Rant 354 19/12/12 Subject: Leaving it too late

Rant number 354

I work in on-line retailing - and at this time of year, I do wonder why! Its bloody stressful fixing all of the problems when time is getting so short before Christmas.

I'm not a great lover of Christmas (did I ever mention that?) but I have no particular wish to let people down.

The fact of the matter is though - that people have to be realistic about this world - because, to break some news to you all - that you are possibly not aware of:

The world is not perfect!

If you order something, have a look at it before there are only 3 working days before Christmas. That way, people will be able to help you out. People seem to actually believe that Christmas magic exists - specially for them. It doesn't though.

If anything, at Christmas, many things wind down - because (and I know this is fucking disgusting!) you are not actually the only person in the world who would like to enjoy Christmas. As such, the post, the courier networks, shops, businesses and pretty much everything else wind down a little over the festive period - meaning that trying to sort problems out when there are only about 3 working days to do so (one of which doesn't really count!) is not really fabulous.

I understand its not great that this is the case - but it is the case. If you are going to mail order anything, try and look at things before the time runs out. People wan't to help you, but short of a fleet of jet packed superhero's - they probably can't. Don't make a nuisance of yourself and start being grumpy about it. Christmas comes at the same time every bloody year - so its not like you don't know its coming!

Rant over.

Rant 188 6/7/12 Subject: Parcel Companies

Rant number 188


The internet has done a lot to augment our lives in the modern age.

For a start, you can read fantastic blogs like mine... You can social network with your weapon of choice (Facebook/Twitter,) you can watch movies, you can read stories.

And of course, you can buy stuff.

This week alone for instance, I have bought some ingredients for something I am making for the wife, a groovy ice-cream scoop and a  new air freshener for my car.

These items can of course be popped in the post.
Now for all of its disadvantages (expensive, unreliable etc) I quite like the post. You don't need to revolve your life around it. If your out, they just put it through your letter box. Also, you can be pretty sure that its going to get to you sooner or later - and generally without any action at your end.

If you buy something bigger though, things get complicated, because you need to use couriers.

Couriers really can make something simple like purchasing online a nightmare. It's a shame, but its true.

First of all, couriers will almost always give you only a time-slot of a full working day to expect your item. This means that, unless you can get the item delivered to work - you really do have to abandon a day to receiving the item.

Which is where things go wrong.

Because, Parcel companies are run by people, and so errors creep in.

If you have abandoned a day, you kind of expect your item in exchange don't you? But from my experience, there aren't any guarantees.

Recently for instance, the delivery driver ignored the outer bell - came inside the outer door and knocked. Not surprisingly - he wasn't heard - wasting my time and his! Pillock

Then there is the parcel tracking systems. You would love it to show you something handy - a map with a rough location on for instance, or an update within the local region. It's possible - and not even that technical. They hide the info from you instead, so that they can't be held accountable for their ineptitude.

Maybe they'll catch up with the modern world sooner or later. That'd be lovely.

Rant over.