pearlieq
<font color=green>They can sit & spin<br><font col
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2004
- Messages
- 8,734
I'm sure lots of people are getting the Lakeside Collections/LTD holiday catalogs, and I remember someone asking about them recently, so I thought I'd share my experience with my first order attempt with them.
I placed an order online on 11/5/08 for a buffet server and some sets of cute Christmas towels. At the time I placed my order it said nothing about the products being out of stock (nor anything about them being in stock, in hindsight). Since I was not told they were out of stock or on backorder, I assumed they were in stock.
When I checked my order status a couple of days later, I was dismayed to find that every item I ordered was on backorder and would not be available for over 2 weeks.
I called their toll-call customer service number, I got a busy signal 4 times before getting through (this happened around 11:10 am today) and then was on hold for 9 minutes before I was able to speak to a rep.
I tried to verify exactly what timing I could expect, and was told that I had to allow another 7-10 business days after the backorder came in for the order to be processed and shipped and then up to another 15 business days for the item to arrive. They would not give me any estimated arrival date, nor would they confirm how they were going to ship (UPS, US Mail, etc.) or from where.
When I added this all up, it would be possible that I wouldn't get my items, that I ordered for Christmas on 11/5, until sometime between 12/31 - 1/6!
The rep I got was not rude, but was not at all concerned with my situation or trying to help. She simply told me I had to allow that much time, and that was that. Needless to say, I cancelled my order. She did do that quickly and with no fuss.
Amazon can ship in 24 hours or less and gives me a very reliable delivery estimate. Oriental Trading has a toll free-number, ships quickly, and has fallen all over themselves to provide me with good, friendly service.
With so many options for holdiay shopping, I wasn't willing to accept what they were offering. It seems almost archaic in this day and age to give someone a 25 business-day window as to when they can receive their items (after they arrive from backorder, of course
)
Your mileage may vary, but I suppose the moral would be to shop early and verify the stock-status of an item before you order it. Or shop with someone who's a bit more concerned with what you might actually need when Christmas shopping!
I placed an order online on 11/5/08 for a buffet server and some sets of cute Christmas towels. At the time I placed my order it said nothing about the products being out of stock (nor anything about them being in stock, in hindsight). Since I was not told they were out of stock or on backorder, I assumed they were in stock.
When I checked my order status a couple of days later, I was dismayed to find that every item I ordered was on backorder and would not be available for over 2 weeks.
I called their toll-call customer service number, I got a busy signal 4 times before getting through (this happened around 11:10 am today) and then was on hold for 9 minutes before I was able to speak to a rep.
I tried to verify exactly what timing I could expect, and was told that I had to allow another 7-10 business days after the backorder came in for the order to be processed and shipped and then up to another 15 business days for the item to arrive. They would not give me any estimated arrival date, nor would they confirm how they were going to ship (UPS, US Mail, etc.) or from where.
When I added this all up, it would be possible that I wouldn't get my items, that I ordered for Christmas on 11/5, until sometime between 12/31 - 1/6!
The rep I got was not rude, but was not at all concerned with my situation or trying to help. She simply told me I had to allow that much time, and that was that. Needless to say, I cancelled my order. She did do that quickly and with no fuss.
Amazon can ship in 24 hours or less and gives me a very reliable delivery estimate. Oriental Trading has a toll free-number, ships quickly, and has fallen all over themselves to provide me with good, friendly service.
With so many options for holdiay shopping, I wasn't willing to accept what they were offering. It seems almost archaic in this day and age to give someone a 25 business-day window as to when they can receive their items (after they arrive from backorder, of course
)Your mileage may vary, but I suppose the moral would be to shop early and verify the stock-status of an item before you order it. Or shop with someone who's a bit more concerned with what you might actually need when Christmas shopping!
They have some nice stuff at good prices but I will order elsewhere now, it's too close to Christmas for me to order from Lakeside.
My mom refuses to buy anything else from them, because she has had a problem with every single order she placed.
