Several months ago I ordered some Converse from Noflysonus - an online clothes shop. I patiently waited for my new pink shoes to be delivered. After a week I had received no shoes and no emails to keep me updated as to when I could expect them so I went back to the site and logged in to see if there was any information. I was informed a had a problem with my credit card. I had not long changed address so this was not surprising (I’d had this problem with another shop).

As there was no information on how to rectify the problem I emailed them using the address I had set up specifically for them. (I tend to alter my email address to companyname@mydomain.com so I’ll be able to tell if my details ever get used elsewhere). I received no reply.

Fast forward a month and I started getting loads of spam to the Noflysonus email address. I guess they either broke their own Terms and Conditions and the Which! Web Trader code of practice they claim to adhere to…

…We will not e-mail you in the future unless you have given us your consent. We will give you the chance to refuse any marketing email from us or from another trader in the future…

…The personal information which we hold will be held securely in accordance with our internal security policy and the law and the Which? Web Trader Code…

…or their server got hacked and my details were stolen. Either way I’m quite glad they weren’t able to process my credit card as I really wouldn’t want that finding it’s way online.

A couple of years ago Robinsons did a really nice cherry cordial drink which I’ve been unable to find anywhere for years. I was shopping in Morrisons at the weekend (not an experience I’d recommend) and found some Robinsons Apple, Cherry and Raspberry cordial. This is the nearest I’d come to finding the cherry drink I loved so I thought I’d give it a go.

My review of Robinsons Apple, Cherry and Raspberry

It’s f***ing lovely. Go and buy some.

I even braved Morrisons again the next day and bought two more bottles. Just in case they decide not to sell it as it doesn’t fall into any of these categories.

Me and my other half are finally moving in together this weekend. Trying to find somewhere nice to rent has been harder than I thought. As luck would have it one of our friends was looking to downsize so we are moving into his old place, a three bedroom flat. The O.H. gets his exercise room and I get my geek haven–erm–study.

Since I’m moving out of my parents place I don’t have much in the way of furniture so there were a fair few bits we were missing. Ikea, with their modern looking furniture design seemed the obvious place to go. Their entire range is online for you to browse through but only browse through. There is no ordering system on their website. I find this odd considering the size of a lot of their products.

Since there are companies that offer to deliver your Ikea order we thought this would be a better option. We were ordering a TV unit and a couple of chairs and the guy moving out of our soon-to-be flat wanted to get a sofa for his new place. It seemed ideal to split the delivery and get the lot in one order. Because there is no website ordering our friend travelled the 40ish miles to our nearest store. Out of the four items we all wanted to order two weren’t in stock. On top of that he was told that he couldn’t preorder the two out of stock items.

So the 80 mile round trip was had for nothing. Great.

Fast forward two days and our friend and the O.H. decided to drive to Bristol - our next nearest store and buy the furniture, which now consisted of the two chairs, a TV stand and some drawers. A further 160 mile round trip was had but this time we got the stuff.

I do not understand why Ikea don’t let you order online or preorder from their shops given the size of some of their products. There must be a fair number of people who are put off by this inability. I know we won’t be putting ourselves through that again anytime soon.