I've just spent the last couple of hours attempting an online transaction.
The iPod classic I'm after was on Amazon for £175.
No longer - it's now £195.
I checked Asda in the hope they might have one in the shop.
Website says £170 for a silver one - the colour I want.
The service I need is 'collect at store', so I nominate Harrogate and attempt to pay.
The site refuses my Tesco credit card, which I've used earlier today to buy some groceries - from Asda.
I then get a message from Tesco about a 'Verified by Visa' password.
Manage to set one of those, as confirmed by an email.
Try again using the password - no joy.
Then the phone rings.
It's Tesco asking if the card is being used fraudulently.
The girl confirms the Asda transaction is blocked, but says she will now unblock it.
I try again, and the Asda site appears to accept my order.
I say appears, because the confirmation email from Asda says I should get another email confirming payment, which hasn't arrived.
The next stage is I'm supposed to get an email from Asda to say my iPod is ready for collection from Harrogate, probably on Saturday.
Have I bought this blinkin' iPod or not?
I think so, but I wouldn't bet on it.
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my goods from china arrived today via an internet sales site
my goods i ordered from darn sarth still havent via an internet sales site
i wouldnt use a card online without the verified login bit though
so i agree buying online can be a pane in the glass
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I've had issues trying to buy online with a credit card. Tried several times to no avail. What was not made clear was that for a first purchase I had to have delivery to card address ie home. Gave up.
A few days later tried to buy something else and found card was blocked. Rang bank and unblocked card.
10 out of 10 for security. 0 out of 10 for not querying with me if there was a problem.
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Tesco are having a few problems right now. They are in the process of moving all financial services from the RBOS group to their own bank, and making a pigs ear of it.
Also they are in the process of moving all insurance services from the RBOS group to a variety of underwriters, again making some very severe cock ups in the process.
One wonders if they have have taken on some senior Santander project managers such is the quality.
Last edited by: Zero on Tue 26 Apr 11 at 21:19
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Perhaps they should stick to groceries? We put a small amount into a Tesco account a couple of years ago, intending to put something more substantial if it worked out admin wise. Still a small amount:) Buy a car through them? Nope. Not a chance.
Last edited by: NortonES2 on Tue 26 Apr 11 at 21:43
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I have had similar experiences, my biggest gripe is having to register just to see the shipping charges - too late they have lost my custom at that point.
I find Ebuyer very hassle free though (touch wood).
I do order books on Amazon but find delivery is painfully slow if you choose the cheap options which you need to otherwise its cheaper to just to buy from the high street.
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Slightly different but just as frustrating.
Wanted to top up my phone....rang Vodaphone top up line..2345. Got the recording, stuck it on loudspeaker.
Skipped the first 3 or 4 options by pressing 1 each time. That brought me to the registered card top up.
Stuck the last 4 in plus the security no. Told me it wasn't valid.
Checked and did it again........still not valid.
Bums ! forgotten I'd had a replacement debit card. ( Why can't they keep the same long number ? )
Couldn't go back to find the ' different card ' bit. Rang off.
Went back in and found the bit I wanted after about 5 minutes spiel on how I could pay.
Got to the crucial bit. Inputted the first 4 numbers, couldn't quite make out the next 4 'cos of the glare from the window and before I managed to read them...the recording said ' invalid number ' They just don't give us oldies enough time.
Phone off...rang back...same again, and once more.
Hit on the idea of writing my debit card details in black felt tip on the edge of the newspaper.
Armed thus, I went back in...listened to all the spiel again and eventually managed to get £20 shoved in.
Took a good half hour and I still don't know if they will have kept my new card details as the registered card. What I would have given for the option to talk to someone.
Ted
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>> What I would have given for the
>> option to talk to someone.
Sometimes - by no means always, but sometimes - either pressing nought (I nearly said zero) or not pressing anything at all and waiting it out will put you through to a real person.
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It usually works OK on the rare occasions I do it. But I wouldn't dare buy a second hand car on EBay. Haven't got the bottle/cash to risk/carpet dealer's shrewdness to be sure of getting away with it.
However my car freak son-in-law has just pulled off another triumph, selling his straight-six 4 litre Jeep Cherokee with LPG conversion for damn near what he paid for it three years ago and buying, for about a grand more, a totally immaculate, fully serviced (with files of bumf to prove it) seven-year-old low-mileage 4.7 litre V8 Grand Cherokee with a much superior LPG system (he claims it is even more economical than the Cherokee, but time will tell).
Both Jeeps are autos. His reason for changing was that he wanted more room (the ordinary Cherokee isn't all that roomy inside). But the Grand Cherokee makes a wonderful - though subdued - noise and, he says, steers and rides a whole lot better having 4-wheel independent suspension.
I liked the Cherokee and am looking forward to a pootle in its big brother.
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Buying online can be hard work - Bellboy
