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Original poster

Have we had the good online shopping companies yet?

187 replies

miSaltireandwine · 02/12/2011 10:53

Can i list
M&M Direct. ordered on Wednesday evening, items here today. Also they do free postage if you order over £50

The Book People - always good, never ever had any problemswith them

Play.com - as above, plus free delivery

OP posts:
MrsHeffley · 02/12/2011 16:58

Yodel are bloody awful.I'm expecting a parcel from John Lewis.We weren't in and I had a card with something I can't read on,so I rang the number.It just goes dead.I e-mailed them 2 days ago and have heard nothing.

I'm staggered John Lewis use them to be frank.I couldn't fault all the other carriers we've had.

Hollyfoot · 02/12/2011 16:59

I've just ordered from Debenhams for the first time. What should I expect? Sad

warmandcosyhellokitty · 02/12/2011 17:03

elc - have ordered loads very quick and no probs
amazon - as above
very

mammanetta · 02/12/2011 17:05

for voucher codes - worth checking out www.myvouchercodes.co.uk for alphabetical lists of companies doing discounts.

Ones to avoid:
Mothercare were bloody dire - got a 10% discount on a buggy there 2 years ago (online) but it never arrived, then sent the wrong one...ended up back at John Lewis to buy it full price but with less hassle!
GLTC were crap on delivery and many things arrived broken or damaged in some way.
Kiddicare were also terrible - refused to take back a faulty item. had to fight for months to even get an email reply. Don't need that kind of crap when you have a newborn baby to look after and very little energy!

montmartre · 02/12/2011 17:09

lurking for ideas...

thousandDenierStocking · 02/12/2011 17:12

John Lewis - fab as always.
Kiddicare - I'd heard a few duff reports but free delivery and a 1hr slot was faultless.
ASOS - free delivery and loads of groovy beauty and accessories stuff for under a tenner.

the only bum note was Jojomamanbebe who were let down by their shite delivery carrier who promised a 1 hr slot, failed to turn up at all that day without making contact and couldn't redeliver at a time to suit me Angry

ladybaabaa · 02/12/2011 17:13

Gltc were crap last year, ordered a bookcase but they forgot the little shelf holder bits. Refused to believe we hadn't received them, chased them for ages and then they told us they would have to take the bookcase away and then send us a new one! All for the sake of a few wooden bits we then bought at homebase for about £5.

Sorry for rant, but haven't used them since and their catalogue goes straight in the bin! Idiots.

Not sure Topshop been mentioned, they have always been good for me.

thousandDenierStocking · 02/12/2011 17:15

oh and La Redoute were initially great but are now bombarding me with marketing by email, text, and last night at DS bathtime - my sodding landline. I'm sure I ticked No Marketing.

ladybaabaa · 02/12/2011 17:15

Oh and liz Earle, fabulous service, lovely products and they always send a few nice little freebies. Love them. Nice gifts for the ladies in your life.

mammanetta · 02/12/2011 17:17

I second thousandDenier on La Redoute - aggressive marketing jeezus

ladybaabaa · 02/12/2011 17:19

Vertbaudet- mega aggressive, had to call them to cancel the marketing, nightmare.

mammanetta · 02/12/2011 17:21

DHL are the WORST couriers too - I actually ask companies I haven't used before if they use DHL and if the answer's yes, I go elsewhere.
If you are unfortunate enough to miss a delivery, then try to ring number on card left behind, it's either:
-always engaged
-you go through god awful automated system which is infuriating to work out
-when you finally manage to select the new delivery date, I guarantee you it will NOT arrive on it. That would be too easy.

Fuckwits Angry

mammanetta · 02/12/2011 17:23

ladybaabaa definitely second that with Vertbaudet - kept receiving marketing by email/text/post for a year...

JarethTheGoblinKing · 02/12/2011 17:29

God yes, Vertbaudet are a nightmare.

moondog · 02/12/2011 17:36

Liz Earle
Cox & Cox
Bright Minds
Lakeland
John Lewis
I'm very fond of both the website and service of Keepcup which I have bought as groovy thermos thingies for my kids' packed lunch.

MrsHeffley · 02/12/2011 17:40

OMG just done a Google on Yodle and they are seriously bad,they've been investigated by Watchdog and if you look on Reviewcentre there are just pages of complaints. There is even a post from somebody who works for them saying "don't use us".

I just rang John Lewis re my missing parcel and the lady said they can't guarantee Yodel won't be used so I won't be ordering anything else from John Lewis.I do a lot of internet shopping big and small companies and have never come across them before so not entirely sure why John Lewis can't guarantee Yodel won't be used. Sorry if John Lewis are trading on their good name that should extend too service from carriers too.

I'll always double check now before I order from anybody who the carrier will be.

Yodel were supposed to re send said parcel yesterday or today and I've heard nothing not even a card,hovered round the house too.Oh if you ever get through to their dead call centre they charge 10p a minute-for their cock up!!!!!

mammanetta · 02/12/2011 17:46
Shock blimey MrsHeffley that is poor. will look out for Yodel and add to DHL as couriers to be avoided.
MrsHeffley · 02/12/2011 17:46

Sorry I forgot the good.

Baby Equipment for cheap Playmobil,loads in stock and free next day delivery.
The Book People always a top service,ditto Book Depository,Amazon,Scholastic.

Bambolina are superb if you're buying dolls.The lady e-mails you back almost immediately and never tires of giving fab advice(I've e-mailed several times).Goods are gorgeous,arrive quickly and are beautifully wrapped.Have to say some of the best service I've come across.

Jelly and Blancmange are good as are I Love Retro.

mammanetta · 02/12/2011 17:47

never did understand why good companies with reputations that are worth holding on to, can't just stop using such crap couriers...apparently it's down to cost - there's a surprise.

mammanetta · 02/12/2011 17:51

ooh off to Google Bambolina now...and Jelly...and Blacmange :)

MrsHeffley · 02/12/2011 17:52

Me neither.It's bonkers.

Seriously Google Yodel complaints,nobody would order from anybody using them if they were aware.

cantfindamnnickname · 02/12/2011 17:54

Amazon are brilliant - a parcel i ordered didnt turn up - I emailed them and they emailed back within the hour apologising and sent out a replacement product and sent it fast delivery - it arrived today.

Cant fault that kind of customer service

mammanetta · 02/12/2011 17:54

Bambolina is gorgeous! Wonder if they also do dolls' houses...
Couldn't find Jelly and Blacmange - do you have any links please MrsH
Thanks :)

whomovedmychocolate · 02/12/2011 17:57

Play.com are interesting. When things go right, they are fast and very efficient but I had a situation where my card expired and instead of emailing me to say 'your card has expired' my order just sat there for three weeks till I thought 'where is my blinking DVD'.

Agree Amazon, also John Lewis, Book People, Boots.

Debenhams are rubbish though - if you can get their website to work it's a miracle in itself!

beachholiday · 02/12/2011 17:58

If you use amazon , amazon will donate 5% of the cost of your spend with them directly to various charities, at no cost at all to you.

I use this site www.childaidrr.org.uk/newbeginning.html, and just enter amazon through their link. Have used it for 3 years now.

There are other charities who have this deal too but it doesnt seem to be widely known.