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Shops not coping with online orders eg Smyths, Evergreen, Woodies

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  • 02-06-2020 6:27pm
    #1
    Barbeapapa
    Closed Accounts Posts: 33 ✭


    I am trying to buy Irish but those three businesses above have whingey messages about how busy their websites are and they can't cope, or their delivery drivers can't cope (yes they are busy but I have got several packages delivered by the same delivery companies (reluctantly, very much so second choice) from the uk) and you can only order x amount of products. I live in a town that is pretty much shut down and we would all give anything to be busy (We are mostly tourism dependant) so I don't get how these companies "cannot cope". They have however many staff on a normal working day with however much stock they had in and coming in. Surely it is not rocket science to figure out how to turn physical sales into online ones.

    I am over the lot of them. Whining because people want to buy stuff from them but they can't cope....give me strength!


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    #2
    Ted_YNWA
    Registered Users Posts: 71,799 ✭✭✭✭Ted_YNWA


    Mod

    Thread more suitable here than Conspiracy Theories.


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    #3
    JohnC.
    Registered Users Posts: 3,374 ✭✭✭JohnC.


    Not only are online shops busier, but warehouses have fewer staff and other extra procedures which slow things down due to the virus.

    And they're not whinging or whining. They're providing information before people make orders, so they can know what to expect. If you want an example of whinging and whining, there an example much closer to here.


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    #4
    Caranica
    Registered Users Posts: 10,010 ✭✭✭✭Caranica


    I spent a week trying to buy a large item on Woodies, couldn't get a delivery slot. Googled item, bought it on another Irish site for the same price and their delivery was cheaper than w Woodies.

    Had never heard of the site before but basically it was a small town equivalent of Woodies who had their own website. Item delivered within two working days.


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    #5
    Cabaal
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 28,462 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cabaal


    Barbeapapa wrote: »
    I
    I am over the lot of them. Whining because people want to buy stuff from them but they can't cope....give me strength!

    You need patience, understanding and empathy as well.

    These are unprecedented times and if you don't understand the challenges faced by business you must live under a rock.


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    #6
    silver2020
    Registered Users Posts: 2,045 ✭✭✭silver2020


    Caranica wrote: »
    I spent a week trying to buy a large item on Woodies, couldn't get a delivery slot. Googled item, bought it on another Irish site for the same price and their delivery was cheaper than w Woodies.

    Had never heard of the site before but basically it was a small town equivalent of Woodies who had their own website. Item delivered within two working days.

    The small town equivalent does not have the presence of woodies and many people are afraid to shop in stores they don't know, so less orders and easier to get those out.

    Woodies is known nationwide. People don't always look for cheapest prices, many look for a trusted name.

    Its the same in the UK with many very big names shutting their websites down for several days and also stating delays of a week+

    Specialist online stores that have the primary business online and have the systems in place can cope better. Due to the size of population, we don't have many of those here.


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    #7
    whiterebel
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 14,833 Mod ✭✭✭✭whiterebel


    Online purchasing in Ireland working well for me anyway. Yes, advisories about Covid, but not affected. Ordered Monday, shipped yesterday. A nice change to be able to buy in an Irish shop, rather than Amazon.


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    #8
    Electric Nitwit
    Registered Users Posts: 10,688 ✭✭✭✭Electric Nitwit


    I feel the need to defend Smyths at least - I ordered a bike helmet on Saturday, arrived on Tuesday, despite the bank holiday


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    #9
    Toots
    Administrators, Business & Finance Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,905 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Toots


    I did click and collect at my local smyths and it worked very well. Item was available next day and you queued outside and it was handed to you at the door. Social distancing strictly observed and helpful staff kept everything running smoothly.


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    #10
    Rodney Bathgate
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,445 ✭✭✭Rodney Bathgate


    Amazon isn’t exactly setting the world alight with its order processing. Most of my recent orders are taking around a week just to dispatch.

    Ordered something this morning, it said 5 in stock, then tells me that they can’t give a delivery date yet. So the 5 in stock was clearly BS. And it still claims to have stock.


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    #11
    challengemaster
    Registered Users Posts: 16,931 ✭✭✭✭challengemaster


    Caranica wrote: »
    I spent a week trying to buy a large item on Woodies, couldn't get a delivery slot. Googled item, bought it on another Irish site for the same price and their delivery was cheaper than w Woodies.

    Had never heard of the site before but basically it was a small town equivalent of Woodies who had their own website. Item delivered within two working days.

    The website or online presence may not have existed before all of this. There's been a huge amount of grants and help made available for businesses to get an online presence during COVID-19, to ensure some may be able to remain open via online ordering.


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    #12
    Akrasia
    Registered Users Posts: 22,235 ✭✭✭✭Akrasia


    Wow, people are so used to ordering online and getting next day delivery

    It’s a bit of a wake up call.


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    #13
    autumnalcore
    Registered Users Posts: 825 ✭✭✭autumnalcore


    Rodney Bathgate wrote: »
    Amazon isn’t exactly setting the world alight with its order processing. Most of my recent orders are taking around a week just to dispatch.

    Ordered something this morning, it said 5 in stock, then tells me that they can’t give a delivery date yet. So the 5 in stock was clearly BS. And it still claims to have stock.

    Probably is in stock try parcel motel address it will miraculously be available for delivery within 48 hours, they have basically put Republic of Ireland on third world status since start of May


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    #14
    the_syco
    Registered Users Posts: 37,295 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    Previously, Amazon Prime meant quick delivery. Now it means 2 weeks. But it is what it is in these times. I get other benefits from staying with Amazon Prime, so I'll stick with it.

    Have ordered stuff from within Ireland. Sometimes, even with delivery charge, it can be cheaper than Amazon. But I go for the cheaper option.

    A lot of these online companies are being careful; Amazon France shut itself down for a month due "to a dispute with labor unions over the health and safety of workers".

    Online doesn't mean magically not affected by the virus; it's workers will find it more difficult getting to work, or may decide that staying away is healthier for their family. Thus, lack of workers in the warehouses means those that are there can only do so much.


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    #15
    silver2020
    Registered Users Posts: 2,045 ✭✭✭silver2020


    Rodney Bathgate wrote: »
    Amazon isn’t exactly setting the world alight with its order processing. Most of my recent orders are taking around a week just to dispatch.

    Ordered something this morning, it said 5 in stock, then tells me that they can’t give a delivery date yet. So the 5 in stock was clearly BS. And it still claims to have stock.

    Amazon is not some small mom and pop shop that has a few shelves to pick from.

    So can you just explain to me how this "was clearly BS"

    You odered and you get the hump because they wont tell you instantly what the delivery date is? Seriously?? Really???


    The snowflake generation have to get to grips with reality


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    #16
    circadian
    Registered Users Posts: 6,899 ✭✭✭circadian


    Smack of entitlement from some on this thread.

    Warehouses, courier services and everything else in the chain is running slower due to social distancing and having less staff working at any one time. This is exasperated by an increase in online shopping. Amazon have a clear banner message on their website saying they are prioritising what they consider essential.

    Things aren't exactly normal right now, expecting business as usual is ridiculous.


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    #17
    Rodney Bathgate
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,445 ✭✭✭Rodney Bathgate


    silver2020 wrote: »
    Amazon is not some small mom and pop shop that has a few shelves to pick from.
    So can you just explain to me how this "was clearly BS"

    You odered and you get the hump because they wont tell you instantly what the delivery date is? Seriously?? Really???


    The snowflake generation have to get to grips with reality

    Smyths isn’t a ‘mom and pop’ shop either - they are the largest toy retailer in Europe.

    I know it was BS because I have used amazon for 20 years with hundreds of orders. The item is now out of stock and they have no idea when it will be back in stock.

    Snowflake generation? You’d want to catch yourself on.


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