UK question. Should i be hacked off?

I went to Homebase a couple of weeks ago for some garden furniture. They checked on their computer and said they have them in the warehouse, i paid and ordered them, they would ring me when they got them to the store. Called them today and they have sold out. I spoke to the manager who said they had called 45 people in the area but missed me. OK that`s human error, but #1 How much money do they have sitting in their bank account earning interest from orders they know they cannot fulfill? #2 They belong to Argos who manage to know what stock they have available when you order. #3 do any other companies you know do business like this?


I`m going to write to their head office but i just felt so irritated by this way of doing business that i would like some views.

UK question. Should i be hacked off?
I agree with an earlier reply, there should be legislation preventing companies taking money before the goods are supplied.It is relatively simple to calculate how much stock is available for the whole country on a daily basis, as all the big companies do an overnight inventory and know exactly what the supply situation is.
Reply:We had the same problem with Argos who had £600 of our money for six weeks over delivery time. They palmed us off with a £50 in store voucher and replied to our compliant when the goods eventually arrived, informing us that the goods had arrived and all was now rosy! I don't think so. Good companies take out your money the day before dispatch and I think we need some legislation on this.
Reply:This is very frustrating when a company tell you the goods are in stock but fail to fulfil the order you have paid up front for


This smack to me of making sure they get your business as if they had told you they were "temporarily out of stock" in all probability you would have looked elsewhere


The least they should do is give your money back till the stock is actually available !!


Yes write to their head of customer service and tell them how angry you are at their poor business systems which are not fit for purpose.!!


Good Luck
Reply:hacked off is putting it mildly.





#1 write to their head office with a complaint. try to put in ppl's names and dates if you can. Very important tho is to give them a deadline to get back to you by. give them 2 weeks is a good idea.





#2 if they then don't reply within that time, contact citizens advice bureau and trading standards, giving them copies of all correspondence from the company and you.





#3 go to your local newspaper with this story - the company won't like the negative press and if the newspaper is anything like our local one they will lap up the story with relish and be only too delighted to run the story.





#4 keep copies of everything and don't give up.





good luck
Reply:I would do exactly what you are doing and ask for your money back with the interest they have earned whilst it has been in their bank account.
Reply:Yes you should be ... they charge a premium compared to the same product available on the internet (sometimes twice as much), their reason is 'They offer a more personalised service'. I think it should be termed a personal way to 'p*** you off' - shout at them, ask for a discount etc,etc your totally entitled to it. Good luck ...
Reply:Good grief! You poor thing, no wonder you are hacked off with them (that's putting it mildly!)





Get in touch with the head office, give them a good telling off, they may make gesture of goodwill as they don't want any bad publicity.





Hope you get some good luck! Especially now the sun's come out to play! xxx
Reply:Go get 'em jojo





Edit





Here's a star to cheer you up
Reply:I had a problem with CD-WOW recently where they kept giving me different dispatch dates, and they kept passing by with nothing. It is very annoying.
Reply:go back into the store, ask for manager and complain as loudly as you can. Make sure as many people can hear you as possible. Works for me. And if you do not get any satisfaction ya sure do feel better.
Reply:good for you!!





i went on holiday to menorca with my mum and family last week. we were meant to have two villas in a place called cala galdana which has the best beach. we booked a four bed villa and a three bed villa ten months in advance.





we went to the menorcan airport expecting a rep to take us, only to find out that they had given away our villas!!





we ended up being transferred somewhere else in menorca with rubbish beaches.





my mum was furious!! she made me video the whole arguement with the lady and demanded to speak to someone. it was late at night and there were 8 children so we took the villas.





we're back now so she is gonna complain and get a full refund and compensation
Reply:ID BE PISSED TOO,ROCKYMOUNTAIN MX/ATV RIPPED ME OFF ONCE
Reply:Ask for a refuned .
Reply:Good call. Write to their Head Office. It's probably not a deliberate business practice, but you might get an apology and some vouchers out of them!