I have not intended this blog as a platform for ranting against non human third parties -institutions, businesses, governments etc...This blog is just to catch the odd thought and digitilize it for others to have a laugh or yawn, depending on predispostion and sense of humour. But when a truly infuriating thing happens, soryy, I just can't help it. And so decided to spread a bit of a malice and smear a bit of mud on the cosy logo of Mothercare. Yeah, mothercare -not
They do not give a toss about a mother and her kids once they have hooked your credit card details. So what went wrong?
I ordered a stroller. Online, of course, to cut out the hassle, even if it meant four days waiting time, as opposed to grabbing that bloody buggy straight from the store.. 4 DAYS -That's the promise, that's the aim, that's the mission which is shoved to customers' attention on Mothercare's website. Four days seemed bearable,so- in the meantime I dragged and dusted a two year old buggy, which is a bit on the deprived side (no rain cover, no tray, no umbrella, no roof). So the order went smoothly. Card details accepted, order confirmed, and at the bottom of the page: surprise, surprise. :WE AIM TO DELIVER THIS ITEM WIHTIN 25 WORKING DAYS
It's a month, with weekends included.For God's sake. And that tactic is so underhand.Bait and switch- I think it's called.
So having been baited and switched, I decided to switch my order off in return.
I called them only to find out that it's impossible, as the item had already been dispatched. Reassured, and with a temporarily restored faith in MC, I waited for the buggy to arrive any time.
After a week, I called again. The customer service rep did not even check my order number, just took my name. Then I heard the item had been shipped. Should be with me soon. I - gracious soul=sucker- gave them another 4 days. But there was No sight of that thing on wheels.
I called for the third time, I highlighted my case, and was told the item is 'en route'. They started getting French with me, so I decided to get tough. I asked them for a tracking number and the name of courier company they use. This request met with a blank stare, that is at least what I imagined at the other side of the telephone life. 'We do not tracking, it's all internal'. Whatever..to me it was all infernal treatment.
I lost patience. And a lot of time, and alot of money on taxis saving my kid from getting drenched in the recently frequent showers.But, there is a silver line. I gained some knowledge which I would be happy to share. I CRACKED THE CODE used by mother-NOT-care when they speak to you.
Here, what it really means when they say dispatch, ship, en route
DISPATCH: a stray dog pissed around the item, a warehouse manager shifted the item from one corner to the next to prevent damage (well done)
SHIP: the warehouse manager goes on holidays, on a cruiseliner with wifey, and, to pleasure himself in the idle moments,-WANKER!- took along his laptop with all the online customers' orders stored on the hard disc.
En ROUTE: the waves get high, the deck tilts, the laptop slides down into the big blue sea, the warehouse manager calls the office, saying (lying) he had a vision of a baby boom coming soon and asked the company to recruit an army of customer service reps.
