Ideal World, far from ideal service (Ideal World)

Member Name: liz3yy

Product:	Ideal World
Date:	13/01/09 (286 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Attractive prices, good selection of products

Disadvantages: Crap service, cancelled orders without consent

(Far from) Ideal World are a company similar to QVC where they have their own TV channel to flog anything from televisions to support underwear at what seem to be fairly competitive prices. It's impossible to watch for more than a few minutes I find as the presenters are so annoying! them seem to think that their audience are complete idiots and tend to talk down to the camera.

That said I was impressed by one of their fitness items last year during the summer after discovering the channel for the first time when I moved home and got freeview thanks to my boyfriend. I was on a health kick but didnt want to pay gym fees and wanted something I could use at home. They advertised one evening a mini stepper machine which seemed perfect and was less than £50, how could I refuse?

My problems began when I tried to place an order online, first I had to register and give myself a username. I had to wait for what seemed like an eternity to receive confirmation that my account was set up and to get my password, without that I was stuffed. Eventually I was ready to go and looked for the item I wanted, it was fairly easy to find as the website has a good search function which quickly finds the item you're looking for, you can also search through the categories listed at the top of the home page.

I placed my order, received email confirmation, breathed a sigh of relief then sat back to wait for delivery. I waited, and waited.......and waited some more. After 2 weeks I was getting fed up and called their customer service line to find out what was going on, the Indian (of course!) bloke I spoke to said that the order was on the way and should be with me that week, hmmmm we'll see I thought.

That weekend and still no stepper to be seen I called them again to be told that the order had been cancelled! erm why I asked? I didnt cancel the order as I actually did want the item. They couldnt give me a decent answer just that they would send another one. I declined this and asked for a refund as how I could be sure the same thing wouldnt happen again? I was told that a refund would appear in my account within 48 hours.

I got the refund as promised but minus the delivery fee!!! by now I was fuming and called them again to give them a piece of my mind. They tried to claim that they dont refund delivery fees for returned or cancelled items, BUT I DIDNT CANCEL THE ORDER!!! I cried, what part of that dont you understand?!

I did eventually get the extra money back but it was a right faff to get them to agree to it. I'm disgusted with their attitude and lack of customer service and would never use them again. I would avoid this bunch of muppets at all costs

Summary: Avoid