Gadgetshop parcel delivery problem

gentleorange

I ordered a Pleo dinosaur for my sons' main christmas present. He's been asking for one for ages, and Gadgetshop had them for sale at about £160(with discount), which is a very competitive price and just within my budget so I ordered one.
When it came I was out taking my son to school and the deliveryman just left it at my neighbours house. These neighbours are anti-social and cause trouble in our street. I picked up the parcel from the older teenager who was home with her baby, and she was unusually nice which made me suspicious.
I took the box in, and noticed it was quite dented. I'm have the feeling she gave it a good kicking, as I can't imagine it left Gadgetshop like that. The toy is fragile, the instructions say that if it gets dropped, the warranty becomes void. If I charge the battery and switch it on to check it, it goes through a "newborn" phase which never happens again so my son would miss out on that. Also the cushioning materials were inadequate, it was moving about freely in the box.
Gadgetshop say if I want to return it I have to pay for a courier company(which I can't really afford), they will only cover the return costs if I can prove it's damaged. They did say that if I discover its broken on Christmas day I can return it, which is not a great comfort!
Does anyone know if I can do anything about this? thanks.

pinkshoes

The Gadgetshop should be contacting their courrier to find out what condition it was in when they delivered it, as they didn't even deliver it to the correct address!

I'd make sure you put your concerns to the gadgetshop in writing (email, or recorded delivery letter) so that you can use that as evidence should it not work on Christmas day.

As you can't know until Christmas day if it works or not, then suggest to them that you'll leave it until then, and if it doesn't work, you'll be expecting a replacement, as it's not your fault their courrier didn't deliver to the correct address.

gentleorange

Honestly I didn't know couriers did still leave deliveries with unconnected people, thats never happened to me before.
And I absolutely agree that £160 is expensive for a dinosaur toy! I looked for a good deal for ages, the RRP is about £220. Its my sons only expensive present, (he's wanted it since last christmas but I couldn't afford it then)and I budgeted everything else very carefully to be able to afford it.

smcaul

Technically you have not actually received the item, the GS shipped it to your address, the courier delivered it to a different address and do not have your signature for it. As a result you could not take delivery of the item. By that I mean you have not had the opportunity to reject the item as damaged. I would query with the GS that as technically you have not received the item (ask them to show you proof of delivery that has your signature on it) they should send a replacement and collect the original form your neighbours, then get your neighbours to leave a note for the collecting courier to collect from your address - sounds a bit long winded, but the couriers and the GS do not really have a leg to stand on (the couriers will know this, but will try and get out of it).

gentleorange

The courier put a card through my door saying he'd left it with the neighbours. I can't ask them for help, they really are very unpleasant and I think they would be thrilled to know they had caused me some inconvenience!
I suppose all I can really do is wait till christmas day, I just hope my son won't be disappointed.