Anyone else having problems with Mail Order Express?

[Marina]

Usually so reliable, but two orders placed recently on their website have not been delivered and very ominously there is just a recorded message when you ring them on the number given.
Anyone know what's going on?

Bump, she says plaintively?

Got something a few weeks ago, took ages to arrive and half the order was out of stock....

Hmm, thanks for that Marialuisa. Confirms my suspicions that all is not well there.

hmm... thanks for the tip - was about to do a large christmas order there. Don't think I'll bother now!!

Marina,
My heart sank when I saw your message as I had just placed a big order for the kids Xmas stuff on Sunday night. Have never used them before. I too have been trying to phone since then but have had no reply and have e-mailed with no reply either. Eventually got the number of their shop in Grantham and got thruogh to a person! Hooray!
She said they have only two people in the call centre at the moment and there is a bit of a backlog. She has been helpful,however,in tracing my order and has promised that somebody will be calling me within the next hour to confirm despatch etc. Try calling 01476 400014 (Arbot & Watts Ltd Grantham). Hope this helps.

BeachedWhale, that is so kind of you!
I was coming back to update this thread anyway because I too called the shop in Grantham. They were very helpful (didn't get the full detail of why they were so bogged down though - two people in November ) and said my parcels would be coming soon.
I like using them because they are normally so reliable and because they do have their roots in a nice old family firm. I do draw the line at not sending my parcels though!

Hi, just wondered if anyone had received their goods from mail order express? I placed an order week before last for an advent calendar, they mailed me on friday to say it had been despatched, but the shipping co. has no record of it on their website. Getting a bit panicky as it's need for tomorrow (obviously!!).

I ordered on the 20th and received an email today saying my parcel has been despatched - I'll let you know if it arrives nicmum2boys.
If your calendar arrives late and you decide you don't want it they really should give you your money back shouldn't they - I mean, sounds like you ordered it in plenty of time!

I eventually got a parcel yesterday which had been ordered on OCTOBER 29th. They claimed not to have any record of it when I phoned last week to chase it and a later order (which they could find on their system). This means a crucial item out of stock and no sign of the free Duplo bucket which my order orginally offered.
MailOrderExpress, pull your socks up! Mumsnet are on to you.
Hope my other parcel and yours turn up VERY soon ladies.

Emailed them, on monday send a despatch message and they have now removed money from my account so fingers crossed.

I have had problems in previous years with Mail Order Express, including with a Playmobil Advent Calendar which eventually arrived about a week too late. (After they repeatedly told me it was in stock and would be sent the same day)
They did not even offer to refund me. They eventually admitted to problems with their customer sevices and said things would improve. It seems they have not kept their word! They seem to be caught unprepared for the Christmas rush each year.

Well thankfully it arrived in the nick of time, late yesterday afternoon, so I could put it all together last night. Still not pleased that I had no way of finding out where it was. Not sure I would use them again now.

Got my parcel today. Glad you got your advent calendar, nicmum2boys