For more years than I can remember, I’ve gotten my photo pages and binders through Century Photo Products. So, when I ran out of binders in my current project, I went over to their website to order more. Ordering the binders (Wedgewood) was the easy part, and I ordered a few additional page styles (5×7 (CK-PP200-514PK), 3½×4½ (CK-PP200-536PK), 8½×11 (CK-PP200-519PK)). The order was placed a week ago, and I eagerly awaited the material.
Yesterday, I received a call indicate there were problems with the order, and I called them back this morning to find out the problems. First, the credit card wouldn’t authorize (turns out I had entered the expiration date wrong — something that should have been caught when I placed the order). Second, much of the order was on six week backorder… including the binders (and it was true for any color, not just the color I ordered) — again, this was something that should have been identified when the order was placed — computers have the ability to check inventory and inform the purchaser when the item is out of stock. Needless to say, I’m annoyed (for I want matching binders). I now either have to delay my photo condensation project, or condense into temporary binders and move the pages when the new binders arrive (I’ll probably do the latter). This does not please me.
I can understand how, in the early days of the web, ordering websites were akin to mail order: there wasn’t online verification of stock or credit cards. But today, with SOA and easy merchant and inventory support, there is no reason for a website to be less capable than a phone operator. Stock should be checked; cards should be verified. Folks: Update your website!
P.S. Don’t get me started on Amazon, which indicated a CD (“The People Vs. Mona“) was in stock when I ordered it… but then keeps delaying shipping it because it is out of stock… the other was placed in May, and it still hasn’t been shipped because they haven’t received their restock from the manufacturer… and no, there aren’t any used copies available.
