Internet Shopping

Well and inherent issue related to what I do is the general inability to go shopping for presents.

Ok true international items like jewellery I have found all over the world, much to my wife's (I Hope) pleaser.

But where you are looking for a specific item, even if you have a local store, you have very little time at home to actually go, browse and buy. This is before you get to the sometimes horrifying premium you pay for this level of distress purchasing.

Of course the answer to this is internet shopping. However, the big problem for this is that the business model that allows some of these people to offer exceedingly good prices on such a low margin also makes them unable to offer any sales support.

This means that when your lovely purchase dies, sometimes getting it repaired is [designed to be] nearly impossible so you give up and just buy a new one. Of course if you are [not a business] in the UK and are not completely crazy, you brought your goods with a credit card.  This means if it all gets too crazy, you phone the credit card company and they legally have to sort it out or refund you your money. This is not to say they do not need to be reminded of the law every so often, but legally THEY are selling you the goods on credit and they are legally responsible for the transaction. <rant off>

 

I have had two experiences recently that bear mentioning:

The first was with www.amazon.co.uk.  Now having brought a semi expensive electronics Christmas present for number 1 child, it proceeded to die before the new year set in. so the process was as follows:

1 fill in form at site

2 Receive replacement goods within 2 working days (along with stern warning to return defective goods within 30 days)

3 Receive information on printing label and collecting courier company

4 Call courier company and arrange collection at my convenience

5 Receive email from Amazon stating goods have been relieved and RMA is closed.

Now that is a grown up company with high tech logistics that you normally pay a [small] premium for, but still less than a bricks and mortar shop. Guess what, I have spent a lot of money there and will continue to do so.

 

The second one was more surprising and therefore more pleasing. The same child having saved up all of their Christmas money and some other cash, decided they wanted to buy a [very specific] fender guitar. Now I was involved in this transaction solely to enter a credit card information. So after a few checks on the site and the [small] company (www.PlayRecord.Net) I entered the relevant credit card information and the guitar arrived.

The look was exactly what no1 child wanted unfortunately the sound was not. As it was still the holiday season I was home and the online store was now closed, I took it to our local friendly music store for a check. (They did not stock the very specific guitar and could not get it within the time required by no1 child) The result of which they agreed that either the guitar had never been setup correctly or had met some misfortune (not physically apparent) since it was set up and gave me a price to remedy the issue.

As this had been my first purchase from the store it was with some trepidation I contacted them by email and explained the issue.

There response was unequivocal. They (along with me) were surprised that the fender had obviously failed quality assurance, but told me to have the guitar adjusted locally and to send them the bill. I have just received the refund for the (not cheap) setup of the guitar to my credit card.

Not only was this done without any begrudging of the cost, it was done with an air of surprise and apology that I had to go to any effort.

Guess what next time any of the kids want something musical (don’t ask), I will be straight off to www.payrecord.net to get both a great price and fantastic service. A shame more businesses cannot follow their excellent business model!

 

Tell me what day it is and I will tell you where I am

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