A Warning For On Line Shoppers

[scraggy55]

Ordered a Laptop as a Christmas gift. It was ordered at Asda Direct. Paid for Next Day Delivery - surprise, surprise, it did not arrive the next day. Left if a couple of days to give them the benefit of the doubt. Checked the on line tracking service and it was saying that the item had been delivered. Called Asda Customer Services on 15th December, 3 days after the item was due to be delivered. Waiting 30 minutes for them to answer the phone, all their Customer Service Agents are South African, so I am guessing their Customer Services are based there? To cut very long story short and after spending 3 hours in total either trying to get through to Asda Direct Customer Services, or talking to someone there, it would seem my purchase has mysteriously disappeared in the Yodel Warehouse, or on its way to me. Rang Yodel and they said 'we are interviewing the driver' - were going to make me wait until the matter was resolved with the Carriers, until I pointed out to them that my Contract was with Asda and NOT Yodel. Asda Customer Services finally gave in and refunded me the money. Now I wonder what that Driver did with the laptop........? I have sent several e mails to Asda Direct during this period and have not had one reply. Please beware of buying from Asda Direct, if anything goes wrong you are not going to be able to resolve it easily. Also beware of buying from a company that uses Yodel as a Carrier - all seems a bit dodgy to me! This was such a nightmare that I didn't want anyone to go through the same thing!

[marval]

Thanks for the warning.

[Baldric]

I think Yodel was featured in a 'Watchdog' episode earlier this year, and did not come out of it too well.

[anagram]

Yodel also 'lost' an item that I bought online. A less than trustworthy company methinks.

[losgigs]

Sorry to hear your tale of woe, Scraggy. It would be tricky to know whether any particular company use Yodel - you make the order online so I'm not sure if you could find out which carrier is used. I may be wrong though, which I'm sure someone will correct! Glad that you managed to get a refund in the end, though only by determined perseverance.

[Frank97]

Good old Yodel, once they left a parcel on my wheelie bin in the street where anyone could have picked it up, then another time they throw a package containing a shirt over the fence into a puddle, all in all a quality delivery firm.

[daffy654]

I have regular deliveries where Yodel are the carrier and have never had any problems. I have heard and read about the nightmares some people have had due to them though. I guess I'm just lucky that the local drivers are honest and reliable.

[Cruciformist]

I believe Yodel drivers are franchised.

[Prudie]

Unfortunately that's just occasional bad luck that sometimes happens. I had just the same when a table from Next disappeared at delivery stage. I think that was UPS.

[excelsior-1]

never heard of yodel

[starone]

I have had several items delivered safely by courier. I do not know which one though. He's a nice man - getting to know him. I'll have to ask him who he works for.

[sometimesit]

If it said on the ASDA website ring customer services in South Africa, how many people would order??
I will steer clear of them. Thanks :)

[boxtops]

scrappy - Yodel's a health hazard, ASDA shouldn't be using them to deliver. They have a lousy reputation. Don't blame ASDA entirely, but I'd have more faith if they used a different delivery agent.

[boxtops]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/aug/24/amazon-complaints-yodel-delivery-service

[scraggy55]

I would advise you all to read the link that Boxtops has put on here! Very, very interesting. Also peeps, I ordered from another on line retailer last week and took the precaution of phoning the order in - asked them during the call which carrier they used, it wasn't Yodel so I ordered from them and received the item within two days! So by all means order from a website but do it over the phone and ASK who their carriers are, if its Yodel, order it somewhere else!

[dotty.]

next time go to the shop

[silliemillie]

The same thing happened when I ordered a laptop from Tesco, dont know who they use but Customers Services were not surprised, they even said it was because it was a high priced item so must be a regular occurance.

[spudqueen]

I think that Yodel are a remodelled DHL. Doesn't excuse the lousy service though.

[scraggy55]

Dotty - did go to two Asda shops, item was out of stock, was advised to order on line. That is the only reason we did!

[AlwaysConfused]

ASDA customer services are based in South Africa, but it is a free phone number. Please don't get confused as Grocery shopping comes directly from the store, and does not come via a courier. If you order asda direct goods online, you can always choose to collect from the store. Have not heard of stores using Yodel or other couriers, that is not to say that they don't, of course.