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I didn't realise this is an issue until just now.....

trying to buy a gift of perfume and send it to a colleague as a xmas gift who lives the other end of the country.

tried debenhams online as they advertise the perfume i wanted as a gift but after going thru all the stages of purchase the last button to press is the 'pay now' one.
hold on, i'm thinking, i must have missed where you can type a few words to the recipient like 'merry xmas from xxx' but no there is no facility for this. called customer services in case i'm being thick but no, this is not something they can do!!
so cancel the purchase and....

log onto the fragranceshop.co.uk web site. heavily advertising the xmas gift angle so go thru all the hoops of purchase here, even opting for gift wrapping in a giftbox and once again cannot find where to leave a message to recipient.

phone their helpline (hang on for 15 mins) to be told, sorry we don't offer that service, it's something we are considering.
For a giftwrapped item at xmas?!!!
either i'm being unreasonable or stupid, but wouldn't you think if you're offering to send a gift as a seller, there would be a way of letting the receiver know who has sent it?

or is it just me?
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Comments

  • sarah1972
    sarah1972 Posts: 19,392 Senior Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Homepage Hero Photogenic
    tonygold wrote: »
    trying to buy a gift of perfume and send it to a colleague as a xmas gift who lives the other end of the country.

    tried debenhams online as they advertise the perfume i wanted as a gift but after going thru all the stages of purchase the last button to press is the 'pay now' one.
    hold on, i'm thinking, i must have missed where you can type a few words to the recipient like 'merry xmas from xxx' but no there is no facility for this. called customer services in case i'm being thick but no, this is not something they can do!!
    so cancel the purchase and....

    log onto the fragranceshop.co.uk web site. heavily advertising the xmas gift angle so go thru all the hoops of purchase here, even opting for gift wrapping in a giftbox and once again cannot find where to leave a message to recipient.

    phone their helpline (hang on for 15 mins) to be told, sorry we don't offer that service, it's something we are considering.
    For a giftwrapped item at xmas?!!!
    either i'm being unreasonable or stupid, but wouldn't you think if you're offering to send a gift as a seller, there would be a way of letting the receiver know who has sent it?

    or is it just me?

    I would get it sent to me so I could wrap it and enclose a note or card personally and then send on to them.
    I’m a Senior Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Competitions Time, Shopping & Freebies boards, Employment, Jobseeking & Training boards If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • jenniewb
    jenniewb Posts: 12,842 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    sarah1972 wrote: »
    I would get it sent to me so I could wrap it and enclose a note or card personally and then send on to them.



    I'd imagine the OP was trying to reduce or cut out postage fees- having an item sent to the OP would mean one set of postage fees, sending it out to a friend would add a separate set of fees and that is without considering the items the Royal Mail will not deliver which on my last check did include perfumes.
  • ERICS_MUM
    ERICS_MUM Posts: 3,579 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    I sent perfume last week. I told the woman n the counter set the post office and she stuck a label on the parcel which presumably denoted the contents as flammable.
  • sarah1972 wrote: »
    I would get it sent to me so I could wrap it and enclose a note or card personally and then send on to them.

    i get what you are saying sarah but it rather defeats the purpose of buying gifts online if when you send them you can't even add a note so that the person receiving them knows who sent it.
  • Pollycat
    Pollycat Posts: 35,709 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Savvy Shopper!
    jenniewb wrote: »
    I'd imagine the OP was trying to reduce or cut out postage fees- having an item sent to the OP would mean one set of postage fees, sending it out to a friend would add a separate set of fees and that is without considering the items the Royal Mail will not deliver which on my last check did include perfumes.
    Jenniewb is right.
    Royal Mail say they don't allow perfume to be posted - from their 'prohibited' list:
    Perfumes and aftershaves (including eau de parfum and eau de toilette and alcohol-free perfumes, but excluding non-flammable perfumed creams, gels, oils or lotions.)
    https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/96/~/prohibited-goods---personal-customers
  • sarah1972
    sarah1972 Posts: 19,392 Senior Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Homepage Hero Photogenic
    tonygold wrote: »
    i get what you are saying sarah but it rather defeats the purpose of buying gifts online if when you send them you can't even add a note so that the person receiving them knows who sent it.

    I get what you mean but I would rather add a personal touch rather than them just receive an unwrapped gift with a typed out card.

    Each to their own though.

    Does seem a missed opportunity by the retailers.
    I’m a Senior Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Competitions Time, Shopping & Freebies boards, Employment, Jobseeking & Training boards If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • sarah1972
    sarah1972 Posts: 19,392 Senior Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Homepage Hero Photogenic
    ERICS_MUM wrote: »
    I sent perfume last week. I told the woman n the counter set the post office and she stuck a label on the parcel which presumably denoted the contents as flammable.


    Same here and I sent aftershave yesterday and they just stuck the label on.
    I’m a Senior Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Competitions Time, Shopping & Freebies boards, Employment, Jobseeking & Training boards If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • steveE2
    steveE2 Posts: 1,321 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Pollycat wrote: »
    Jenniewb is right.
    Royal Mail say they don't allow perfume to be posted - from their 'prohibited' list:

    https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/96/~/prohibited-goods---personal-customers

    If you click "Perfumes & Aftershave" you'll see it can be sent in UK subject to restrictions
    International - Not allowed in the mail
    UK - Allowed in the mail, see restrictions and packaging guidelines below:
    Volume per item must not exceed 150ml.
    No more than four items in any one parcel.
    Must be sent in its original retail packaging, placed in strong outer packaging and cushioned to prevent breakage.
    An ID8000 label must be applied (see example ID8000 label).
    The sender's name and return address must be clearly visible on the outer packaging.
    These items must be presented at a Post Office® counter.
  • sarah1972 wrote: »
    I get what you mean but I would rather add a personal touch rather than them just receive an unwrapped gift with a typed out card.

    Each to their own though.

    Does seem a missed opportunity by the retailers.

    It's not an unwrapped gift though. that's just the point. they offer a gift wrapping service as an 'extra'. so the item arrives in a gift box but with no way of adding a card or even a note to say who sent it.
    ideal foe valentine's day i suppose!!
  • sarah1972
    sarah1972 Posts: 19,392 Senior Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Homepage Hero Photogenic
    tonygold wrote: »
    It's not an unwrapped gift though. that's just the point. they offer a gift wrapping service as an 'extra'. so the item arrives in a gift box but with no way of adding a card or even a note to say who sent it.
    ideal foe valentine's day i suppose!!

    It does seem a bit silly gift wrapping but no option to put a note in it I must admit !
    I’m a Senior Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Competitions Time, Shopping & Freebies boards, Employment, Jobseeking & Training boards If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
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