Comments on: unhappy shopper

By: Chameleon

Chameleon — Wed, 17 Nov 2004 10:45:42 +0000

I wholeheartedly agree with all previous contributors who lauded the virtues of amazon in its various manifestations. Exiled in Waffleland I could not live without it. Apart from its impeccable service, however, most other British firms with a website are trapped in the Stone Age - many refuse to accept orders from abroad, which only usually becomes apparent once you have gone through the rigmarole of typing in credit card numbers, addresses etc. As for the shop assistants, whilst they are in all likelihood constrained by company instructions (violating which would probably cost them their jobs), they are not exactly hired for their stunning intellects (I realise this makes me sound horribly elitist and completely ignores the vicissitudes of fate - one Scottish restaurant’s sales gimmick was that it only recruited waitressing staff if they were in possession of doctorates). No jostling, bargain-sniffing crowds for me - just the keyboard and the tranquility of my bookshelf-lined study.

By: petite

petite — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 15:58:51 +0000

Claire - I’m sure I read about a starlet who sends her pants by DHL because she can’t bear the idea of customs searching her baggage and seeing her smalls. And now I can’t remember which celeb dirtmag I read it in or who it was? Kate Winslet maybe?

By: witho

witho — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 10:50:35 +0000

I’ve only been to CDG once, and I spent most of the time there wandering around in circles looking for the taxi rank. I was on the wrong level…

By: Claire

Claire — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 10:48:40 +0000

You could post your knickers ahead of you.

Shop assistants never listen to me when there’s a problem and I can explain what’s gone wrong because it’s happened before. Treating the customers like idiots seems to be pre-programmed into them.

By: Jason Stone

Jason Stone — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 08:52:18 +0000

Last year, I managed to do 90% of my shopping through the Internet. I had all of the gifts shipped directly to my Mom’s home, so that I did not have to worry about carrying it through several security check points. In the United States (aka police state), you can not take wrapped presents through security. If your presents are wrapped, they will make you unwrap each and every one of them. I can promise you that you will only make that mistake once, like I did.

The only hazard with shopping through the Internet is whether or not your gifts arrive. On Christmas morning (or evening depending on your tradition) no one wants to hear, “Oh, I’m sorry that you don’t have a present under the tree. It is on “back order” and you should be receiving it in 6-8 weeks.”