On The Border of Going Crazy! (Borders in general)

Member Name: sdean

Product:	Borders in general
Date:	20/04/09 (182 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Clear website with offers

Disadvantages: 17 days of waiting for a DVD

This is solely relating to Borders Online Bookshop

I recently (3rd April 2009) ordered from Borders. I was looking for Priscilla Queen of the Desert for part of my friends birthday present on the 12th April. Going through find-dvd.co.uk to check the cheapest price, Borders was 78p cheaper than Amazon, and as I went through Greasy Palm, the cashback site, I got a few more pence off. So even though I had not used Borders before, I thought I would give them a go.

~The Website~

Very professionally laid out. There is a search box so you can find books, or any type of media. They have special offers laid out on their home page. Which is not dissimilar to the Amazon home page. Most of their products are book related, as traditionally they are a book shop, but they do sell other bits and pieces on the site, such as DVD's, Stationary and Audio Books. You can browse through each of the tabs which will bring you to another sub - home page with more offers available. Unfortunately this website can be slow, I think with all the animation on the site slows it down, so it is no where near as fast as it's competitors, which is annoying

~Ordering Process~

The ordering process is remarkably easy. You add things to your shopping basket and when ready, you check out. Add in your card details and away we go!

~My Experience~

Now I realise I ordered something that wasn't immediately in stock. When I read the confirmation e-mail after wards, it said 'despatched within 14 days'. I was shocked at this as I didn't realise this when ordering. It does in fact say this on the item page, but still I was shocked this could take so long. I patiently waited, past my friends birthday, although I admit, I hadn't checked that before paying.
But I am still waiting. 17 days later and no e-mail with an update, this is highly disappointing, especially when they had the cheek to send a 'fill in our survey' form 12 days after I ordered.
I wrote to customer services, who blamed the supplier. I have since written to the Chief Executive of Borders. Surely if you are handing out contracts to suppliers, they should fill the order within that time, or, in my mind, they shouldn't offer it for sale.

~Conclusion~

I will update should I ever receive my item, or hear from the CEO. But overall despite my experience, the website and ordering was fine with a confirmation e-mail not long after order. Apart from the website being rather slow and them offering things they have not got. It was fine. I would suggest for people who want to order, check under the item description to see when they are sending it out. The newer things say 'Despatched within 24 Hours' which is excellent as they offer free delivery. But unfortunately this did not work for me. Added to my annoyance, the customer service blaming it on the supplier sent me over the edge to complain higher up. This was not a high value item by any means but not to get it after 17 days is unacceptable. Especially when every store is chasing the flagging customers in the middle of a recession. In future I will stick to stores I know well and perhaps pay the 78p more.

Summary: Plus points and minus points for them !