I have just had a bad experience with a website called Barmey. I ordered an iRoomba robotic cleaner from them on Tuesday 9th June and paid the extra fee for delivery on Thursday 11th June. They sent me shipping confirmation and a consignment number.

Needless to say it didn’t arrive and when I queried it online on Thursday at around 5:00 pm, their system told me to contact Parcelforce. I called Parcelforce and gave them the consignment number. Parcelforce had no record of the number. They also had no record of my name or address. In fact, they said the number I had been given by Barmey was not one of theirs.

I was unable to contact Barmey on Thursday because their lines close at 4:00 pm.

I called them at 10:00 this morning and the woman I spoke to promised to investigate and come back to me. Needless to say she didn’t, so I called again at 12:00. The gentleman I spoke to (Chris) said Parcelforce had lost the package (yeah right) and that Barmey would despatch another for delivery on Monday.

I explained that this was unacceptable as I had paid for the next business day delivery. I also advised that I had originally ordered for a Thursday delivery as there is only someone at home on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I requested delivery on Saturday instead. The gentleman then advised that none of this was Barmey’s fault and that it was too late to change the delivery date from Monday. I again advised no-one would be home and that Monday delivery was unacceptable, at which time the individual became aggressive so I commented that if the product was not delivered by Saturday, they could consider it cancelled and terminated the call.

Chris also accused me of bringing it to their attention too late – He said I had left it too late to complain and that I should have called on Thursday. I pointed out that I had tried to call on Thursday and that I had logged a call with their online system on Thursday. He replied it takes 24 hours to get a reply – very useful indeed.