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DO NOT BUY FROM BAMBINO DIRECT-EVER!

8 replies

babygiraffe · 14/01/2009 18:31

I ordered a pram and two car seats as part of a travel system. When the pram came it was the 3 wheeler not the 4 wheeled version. I immediately called up and got a very rude man who told me it was my fault and that I'd made the mistake, after a lot of rudeness and un-helpfulness from hin- he said if i wanted to swap it, I would have to pay a delivery charge which I did because I suspected there was no other way to get the pram I wanted. I waited in the day I had been told it would be delivered- no pram! After 5 more phone calls in the space of 2 hours-always getting through to rude man, who said someone would ring me back and made me go through whole story again as though i'd never spoken to him. I got another promise of delivery date, rang the day before to check it was coming and was told-no it would be the following day. It did come eventually but felt harassed by dealing with rude man and having to persistently ring them. The second car seat was supposed to arrive 2 weeks after the initial order when I rang to query this, was told they would not have it in stck for ten days, rang again ten days later and was told same again. Then I was given a delivery date and a car seat was delivered but not the one I ordered- (the one I wanted had been Which tested as v safe). So I rang again and was told this would be collected the following week- waited in all day noone came! after another few phonecalls eventually was collected. We needed the car seat for travel at xmas and was getting concerned that we wouldn't have one- so rang again and was told they would not be getting any more in stock. Then there was a problem with the travel system carrycot/car seat. They said they could not swap it for a different one without taking it back, checking it was truly broken- which would take an undisclosed amount of time. i said i can't do that because then i will not have a car seat at all then as they had not delivered the other one or refunded my money Asked to speak to her manager and she became more helpful and said yes there had been others who had same fault, so this time they would do it, didn't turn up on delivery day I was given, more phone calls- then it did come and I made the delivery driver wait while I CHECKED IT DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME FAULT. iT DID! It got stuck on the pram so I couldn't return it-spent an hour on the phone to britax being told how to manually remove it. Then still hadn't had my refund had 2 promises of refund date - no money! then they said they didn't have my card details so they actually rang me twice to take them- still no money a week later! then came back after xmas to a letter from bank saying i'd been charged for going over my agreed od. thought this odd as hadn't spent money- rang bank and found bambino direct had, FOR NO REASON taken £344 from my account but then put it back 3 days later +refund. in the mean time had been charged £75. So have had to make a few calls to bank meet with bank manager and send fraud complaint. have not been able to contact bambino direct since- phone line always engaged and emails bounced back! the whole thing has put me off internet shopping and wasted loads of energy and caused loads of stress at the end of my pregnancy and with my new baby, really the last thing i wanted to be doing! still haven't finished dealing with them as still have broken car seat to return but as i have been unable to contact them, not a great deal I can do. I actually don't believe the positive feedback emails as I think this is a dodgy company who are only competent in the art of being crooks!
sorry this is such an essay but I don't want anyone else to have to go through this hassle! does not work out cheaper in the end!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
tinkisdueanyday · 14/01/2009 18:57

poor you!!
i cant imagine how horrid and stressful that must of been.

hope that u managed to get a carseat and travel system from somewhere else.

JCarrolll · 14/01/2009 22:38

I can't believe what's happened to you!! That's the worst service I've heard of. As if life isn't stressful enough!

Lotster · 15/01/2009 00:12

Have heard so many bad stories about them just by searching on here today! So glad to know because I was about to order a buggy. thanks! And sorry for your exp.

ranirani · 15/01/2009 00:15

my sympathy
I actually was thinking of buying from them Quinny travel system just before Xmas, because they were the cheapest apart from Two left feet. But then remembered a thread a while ago about 2 left feet where everyone complained and said they were crooks and nothing else. So just before placing an order thru Bambino direct I made a new thread asking feedback from mumsnet members. Everyone had so much positive feedback that I almost booked it. Just it happened on the weekend after Xmas went top local Mothercare store to check out the car seat whether it fits in our car and happened to meet the loveliest shop assistant ever, who just gave me 10% off voucher. Ended upbuying from them, cheaper than BD, and I can return anything I like and if it doesnt work they can give me a courtesy pram whilst mine will be fixed. As it happens carry cot from travel system doesn't work properly so need to go down to show it to them. But at least i know where to go. whereas with internet shopping it is so difficult to give goods back.
I only buy some small things on line, so you can't get screwed for lots of money.

Lotster · 15/01/2009 00:22

Yes, like I did for a £50 stairgate when a website went under! Think in the current climate we have to be so much more careful, shame as I love buying online. (lazy )

paulus · 08/04/2009 18:03

The above experience isn't unique... they are an incompetent bunch of shysters. They deliberately make it difficult to contact them, lie about delivery dates, ignore emails and simply don't supply what they've promised.

I'm now waiting on the (partial) refund that I've been promised, although without holding my breath. After much discussion I was also offered one last week which failed to materialise in my account!

My only advice to anyone who is thinking about buying something from them is DON'T!!

Mumzzi · 09/04/2009 12:04

OMG!!
I'm sorry to hear this hun!
I jusy wish i did a bit of background research before i ordered!
Feeling totall gutted now!
I ordered a travel system that cost £500, the cheapest place i couls find it!I really wish i had paid the extra now!
I ordered it 2nd april and haven't heard anything since apart from a confirmation of order email.
I'm going to check my bank today to see if the money has gone out.

JosieMumsnet · 05/01/2011 12:59

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]?

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