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Original poster

Anyone else struggling to book Santa visits with Harrods?

20 replies

Sourdough · 28/09/2009 11:54

Site crashed last week, message to say bookings would be taken from Mon 28th. Went on this morning to see a message saying that the site would be open for bookings from 11am. Have been trying to book for the past half hour, but it either comes up as 'service unavailable' or with an incomplete page I can't book from. AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!
Our Christmas visit to London wouldn't be complete without a trip to Harrods grotto. Anyone else struggling or have any tips as to how I may contact them?

OP posts:
kiwibella · 28/09/2009 12:10

YES.... me too!! I'm going back and forth with different messages.

Fingers crossed our booking will be successful soon.

georgiemum · 28/09/2009 12:15

It is painfully slow. Have patience! I was on the site the minute it opened and managed to book ok - but it was v..e..r..y.....v..e..r..y....s...l...o...w

Try calling customer services.

kiwibella · 28/09/2009 12:34

good thinking GM... called, website has crashed!!!!! Please try again in 2-3 hours (said rather condescendingly, I felt ).

Original poster
Sourdough · 28/09/2009 12:38

Oh bugger. At least you managed to get through to cust services, kiwibella. I keep getting a recorded message telling me they are too busy to answer my call.
I think it was a bit silly having an 11am start time. It meant that all those who logged on before this time (quite a number, I'd imagine) were all waiting to pounce at 11am. No wonder it's crashed....again.

OP posts:
miroam · 28/09/2009 14:31

Struggling is not the word! Tried for hours on the first day (22nd) with no luck. Thought after shutting the system for a week they would have it going much faster but today it is worse. Have been trying since 11 and have got to various stages in the process but never actually got a ticket. Just got back in to the date page and now all weekend dates are showing as sold out except for the last one in November which is showing limited! I have spent 2 days of my life (virtually!!) trying to book these tickets but think I will now give up. Bit of a joke really, v disappointed

jazzandh · 28/09/2009 15:12

It took us (DH and I) nearly 3 hours to book, and as miroam said by the end all weekend dates gone. Luckily we break early so have gone for a weekday......in the end it became a mission!

A rubbish web provision - but that's probably what happens when it's free (cynic that I am....)

Will not be attempting this next year!

Original poster
Sourdough · 28/09/2009 15:16

I have been trying since about 11.30.
No luck at all.

OP posts:
kiwibella · 28/09/2009 15:58

ditto... feeling really pissed off that I have spent the day back and forth to the website.

They must realise the capacity and the numerous people trying for these tickets. It's a bit disappointing.

kiwibella · 28/09/2009 17:40

Dear Harrods Christmas Grotto Customer,

Due to unprecedented demand, the Grotto booking system is temporarily unavailable.

On behalf of Harrods please accept our sincere apologies for any disappointment or inconvenience that you may have experienced whilst using our Grotto booking system over the past 7 days.

Due to the high level of demand we are now fully booked for every weekend in December and Christmas week.

On the 7th November we still have availability in the evening.
There is good availability in November and early December on week days.

Once again please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience you may have experienced whilst using our Grotto booking system this year.

We thank you for your patience and understanding.

ok, so any ideas how we go about booking tickets to see Santa?

Harimosmummy · 28/09/2009 17:42

I'm really ticked off with them now.
I've been trying all day.

ramonaquimby · 28/09/2009 18:35

why don't you all try going somewhere else? surely it's not that fantastic?

Original poster
Sourdough · 29/09/2009 10:45

It's a bit of a tradition I enjoyed as a child and DD2 loves, esp now we live far from London. We go on the train and have a nice day out, visit the Grotto, marvel at the fabulous decor, have lunch and buy a few nice little titbits to bring home. She spends at least an hour in the toy dept where she can actually play with stuff and see toys you just don't see anywhere else (giant panda teddies, fairy castles etc). It is quite wonderful when you live in a rural area. We have been to other grottoes or, should I say, grotties. Nothing can compare in Britain, IMO. We have spent christmases in the US with the DDs and that's a different matter. Santas everywhere and really well done. Over here it's a B&Q garden shed with some coloured lights and a skinny bloke in a dirty rented santa suit. Harrods is the only place I have been that puts some real effort into making it magical. I am rather disappointed to be missing out this year.

Don't know what 'unprecedented demand' constitutes - I thought after last week's fiasco the demand should have been completely anticipated.

OP posts:
tootiredtothink · 29/09/2009 11:44

When did they manage to get give out the tickets for the weekends in November?

Last time I looked they were still available but the site was down, and now they've all gone??

Sadly can't even take dd out of school this year for a day as it's her last year in Juniors .

Original poster
Sourdough · 29/09/2009 13:01

I did wonder that. I kept re-visiting the site all through the day and never even got as far as a booking page and phoning cust services only got a recorded message. Who on earth managed to book?

OP posts:
kiwibella · 30/09/2009 13:21

I have just booked for the 11th of November. My goodness, my dd isn't even going to realise it's Christmas .

I just want to go Harrods, at least the once. Just because it's Harrods. I know that we can see the jolly fat man anywhere too.

cilitbang · 30/09/2009 18:27

I've got a ticket for 2 children for 25 November at 10.30am, but DH and I have decided against it now as think it will be a bit of mare getting there and think it might be a bit busy for us. If anyone would like this I can email you the booking code.

ps. keep trying the phone number because I first got through to a guy with a foreign accent (was it Mr F himself I wonder??) who booked us for Christmas Eve at 1.30pm!! (this was yesterday!!). He said there were loads of slots availble, most days, most weekends. DH told me to rearrange it cos it would be a bit hectic in London on Christmas eve, so I cancelled it but when I did the lady I cancelled it with was astounded that I'd got that slot and asked if I was a VIP. Its a mystery who I spoke to but you may get lucky too if you keep trying, if you really want to go see the Harrods Santa.

Anyway back to original reason for post let me know if anyone would like this slot, NOT the Christmas Eve one, the 25th Nov at 10.30 am.

tootiredtothink · 01/10/2009 15:53

Cilitbang - Could I beg for your tickets please????

My email is [email protected]

My kids and I shall be eternally grateful.

tootiredtothink · 01/10/2009 15:56

Oops, no. In my haste to nab them I got my days mixed up and thought they were weekend ones.

Sadly can't take dd out of school for the day.

Thanks for the offer though.

cilitbang · 01/10/2009 20:44

No probs, sorry they are not suitable. Selfridges go on sale on 1st October think they are only £2 each. good luck!

tootiredtothink · 02/10/2009 13:56

Thanks again for the offer though. Hopefully someone else will be able to enjoy them.

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