Bambino Direct - has anyone bought from them?

[hallett]

I'm interested in one of the package deals that they have on buggies at the mo, and just wondered if anyone had bought from them recently

good/bad experiences?

Dear All

I was just about to buy from Bambino Direct but after having read these terrible reviews I will not bother and pay extra for peace of mind. I am in the legal servies industry and have the following tip:-

If any of you ladies bought goods using your credit cards, the contract will be regulated by section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1975 (provided the transaction was over £100). FOr more on this see the following link.

www.choosemoney.co.uk/guide/credit-cards/features/section-75-of-the-consumer-credit-act-g uide.html

This section covers non delivery of goods, mis sold and faulty goods too. The easiest way to reclaim your money is to contact your credit card provider setting out the circumstances. 9 times out of 10 the credit card company will refund you directly and they will then pursue the company who supplied the goods themselves.

Good luck and thanks for the tip!

:-)

We ordered a Quinny Buzz travel system in July 2009. Despite the Bambino Direct website stating everything was in stock, it wasn't!

Some of the parts arrived within 10 days but none within their stated delivery timescales.

The carrycot still hadn't arrived in the final week of September, despite much chasing.

The company failed to respond to emails and didn't answer the telephone. We had false promises of a refund. We then heard nothing for weeks. In the end I had to contact the manufacturer for their assistance in contacting the company (Bambino Direct are amazingly an approved Quinny supplier). We had been greeted with the same deafening silence whenever we contacted the company UNTIL I'd involved the manufacturer and questioned them being an approved supplier. I suggested to Quinny that their reputation may be damaged if they allowed suppliers of their goods to act in such a way.

The carrycot finally arrived on Monday, four weeks after our baby was born (less than a week after I contacted Quinny).

I would personally never buy another thing from Bambino Direct and only wish I'd read these reviews before spending hundreds of pounds with a company whose customer care has been awful!

I'm hope people are taking note of this thread, it is not sour grapes, just an accurate portrayal of what you may experience if you buy from them!

Single handedly the worst company I have ever dealt with. I ordered a Britax travel system back in December. Said carrycot would be available beginning of Jan 2010. So they took money for whole package but we waited and waited and still no carrycot (now its February 15th 2010). Each time we ring up, its always going to arrive next week. That is when we manage to get through. Somedays we will try for hours and then theyll just end the call before they answer. Then today, they answered, said wrong number (even though the recorded message had been saying bambino direct for the last 15 minutes) and put the phone down. Its cold out and I cant take my baby out of the house without a carry cot.If theyd have told us the truth from the start I would have bought another system. Ive just ordered the cot from Mothercare in a different colour. But Ive asked for the replacement cost to be refunded to me (119.99) not just their price of 90.00 for the individual piece. I could demand further compensation for this 60 day delay. 30 days is considered acceptable to demand compensation according to advice.org.uk. Bambino said the manager will get back to me after lunch (name Paul Alley). Funnily enough,he's not called back yet!! DO NOT GO NEAR THIS COMPANY!!!

I ordered a Stokke cot from Bambino Direct 2 months ago which has a fault. I have NEVER gotten through to anyone on the customer service line and I've tried dozens of times. I emailed their returns line 2 weeks ago and have not had a reply. I will NEVER use this company again.

There were 2 things that originally attracted me to this supplier - low cost and ability to earn Nectar points.

I'm going to write to BBC Watchdog and I'm going to complain to Nectar.

But in essence - DO NOT USE!!

AVOID BAMBINO DIRECT as if your life depends on it. I purchased from them in Dec 09. I am still waiting (May 10) for them to complete my order. No one ever answers their phones, they do not respond to emails. Their so called Customer Services Manager says he'll call and never does.

I've used KIDDICARE and I am very happy with their service.

I ordered something from them which didn't turn up. I e-mailed them several times & they never replied once. Never got an answer when I phoned them. Then they suddenly refunded my money months later after I'd given up chasing them. No contact from them or anything just noticed the refund on my credit card statement. Steer well clear.

I ordered the Britax B dual tandem from them on Sunday evening, I wish I had seen these threads before! I recieved the confirmation email that says my money will only be taken at the point of dispatch but the following morning (bank holiday Monday!) the money had left my account - £469!! That's when I read all these negative reviews, so I decided to call them to ask if they were going to dispatch my pram on that day, and the lady said they don't actually have the item in stock, and they will get it within 7 to 10 working days!
I thought about it all day and decided to cancel my order and ask for a refund. Yesterday I spoke to them again, a lovely northen girl who was very honest with me and told me not to worry, the money will be back in my account in the next few days.
I called my bank this morning, they said the money has left my account but Bambino direct haven't actually claimed it yet.
I know they will claim it either today or tomorrow. As I've chosen to cancel my order, they're supposed to put the money back in my account within 2 days and the money is supposed to arrive in my account a couple of days after that. So hopefully end of this week or beginning of next week I should recieve my money back.

Do you think that will be the case? Or in my dreams?!!!!

How long do they really take to refund the money if you cancel early? Has anyone recieved their money back really fast?

Please help, I'm very stressed already, due to give birth in a week.

If you've paid by credit card then you should be insured if anything goes wrong. I'd ask Bambino direct for an email immediately to confirm cancellation of the order, and get then to put it in the post too - you have the right to do this for any transaction within 14 days so far as I understand, it's the legal "cooling off" period. I'd think about confirming my cancellation in writing too if you can find the energy. I'm 39+1 and can imagine it's a stress you really don't need at the moment.

I was lucky and found the thread before I ordered from them. They do have some good deals, but it's worth knowing that the fabulous kiddicare and probably others will price match to them so long as the item is in stock in the same colour etc. So you get the deal from the best!

Thank you, I will definately order my buggy from kiddicare once my money has arrived. I have never had any problems with them, they're fab.
I have just spoken to someone from Bambino and she told me they've recieved my cancellation email (I sent it twice) and she said it will definately be cancelled today. Apparantly I am second on the list, they do the cancellations first thing in the morning and mine will be the second one to be dealt with. I'm hoping that's true. She also said I will recieve an email to confirm that my cancellation has been dealt with.
The lady was honest with me and told me although they refund within two days, it will take a few more days for the money to actually arrive in my account which I understand.
Fingers crossed it will all be sorted out within the next few days, I will keep you posted.

Damn Damn Damn... why did I not Check with all my fellow MumsNet users???
I ordered a bedding bale at the beginning of the month but after no response for 2 weeks, I decided to check their confirmation email. It stated that no money would be taken until the product had been despatched... funnily enough, on checking my mastercard statement online, they took the funds the day after I ordered!!!
I have since been on the phone 4-5 times, chasing the delivery of the bedding bale. Excuses have been that UK MAIL has despatched it to the wrong depot, delay at the depots etc...
Like AngieBaby73, I too have put my concerns to Watchdog, as I very surprised that from the original Mumsnet Thread of 2008, this is still going on.
To Bambinos Directs credit, the customer service assistant I have spoken with is very professional and apologetic, however I await some form of outcome now, prerably before my due date in 4 weeks!!!!
To all those considering using BD in your last trimester... DONT, it really is not worth the stress!

If you really want to get BD where it hurts, contact the manufacturers (as someone has already done.) High end brands are very protective of their reputation, and will not wish their products to be sold by cowboys.

I also second what the independent shop said earlier in the thread, its worth paying more to get your product from a bricks and mortar shop.

I'm not sure if this is an issue in the nursery industry but international manufacturers will usually have one official importer who will then feed stock out to official suppliers. Some cut-price internet sites will say "grey imports", imports that don't come through the manufacturers preferred importer. They will often be cheaper, but will have no warranty so you would be relying on the seller to fix things for you.

Buying cheap from the internet is often a false economy...

Great idea contacting the manufacturers direct.I'm getting straight onto Bugaboo and advising them to stop supply.

Let's also all take this to Watchdog.

To describe these guys as cowboys is an understatement.

www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/gotastory/

PS Kiddicare are brilliant - definitely use them instead.

PPS For anyone still chasing BambinoDirect, their Customer Services team leader's direct dial number is 01484 448936. The lady is called Claire Fox. Don't bother emailing her on [email protected] as she won't respond.

I think i must be the only person that has had a good experience with BD. After being let down by two other companies i ordered a carrycot over the telephone with them back in April, it was delevered the next day with no problems.

STAY AWAY FROM BAMBINO DIRECT, EVEN IF IT IS CHEAPER. YOU END UP PAYING A LOT MORE!!! PEOPLE ARE RUDE, UNHELPFUL. nEVER WAS MORE FRUSTRATED WITH ANY OTHER WEBSITE MORE!!!!

Thanks to everyone who has posted here. I Saw the travel system I wanted on Bambino Direct for £22 less than the next cheapest, so I was going to order it, till I came across this thread.

Anyway, I ordered it from Kiddicare YESTERDAY, and it arrived TODAY, AND they have price-matched it and refunded £22 to my credit card!!

So this is one HUUUUGE recommendation for Kiddicare!

I just got a car seat from bambino...couldnt fault them! delivered when they said they would and the man was lovely, its a heavy car seat and so he carried it right into the house so I didnt have to struggle :-)

Laurenamium, glad to hear you had a better experience than most people. I havent had any dealings with them at all, so just went on the advice of others.

Hi all, i am contacting watchdog today, if others do we can get this company stopped

Hello, Bambino Direct have noticed this thread and have asked us to post up this statement from them:

?Bambino Direct are under new management (Oct 2010). We?re now part of Buy it Direct, one of the largest e-tailers in the UK, and we?ve undergone a lot of changes. Our key focus is to provide all customers with the best possible deals available as well as giving great customer service. If you have any feedback on their new site or what you?d like to see from Bambino Direct please email us at [email protected]?

Don't be fooled by there price! Worst company ever! The staff are rude and I'm yet to speak to a manager as there always in meetings.... Do they think I'm stupid?!
They sold me a pram. The wheel fell off with my new born inside, I've only been using it a month and like many other women you buy a pram when your expecting not after the baby is born. I'm told it's under warrenty and I'm not entitled to a refund even tho they have sold me a dangerous and faulty item. I'm told the manufacture will repair it. It too them 4 days to contact them, so I'm pramless for another 2 weeks. I have a grumpy newborn who needs a push in a pram and I can't. Seems like they have my money and they don't care!
BEWARE OF THEM
I wish I'd read this before I ordered
I also do not appreciate being put on loud speaker whilst I'm making a complaint! Seriously...... 2 people I know have ordered with them as I recommended them, but now they are cancelling there orders. I hope many others read this and do the same so they have no buisness because they certainly cannot run one!

I have ordered twice fro Bambino Direct without any problems, i ordered a5 peice bedding bale which is lovely and was delivered within 2 days, i then placed an order for a Silver Cross Pram, they advised me the same day as to when the item would be delivered, it was delivered on that day, they kept in touch with me and the item was the best price i found online, great value, i would order again for sure, the bedding bale was a fantastic price too!

I was apprehensive after reading some of the comments on here, but as many of them are a couple of years old and the company is still in business I thought it was worth a try and contacted them last week to order a travel system.

Spoke to a very helpful sales assistant on the phone who was happy to answer all my questions and I rang back the next day to place the order. I was told that delivery would be within 10 days. By the time I got home from work the next day, the travel system and all the accessories had been delivered. I immediately checked the contents and everything was there and did not appear to be damaged. I haven't set up the system yet but am very impressed with the service I have received and would definitely order from them again!

Bambino Direct? 2012 and things don't seem to have improved. Cowboys!!!Stay well away. Will spare you the details of our pain but will pass our case on to trading standards. Beware of returns 'policy'. £20 to return item. They won't specify collection times even though courrier told me that I should have been given a time slot. And charged £20 for 'incomplete' packaging - packaging was all pristine when it was sent back! Still waiting for our refund for original item returned. No one interested or willing to help.

Thought I'd do a quick check on here as I'm still waiting for a (toy) pram that I ordered the first week of June. It's a HippyChick Moover which I ordered for a birthday gift for my niece. I'm hoping it's not going to end up being a Christmas present!
I was told it would 7-10 days from my order and like most of the other posters my money was taken immediately. I received an email a couple of days later stating I'd have to wait until August, so I'm waiting, not very patiently, but I'm crossing my fingers and waiting now I've read all the horror stories.
It appears that although the owners have changed this company are still not providing a good enough service.
Let's hope my goods arrive.

Coincidently or not?? The pram arrived today. Very happy and relieved after reading the other posts.