[Closed] Customer service and refunds, are they allowed to make it such a PITA?

Trading standards do expect a basic standard but there's nothing compulsory.

I've never had a problem with anything bought from IKEA, and their flat-pack furniture (from the cheapest to the dearest) is always a marvel of design/build/packaging.

Was it at fault?

Have to say that I've returned lots to the same Ikea and never found it that much of a chore... maybe you're just picking bad times?

I've noticed this before with Ikea- the sales desks are all manned and move very quickly. Even the self-service points are slick, Sainsburys etc can learn from this as the person manning the Ikea self-service area NEVER leaves the area. Probably for security reasons however its very well run.

Take something back and its a big void of an area- sparsley manned and slow, short staffed with a ticket system. I think psychologically its meant to be like that....

Only once had to return something, turned up, picked up a ticket, waited about 10mins to see someone, returned it, and got a refund..

I'm sure most companies invest very little in their customer complaints/returns service, 20 mins on the phone seems quite speedy to some of the complaints that come up on Watchdog (was 1 hour+ for Sky and British Gas I think?).

I need a new mouse...

So - having waited a while it was then hassle free? At least you didn't have to speak to half the company, get fobbed off, have promised return calls ignored, told a number of different stories and only be "granted" a refund after being shipped a different specification replacement and posting on the internet about it.

its a big void of an area- sparsley manned and slow, short staffed with a ticket system. I think psychologically its meant to be like that....

Sounds like buying something in Argos...

As mentioned above, they only have to make returns/refunds available - there are no hard & fast rules or regulations as to how that is achieved.

Spend as long in front of the store, shouting to customers about how slow their returns are, as you spent in the queue

It'll count for nothing but you may get to meet some interesting people

What about having to call to get a refund and pay for the privilege?

[img] https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ1dg4_Pzh_RKtjwVFeQV4aUzCEYPpvgM02QwB5zBn1ev9-HkewdQ [/img]

druidh - what happened there then?

druidh - Member

So - having waited a while it was then hassle free? At least you didn't have to speak to half the company, get fobbed off, have promised return calls ignored, told a number of different stories and only be "granted" a refund after being shipped a different specification replacement and posting on the internet about it.

That's scandalous!

I used their 25 year mattress guarantee. Did have to hire a van to return it, which apparently you can get refunded but i lost the receipt, but they replaced it without issue after 4 years. I didn't find it too bad in the evenings, but the places is horrendous at the weekends.

Try waitrose cs bs.
They are more busy since start of this economic downturn,,, go figure!?

You also get liqourice all sorts shopping there nowadays which seems odd...!

glupton1976 - Member
druidh - what happened there then?

Don't ask, he will go off on-one 🙂

If it looks busy then get your ticket and then go for a hot dog or ice cream 😀

Rorschach - Member

Rorschach - Member

These 'first world problem' posts are really annoying.

To build and maintain a democracy takes alot of death and sacrifice. Its not cheap to build or maintain. People still die to protect it in their home country and ontop of that people have to die away from their home in some unforsaken land defending the borders etc of their homeland miles away. Look at the Commonwealth graves in Libya, Iraq (WW's) etc etc etc etc etc.

Every country has its challenges but such posts are trolling when put on any thread. People fought and died for us- we should be grateful but in part we shouldn't also have to handwring at every turn.

Bit of a tangent there Hora but I agree those and and derivative of "puts kettle on" posts in threads serve nob purpose other than to goad an argument or troll

on topic, people make money from selling stuff not from returns so clearly the majority of their efforts will go there.

I had an insurance payout from Esure once. When I agreed to buy the insurance they mandated taking the money there and then. Once they agreed to pay out it was 7-10 days for the cheque, plus the mandatory bank faff - not that I needed the money to buy a new car or anything. Tossers.

These 'first world problem' posts are really annoying.

They're really condescending.

Just because there are bigger problems in the world doesn't mean that personal issues are any less important. If my roof collapses in a storm, my dog dies and I lose my job, I'll be sure to take great comfort in the fact that at least I'm not starving to death in Africa or being tortured in the Middle East.

Something serious that actually has some lasting effect on your life or well being is important.
Whining that you had to stand in a queue for 10 minutes because your £1.99 scented candles don't match your coffee table however,is not.
It's supposed to be condescending btw.

Then congratulations, you succeeded.

So we're only allowed to be frustrated by things you deem important. Good job, glad we cleared that up.

I'd like to nominate ASDA in the 'making returns a PIA' awards. Open and happy to take your money 24 hours a day but only able to make returns from 7:30am...especially annoying when you climbed out of bed extra early to get there before work only to be unpolitey told that returns are not possible before 7:30am when the customer service desk opens. GRRR