"How to deal with online ordering incompetance" Topic

So…. if I placed an order 3 weeks ago for my wife's very precise Christmas present, and the company in question [1] has had the order (from their Christmas present promotion leaflet) for 3 weeks without informing me they have no stock, charged me for the full price when the order was placed, not dispatched them, and since halved the price on their web store. Their website shows my account as never having placed this order. They've confirmed by phone that the order exists.

What to do? I'm going to enjoy ripping them a new one for the next week, but I need to do it in a way that gets the damn candle sticks to me by Friday. Any thoughts?

[1] assume, if it makes you feel better, that they are a former national home accessory chain that went bust and now have one shop in london and a web shop…

At least that helps explain why Habitat went down the tube.

Yeah. That I knew from the sofa ordering fiasco. Must find the missus another shop she likes. I never thought I'd look forward to the opening of John Lewis locally…

Hell's Teeth! Is Rachel expecting the present in question?

1. Check stock levels, re-order on new account with different card and pay for rapid delivery? Sort out flak after Christmas.

2. Scream blue murder at company, get money back, get different present that will amaze and delight in equal measure if not more. Try again in the new year.

3. Hope some nice person in online store resolves problem.

How lucky do you feel?

1) out of stock

2) "very precise" as in I think that's all she wants. She's not normally subtle :-)
like your thinking though.

3) replace "nice" with "scared" might work.

All I can say is good luck dude! I hear Hell is hosting a grand "after Christmas Party" this year for all of us who fail to please. Then again – you can always please the woman you love with a card, a candle-light dinner out on the town, and spoiling her by taking her shopping.

Then again – you can always please the woman you love with a card, a candle-light dinner out on the town, and spoiling her by taking her shopping.

Hows that gonna do my wife any good? :)

Mysteriously said order is now in stock and will be with me in 3 to 5 days <facepalm>. Here's hoping it's 3. Argh.

You're not going to get them by Saturday, most likely. But you did order before the holiday so that should be worth points, and you don't control the mail. And they ARE coming, so I wouldn't worry about it much.

Hopefully, you paid with a credit card.

Call to contest/cancel the payment forthwith, and look for another supplier, or present.