Shine a Light!

My 8 quid table lamp from B&Q gave up the ghost a few weeks back, so I decided to treat myself to a decent one that would maybe last more than 6 months. I went online to a company I've used a lot before. I'm not going to name them because they've always been reliable and what came next is down to some centralised 'customer fulfilment centre' rather than the company or its products. I ordered a dimmer lamp and 3 light bulbs - the bulbs recommended on the page as being suitable for the lamp.

A few days later, a very large box arrived. It contained not one but two lamps - the wrong lamps - and 3 light bulbs - the wrong bulbs.

They have a 'chatline' so I went online and had a chat with Anita who sounded just like Peter Kay doing his Geraldine voice.

I explained to Anita what the problem was. She checked my order. I had indeed ordered one lamp, code number 2020BC. I'd been sent two lamps, code number 2020. The bulbs were for the 2020BC lamp. That's why they didn't fit the lamps I'd received. Bad news: 2020BC is sold out. I said that was okay: the 2020 lamp is near enough what I wanted and it's about the same price. So I would keep one of the lamps and they could have the other one back along with the wrong bulbs, if they would just send me the right bulbs.

Days passed...then a courier arrived from DPD. He took back the extra lamp and the wrong bulbs. And handed me a very large box. He went off and I went to open my parcel. You're ahead of me now, aren't you?

Two lamps instead of one. Wrong lamps. Wrong bulbs.

I got on to the chatline but it wasn't Anita so I had to explain it all from the beginning, which is what I most hate about these 'customer fulfilment centres.' This lady was very nice and very sorry. She has promised me DPD will pick up the wrong lamps tomorrow and bring me right light bulbs.

I'm not hopeful.

Meanwhile, Amazon, Tesco, Mamas & Papas, Debenham's, Early learning, JD Sports and River Island have all delivered a whole collection of Christmas gifts I ordered at the weekend. Nothing was out of stock. Everything arrived on time or even early. My only complaint is that the thieving bandits at JD Sports charge 3.99 to deliver a gift voucher.

So I'm on standby tomorrow. Up at the crack of dawn to await the arrival of the cheery wee courier from DPD. We're getting to know each other quite well. He's not leaving here tomorrow till I know I've got the right light bulbs...