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Coronavirus

The best and the worst so far

(106 Posts)
gillybob Thu 14-May-20 22:52:42

Have you found a company who has excelled itself during the CV pandemic ? Have you found another who has let you down big style ?

I’ll start.

Asda let me down with my little granddaughters birthday present. They kept my money for almost 6 weeks then told me they couldn’t deliver the day before her birthday . angry

Ditto Sutton’s seeds. Took my money in March and delivered 3 dead lupins 7 weeks later . Don’t answer emails and their phones are cut off.

On the flip side Amazon delivered a little game to my older grandchildren for them to share the day after I ordered it.

Hats off to Morrison’s who always make me feel calm when I shop in store. No horrible arrows on the floor just sensible And well thought out barriers .

Blinko Sat 16-May-20 14:42:13

Good: Amazon, Moonpig, Wild and Bloom for flowers, Asda click & collect, our local post person, Nicky.

Poor: Thompson and Morgan, who seem to be very slow off the mark. I'm still waiting for plants ordered weeks ago. No response to my emailed enquiry.

Improving after a poor start: Morrisons home delivery.

grannybuy Sat 16-May-20 14:46:37

NHS. - DH was in hospital for two weeks after becoming ill with Covid 19 in nursing home. A doctor called me every second day to give me an update. It wasn't rushed, and they always invited me to ask questions. The speech therapist and dietician both also called regarding his difficulty in swallowing and diet.
No major grouses, but I was disappointed when I went to Tesco during their hour for older people, and discovered people of all ages, including children, there. Also I've thought in two large stores, that the staff haven't been careful to keep their distance pat times.

blondenana Sat 16-May-20 15:20:33

My housing association, rang me to see if i was ok,and did i need any help with shopping etc
Also reported my bathroom light packing upl [they have to repair] they were here within 2 hours
Not so good, iceland delivery sent me milk when i ordered bleach, to make the price i paid up, so ended up with 4 litres of milk

Scottish power ; never had a worse energy company
Tring to switch, no refused as i apparently had a debt of £25 for Electricity, although in the first place when i told them the monthly payment they asked me for wouldn't be enough to cover winter ,but wouldn't let me increase it at first,
I have always paid more than asked to cover winter fuel bills
Later decided i could, but then asked me for £114 a month, which took 3/4 of my pension, so stopped DD ,next payment went down to £50 , next payment was £58. then 2 of £60,, i was fed up with these erratic payments and £114 was out of the question every month
When i applied to switch, it was refused, i sent a reading every month so none were estimated, but knowing i wanted to leave submitted an earler reading, of the times when the weather was hot so hardly used any extra gas or electric,then they wanted £78 based on that reading which i had paid only 2 weeks earlier, so paid that was told i could go ahead and switch, when i had paid the £25. so emailed new supplier, but yesterday got another email from SP saying i couldn't again, asking for the £25 i had just paid,and another £52,, for gas
I will never go with SP again and been advised to contact Ofgem
Their website says anyone in financial difficulties or vulnerable people could make arrangements to pay. not offered to me, and i'm on their priority scheme,because of age and when i tried to speak to someone,was told, sorry can't access your account,ring later
I have rung several times and can't get to speak to anyone
I find their attitude disgusting
Very sorry it's so long ,just needed a rant

marionk Sat 16-May-20 17:15:15

First class service from our local chemist and local family run plant nursery. Tesco are the only supermarket I can get either a Click and Collect or a delivery from and they have been great. Excellent service from an independent butchers and from Shipton mill for bread flour (even though I did need to buy rather a lot!)

lizzypopbottle Sat 16-May-20 17:16:37

Our local corner shop, award winning butcher and popular pub/restaurant have been absolutely brilliant during the lockdown. Service and quality have been second to none and all three have delivered.

I've had two deliveries and a click and collect from Asda. They were the only supermarket taking new online customers when shopping went pear shaped, so I'm grateful for that, but things I've definitely ordered seem to drop off the list with no information or explanation. I thought I was going batty the first time it happened but my son (lives here) saw me order certain things that disappeared from the list last time so I was reassured! However, one of the things was bread so that was awkward. I won't shop online with them after this crazy situation is over.

Peardrop50 Sat 16-May-20 17:51:38

Hats off to plantsbypost.com, I ordered nemesia on Monday, they arrived on Thursday looking fresh and lovely, now planted in my tubs and looking good already.
Iceland have been amazing since the beginning of lockdown, their fresh fruit has been a wonderful surprise and I intend to stick with them when all this is a distant memory.
Matalan delivered cotton slacks and polo shirts for Mr P in good time.
Wordery delivered books to grandchildren in time for birthdays.
Posties, bin collectors, pharmacy deliveries, all top notch.
Fortunately all our needs have been met and we are profoundly grateful.
So far so good, no let downs to report.

dolphindaisy Sat 16-May-20 18:43:08

I must give a mention to the good old Co-op, we have a small store near us and I can order online and get a delivery either the same day or the following day. You are limited to 20 items but it's handy for fresh food.

Shazmo24 Sat 16-May-20 18:46:43

Get seeds from Kings...you may just an email from them saying theyvr received your order & then within a week they drop through your letterbox! Always reliable

Tillypuppy Sat 16-May-20 18:47:02

Oakhouse food have been excellent keeping me fed whilst shielding. Haiths wild animal feeds who have kept the birds and hedgehogs fed, excellent customer service and delivery. The worse, the mail who closed the local post office so could not record delivery of my granddaughters birthday card. Result, arrived at her home damaged with the money missing.

Wheniwasyourage Sat 16-May-20 18:50:11

Forgot to mention J Parkers for plants. Always good service from them and they have been coping well with more orders than usual when garden centres have been shut.

Puzzler61 Sat 16-May-20 19:04:01

Received good communication and timely deliveries from: Lakeland, Seasalt, Webbs direct, Field & Flower Butchery and deli , Fennel & Ginger online foods, Moonpig and of course Amazon.
Disappointed with only 2 : Homebase ( split order and 3 weeks for some of it to arrive without telling me that up front ), and Superdrug (requested prescription drugs and they didn’t get delivered for 3.5 weeks).

Marmight Sat 16-May-20 19:29:27

I haven't had a delivery for over 3 weeks. Cant get one with any of the supermarkets. Thoroughly p****d off. This morning there was Asda, Tesco & Waitrose delivering to my neighbours. They all seem to get weekly deliveries which makes me even madder. My SiL gets me bits & pieces when he goes to Waitrose 1x a week But his idea of what I want and what I want are poles apart. I will have to go myself soon which isn’t particularly a good idea and DD1 will go mad. I have abided by the rules for 8 weeks & haven’t left the village but onTuesday I have to take my car (if it starts) for an urgent service 10 miles away. Will take a chair, rug & book & sit on the grassy patch outside for however long it takes. I had my first visit to the village shop yesterday. The assistant gave me a bag and licked her fingers to open it shock. I practically had a Dettol bath on returning home. She also said they took cash which shocked me. I have had a couple of deliveries of presents - hampers fromDevon organised by DD3 so cheers to her & Darts Farm and Greendale Farm ??

dontmindstayinghome Sat 16-May-20 19:37:30

Toolstation, B&Q, The Stockshop, JustEat. Superb service.
Well done to you all.
I am really impressed by the service i've received from everyone i've come into contact with.
I will definitely continue to support local, and indeed all uk businesses in the future.

Gabigirl Sat 16-May-20 20:42:15

Had sworn off online shopping but Amazon are fantastic- think I must have shares in the business by now!!????????

Gabigirl Sat 16-May-20 20:43:57

Amazon is the best!! I must have shares in the business by now!!!??

Daisyboots Sat 16-May-20 21:02:25

Saggi the people complaining about Barclays have businesses who need help at this time and Barclays are letting them down badly.

Missgran Sat 16-May-20 21:08:10

Our local greengrocers and butchers have been brilliant with our deliveries as have Morrison’s as have most of the people we have been using

misty34 Sat 16-May-20 22:54:25

Don't get me started on Hermes! Last year we were out walking when we returned neighbour told us that a large Hermes van had scraped right along the side of our car! It was a mess. Driver had got out and had a look, then promptly took off. Neighbour shouted at him but he ignored her.
I contacted Hermes and they said this was not possible as they had no deliveries in our street that day and unless I could supply the parcel ref number there was nothing they could do!

vissos Sun 17-May-20 03:17:45

Worst for me is Sainsbury's. Been shopping online with them for 15 years or more but as they are 'unable to identify me as vulnerable' I don't even get the chance to try to book a slot. They want me to get on 2 buses and travel for 2h each way... I've been able to get a slot with Morrison's for 26th - booked 2 weeks ago, and a neighbour orders me a few bits with her regular Asda order (she's shielding). I don't like to ask for too much tho, so only ask for 2 or 3 things of which 2 are usually out of stock on the day.
I haven't risked the bus to the local supermarket (Asda) as have heard horrendous stories. I did risk the bus to the nearest good shopping centre as I had a list of 6 shops to go to and my neighbour needed ibuprofen & I needed paracetamol. Boots were excellent! Not only did they allow me to buy 2x16 ibuprofen but also 2x32 paracetamol. I have to take 8 a day and most shops limit you to 2x16.
Tried the local greengrocer's delivery but it was heavy on potatoes (do single people eat 2kg + 2 large baking in a week?) and root veg. Fruit wasn't great either and I think I threw out more than I ate.
On the whole I'm not doing too badly - getting to use up stuff in the freezer that's been there a year +. Just a bit light on the fresh stuff.

bikergran Sun 17-May-20 07:35:08

Caro57 I too have a problem with something being returned! A Fridge Frezer from Argos.

Been stuck in my lounge 5 weeks now, the chap dropped it at the front door(and I mean dropped it)! it crushed all the corner, Argos sent me a new one, but stuck with this till whenever.

I'm sure it still works, Plus I only have a small lounge, its now become part of the furniture stuck there in its big brown box hmm

Maggiemaybe Sun 17-May-20 08:54:53

We’ve had no problems with anyone, and I’m more than happy (and grateful) to Sainsburys for our regular grocery deliveries, to our local pharmacy for the prescription deliveries, to the refuse collectors, the postwoman, the window cleaner (who’s just been once, but it made all the difference!) and the online companies we’ve ordered from - Boden, White Stuff, Boots, Superdrug, Amazon, The Personalised Gifts Company, Van Meuwen - for keeping going in these times.

Oh, and to our cheerful and reliable Hermes driver, who delivered most of our orders and who drives down the street so often we thought at first that he was a new neighbour. smile

Some deliveries have taken a while to arrive, but that’s only to be expected and I’m certainly not complaining.

EthelJ Sun 17-May-20 09:13:54

Local companies that have started delivery's to help people have been great. I have had some lovely veg boxes and they have included other things and flour in them. Also teh Coop have been great. They offer small deliveries of only up to 20 items but you can always get a slot (I haven't been able to get one from any of the othe supermarkets) my husband goes shopping about once every 10 days but I have found the COOP great for top up shops and for when my husband can't find certain items I need

gillybob Sun 17-May-20 09:52:34

To add to my growing list ....

Barclays are still way out in front of the worst by far ........ 4hrs and 40 minutes is my record for being in hold to them. angry

Asda (where I get my dads shopping. Who took a load of temp staff on at the beginning of the CV crisis, promised them work until Christmas and then got rid last week.

Asda again for those dreadful arrows that only some people feel the need to follow (usually the ones wearing hazmat suits, masks gloves and breathing apparatus) .

Still Sutton’s seeds for taking £48 from me almost 3 months ago and delivering 3 dead lupins. Still not answering emails and phone lines conveniently cut off.

On the positives this week I have Wickes . Queued for about 15 minutes yesterday to get some seals for my hand basin that was leaking. Well organised, straight in straight out, no fuss.

gillybob Sun 17-May-20 09:53:45

Oops meant that the people who tend not to follow the arrows are those wearing hazmat suits....... because the rules don’t apply to them .

Wendy Sun 17-May-20 20:11:02

Amazon have been brilliant delivering items quickly with no problems. The delivery co Hermes lost one delivery from the Chemist.co and when I tried to order it again it was was out of stock !