Something I just don't understand

[snelsonbrown]

In the past 3 years of delivering baskets to the ships, we have never had a problem with lost baskets - yet this year 3 baskets and flowers have just been "taken" - unfortunalty they were delivered to the wrong room by Disney and instead of saying "wow these are great, BUT THEY DO NOT BELONG TO US" and get them delivered to the right person by reporting to their room hostess. I just don't understand how they can be kept and not wonder about the children they were suppose to go to and the adults that spent a lot of time and thought as to what they wanted - the disappoint it creates for the entire family - not to mention the loss of monies - not to the customer for I refund right away - the time consumed trying to prove the baskets were never received and the cost of many phone calls to find what happened and then to learn oops signed by someone else - Disney knows who they are, but of course they won't tell anyone since they figure the keeper knows they did wrong -
Videoman's very beautiful and very expensive basket was taken - noone knows what happened to it - I spent exalty 11 days with numberous of phone calls to DCL to find out "what happened" - I just learned today that it was delivered to a wrong room and the folks kept it - I do not believe they are part of this board for I believe that everyone here is as honest as day but it sure does put me to wonder as to how can you teach your child not to take something that doesn't belong to you when they see the parents are doing the same.
Will I be reimbursed? Maybe tho it takes over 3 to 4 months for it -
I guess just sometimes I get disappointed that people can disappoint people but most of all the children -
Guess I just had to vent and just ask WHY???????? - I rather donate a basket then have someone disappointed or to think that I failed them - now I have made mistakes and I do admit them regardless - I rather be honest and forgiven than to lie and try to live with it.
Anyhow thanks for listening to me - guess it has been working on me all day.
Hugssssss to all and to those that are freezing - wish I could send ya some of our warm weather, but our time will come
Much love
Always
Shirley

 

[jlp651]

That makes me sad...I can't believe someone would be so low as to do something like that.
Thank you for sharing with us...I think I speak for all of us when I say we dont mind you venting-we're all family!

 

[jiminy579]

Shirley,
That is just downright disappointing to think that someone would do that! Those in the wrong will be faced with their actions one day. How sad for them that their character is only worth the price of a stolen basket!
You are so honest and caring!! I hope you have a great night!

 

[jlp651]

Shirley I just sent you an email...

 

[Eggleboo]

This is a problem that my family sees more and more lately. I always question what pushes people to the point where they think it ok to steal or hurt another. We have a neighbor who steals tons of things from his employer and thinks nothing of it. He actually brags that he remodels his home with supplies he stole. I have to wonder what his children will be like as adults and are they growing up thinking well it must be alright to steal because dad always did it. I do wonder is it possible that it could be people who don't realize the basket isn't for them or is there a card that states whom the baskets are for? I guess I'll see how the whole basket delivery works in May. I'm so sorry you are experiencing the darker side of human nature. I think many of us go through it that have our own businesses. I cannot begin to tell you how many people don't feel they have to pay their bills to my family business because they backed out of a purchase after we already did the work they requested. The positive side is I truly believe that there is a lot more good honest people then there are dishonest! Chin up!

 

[AnnMorin]

The horrible example those thieving parents are teaching their children... I hope they are not shocked when the same children steal from them.........
Shriley I know you are a good and kind woman.,. the cream of the crop, as honest as they come...it sickens me that your good name could possibly be smudged by dishonest people..
I can not wait to see my basket in a month, hang in there I love you!

 

[grlzmom]

Dear Shirley,

On our Sept. 13th Western Magic, we upgraded at port at our expense. Our stateroom gifts (purchased by our families through DCL and sent to us) were sent to our original stateroom (now inhabited by someone else who upgraded to it). These stateroom gifts (and our castaway club stuff) were promptly consumed by the new inhabitants of the stateroom (we know this for a fact, since my bold, dear husband actually went and knocked on the door of the stateroom). The stateroom we upgraded to had SEVERAL large baskets of stuff for some obviously well loved kiddies. We promptly called guest services and notified our stateroom host and they took four hours and seven phone calls before removing the baskets from our room and delivering them to the right people.

We had several discussions with guest services concerning this during the week and they admitted that this is an issue, especially when the ship isnt full prior to sailing and upgrades are going on. There isnt anyone responsible for this aspect of the upgrades and it needs to be addressed.

I love Disney and we have experienced plenty of Magic Moments but this is an area which we feel they need some better quality assurance. If they are going to upgrade people at port, and are willing to receive the extra revenue for it, they need to be able to handle it logistically.

I know that you work very hard on your baskets and from reading these boards, guests are very pleased and excited with your stuff. DCL needs to take care of it

I cant wait to order some baskets from you for our June cruise.

 

[gshoemate]

It's to bad that thats happening. People these days don't care. That is the conclusion that I have come to. And they deserve things foro free so why not keep it, no one will care. They don't stop to think that someone will care and they might of just broke a childs heart. I hear all the time on how things are stolen at the parks out of people's strollers. How can you steal from people at the "happiest place on earth". I just don't get it.

 

[prymsu]

Shirley, I feel for ya. You put some much time, effort and care into creating the most perfect baskets. It just doesn't seem right that you should have to worry abuot something like this happening.

I know that you can not deliver directly to the room now that there are stricter rules when the ship is in port, but at the very least, maybe DCL should think about having folks sign for the baskets, and on something that says they will be responsible for payment if the basket was not ordered by them.

Those folks ought to be ashamed to do something to cause one of the nicest people i have ever met such grief over something the know does not rightfully belong to them!

 

[trishy]

This is so pathetic! I just can't believe that Disney wouldn't at least make the effort to retrieve the baskets/gifts when only THEY know of its location. Don't get me wrong, ultimately it's the stinkin' thieves who are stealing in the first place. Disney knows where they ended up. If my kids' baskets weren't in the stateroom, first thing I'd do is contact guest services to find out what happened. It would still be plenty early enough for them to make the effort to retrieve the basket (are they too shy?). So sad - it's not the $$ involved, but the excitement of your loved ones seeing the surprises you ordered specifically for them. $$ can't replace that. I feel bad for you Shirley, because you go to such lengths to make sure people are satisfied with your creations - you lose out on that satisfaction also.

 

[gdulaney]

Shirley -
It's not just on the ship. It's happening more and more everywhere.

We ordered pizza one night and it wasn't prepared correctly...so the pizza place said they would send out a correct pizza. We waited (and waited...and waited...) and finally I called. Imagine my surprise when I learned that the pizza had been delivered 30 minutes earlier... It turned out that our address is similar to another address in our neighborhood (we're at 45 xxx court and they're at 45 xxx lane, but the street numbers are the same). The worse part is that we've MET these folks...sometimes we get their mail (and they get ours)... They couldn't have thought we wouldn't miss our dinner?!? And yes, we still refer to those folks as the "pizza thieves!"

It's really sad that someone would take another family's basket... each basket is created with magic and full of warm wishes for the recipient. It's just baffling...

Ginny

 

[SNicksed]

Originally posted by prymsu
but at the very least, maybe DCL should think about having folks sign for the baskets, and on something that says they will be responsible for payment if the basket was not ordered by them.

I agree with this, 100%!

 

[TheGlensideGregorys]

It IS horrible and just so mean-spirited that taking something clearly meant for someone else (and on a Disney Cruise, at that) occurs. I guess most of us would expect DCL guests to be of a like-mind - sadly, we have even seen on this board that there are always those with other agendas. Shirley, just know that for those few unfortunate incidents, you have brought countless more touches of MAGIC to so many others; and I look forward to working with you on our upcoming cruise!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Shirley ~
I agree with everyones feelings here. It is a shame that people can be this way. You are a wonderful person to care about your customers---and people in general---the way you do

 

[Doctor P]

I guess we were fortunate, Shirley. Our basket that you had so lovingly prepared was misdelivered on the 7/19 cruise, so I was unable to have the surprise for DSD of opening the cabin door to find that there was this special basket that had been placed in our cabin. About an hour later, two very nice young children came to our door with the basket--despite having our name and cabin number clearly on it, the basket had been delivered to their room instead. I am glad that they and their parents were very honest and brought it by to us. We thoroughly enjoyed its contents and DW and DSD were very surprised by what a nice basket we were able to put together.

 

[snelsonbrown]

When I wrote last evening, I was so overtired - I had been back and forth on the phone since October 11, just trying to find out what happened and it wasn't until yesterday that I learned the basket just disappeared - I only had one lost to an upgrade and that was the flowers, but by gosh if John Doe isn't your name then give it back - I do know that DCL is doing everything possible to make sure that things go right and I have started making a third manifest to insure everthing is ok, but it just takes more time and work - I really don't mind what I do mind is when the question comes up, the folks that tried to find their baskets were told by DCL "we are not responsible" - then by gosh if I was charge "that much" to handle my products -it is taken, signed for and it is in your possession - yep DCL you are responsible -
Now do not get me wrong I do have a lot of respect and honor for DCL for they too have had numberous problems and I am not and will not bash them for I believe in them and know they will find a way to correct the problem - it was just the fusteration that I felt to prove that these folks were telling the truth and did not receive their baskets - it wasn't like they had that many of our baskets to deliver -
Oh well this is now a dead issue and the old saying goes "what goes around DOES come around.
Love you guys -take care and wish I could share this warm weather with ya - hey anytime you want to come down and see us - come on down. Norm and I didn't get to go to Key West last week since he was sick -BUT WE LEAVE THURSDAY --WHOOOPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEE.
Chat with ya soon
always
Shirley

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

Shirley, you truly are a classy and 'magical' lady.
Enjoy Key West!
-Mike

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Please don't flame me for this question, as I am waiting for our first cruise and I don't know how the gift baskets work.

My question is, are their names on the baskets? How would the person who got a basket they weren't supposed to know that it goes somewhere else? Perhaps they might have thought it came from their TA as a gift?

I want to try and get this detail down, as DH is thinking of getting a basket for me as a birthday gift, and I know he would be crushed if it got lost.

 

[mcnuss]

My question is, are their names on the baskets? How would the person who got a basket they weren't supposed to know that it goes somewhere else? Perhaps they might have thought it came from their TA as a gift?

Oh yes, the names are very prominently on the card on the baskets. We did not use Shirley but our TA sent us gifts thru DCL and there was no way to mistake that the basket she sent was for my DD. Anyone who pretends otherwise is well, doing something worse than pretending.

It seems to me that if DCL mis-delivers and the room was not changed, then it is DCL's problem, pure & simple. I don't think that they would stand for their supplies being delivered to some other ship in the port! ("Oops, sorry, we took that seafood to NCL, but gosh, it's not our fault they kept it. SOL, you have to pay!") A simple solution is not to deliver until everyone is on board. Yes, it takes away the surprise of it being in the room when you board, but it would give DCL the opportunity to check your name against the computer manifest to be sure you're where you're supposed to be. And they should not be left anymore, a real person should have to accept delivery. ("Hi, are you Mrs. So & So, no? Oh, I am at the wrong room. Sorry")

It's no less thrilling to have a knock on the door and get a lovely gift, imho.

 

[ThreeCircles]

I am very sorry that some of the customers that have used The Perfect Gift have encountered problems in not receiving their baskets. I really find fault with the people who ended up keeping a gift that was not theirs to begin with.

However, two things strike me about this discussion.

First, I can see why some individuals are faulting Disney for delivering the baskets to the wrong room or the wrong people. I'm not really arguing if this should be the case or not. But, I think if push comes to shove, if people start complaining about stolen baskets, and if they encounter more and more problems with the system, I think they'll just end all deliveries to the ship.

From what I understand Disney is not making any money off of these baskets. (Or is there a delivery fee that Disney charges for such deliveries?) If they end deliveries they probably stand to sell more of their own stateroom gifts, which, they undoubtedly make a much higher margin on compared to anything they receive in delivery charges.


Second, I think this whole issue is one of ethics. As we have seen with many topics on the boards, people often decide for themselves what is right and wrong. And, they often make these decisions on what best suits them. Personally, I would say it is stealing when someone brings an old Soda mug onboard and reuses it for a cruise a year later. I would also say that it's wrong to buy one mug and use it for four people. However, many people would disagree (and are entitled to, of course) and say that these things are perfectly ok. In the same vein, many people would probably justify keeping a gift basket that was not theirs because it was "Disney's mistake for mis-delivering it" or because "Disney can afford it" or for many more reasons.

Just some thoughts.