Freebies Galore But Is There Owt More.... (originalsource.co.uk)

Member Name: tinkerflip

Product:	originalsource.co.uk
Date:	11/12/02 (379 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice site to look at, bright and cheerful. They give you free stuff!

Disadvantages: Poor customer services.. Site sometimes doesn't want to load pages and often crashes.

Well yes there is,loads of information on the site as far as products and origin are concerned but I wanted to buy, buy, buy.

As we are all aware it's nearly Christmas and to digress for a second I have to say I AM SOOOOO EXCITED ABOUT THAT, heeeheeheee. I am so excited in fact that I have had my decorations up for almost a month now, lol. That's not as sad as it sounds though as I do have two small children who now think their home is Santa's grotto :O)

So on with the review. I have decided that this year for some of the girly's in my family; I am going to make up boxes, which will hold the contents of very lovely Lush and Original Source products. So off I toddle to www.originalsource.co.uk. I know there are plenty of you out there who will be very familiar with the site but for those who aren't I am going to give you a little information.

Before I get carried away, I'll just tell those Original Source virgins out there that this company makes various products, which include, shampoos, conditioners, shower gels and deodorants etc. I could go on but I'm sure you get the general gist of what's on offer here.

All the products are made with only the best ingredients and essential oils to give a really luxurious experience whether you're washing your hair or anywhere else (ahem)



::::::The Home Page::::::

The home page is very colourful, made up of mostly shades of green and yellow with the odd dash of orange to give a little contrast. It's very eye-catching and not garish at all. You will find links to various parts of the site via the home page. These include:

The now infamous free sample option, if you desire a freebie (and who doesn't) then you will need to register with Original Source. This is a simple procedure, you will find the link at the top of the home page and registration will take you no longer than a couple of minute's tops.
>

About Us - Go here and you will find out a little more about the origins of the company and their policy's. For example, they only use the finest ingredients and don't use suppliers that test their products on animals. That's always a good thing in my book.

Products - this will take you to a page where you can either scroll down and view the products on offer or you can use the drip down boxes on the right hand side of the screen. Either way, it's very easy to use and not mind boggling like some sites, which are a nightmare to find your way around.

Stockists - This will show you a list of all the products on offer as well as giving a list of which stores actually stock that particular product and how much it's going to cost too. Very handy if you don't wish to purchase anything via the web!

Order Online - This explains how to go about ordering your chosen products which, is a very simple process, so don't be afraid, lol. It also tells you of the site security and also gives you a phone number you can ring if you don't feel comfortable ordering online and wish to ring in the order instead. All calls are charged at a normal national rate and you can call any time of the day or night. Handy for those night owls out there!

Latest News - This will keep you up to date with any new additions to the product lists and any incentive schemes they may have running at the time you check out the site. It also provides you with a link to any of the new products available.

Hints and Tips - This gives you a choice of various things to click on as it they offer advice on anything from your water works, headaches and dry skin relief to constipation, mood food and spicing up your love life the natural way, oooh errrr! Seriously though, this is a very interesting bit of the site, which, is probably over looked by many if they are only after the freebies. Well worth a look.

Media Awards - Th
is is basically quotes from various sources, singing the praises of Original Source products. A bit like blowing your own trumpet there OS!!

Links - This is a bit unusual for a website like OS, they have decided to give you a chance to visit some of the various web sites they find interesting! Whether it be for fun, beating stress or diet and nutrition, I don't really rate this as I can find all those sites on my own, cheers all the same :O)

Feedback - Self explanatory really, this is a way for everyone to give OS their feedback and they welcome good and bad feed back apparently. I have a feeling they would rather have to former than the latter but then who wouldn't?


Competitions and Incentives - You will find several competitions on the homepage and plus the incentive to shop via the web. If you spend 50 quid with OS then you will qualify for a 5-pound discount off your shopping. You don't have to spend 50-pounds in one purchase, no, you can shop with them several times and they'll keep track of how much you're spending and when you have reached the 50 quid mark they will give you a 5 quid refund off any purchase at that time. Rather generous or just a cunning plan to get you to go back there me thinks!!

::::::::My Experience::::::::

My first experience with OS was through the freebies, I find it excellent that you can try before you buy, on certain products anyway! I however thought I'd take it one step further and buy my products online as some of them aren't actually available in the shops and can only be bought online via the website.

I was already registered with OS so on the 24/10/2002 I decided to make a purchase.

This was a simple procedure; I logged in, and then went shopping. I clicked on the products option on the top on the home page and when I found what I wanted I simply added it to my basket, very easy and straightforward.

Every time you select a
product and add it to your basket a list of what you have already ordered will be updated on the right of your screen. When you've had enough or you don't have any dosh left then you click on the checkout option.

You will then be asked to confirm your billing address and email address! I did this and I might add I was already a member and they'd had my existing email address for some time. I didn't have to resubmit it, as that wasn't an option given to me. It was already on the page along with my home address.

So I'd confirmed my details and then clicked on the continue button which, you will then be shown what you've ordered and at this stage you can still delete products or change the items in your basket. As I was happy with my purchase's I clicked on the Enter Credit Card Details option. I entered all the necessary stuff and was told to expect a conformation email detailing my products etc.

Well I waited and waited and waited some more. I thought maybe this wasn't an instant email and it was rather late at night when I made the purchase so I thought I'd check my email box the next day. As it happens, I wasn't very well at the time and a couple of days went by with out me checking for the email.

I checked every day until the 2/11/2002 and still nothing, well by this time I had expected to have had my delivery and forgotten the whole business but no, so 7 days later and no sign of my parcel, I haven't received my email or any email at all but the money had been taken from my bank account a few days after the order was placed!

Time for some action me thinks!

I emailed the site and they got back to me two days later! I was told that they would pass on the information I'd given them to their head office and the fact I hadn't had a conformation email was probably due to me not entering my email address correctly!
Well excuse me, I think not. I know for
a fact that the email address was correct as I get regular emails from the site about updates etc.

So I was expecting an email or a phone call (as I'd included that in my email to them) but still nothing and I'm still out of pocket by 43 quid!

I then decide to phone the company and get it sorted. I spoke to a very nice man who had a very calming voice; so calm in fact he sounded like he may have been falling asleep while he was talking to me. He was in fact as much use as a chocolate fireguard. He admitted that there had been a lot of problems with the site and said my order had been held back due to some of the items not being in stock.

Could he tell me when they would be in stock? NO!

Could he tell me why I hadn't been informed of this? NO!

I said I'd like to cancel my order and would like a refund thank you and he said he would refer my request to his superiors and I would be notified via email.

Did I give my email address again? NO!

Did I get an email telling me my order had been canceled? Yes!

Funny that isn't it?, some how they suddenly had my email address.

So nearly two weeks later I'm back to square one. I am Original Sourceless. The email sent confirming my cancellation had no apology or explanation. It simply said I'd be getting my money back as soon as possible and they hoped I would buy OS products in the future.

Well yes I will but not via their website!

I did get my money back a few days later so at least I didn't have to chase them to get that!!

Do I recommend it?

Yes, but not for making purchases.
I feel they need to improve their customer services and actually try and keep PAYING customer informed of any problems that may accur with their orders. I also think they could be more apologetic when it comes to dealing with customers like me, who where left waiting for orders to arrive as well as co
nfirmation emails. Paying customers are alway's more important than ones who are getting freebies for goodness sake!

I think the site is great for ordering your freebies and the competitions are quite good. I also like the fact they have some very good sources of information about skin care etc. When it comes to customer services though I think they fall flat on their squeaky clean faces!

I will not be shopping with them again. I will find my OS products elsewhere and maybe even find a bargain or two. At least I won't be left waiting..... Incidentally, it's a good job I wasn't in a hurry for my smelly stuff as I'd have been rather whiffy by now, wouldn't I?, ewwwwwww.

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