Category Archives: Rants

Complaints, Internet, Michael Jackson, Rants

Snow affects emails from Play.com

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I emailed a complaint to Play.com on December 11th, and am still yet to receive even a reply to the email. This is quite incredible seeing as they ‘aim’ to respond to emails within 24 hours. Needless to say I emailed them again with the following:

I still haven’t received a reply to my email from DECEMBER 11th, that’s over TEN DAYS to reply to an email. I realise the snow plays havoc with deliveries, but tell me just how does it affect your response times to emails?

I need to return the Michael Jackson doll because it arrived damaged, again. You can see it here: http://www.mrdaz.com/play-com-replacement-item-also-arrives-damaged/

I am also still awaiting three orders. I would send you the order ID numbers but sadly your order history page conveniently doesn’t show them!

I take it from your ‘wait 21 days‘ policy I have no chance of actually getting any of these items before Christmas, and your ‘can’t be arsed to even reply to emails‘ policy means I’ll never hear from you on this matter either.

Before you click delete on this email, as that appears to be how you actually deal with complaints, try Googling ‘Play.com complaints’ – you’ll see every step of this issue being reported online, on page 1 of Google. The next post is up to you.

After having sent that I received an auto email from Play.com, one that they have presumably sent to everyone who is concerned that a) they haven’t received items they’ve ordered for Christmas and b) Play.com can’t even be bothered to reply to emails.

Some of Play.com’s excuses can be read below:

We would like to update you on the delivery of your recent order with Play.com. You are probably aware that the adverse weather conditions are causing issues throughout the transport network in the UK and this has resulted in delays for our delivery partners. However, making sure your order arrives in time for Christmas is our top priority and we are working tirelessly with them to try and make this happen.

Understandably, many of you are contacting our Customer Service department to get an update on the status of your order. As a result, we are seeing an unprecedented level of activity and while our team is working long and hard to address all your calls and emails, we are seeing an impact on our normal level of service.

If your order was despatched without a tracking number please be aware that the item has been shipped and is likely to be with you before Christmas.

We appreciate that this is an important delivery for you and we will continue to work closely with our delivery partners over the coming days to do our utmost to make sure your delivery arrives before Christmas.

So, they’ve acknowledged that they’re not even replying to emails, en masse, and they’ve stated that orders are ‘likely to be with you before Christmas’… I don’t personally believe this is very professional, or reassuring.

Looks like you can’t rely on Play.com for Christmas shopping in the slightest.

Rants

Lambrini girls just wanna be original?

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I saw this advert on TV today and by Christ it made me chuckle. Firstly, it’s for Lambrini – which is just about the most disgusting alcoholic drink ever made.

Secondly, it uses the song ‘I am what I am’ which is always played by people who are trying to avoid criticism for being shite because they want the world to accept them for what they are. Something Lambrini can certainly empathise with.

So we have an advert that wholly admits that the product is crap by the nature of its song, and then finishes it off with the tagline ‘Lambrini girls just wanna be original’… be original? Quite how is singing ‘I am what I am’ in any way original? How is drinking Lambrini original? It’s as much a cliché as white stilettos and Ford Escorts.

No, what they should have gone with is ‘Lambrini girls just wanna get pissed as quickly as possible; taste not an issue’

What made this ad even funnier is that Lambrini’s brand manager, Sue Beck (probably a Lambrini girl herself) commented about the shite campaign:

“Lambrini is enjoying a good year with loyal and new customers buying into the range of Original, Peach, Rose, Cherry and Light varieties. The new campaign created by BJL, captures perfectly just why hard working, down-to-earth consumers love Lambrini, now one of the nation’s most iconic wine style drinks brands.”

‘wine style drink brands’? … wine style!?! It’s more like malt vinegar than wine.

A director at the ad company BJL, Charlotte Thompson, commented on the awful advert as though it were one of great originality:

“The new ad tells the story of Lambrini Girls’ lives to the iconic soundtrack, ‘I Am What I Am.’ They’re down-to-earth divas and the new commercial, beautifully directed by Kezia Barnett, literally places them in the spotlight. Celebrating the originality and character Lambrini shares with its consumers, the ad shouts out that being on a budget shouldn’t stop you enjoying life.”

Where are they getting this originality vibe from? It’s women drinking the cheapest shit they can buy and singing in the streets; no wonder this country has a bad image when it comes to alcohol – and yes, I realise the irony of me saying that.

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Complaints, Home Delivery Network, Michael Jackson, Rants

Play.com replacement item also arrives damaged

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Last month I ordered two Michael Jackson dolls from Play.com and they both arrived packaged in nothing more than plastic bags, naturally damaged. I complained to Play.com, obviously, and was told by the Play.com complaints team that I needed to wait in for the damaged items to be picked up, and that they couldn’t guarantee that the items would be resent packaged properly.

Billie Jean doll from PlayThe Thriller doll arrived well packaged, in a box, with protection, delivered by our friends at HDNL. Nice job. The Billie Jean doll however arrived packaged in a plastic bag, delivered by Royal Mail, and crushed – again.

I have now sent the following email to Play.com complaining about the state of the replacement item. This dance will continue until they get it right, or until I get tired of complaining… I think we know which one will happen first.

I have just returned from the Post Office after collecting this item, where once again I find that it has been packaged in a plastic bag. This is the second time you have attempted to send this item to me, and the second time that it has arrived damaged.

I initially ordered this and a Thriller doll, both arrived damaged in November. I complained to you, you told me to phone your expensive 0845 number, which I did. The woman on the phone said she couldn’t ensure that the replacements would be sent out packaged correctly, which astounded me. I then waited in for HDNL to collect them, taking a day off to do so.

The Thriller doll arrived in perfect condition, packaged in a large cardboard box (the original box used by Character Options to deliver the dolls to you in the first place) – you know, the sort of box ‘designed’ to ensure these figures arrive undamaged.

The Billie Jean doll however was once again dispatched in a plastic bag, despite there being room for two dolls in the aforementioned cardboard box. The doll has arrived, once again, damaged.

This is not good enough. I want the item I paid for in a condition fit for sale.

I now expect you’ll send me another template auto response requesting that I call your premium rate 0845 number and arrange another pick-up, costing me another day of work

This will not be good enough either. I expect to be compensated for this shoddy service, for my repeated phone calls and for my time waiting in for someone to collect a parcel, twice, that you should have delivered correctly the first time.

I await your automated email with baited breath.

Internet, Rants, SEO

Amos Web Designs

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A few weeks ago I received a comment on one of my posts from Thomas Amos, of Amos Web Designs. It’s always nice to hear from fellow Internet professionals – well, it’s almost always nice, Thomas’ comments were the exception to the rule.

Thomas took offence to a post I made about Computeach. Thomas believes, for some strange reason, that I actually work for Computeach, and he gave me his opinions wrapped up in a torrent of abuse.

Now, having spoken to the owner of Computeach on the phone about the nature of some of the comments on that particular page I can confirm that I do not work for Computeach, and have never done so. If I did work for Computeach, I might perhaps have been more selective over the comments on that page. Anyhow, Thomas Amos, from Amos Web Design, had this to say:

Mr Daz Your a complete prick. You are blantently working for computeach. I have been completly ripped of on my course and I am going to get every penny back from them robbing cunts. I done the first module and am on the second and have not got one thing that I was promised yet. What a joke. People If you want a carear in IT go to colleage or university night school but what ever you do dont go to a long distance pretend education centre.

Now, I would normally pick at his obviously low intellect and lack of attention to detail in what he has written – but he was clearly upset and it is just a comment on a blog. He can be forgiven for writing dross, making up words and generally having a distinct lack of understanding of the English language. Instead, let’s have a look at his own website, where he offers his web design (and SEO) services.

I can’t help it – sorry.

Amos-Web-Designs
Amos Web Designs

On this page of his beautifully designed website (a real showcase of his talents) he promotes himself thus:

Our prices are reasonable, wont break the bank and to your needs.

There is a distinct lack of punctuation and cohesion there – probably how he can promise that his services won’t break the bank – he’s saved on the apostrophes and non essential words. He goes on to promote his own ethics, which is a laugh.

Were reliable, honest and professional in everything We do.

They ‘were’ reliable, but presumably not now? At least he’s up-front about it, stating that he used to be reliable, honest and professional.

Guess copywriting isn’t one of his services.

Anyhow, thanks for the comment Thomas, Thomas Amos, from Amos Web Designs. I do hope you sorted your problems with Computeach and you managed to forge out a decent ‘carear’ in a ‘colleage’ somewhere.

Complaints, Michael Jackson, Rants

Play.com Complaints

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A while back I posted about two Michael Jackson dolls that arrived from Play.com in the sort of condition you’d expect to find if they were involved in an earthquake. I telephoned Play.com after receiving little joy from their online help due to some idiot just sending stock responses and not actually reading the emails.

I had only slightly more success from the telephone helpline though as the woman on the other end claimed that Play.com had no control over how items were packaged. She didn’t seem to understand that a plastic bag was insufficient protection for two collectible figures and couldn’t guarantee that any replacements wouldn’t be sent out in much the same way.

Anyway, have a watch and see what you think.

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I’ve yet to receive a replacement, though HDNL did turn up and collect the battered items as expected last week. It’s three weeks since my initial order, and more than two weeks since I notified Play.com of the damaged delivery. I wonder how long this will take.

Complaints, Internet, Michael Jackson, Rants

Michael Jackson dolls damaged in transit

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Well this is a turn up for the books – I have a complaint about the delivery of some items and it doesn’t involve Home Delivery Network… will wonders never cease? This delivery was in fact down to Royal Mail, but alas they’re not actually to blame either. No, the fault lies with Play.com and the amateurish way in which they’ve packaged two ‘collectible’ (as it says on their website) Michael Jackson dolls.

The dolls, one with the Thriller outfit and one with the Billie Jean outfit, have just been released as a more affordable alternative to the £250 Sideshow Collectibles figures. Even so, they’re still £30 each (so £60 on two dolls is a sizable chunk).

You would expect something branded as a collectible, and coming in a presentation box, would be dispatched in a carefully packaged box, filled with either bubble wrap or polystyrene chips – however you would be wrong. Instead Play.com decided that these dolls would be perfectly fine sent through the post wrapped in nothing more than a plastic postage bag. No protection, no padding, nothing.

I missed the delivery on Monday so collected them from the Post Office today, only to find they were somewhat worse for ware. The Thriller doll in particular had been crushed on the bottom section, and isn’t exactly in the condition I would describe as collectible. The Billie Jean was slightly better, but both have damage to the tops of the boxes as well.

Now I have complained to Play.com and I’m awaiting their response – so I’ll update with their comments here. I am hoping however that they’ll admit some sort of mistake in the way they’ve posted these as you cannot expect to sell collectible figures and post them in plastic bags. You wouldn’t accept that from an eBay seller, never mind a retail website with almost a decade’s worth of experience in selling online.

Complaints, Rants

Taxi for Manchester Airport

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Living next to Manchester Airport you’d think getting a taxi for the airport would be simplicity in itself – but you would of course be wrong. Whether you want a taxi to Manchester Airport, or from the airport following arriving off a flight, getting a taxi is extremely difficult.

Last year I tried to book with a taxi firm based in Manchester, only to be told that despite them offering a taxi service to Manchester Airport (a few miles from my house) they wouldn’t do a pick up from where I live. Perhaps my area is too rough for them, perhaps it’s too close to warrant picking someone up and doesn’t represent enough profit – either way I was appalled at their lack of service.

I then tried a local company, Wythenshawe Cars, and they said they’d pick me up for the flight the following morning at around 5:30am… however, they didn’t actually show at 5:30am. I called their dispatch again and was told they were short on cars and someone would be there in a matter of minutes.

Some more time later and no taxi. I called again, once again being told that the car was minutes away. I waited… and then I saw a car drive towards my house from out of the window. Despite now being 45 minutes late (which is important when catching a plane) the car stopped opposite and the driver got out. He walked into the park opposite and proceeded to relieve himself. I then watched the driver get back in his car and pull up outside my house, our chariot had arrived.

Coming home from that flight was a similar story. While yes there is a taxi rank outside the airport, when you give them the address (less than 3 miles away) they plead ignorance to its whereabouts, insisting that they’ve never heard of it and how I should get another cab. No, it’s not because they don’t know where it is, it’s because they can’t be bothered with such a short journey and possible low fair.

When we went away recently, to save the ignominy of watching a taxi driver relieve himself before arriving late, or having to explain to a taxi driver at the airport where Wythenshawe actually is (he’s already in it!) we decided to book our Manchester airport taxis to and from the airport. It made things a lot easier and meant we weren’t late arriving at the airport, a whole 3 miles away.

Complaints, Doctor Who, Rants

Million Pound Drop gives wrong answer to Doctor Who question

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Now I’m not an argumentative person, but had I been on the Million Pound Drop last night with Davina McCall, I would have raised bloody hell live on TV following the disgrace that was their Sci-Fi question.

OK, so I am an argumentative person, but in this instance I would have been spot on.

The game gives you four possible answers to a question and you have to place the money, one million pounds in handy sized £25k bundles, on one of four trapdoors representing each answer. The incorrect three answers open up and any money you have placed on those trapdoors is lost.

Now, on last night’s show the names of four Doctor Who actors came up, David Tennant, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann and Christopher Eccleston. I thought this was great, they’re going to ask something like who was the tenth Doctor (which would have been Tennant by the way).

No, the question was ‘Which actor played the role of Doctor Who for the longest period?”… interesting, but a simple one. Eccleston was the Doctor for one series, regenerating at the end of the series. McGann was the Doctor for one TV movie, so he was just two hours. Tennant was the Doctor for a few years, before regenerating into Matt Smith – however Sylvester McCoy was the Doctor in 1987, and he was still the Doctor following the show’s cancellation before he himself returned in 1996 to regenerate into McGann at the start of the TV movie.

sylvester mccoyTherefore McCoy was the correct answer, by a number of years. The contestants weren’t sure so they split their money between McCoy, McGann and Eccleston (with most of it going on McCoy).

Then all three of their answers dropped, leaving David Tennant as the correct answer and they’d lost all of their money. I was shocked, disgusted and outraged. I even checked my Doctor Who 11 Doctors figure set to see the official line on the years each actor has played the Doctor. Sure enough, McCoy was down as 9 years, ’87-’96. Just what had gone wrong with the Million Pound Drop?

Well, one would imagine that their researchers used Wikipedia to find out the answers, where it lists McCoy as having played the Doctor for just 2 years, ’87-’89 and then again in 1996. Surely even if they had used Wikipedia, that’s still a ‘period of 9 years’???

The question was ambiguous, but the researcher was slack and the contestants should be allowed to continue.

A similar thing happened on Who Wants to be a Millionaire a number of years ago when they asked what was the fewest number of strokes a player can make to win a set of tennis. The contestant chose 12, the correct answer was given as 24 and the contestant went home. However, they brought them back after realising you could in fact win a set of tennis by playing just 12 strokes – if you served 12 aces and your opponent served 12 double faults.

The Million Pound Drop needs to admit its mistake and get the couple back. They were right and should still be in the game.

I’d still be there now had it been me, refusing to let them get away with it. There’s also a number of online discussions and blogs referencing the mistake as the show has angered a lot of nerds… myself included.