| Product: |
Comet.co.uk |
| Date: |
27.05.02 (235 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: price, reliable delivery, easy communication
Disadvantages: none so far
It is no secret that Comet and I didn't get on. I checked prices religiously in the hope that I could avoid shopping with them. But it is a fact that in this respect they are pretty unbeatable (in my area anyway), and with heavy heart I drove to my local store. I don't ask for more than an interest in my purchase and answers to any questions I may have. I find shopping a chore anyway and want to walk in, pick out my choice of purchase and leave. However the staff still manage, with rare exceptions, to make me feel that I am a nuisance. When I read an op on the Polti Steamer (thankyou Fruitcake) and checked price comparison on the net it was a case of "Here we go again". From £349 down to £299 plus £3.50 delivery it had to be Comet online.
The Comet website is pleasantly easy to negotiate with product links on the left hand side, and from there clear detailed items to select, together with comparisons if you wish. On proceeding with the shop it was a pleasant surprise to find that I could pick a time for delivery within half a specified day. Within a short while, as promised, I was emailed with confirmation. It appeared that my chosen delivery time was not possible and I rang the telephone number given to re-select. Sure enough, I received my Polti on the designated morning and started steaming.
Although this had been only one example, I was satisfied enough to seriously think of using online Comet for the appliances for my proposed new kitchen.
The combination of website and nearby store meant that I could make choices of cooker, fridge and washing machine, then trot down to the store to look them over. You know, open doors and check dimensions and generally find if I had made the right choice. As usual the service in the store was uninspiring and they didn't have the range I needed. When I telephoned Comet to ask about availability in their shops, once again the difference in communication skills was evident. They
took time and trouble to check where and when the items I wanted to see would be available. This saved me unnecessary trips and I found what I was looking for in the next town. I must admit that I couldn't resist commenting on the difference in attitude to the telephone operator. He laughed and said thanks, he normally received complaints.
Back to the website and washing machine. My original choice of a Bosch was changed when I saw that an Indesit was the same price but with many more features. This is covered in another op. An offer to remove my old machine, pay me £20 for it and connect for £6 was too good to miss. Another telephone call to Comet confirmed that the "limited period" was very limited and I made the purchase without seeing the machine or having my new kitchen ready.
I had chosen the following friday morning for delivery and ten minutes later received an email stating that the closest choice I would have would be saturday all day. When I telephoned to explain that "all day" was not an option, that was no problem at all and we decided on monday morning from 8am to 1pm. The operator suggested that he ask the driver to telephone me with a closer time on the day. Not much wrong with that! On monday morning I received uninpeachable service.
At 8am two men arrived with the new machine. They unplumbed the old one with difficulty as the taps were frozen open. Then having connected the new one and tested, they had the awful job of carrying my excrutiatingly heavy old Bauknecht down my front steps. Bearing in mind that these steps are part of an expensive landscaping job, they took extraordinary care whilst struggling to actually lift the machine. They had both been so courteous, willing and friendly that I was positively embarrassed at being the cause of these added efforts.
I had been so pleased with this service that I wrote immediately to Comet and told them that on the basis of t
his I would order the rest of my appliances from them. My intention was kudos for the deliverymen. The icing on the cake came a couple of mornings later with a charming telephone call from Lisa at Comet, thanking me profusely for my letter and assuring me that the department that the driver and his mate worked for would be informed.
Since I first wrote this opinion, Comet Online and I have become firm friends. The easy ordering and prompt delivery, during the window on the day requested, has not faltered. The fridge/freezer arrived and was carried into the house and placed where I wanted it by an obliging deliveryman. A microwave followed, carried by a Parcelforce courier with the time of delivery entered on his sheet; and he also was happy to carry it into the kitchen for me It is such a pleasure to order an appliance, wait a few days and then just plug in and enjoy. Although each item was beautifully packed, unmarked and in working order, the Sales Receipt which preceded them contained a refund and exchange guide, should I be unhappy. Added to this is the ability to change my mind and return the goods within 7 working days of delivery. This last does not apply to video tapes, DVD's and suchlike. Should I wish Accident and Breakdown Cover (which I never do), I have 28 days after purchase to arange it.
The final large kitchen appliance is my cooker. Since it seemed to make sense to request delivery for the day after the fitter started, I ordered a week beforehand. It is worth pointing out that although the times offered tend to be within 2 days, Comet have suggested that 5 days is more probable. I have found that this is true and, therefore, have had no trouble receiving the window I need. Whilst choosing the cooker I did check prices on other sites and found one lower. Although almost tempted, it seemed to make sense to use the company which has given me such reliable service.
An added bonus is that delivery c
harges are either low or non-existent (as with my cooker). It is worth noting that availibility of appliances varies from time to time, generally in colour. I have formed the impression that this is because the website is kept up to date and amended with Comet's stocks. However, their range is impressive.
It will be a while now before I need to order again from Comet (sigh of relief from my credit cards). My details were easily entered on my first purchase, with my email address as user name and a password. As soon as I need to shop with them, this is all I need to enter and my name address etc. no longer have to be painstakingly keyed in.
It is a wonder to me that face to face with a Comet employee in one of their stores should be so less friendly, obliging and efficient than contact across the ether. That's modern life I suppose.
I am sorry that I can't enter the product questionaire. The system won't let me.
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