The Downside to Online Shopping

Online shopping is great. You can shop around for the cheapest prices from the comfort of your bedroom instead of having to tramp around town (or worse, drive from place from place), you can check out online reviews and product specs that are far more detailed and knowledgeable than any shop assistant and best of all, you can go shopping at sensible times of day, like 2am in the morning…. Unfortunately there’s also a downside: waiting for your fantastic new purchase to arrive. 🙁

I purchased something from Apple’s excellent HE Education store nearly two weeks ago. Three days ’til it ships it said, then 3–4 days for delivery. To my delight it actually shipped just over 24 hours later, but the delivery time had then extended to 7–8 (business) days. By Saturday it still wasn’t showing up in the delivery tracking system, so I phoned Apple who said that the projected delivery date was 17th Feb. So I had to wait another five days, but at least I had some information now.

Fast forward to Monday and at last there is progress: the package tracking website says it has safely arrived in the Netherlands, and Tuesday morning to Stansted, just 40 miles from here. At midday the website claims it is “Out for Delivery” — fantastic!

Alas, when I go into College this afternoon to check my mail only two of the three packages are present, despite the website claiming the entire consignment had been delivered. More phone calls to Apple who will raise it with the shipping company.

More waiting…

Full credit to Apple and the shipping company (TNT), the situation was handled very well and the next morning the package tracker revealed that something else had arrived at Stansted over night and was “out for delivery”. The final box duly arrived about 24 hours after the first two, and I’ve been having lots of fun ever since! Will post more details soon.

One Response to “The Downside to Online Shopping”

  1. Angel Says:

    YAY! Your shiny new toy has arrived! Of course I now have a serious rival for your attentions, but I think I can win when I need to 🙂