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Don't use John Lewis

63 replies

Twicke · 06/04/2014 12:00

I just had to write something as we have just had our second product problem with an item from JL- both of which have been dealt with badly. This was after they had to apologise for a series of errors they made when delivering this stuff from our nursery list over a year ago.
Firstly a problem with one of the buggy wheels - rather than helping with the problem, the first question I was asked was whether I had misused the buggy in some way. When someone finally decided I was within my rights to send it back (after having to wait for 3 different staff members to come out) they couldn't find me on the system. Turns out if you bought products from the nursery list, after a certain amount of time you are not stored electronically, but manually archived!!! And nobody wanted to go through the paperwork to find my purchase so it was up to me to look up all the details- fortunately I had a long stream of emails from them at that time detailing all the mistakes they had made with the delivery so that sufficed at that point!
Second product taken back was maxi cosi base constantly beeping. On going to collect we immediately questioned it as the note from the company said there was no problem with the base and they had just replaced a button. JL staff insisted it had been fixed- so traipsed to car park with base and baby, only for it to start beeping when installed. On going back up to nursery section we were then told we had to queue again to be dealt with- all with unhappy child.
My advice is use a local shop if you have one. It will make returns easier plus they will know their stuff better. The JL staff are living off reputation- as I said I usually have to speak to a number of staff before I can find one who can answer my question. Really poor.
New mums don't make the mistake we did of thinking this is the best place to get everything- if you can find a good local shop expect you will receive much better and more knowledgeable service.

OP posts:
MrsCakesPremonition · 07/04/2014 20:41

DH ordered a bag for me from JL online. It arrived with a broken clasp. So a brilliant man from Bluewater drove 45 mins each way to personally deliver a replacement from the store to my home.

I'm afraid that my personal experience outweighs online reviews for me.

MrsCakesPremonition · 07/04/2014 20:42

DH ordered a bag for me from JL online. It arrived with a broken clasp. So a brilliant man from Bluewater drove 45 mins each way to personally deliver a replacement from the store to my home.

I'm afraid that my personal experience outweighs online reviews for me.

chicaguapa · 07/04/2014 20:49

Hmmm. I heart JL too. Though I was slightly annoyed as I'd ordered a vacuum cleaner on Click and collect to my local Waitrose, but when it developed a fault I had to take it back to a JL store for a refund. Luckily I live near one and welcome every opportunity to visit it but I did wonder what I'd have done if I'd lived a long way from one.

glowstick · 07/04/2014 20:53

I do agree that the cafe is rubbish though - over priced and the coffee is pants.

Never had bad customer service from them though and I buy all my electronic stufff from them - on my 3rd big hair!

Enjoyingmycoffee · 07/04/2014 20:55

I love JL

ParkingFred · 07/04/2014 20:56

I love John Lewis. I have never had anything but excellent customer service from them.

On 2 occasions that I recall, they went above and beyond what I may have expected.

HanSolo · 07/04/2014 20:57

I have spent thousand and thousands of pounds with JL over the years, only ever had 1 tiny problem- a £4 item missing from a delivery. I rang them Saturday morning, around 11am, they couriered the item to me by 3pm.

How could I not shop there?

ExcuseTypos · 07/04/2014 20:57

I love JL. Always had amazing customer service. I only buy big products from there as I know of there's a problem, they will sort things out.

I do agree about the cafe being crap though. The sandwiches look nice but tastes awful. They could do much better in that area.

Lancelottie · 07/04/2014 20:59

Well, they sent us the wrong colour carpet.

I protested that it didn't match the hallway, though it was otherwise rather nice.

They asked if we'd be happy for them to recarpet the hallway as well. I was rather more than happy!

ExcuseTypos · 07/04/2014 21:00

We and a new bed delivered for dd. They will also put it together for you for an extra £30. Whilst doing that they pointed out a scratch(about 3 inches long) on the side of it, which would be next to the wall and covered by a duvet, and said they would take off £70 for it, or they could take it back. I took the £70 offGrin

Doctorbrownbear · 07/04/2014 21:04

I love jl too :) had to take buggy board back last week because of awonky wheel and it was swapped without a problem!

BillyBanter · 07/04/2014 21:05

I think you may be losing this one, OP.

Hulababy · 07/04/2014 21:07

Sounds like you had a bad deal. Maybe contact HO and let them know?

Fortunately I have only ever had very positive customer service with JL. Only last year they replaced our broken Nespresso machine (one of the plastic bits snapped) a fortnight later there and then on the spot, with no issue whatsoever

beccajoh · 07/04/2014 21:07

Kingston is my local branch and I've never experienced any problems. We took something back recently because it was faulty, bought more than a year ago, and they refunded it no problems.

Chottie · 07/04/2014 21:12

I love JL too. Once there was a mix up over some flowers ordered for me by DS. A second bunch was sent to me, DS got a full refund plus a five pound gift voucher for the inconvenience.

Pregnantberry · 07/04/2014 21:17

You don't say which branch - I am sure some branches are terrible because they have poor staffing and/or poor management but branches between different stores vary so so much.

But you will still find small local businesses which are run badly, at least with the chains you have the option to complain to customer services if you need to. Not discouraging people from shopping in indie shops, just pointing out that there are cons as well as pros!

LittleBearPad · 07/04/2014 21:17

Sorry OP don't diss JL. I love them.

changeforthebetter · 07/04/2014 21:20

I love them too.

Maybe contact HQ and see if they can resolve this?

munchkinmaster · 07/04/2014 21:25

Ages ago jl put the missing parts for self assembly furniture in a taxi to me when I called to complain a bit was missing.

BUT

We had massive issues with our wedding list:
-let us list discontinued china and glass that they couldn't source (only found it's out after our wedding)
-they did get a few odd plates which they sent us (why would I want three odd plates?)
-sent broken plates etc
-lost items
-wrong items
-ended up going into store to pick up some odd items which they spent an hour looking for ( they were on the window sill next to us).
They were so disorganised they actually failed to charge us for £200 of goods.
Massive stress and worst bit is if people come for dinner we don't have the bits they 'bought' us as they never really existed to buy.

MrsDavidBowie · 07/04/2014 21:36

Kingston JL is my second home...all electrical and white stuff is from there. I haven't bought a washing machine for about 12 years as any problems under guarantee they"ve replaced straightaway. My original £120 bought in sale is now a £700 job guaranteed till 2017.

I have had one problem with a made to measure blind.. .they remade and it still wasn't right so refunded,I got free m-m curtains instead which they came and put up (including rail)

D's has just done work experience there and loved it.

BillyBanter · 07/04/2014 21:37

What is coming across from this thread is that it's just as well they have good customer services when things go wrong because things do seem to go wrong a lot. Hmm

ivykaty44 · 07/04/2014 21:45

I have had wonderful service from jl but years ago

In recent years service and products have been miserable, I tried to buy a cooker and they said the only day it could be delivered was a Tuesday so I cancelled the order and went to coop where it was in fact cheaper, delivery was on three days including a Saturday an
End I could choose added to which I would be told the night before a time slot of an hour

Jl would only say Tuesday between 8-6 have had one of there Tuesday only deliveries before and it never arrived until the next day..

MissYamabuki · 07/04/2014 21:56

My experience with jl has been very poor re.delivery and quality of goods. I'm glad it's.not been like that for others but I won't use them again.

Graciescotland · 07/04/2014 21:57

I love John Lewis, they're being fab about getting my tv repaired as it's under their five year guarantee. The repair is costing just over 500 quid and the tv was picked up and a spare left.

Viviennemary · 07/04/2014 21:59

I have found John Lewis a lot better than most shops if a problem arises. But sorry to hear about your experience.