Louise Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 I have had a rotten couple of days with one thing and another and I need to rant so here goes It is my fathers 60th birthday in a couple of weeks and my mother asked me to get him a footstool - simple enough you would think They are going to be moving house mid July to a much smaller place as my mum can't cope with the upkeep of a 4 bedroomed victorian house anymore so it is up the road to a two bedroomed cottage which is two rooms upstairs with a lounge, kitchen and bathroom downstairs but it is small. My mum is having fun getting a brand new kitchen and bathroom her very first new of both plus new furniture as the stuff they have is all too big to go in the new place hence the footstool for my dad. Not only can't I find one small enough anywhere I spent all afternoon trailing round shops yesterday but the one thing I wanted to buy (for myself) Homebase said they would charge £55 to deliver it In the shop there are signs saying the furniture delivery charge is £4.95 so I saw this nice chair which is on clearance at £99 because it is end of line went to the counter eventually got served for the girl to tell me that the £4.95 only applies to warehouse service not store service and their store delivery driver charges £1.50 per mile. So they lost the sale and they don't seem bothered even if I got it delivered to work which is only a mile and worried about the rest of the journey later their minimum is £20. Anybody know if it is worth going further with this because of the advertised charge and the actual charge being so different PS anyone know where I can get a petite footstool by 26th Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 Oh Louise - how frustrating and down right annoying While Darren was studying for his Degree, he took a part-time job at Homebase. He lasted 3 months. He said it was the worst company he could ever have worked for. Company ethics and customer service were appalling and the staff were treated terribly. There was no consistency in anything. Darren couldn't live with it, so he left. I'd write a letter to their Head Office. If nothing else it will get it off your chest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 Hi Louise. I would most certainly write a letter to the customer services dept at their head office. Even if it is clearly makred that delivery is different for instore item,they have treated you very badly indeed I bet that if you went & bought the chair online,you would pay a set delivery fee............ Footstool - have you tried eBay or Argos??? Argos do a good delivery service,as do John Lewis who I am sure would have one. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 Never underestimate the power of a letter I've found that letters work much better than phone calls or even emails Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 I would definitely agree with the power of a letter. I have had to complain about various things in the past and never got a response from a telephone call. As soon as I have sent a letter the response is almost immediate. I would never complain by phone again. I would find the name of the CEO of that organisation and send a letter addressed to him/her with a cc to the Customer Services Manager. I am sure you will get a response very soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted April 6, 2006 Author Share Posted April 6, 2006 Thanks guys I am calming down I had to stop my self losing it with the assistant I have tried Argos they have three all too big and Ebay is a mystery to me and I am runnig out of time a case of wine may have to suffice in the short term I am going to write to them as well because apart from anything else they are losing business due to a overlly expensive freelance delivery driver I could hire a van myself or send it via courier alot cheaper so I think I will jolly well suggest it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 Oh, Louise how frustrating.... I quite agree with the need for a rant. I'd also suggest a letter of complaint..... it's appalling that these companies can get away with such shoddy behaviour. No ideas on the footstool thing though, sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 Louise Have you tried Yell.com They may have a list of furniture suppliers in your area, it's worth a try and may save you trudging round. Some of them may even have websites Good luck with your search Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 Louise,try John Lewis if you haven't already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Louise, these guys might be too expensive, and I doubt they could make you something in time, but you could always send your Dad a picture of what's to come.... We used them to make a window seat, and its just wonderful: http://www.clockhouse-furniture.co.uk/webstore/defaultCategories.asp?intlineID=9&strline_NAME=Footstools%20and%20Bosses Good luck, oh, and Homebase are officially rubbish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted April 7, 2006 Author Share Posted April 7, 2006 Thanks for the suggestions but my mother has now taken on the footstool hunt I am now looking for a laptop bag which should be much easier to source I will only go to places that don't involve the centre of Edinburgh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehallfamily Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 No sure if you have one near you, but Dunelm Mill have some really nice ones, lots of sizes, and they will make them to order! Angela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted April 7, 2006 Author Share Posted April 7, 2006 That was one of the places I tried yesterday and they had none Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kazaddress Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 try ebay!!!! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SOLID-HAND-MADE-PINE-TIMBER-FOOT-STOOL_W0QQitemZ4452770051QQcategoryZ20490QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murdo Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Not only can't I find one small enough anywhere I spent all afternoon trailing round shops yesterday but the one thing I wanted to buy (for myself) Homebase said they would charge £55 to deliver it In the shop there are signs saying the furniture delivery charge is £4.95 so I saw this nice chair which is on clearance at £99 because it is end of line went to the counter eventually got served for the girl to tell me that the £4.95 only applies to warehouse service not store service Is there any indication on the sign that they have these different rules ? Take a photo of the sign Take the matter to your local Trading Standards Office. We can't take on the big stores, but a couple of letters from Trading Standards should waste more than £55 of their time sorting it out. Sainsburys (they used to be linked, didn't they) are also particularly bad at misleading signage. Put up the offer sign, sell it out, and then put something in similar its place with different barcode without removing the sign. Grrrrrr! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Sainsburys (they used to be linked, didn't they) are also particularly bad at misleading signage. Put up the offer sign, sell it out, and then put something in similar its place with different barcode without removing the sign. Grrrrrr! It's deliberate isn't it? I've noticed a few times locally...offer for one thing, a different but similar item on display. How many people notice/bother to say at checkout? It makes me but always too busy to take action, or politely thought they'd made a mistake. Must be a blatant tactic though. I hardly go there nowadays, but I think I'll go just to check up & report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted April 10, 2006 Author Share Posted April 10, 2006 Good idea about trading standards I have to go over to Ikea with my mother on saturday so I might just pop in camera in hand and get my mother to divert the sales person so I can get a pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
