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THE MANAGING DIRECTOR of the school book selling website Schoolbooks.ie has issued a statement saying that the delay in delivering some of the ordered books was caused by a “technical issue at our warehouse”.
Fine Gael TD Mary Mitchell O’Connor had called on the company to “get its act together” in contacting parents about why their orders had not yet been filled despite having already paid for the books.
Schoolbooks.ie MD John Cunningham said this evening that the issue “resulted in a significant backlog of orders, which we are working to clear”.
“In addition to our regular 50-strong team, we have brought in 30 extra staff and are now working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to clear the backlog,” he added. “No families will be left without schoolbooks for the start of the school term.”
Cunningham says that 5,000 orders are currently held up in the backlog, while a further 50,000 have already been processed and delivered.
Half of the outstanding orders will be dispatched by Tuesday, he said, and the remaining orders will be issued by the end of the coming week.
Apologising for the delay and for poor communication with customers who were concerned over the delayed deliveries, Cunningham said that the company’s focus has been on clearing that backlog.
He says that all affected customers have been emailed over the past 48 hours to advise them of when their order will be dispatched.
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I just love how quick the government are to tell others to ‘get their act together’. Exactly when do they intend taking the same approach to their responsibilities??
Tying to restrain myself from being a pedant, Failing miserably. The dail isn’t even flipping sitting, This was a soundbite from a random TD. Hardly the government telling anyone anything.
Fair dues. They had a problem. They are sorting it. Probably should have let their customers know before it all blew up. It’s how you deal with an issue, not always the issue itself. PS hurry up with my order please. Puppies are getting anxious. Woof.
How they dealt with the issue would have been so much better if they’d emailed their customers to give them a delivery date. The failure to do that until now is the main failure in how they handled the problem.
Only dealing with the matter once it’s highlighted is not satisfactory. Had the issue not been raised then the company would have continued on as normal. No use closing the stable door once the horse has bolted.
As long as they are not “sorting it out” the Ulster Bank way. Best advised not to run to conclusion ,either way , for now.
In fairness to them, we’ve been using them for three years and find them reliable. Hope they get it sorted.
This has been handled so badly by the company.
They weren’t answering their phones and I’m aware of a number of customers that just couldn’t take the path of not knowing whether school books that they had ordered and were charged for on their credit cards would be delivered in time for the first day of school (30th August) as the company couldn’t tell them whether the books would be in stock before that date or not. Those that could get through to the company decided to cancel their order and pick a different online supplier to buy from instead who were able to take the order AND deliver before today. When buying on line is so quick and easy, it beggars belief that an online company could manage to make a hash of it so spectacularly.
Why the number of thumbs down?
As soon As I got my book list and had the money, I ordered from them for three of my kids.
I have to say, they were quick enough to respond and get my stuff out.
Sorry to hear they are having difficulties.
I know its hard and sometimes the money is not immediately there for parents to buy as soon as possible but those that can, really should do so – if only so that those catching up with the rest stand a good chance of eventually getting their’s also when its monetary possible.
When will the parents of Ireland rise up and demand a better system than the current publisher controlled system. The fact that teachers change book lists making siblings books obsolete. The fact that buying books for 2-4 children is horrifically expensive. And don’t get me started on the workbooks, how many trees have we destroyed with those workbooks?
Teachers don’t change the booklist
why would teachers change the book list?? surely its in the publishers interests to issue new editions?? what about all the work teachers put into organising book rental schemes?? not a teacher and have been known to have a rant or 2 at their expenses but fair is fair you Cant be giving them stick over somethin totally out of their control
TD Mary Michelle o connor should get her own house in order & mind her own business
They ignored my emails and only responded when I faxed to say I was taking legal action.
I have received no email ?
I’ve used them for the last two years and found the service to be really good. I ordered in June and received all the books a few weeks later. I know this situation hasn’t been handled very well but I would still use them again.
Fine gael TD calling on anyone to “get it’s act together’….indeed…I recommend a dose of practice what ya preach for that particular symptom..
Hell hath no fury like Irish mammies unable to get there mits on something for their little darlings….
Tune in again in Q4 when it will be some Nintendo or Sony something or other not schoolbooks.
Yeah Gavin I just love spending hundreds of euro on books for my kids and then not getting them!!
Have to agree with Michelle here Gavin with 1st year school books costing 400-500 quid minimum this is a substantial cost so not one to be flippant about IMHO. With 2-3 kids people could be spening in the low 4 figures for school books even if they go the second hand route.
I think the company have learnt a lesson here though and need to look at their CRM system here and an email/ text system would have saved them a lot of time and pain.
time will tell whether this company honours its orders.
Should use o’Mahonys books in limerick. So efficient and customer friendly.
It’s just not good enough. Shoddy service. Takes government intervention to get a response
Bring on the I pad
No more bad backs.
They were a disgrace to deal with. They very efficiently took my money and proceeded to fall off the face of the earth. Only when I threatened legal action did I get a response to my e mail. I will never use them again.
They heard I was paying them a visit ;)
openingminds.ie <—- best customer service, no delays, no hassle. Recomend it to everyone. Prices just as good. Got my books within 5 days of ordering.
schoolbooks.ie EVERY year seem to have some type of faults..
I ordered at the beginning of June, they took my money 3 days later, no books by August. I tried calling, no answer. I got worried and tried calling about 18 times a day for 3 days, sent 3 emails but no reply! I reported them to my credit card company and contacted Supervalu head office as they have a deal with Supervalu at the moment…they only sent the books when Supervalu contacted them. I received no communication at all from schoolbooks.ie, no email, no call. I am disgusted that in this day and age, they don’t even have a phone answering service, no customer service. A quick google search will show there have always been problems with this company….
i think they will pull through give them a chance
I have been giving them a chance for four weeks. I only recieved my order when I Threatened to call to thier premises and contact the media. Even then I got a miserable non-committal apology. I spent about 30 euro on phone calls to them and as compensation for it I recieved 6 free book covers, which they were giving away free to customers anyway.
Ordered in June and only got them in august.. They answered my call straight away and explained about a problem in the warehouse.. They were delivered two days later.. Hope the rest of ye get the books soon..
Would be alot easier if Apple or someone produced a simple device for school books to be downloaded onto like the Kindle. This way the heavy sacks wouldn’t be an issue and parents could sit at home download the books and have no worries. This is possible but not acted on…
Who runs their warehousing service?
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