Fairyland heaven (ukgiftsonline.co.uk)

Member Name: moonpoppy

Product:	ukgiftsonline.co.uk
Date:	30/04/06 (895 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Super range of kooky gift items at a great price

Disadvantages: A big fat zero

Fairies ... pixies ... angels ... Betty Boo ... dragons ... witches ... baby sculptures & gifts ... Old Tupton ware ...

Whoohooo! Gifts for everyone - but especially for me me ME!

I came across Chatty.Cath and her fantastic shop while having an eBay frenzy for the wonderful collection of Anthony Fisher garden ornaments; thanks to a dear friend's 'moving home' gift, I was enchanted by these cheeky pixies! Cath certainly has one of the best ranges I'd come across so when I found she sold them at her own online shop (aside from her eBay empire), I thought it would have been most rude to not pop along and do a little more shopping ...


So who set the shop up?
The lady behind www.UKGiftsOnline.co.uk first started selling her angelic items on eBay in 2003 - because she loved them and thought other people may like them too. After selling phenomenal amounts with one of the best ratings I've seen on eBay (a well-deserved rating, too!) she set up her online shop and also employed someone to help her (a family friend). Both ladies are absolutely delightful.

I love reading Cath's item descriptions - her wonderful charm comes across in written word supremely well!


Layout
Although the website can be a little slow to load if you use ye olde faithful dial-up (sadly what I'm reduced to until I move again), once you get the pages up, it's a lovely "clean" site. She's used a timeless plain colour-scheme, restful on the eye and doesn't detract, in any way, from the beautiful items she sells.

The links always work (big shops who sell online - take a leaf out of her book) ... and her shop is easy enough to navigate.

The index changes as you click though the various sections of the online shop, giving you more flexibility (and resolves the issue of using your back-button on the browser and losing absolutely everything!) 10/10


Shopping
OK ... so where do you begin to look amongst the hundreds of items she sells?

Timeless gifts (items of pewter and bronze, such as statuettes)
Gothic (use your imagination & glimpse if you dare!)
The Witching Hour (all things wicca-inspired & ritual items)
Angels ('nuff said ...)
Fairies (again, 'nuff said ...)
Spirituality & Essential Oils (darling lickle Buddha's)
Baby Gifts and Sculptures (so cute you can't help but coo!)
Old Tupton Ware (handmade ceramic items - divine)
Betty Boop (charming and who can't resist her?)
Anthony Fisher Pixies (my favs ... so naughty, some of them)
Special Occasions (christening items, for example)
Unusual gifts (wonderful items to treasure forever)
Novelty Gifts (for the wierd, wacky and wonderful)
10/10


Pricing
I've looked and looked and looked for better prices (in particular for the Anthony Fisher pixies - an expensive habit) and have yet to find anyone that beats Chatty-Cath and her assistant ... plus you don't often get service with an e-smile, which you do here! Priceless in itself, I think!! 10/10


Ordering
Chatty.Cath has recently introduced secure payment online using credit/debit cards, which just adds to the ease of ordering online. You can also telephone them to order. 10/10


Delivery
I've never had any problems at all, whether purchasing through her online shop or via eBay. If you need items to be held for a couple of days, or have any difficulties, just send an email and you will get a quick response (children's bedtimes permitting!) ... and items are always very securely wrapped up, to protect against careless delivery guys! 10/10


Customer Service
... second to none, I have to say. Always very friendly, very helpful and make you - the customer - feel very special. Which, in return, means you are going to return to get that "special" feeling again *grin* Charmingly old-fashioned and wonderful to those fraught by today's impersonal service. 20/10

Those little extras ...
Well, free gift-wrapping has to be a bonus for those who have more of a life than me (who is happy to sit surrounded by gift paper and bows at Christmas, wrapping up friends' presents!).

Personal ordering - quite unusual to be offered this service in this day and age! If you're a bit of a technophobe and you don't want to place an order online (whether due to security worries or just plain don't to) just give her a call.


I think some of the testimonials on the site give an indication of just how superb the customer service is ... I especially loved this one ~ "Could only be surpassed in brilliance by ... a 30lb Cadbury’s crème egg".

Must be good!


Do drop by and have a look if you are after something a little unusual or special for your friends or family - or even to treat yourself. You will find yourself in the most enchanting land full of magical and metaphysical mysteries.

Summary: Superb, friendly old-fashioned customer service and huge range of beautiful gift items