The Word Cloud

Three and a half months ago, I ordered a side table from a catalogue company. It matches a corner table that I had previously bought from the same company. I was told that it came direct from the manufacturers, and would not be delivered until September. The September date came and went, and no table. I called them, and they told me that the delivery date had been moved back to October, and it was a replacement table, not the original. I was rather annoyed. a I had to contact them to find this out and b) the table was not what I had ordered. The operator disappeared and on her return, informed me that it was the original table and gave me the October date by which it should be delivered.

The October date came and went. So I called them again. This time I was told that it had been dispatched and should be with me by the following Friday or Saturday. Saturday came, and guess what? You've got it in one, no table. So it was back on the phone, at ten pence a minute I hasten to add. This time I got an obliging young man, who rang around the whole building (at my ten pence per minute) to find out what had happened to my table. He came back to me to tell me that it had inadvertently been delivered to them. It was going straight onto the van, and would be delivered one day in the following week.

Yesterday, yup, still no table, I called them again. I explained the whole story AGAIN and the operator went to talk to dispatch. He came back to tell me he couldn't make contact with them, and he would ring me back. In fairness to this young man, he rang back fifteen minutes later, to say that dispatch had to make a phone call and would call me back that afternoon. At tea time, I rang again, and asked to speak to a supervisor. The operator wanted to know the full story before she would transfer me.This time the operator said that it had been dispatched, and if I bothered to read the small print, delivery takes up to 28 days. You mean three and a half months I said. I kept telling her what the other operator had said, but she was having none of it and kept repeating the twenty eight day rule. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Now I am normally a very laid back and placid person but, at this point I exploded and asked to speak to a supervisor or a Manager. She went away and came back to tell me they were all in a meeting. Very convenient. I asked if she would get someone to call me back. I can pass a message on, says she, but it will be anything up to 48 hours. I said under the circumstances don't you think they should get back to me sooner. She kept repeating the 48 hour rule, by which time, I wanted to scratch her eyes out. In that case, said I, let me speak to dispatch. She went away, AGAIN (remember at 10p per minute) and came back to say dispatch was busy. She would pass a message on, but it could take anything up to 48 hours.  Again with the 48 hours. But they were supposed to ring me this afternoon, I told her. Then, she kept repeating the 48 hour rule at which point I hung up on her and wrote a letter of complaint. Phew! In my letter, I put not to send me any vouchers for money off future purchases, as there wouldn't be any further purchases. AND I'M STILL WAITING FOR THE TABLE.