Online purchases are frustrating!
It all started 41 days ago, when I ordered a pair of motorcycle boots through a woman on eBay who had a great rating… She sent them uninsured, and without tracking from Oregon, and I still haven’t seen them. Bye bye $81.50 usd! As I funded this purchase through Paypal rather than a credit card through Paypal, I have next to no recourse to get my money back. I’m filing a claim tomorrow anyhow, and will see how it goes. Crap.
Then, I ordered my leather motorcycle jacket through a company in Ontario who said they had it in stock… Took two weeks to arrive when it should have arrived in two days, and the jacket wasn’t as described on the site (nor photographed on the site — Who puts white stitching on a black leather jacket??). So, the jacket went back — And I’m stuck paying the freight both ways I’m sure. Bastards.
Finally, I order 8 boxes of contact lenses through what I thought was a reputable company that was literally a block away from the office who had a reasonable deal on the lenses I usually get. I was desperate for these lenses as I’d already worn the current lenses for far longer than I should have. The order went through on my credit card, and the supposedly in-stock lenses were to arrive on my doorstep the next day. Over two weeks later they finally arrive. Except… I only got half the freakin’ order!! I email them telling them half my order is missing, and they say: “We *just* received the rest of your order in, and can have it shipped to you in the morning.” How about NO? How about you just refund me, and forget about it. See if I ever do business with them again. GRRR.
I think I’m through with ordering items online for a while… Other than my trip of course, which is fine, because I’ll be dealing with a large travel site, and not some corner-of-the-earth travel company that is going to skip with my cash tomorrow.
I’m still shaking my head. How frustrating. Have you had any horror stories buying things online? Did it cure you of the whole internet shopping experience?
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
I bought my kid two very expensive dance pads for his PS2. The same button if both pads goes on the fritz and he doesn’t tell me until the warranty expires.
Never had a problem. (knock on wood)
I’ve had good experiences with eBay as well as some very small companies I had never heard of before. I love shopping in my pajamas!
Sorry yours hasn’t been better.
I’ve never ordered anything via Ebay but I’ve bought items from dozens of companies, large and small, via the Internet with not a single problem. Yet.
I’m sorry you’ve had so much trouble, Tan(ya).
I’ve had both good and bad experiences, but never quite like yours!
Personally I think this has less to do with the form of selling than it has to do with some people’s essential lack of reliability.
Maybe it’s just a string of bad luck or bad choices on my part. I have always had a decent experience in the past — I’ve been buying online forever. One thing I’ve noticed, though, is that deliveries never arrive when the seller / stores says it will. The internet shops need to buck up in that department.
So far have been fine from online shops – tho one time the courier left £65 of stuff IN MY COMPOST BIN which riled me rather!
As a retailer myself, most of my trouble on ebay has been with winning bidders not following through when they win. I guess it can work both ways. As a buyer, I have had pretty good luck with my purchases online, especially on ebay. When purchasing is done over distances, and only pics to see the item, you have to realize the chances being taken. Trust can not be automatic.