h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

All right all right, this should have been posted yesterday.

Last month I ordered a few things from Internetland. There was a comic book, two necklaces, and a certain collection of thirty short stories.
The comic book promptly arrived.
The other three items didn't.
Ever.
The delivering service's website said the package had been delivered to my letter box. I checked, several times, the box was empty.
Now, a few weeks before, I found in my letter box a package that was for a neighbour. So that might have happened. Not very professional of them but hey.
So I posted a notice in the entrance hall asking for my package back.
Nothing happened.
I then went to my post office, where the ladies said "oh, it says here that it was delivered. We can't help you. The postman probably chucked your package on top of the postboxes. Have you looked there? Or you could call customer service."
So I called customer service. A young lady in Morocco took my complaint.
Meanwhile, I also complained to Nileriver, who were a bit more helpful. They gave me my money back for the necklaces and sent a second book.

Guess when the second book arrived...

Never.

Customer service again. Delivering service says I'll get called back within 5 days.
So I wait, I don't think Nileriver will take me seriously this time.
A week later, no news from delivery, so I call again.
"Oh, no, they wouldn't have called you, see, they won't do anything if the recipient complains about a lost package. The *sender* has to complain."
And you thought that wasn't worth telling me because...?

So I call Nileriver again.
And I talk to a really nice, understanding guy who tells me he's posting a complaint, and he'll call me back the next day, and what time would suit me best?
Ooh, that sounds promising.

Next day, my phone rings.

It's my sister. (I'l tell you all about that one tonight).

The phone rings again.
Mr Nice-Guy Nileriver!
They haven't found anything, so he's giving me my money back, and advises me to choose another means of delivery next time: they have delivery at shops for no further expense and that's safer.
I'll do that, then.

Now, to order thirty shorts for the third time...

*posts some mail to SF*:-



Yup, looks like those letters have arrived.

"Return to sender."

[Amy P]

I won't be home until Friday night, you'd better not have blown up my letter box! *shakefist*

Hullo SF! What a palaver, eh? Great writing though, very evocative, reminds me of mail misfortunes I have known. Groan. (clutches brow).

cc

Thanks CC.

Deb