A few days ago I ordered a small item from a supplier on ‘ebay’ who was offering a free ‘click and collect’ service, and although I had never used this service before, I thought that I would give it a try, as the ‘pick up’ point was at my local Sainsbury’s supermarket, so what could possibly go wrong ?
Now, ‘ebay’ advised me that they would inform me, by email or text, when my purchase was ready for collection and give a ‘collection code’ to me which I should take to the store as it would enable me to claim my package. Sounds like a quick and easy system, I thought.
Wrong ! … For when I located the touch screen into which I was supposed to enter my details on my next visit to the store, it had a big sign on it reading .. “Out of Order” !
The following day I visited the store again and it was working. Great, looks simple enough I thought as I read the instructions, only to be interrupted by a helpful nosey woman standing next to me.
“You have to touch ‘start’ first” .. she said … “Now, your name” .. she continued.
Blimey .. I thought .. I know that I’m an old fart, but do I really look that stupid ?
“Thanks, I can manage” .. I said and asked .. “Are you waiting for a package and have you been waiting long ?”
“A few minutes”.. she replied .. “Something seems to be causing a hold-up”.
Shit ! .. I thought, I knew that there would be a problem of some sort as I noticed other people standing around obviously waiting to pick up their goods.
However, the delay was not the fault of Sainsbury’s, ‘ebay’, or some supplier. In fact, the ‘hold-up’ was all the fault of my know it all kindly helper who it seemed had entered all the wrong details (including her daughter’s name instead of her own) via that touch screen which had brought the collection process to a temporary standstill !
I won’t go into detail, except to say that a young member of Sainsbury’s staff did his best to obtain the correct information from the confused woman, including asking for her ‘collection code’.
“Collection code ? .. What code is that then ? .. Oh! that one .. It’s on my smartphone”.
“Good” .. said the young man .. “Can I have it please”.
“I can’t do that” .. replied the woman … Young man “Why ?”
… “I’ve left my phone at home” !
bigjohn 
