About a week ago as a way of finishing the job I started, I decided to get an external USB hard disk case for mrspao’s old laptop disk. So placing an order and going for the free ‘it will get to you in five days’ shipping, things seemed sorted since when I ordered I was advised that it would ship via Royal Mail.
The week passed and the item had not arrived – which was fine as if it failed to deliver I could pick it up from the Royal Mail depot in Canterbury on the way home from work.
Today I get an email from Ebuyer confirming that the courier had tried to deliver but since I was not in that it had been taken to their depot. Sadly it was Citylink the most helpful courier service in the world. So I phone CityLink, who refuse to deliver the item to me at work unless the vender sends them an email or a fax confirming change of delivery details.
Aha! I thought, thinking that there was hope for me avoiding a trip to Ashford (twenty miles away) to pick up the package. So I phone Ebuyer explaining what has happened, the second part of the conversation went like this:
me: so if you could send them a fax or email asking them to redeliver to my work address that would be great.
them: yes we can do that but there will be a charge of five pounds.
me: excuse me?
them: they have attempted delivery, so to get it changed is classed as second delivery and we get charged for that.
me: but I can get them to deliver to my home address later in the week with no charge.
them: yes but this counts as a separate delivery.
me: OK what happens if they cannot deliver and return the items to you?
them: you get a refund.
me: for the full amount with no penalty charge?
them: yes that is correct.
me: OK let me clarify this, a change of delivery with the item already at the courier will cost me a fiver, yet I can get the item returned by not being at home with no charge and I get a full refund.
them: yes that is correct.
me: OK lets do that, once I get the refund confirmed I will reorder exactly the same items and give my work address
You just could not make it up.
Anyway, back at work, eye still hurts but at least the motion sickness seems to have passed.
Carrie K | 30-Jun-08 at 8:30 pm | Permalink
Ah, the joys of bureaucracy knows no bounds.
Poor Pao. Hopefully the pain will recede as well as the motion sickness.
Chris | 30-Jun-08 at 9:04 pm | Permalink
You couldn’t possibly make this stuff up. Ye gads…
Back at work already?! Is your eye still scary? Do your coworkers run away?
Jeanne | 30-Jun-08 at 9:32 pm | Permalink
Boggles the mind…
Tim | 30-Jun-08 at 10:09 pm | Permalink
The Royal Mail depot in Canterbury is only open until lunchtime now…