar has just come off and the connectors are broken. Oh, for fuxache!).

OP posts:
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 20/04/2010 15:17

YABU a bit for complaining that they delivered when you were out.

hogshead · 20/04/2010 15:28

my sister had a similarly "excellent" service from Asda home delivery - despite changing her address correctly on her online account they sent the shopping to her old address.

When she complained she was told that the computer system doesnt tell the local store of a change address. work that one out then

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