Waterstones deliveries

[SpamhappyTootsie]

More of a What We’re Not Reading. Anyone else having trouble with deliveries from Waterstones? I preordered a book earlier this year, published first week of Sept. Heard nothing and happened to see on the author’s FB that other people were having problems and delays. My email just got a generic “new warehouse system, bear with” reply. Nearly a month later and still nothing, despite asking for updates.
Bought it on a gift card I’ve since thrown away 🤦‍♀️ otherwise I would ask for a refund.
Are deliveries trickling through now or should I cut my losses and just order from somewhere else?
It’s the latest John Connolly - The Furies. Signed edition, which would be nice but not the end of the world if I have to get an unsigned one from somewhere else.

Yes! Pre-ordered my copy of The Ink Black Heart as soon as publication was announced. It was published yesterday, and I ordered it to collect from store.

Haven't got it yet and am hoping for today but the staff weren't even confident of that.

The manager in our local branch was very helpful and sympathetic (and is also waiting for a book she should have had yesterday) - she's the only reason I haven't cancelled. Apparently they have a new software system and there was a six week period earlier in the year when there were just no deliveries at all.

I might be in town later; if it's on the shelves in WHsmith (the only other local option), I'll cancel my order and get it there.

Wow, so they can’t even get deliveries to their own stores? I think I’ll just have to get the book from somewhere else and pursue a refund for the gift card.
Hope you get your book soon!

They are getting deliveries again most days now. Did you order it through the website or through the physical shop?

Through the website in February. No communication about delays until I contacted them after seeing other people had been having problems via the author’s FB page.
I really try not to use Amazon for physical books but Blackwells messed me around with deliveries a few weeks ago and now Waterstones can’t seem to sort themselves out either.
We’re short of independent bookshops round here too. Only Waterstones in town.

I would give your local shop a call and see if they have it. If they do, cancel your online order and go to the shop to buy it. The only thing is, without the physical voucher if you want to use the voucher to pay for it at the shop, you’ll need to write down the voucher number and Pin for them to put in the till, which will be a bit of a faff 😟

I’ve just cancelled the order and will have to write off the gift card . My fault for not keeping it, I know. If they get in touch with the number and pin code that will be a bonus but I won’t hold my breath! Went into my PayPal as the delivery fee was coming from that and it’s still showing as ‘Pending’ so I have no faith they are getting through the orders at all.
It’s only £10 on Amazon.

I’ve never had Waterstones take money from a gift card or debit card until the order’s shown as dispatched? I have a gift card currently attached as a payment option to my Waterstones account, don’t take this as absolute gospel, but if you go in to your account settings, you might find it as available to spend. It’s crap isn’t it? I can’t cope with the thought of not being able to browse a physical bookshop, it’s the only reason I keep going back 😏

I’ll give that a try, thank you. I love a good bookshop too. Will probably take gift cards into the store in future though!

I had problems last month, had ordered a book to be delivered to a local store. Gave up waiting and bought on Wordery. No payment taking. M
Then saw this which I assume explains it.

www.theguardian.com/books/2022/aug/09/waterstones-hit-by-nightmare-stock-issues-after-warehouse-system-upgrade

I also pre-ordered months ago. Had a despatch email on Sunday. I'm hoping it s just the postal strike holding it up now.

Slightly mollified by a reply to my email offering to send me a replacement gift card, which is generous as the T&C say not to throw it away until you receive the item/s. I’ll be going into my nearest branch to spend it, however!

I was told they were having problems when I was in store back at the beginning of this month. I felt so sorry for the staff, sounds like it has been an absolute nightmare. Glasgow (yes, the entire city) didn't receive any books to its branches for weeks. I've just been ordering from Blackwells who take a bit longer but have prices comparable or better than Amazon for the obscure books I like.

Waterstones have just bought Blackwells and are merging the two computer systems which is causing some glitches.

I didn't know that- blackwells always has great books in whilst Waterstones is a bit more mainstream. Hope it doesn't change Blackwells too much.

Oh heck, Blackwells use Evri for deliveries and can’t offer Royal Mail. My last book cock-up was with Blackwells/Evri and ended up with me buying the same book twice 🤦‍♀️ Them merging a crap order system with an even crappier delivery company doesn’t fill me with hope
Have used Abebooks before, will have a look at Wordery too.

I highly recommend Hive.co.uk for books. Good prices and very quick and free Royal Mail delivery.

I've also had problems with Waterstones, including books arriving damaged.

Thanks @ithinkimdone, I’ll give them a try too.

This explains why I'm still waiting for a book I ordered in June that was published in July...They said it was a pre-order which was then direct from publisher so it been cancelled, why that would mean someone no longer wanted it I don't know. Waterstones is the only physical bookshop in town so i try an order via the shop to keep their sales up plus I can use my points. Used to he Dillons, Ottokars and John Smiths but all were subsumed. Oxfam bookshop are also good.

The problems with the new system are being resolved, although it’s going to take a few weeks for stock levels to get back to where they were before this debacle. Orders from the website are currently being held up by Royal Mail strikes too. Yes, it has been a complete nightmare, some of us are losing the plot a bit! 😂

Must be very frustrating for you @LurkingBookseller ! I’m happy with a replacement voucher I can use when the physical shop is restocked. Got my copy of The Furies from Amazon but will look at other sellers next time as recommended above.
Once I actually got in an email chain with a member of staff it was fine, but that didn’t happen until I cancelled my order and told them why, which isn’t brilliant customer service, although I understand that’s a top level decision and nothing to do with frontline staff.

Abebooks is owned by Amazon so if you want to avoid Amazon then don't use them. I've never used Wordery but they are suppose to be good.

Waterstones bought Blackwells a while ago. Haven't noticed any difference yet, but if they change Blackwells I will never forgive them, I've spent so many happy hours in the Norrington room.

When I was in waterstones a few weeks ago, the manager said the current backlog was 2-4 weeks, depending on the book

Ridiculous that there is nothing on the website about it!