Rant time.

I've often stated how much I like Toolstation, and how I try to use them
as an alternative to Screwfix. This came to an abrupt end today.

I placed an order on Monday for a single item (a car starter +
inverter), and paid extra for before 12pm delivery. That means it should
have gone out on Tuesday, and reached me by Wed noon.

It didn't. It arrived today (Thursday) at 4pm. I can live with that, no
big problem. I need it for the weekend, so today is fine.

But it was smashed to pieces. I phoned Toolstation, expecting them to
offer to send one out today, to arrive tomorrow. They didn't. They said
they'd have to arrange collection, and only when they receive the item
and verify that it's broken will they send out a replacement.

I spoke to the shift supervisor, who basically repeated the above. She
suggested I order another one today (paying a second time), which should
reach me tomorrow. I told her that as a regular customer over the past 2
years I'm mightily ****ed off, and wouldn't be ordering from them again.

When I've had similar problems with broken items with Screwfix,
Axminster and Maplin in the past, they've always sent out a replacement
straight away.

Rant over.

--
Grunff

Grunff typed


Rant time.

I've often stated how much I like Toolstation, and how I try to use them
as an alternative to Screwfix. This came to an abrupt end today.

I placed an order on Monday for a single item (a car starter +
inverter), and paid extra for before 12pm delivery. That means it should
have gone out on Tuesday, and reached me by Wed noon.


Whereas I ordered a pile of things from Screwfix online, between 5 and 6
pm on Tuesday, choosing 'normal' (free if order £45) delivery.

It arrived yesterday at midday, in good order...

--
Helen D. Vecht:
Edgware.

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 16:18:31 +0100, Grunff wrote:

Rant time.

I've often stated how much I like Toolstation, and how I try to use them
as an alternative to Screwfix. This came to an abrupt end today.

I placed an order on Monday for a single item (a car starter +
inverter), and paid extra for before 12pm delivery. That means it should
have gone out on Tuesday, and reached me by Wed noon.

It didn't. It arrived today (Thursday) at 4pm. I can live with that, no
big problem. I need it for the weekend, so today is fine.

But it was smashed to pieces. I phoned Toolstation, expecting them to
offer to send one out today, to arrive tomorrow. They didn't. They said
they'd have to arrange collection, and only when they receive the item
and verify that it's broken will they send out a replacement.

I spoke to the shift supervisor, who basically repeated the above. She
suggested I order another one today (paying a second time), which should
reach me tomorrow. I told her that as a regular customer over the past 2
years I'm mightily ****ed off, and wouldn't be ordering from them again.

When I've had similar problems with broken items with Screwfix,
Axminster and Maplin in the past, they've always sent out a replacement
straight away.

Rant over.

I had this before Xmas. I ordered a £50 box of numerous items of junk
from them, mostly patresses and such, paying the extra for quick
delivery. After 4 days I rang them and from their reaction, they
hadn't even sent the thing. The replacement was sent on a 12 hour
delivery.

I have also checked that stock is in the local depot as confirmed by
the computer, to discover they don't have anything when I fought my
way across town to collect it.
..

"Grunff" wrote in message
...

Rant time.

I've often stated how much I like Toolstation, and how I try to use them
as an alternative to Screwfix. This came to an abrupt end today.

/snipped tail of woe

Rant over.

99.99% of companies start small, bend over backwards to please, then when
and if they become large and successful, they invariably stop bending over
backwards and have more opportunity to stuff up occasionally or often.
Accept it, it's the way of things. However, by all means take your business
elsewhere, it's all we can do. I know you know this, think of it as rant
medicine ;-)

--
Mike W

VisionSet wrote:

99.99% of companies start small, bend over backwards to please, then when
and if they become large and successful, they invariably stop bending over
backwards and have more opportunity to stuff up occasionally or often.
Accept it, it's the way of things. However, by all means take your business
elsewhere, it's all we can do. I know you know this, think of it as rant
medicine ;-)

I know what you mean, but there are exceptions - Screwfix is huge, but
continue to deliver the same level of customer service they always have
(I know there are delivery problems; but I'm really talking about how
they deal with these problems).

--
Grunff

"Grunff" wrote in message
...
VisionSet wrote:

99.99% of companies start small, bend over backwards to please, then
when
and if they become large and successful, they invariably stop bending
over
backwards and have more opportunity to stuff up occasionally or often.
Accept it, it's the way of things. However, by all means take your
business
elsewhere, it's all we can do. I know you know this, think of it as
rant
medicine ;-)

I know what you mean, but there are exceptions - Screwfix is huge, but
continue to deliver the same level of customer service they always have
(I know there are delivery problems; but I'm really talking about how
they deal with these problems).

I doubt it, you've just been lucky so far, in the same way you *were* lucky
before toolstation stuffed up.

--
Mike W

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:58:35 GMT, "VisionSet"
wrote:


"Grunff" wrote in message
...
VisionSet wrote:

99.99% of companies start small, bend over backwards to please, then
when
and if they become large and successful, they invariably stop bending
over
backwards and have more opportunity to stuff up occasionally or often.
Accept it, it's the way of things. However, by all means take your
business
elsewhere, it's all we can do. I know you know this, think of it as
rant
medicine ;-)

I know what you mean, but there are exceptions - Screwfix is huge, but
continue to deliver the same level of customer service they always have
(I know there are delivery problems; but I'm really talking about how
they deal with these problems).

I doubt it, you've just been lucky so far, in the same way you *were* lucky
before toolstation stuffed up.

For instance, take Screwfix, what a great web site, it makes
purchasing at low price so easy. Screwfix provide high tech precision.
I order Monday PM, Tuesday morning at 7.20AM the parcel arrives at the
local Parcel Force depot. Thursday afternoon Parcel Force rush through
my gate with the parcel with not a moment to spare. I suppose Screwfix
have to use Parcel Force to conclude the deal within price.
--
Regards,
Mike Halmarack

Drop the (EGG) to email me.

Mike Halmarack wrote:
On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:58:35 GMT, "VisionSet"
I order Monday PM, Tuesday morning at 7.20AM the parcel arrives at the
local Parcel Force depot. Thursday afternoon Parcel Force rush through
my gate with the parcel with not a moment to spare. I suppose Screwfix
have to use Parcel Force to conclude the deal within price.

Ring Parcel Farce on Thursday 13th to pay VAT on goods arriving from
abroad. Told by automated system that delivery will be Friday 14th. At
4pm on Friday I ring to find out where the parcel is to be told they're
closed for the bank holiday (which isn't until Monday according to my
calender). Parcel finally arrives on Tuesday 18th.

A parcel can get from Canada, clear customs and reach the PF depot in
Milton Keynes in two days as part of what is supposed to be a 4-day
international express service. It then disappears into a black hole.

On the previous occasion they didn't (a) notify me when the parcel
arrived (they no longer attempt to deliver anything with VAT or duty
owing), or (b) deliver when they said they would.

Parcel Farce are total W*****s.

Sorry for the rant.

Andrew

Mike Halmarack wrote:

For instance, take Screwfix,
....
local Parcel Force depot.

Nothing I've ever ordered from screwfix has arrived by parcelfarce,
always been citylink(?), and even through I never pay for next day
delivery it always has been next day ...

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 16:18:31 +0100, Grunff wrote:

I spoke to the shift supervisor, who basically repeated the above. She
suggested I order another one today (paying a second time), which should
reach me tomorrow. I told her that as a regular customer over the past 2
years I'm mightily ****ed off, and wouldn't be ordering from them again.

Well that's worth knowing. I've only ever placed one order with
Toolstation (which went perfectly smoothly), but I think I'll stick with
Screwfix in the future as their policy/practice on damanged goods is
much better than that.

Sod 'em!
--
Chris Cowley

Chris Cowley wrote:
On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 16:18:31 +0100, Grunff
wrote:

I spoke to the shift supervisor, who basically repeated the
above. She suggested I order another one today (paying a second
time), which should reach me tomorrow. I told her that as a
regular customer over the past 2 years I'm mightily ****ed off,
and wouldn't be ordering from them again.

Well that's worth knowing. I've only ever placed one order with
Toolstation (which went perfectly smoothly), but I think I'll
stick with Screwfix in the future as their policy/practice on
damanged goods is much better than that.

Sod 'em!

I agree - looks like they've lost a fair bit of business by treating Grunff
unfairly....

"Steve Walker" wrote in message
...
Chris Cowley wrote:
On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 16:18:31 +0100, Grunff
wrote:

I spoke to the shift supervisor, who basically repeated the
above. She suggested I order another one today (paying a second
time), which should reach me tomorrow. I told her that as a
regular customer over the past 2 years I'm mightily ****ed off,
and wouldn't be ordering from them again.

Well that's worth knowing. I've only ever placed one order with
Toolstation (which went perfectly smoothly), but I think I'll
stick with Screwfix in the future as their policy/practice on
damanged goods is much better than that.

Sod 'em!

I agree - looks like they've lost a fair bit of business by treating
Grunff unfairly....
To be fair (and what's so special about fairness?) Toolstation aren't
always like that: my son bought a cheapo electric drill last year - they
sent the wrong model, that looked as if it had been stored somewhere
damp; he rang up, and they sent another "keep the first one". Next day,
drill 2 arrived, and it, too, was the wrong model. Rang up, "keep it",
and they sent a third. He's happy enough. I've always been very
satisfied with the way they've dealt with the odd minor problem.
Yesterday's orders with Toolstation and Screwfix were both here by 9.30,
delivered by an exceedingly attractive and pleasant young lady from
Parcelforce.

It will be handy when the Derby Screwfix opens - I emailed to ask where
and when, and all they could/would say was "early May". Toolstation
beat them on price for so many items, it's sometimes difficult to reach
the 45 quid on things Toolstation don't sell.


--
Kevin Poole
**Use current month and year to reply (e.g. )***
Car Transport by Tiltbed Trailer - based near Derby

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 20:40:44 +0100, Autolycus wrote:

I've always been very
satisfied with the way they've dealt with the odd minor problem.

I had cause to call up Toolstation today to complain about the drill in the
DeWalt four pack @ £470 which I bought last month. The guy didn't even
quibble and has arranged for it to be collected next tuesday and then
refunded.

Most suppliers seem to have a policy to only send out replacements on
receipt of returns or to take a second payment. The only exceptions are
where you hold a monthly credit account with them or if the item is so
cheap as to not be worth their while collecting it.

Martyn


--
Geosolar, Cambridge. Gas central heating installations.
High quality ATAG boilers www.geosolar.co.uk