My online Christmas experiences

Hoddie_2

I live in Belgium where prices for everything are typically 140ish% more than UK prices so I've ordered almost all my Christmas presents online this year. I've had mostly great service from all the stores but a couple of shocking ones too.

Excellent:-

Amazon - can't fault them. Deliver exactly when they say they will. Proof, were it needed, that you can get 24 hour delivery to Belgium.

Baskets Galore (www.basketsgalore.co.uk) - excellent service all the way together with quick delivery; answered queries promptly. My sister was chuffed to bits.

Brit Superstore (www.britsuperstore.com) - good communication but a little slow with despatch.

Disappointing:-

Eastern Influence (www.easterninfluence.co.uk) - quick to assure me that the items I wanted were in stock and that delivery to Belgium would be in time for Christmas. Promised speedy despatch but I still haven't received a despatch confirmation or the goods themselves.

Shoddy:-

A Quarter Of (www.aquarterof.co.uk) - ordered and paid 1/12, received an email 2/12 confirming despatch. Nothing has arrived and they haven't answered any of my 3 emails querying this and requesting tracking details.

Just curious what other people's experiences are so I can save a few bookmarks for next year!

hazey31

Not sure where you are in Belgium but did you know there's a couple of British 'supermarkets' around? Not as big as your average Tescoor Sainsburys but when you've just got to have some smoky bacon crisps or a bar of Galaxy it's worth it.

Other places I've had good service from over to here are Marks and Sparks, Dorothy Perkins and Play. Play get slated a lot on these boards but I've not had an issue yet. Touch wood.

Hoddie_2

There are quite a few British stores here, mostly in Brussels and Waterloo, but they're over-priced and don't stock much other than groceries. Stonemanor in Everberg carries quite a big range including some non-groceries, but such stock all seems to come from Argos and Argos' non-branded stuff is crap these days, and much of their branded stuff is rubbish too (brands owned by Argos in many cases). It's difficult to get the quality of places like Marks and Spencers (not what it once was I know) here without paying a high price.

I too have never had an issue with Play.

hazey31

Everberg was where I was thinking of! In the past couple of months they have started stocking Waitrose own brand products. It is a bit more expensive but sometimes you just need something from there!

Another recommendation- the book depository. Ordered a book late on Monday night, it's arrived today. My only real gripe with them is they send each book separately which seems a bit wasteful but I the price you see on the website includes delivery which I guess is the only way they can get round that.

laurylaury

I've had quick delivery from Marks & Spencers & L'Occitane
Amazon have been quick with some items and very slow with others although I admit they are very good generally.