Advantages: Good offers, online facility easy Disadvantages: bad with fulfilling promises!
I joined Books for Children six months ago after receiving an email offering the Harry Potter series + The Order of The Pheonix (which was just about to be release at the time) + two movie books all for £12.99. Was not sure what movie books were but I ordered them anyway! All te books were to be in hardback too so I thought it was a bargain!
It says on the site to allow 28 days for delivery but when you are a new customer you would expect a prompt service! Not with BFC! I thought after a week that they would be here any day but two weeks later they finally arrived. Well I say they. Out of the set of seven books I received three! :-the two movie books (which are poster books to colour in with holograms on several pages! Quite nice really. )and The Order of the Pheonix. Apparently the other four books were sold out so would follow ...
Advantages: None Disadvantages: Send you books you never ordered in unmarked packaging so you accept them without realising.
I got attracteded by the cheap introductory offer as it appears many others did. I was incredibly pleased with the speed and efficiency of the initial offer but within a few weeks I received an unmarked package (all their other orders come in boxes clearly marked Books for Children). I accepted the package, not knowing what it was and was surprised to see that BFC had sent me the Editor's Choice even though I had written on my initial order form that I did not require it. The return charges were extortionate and I refused to be forced to keep a collection of over-priced books I had not even ordered.
I called their 0844 telephone number and when they heard it was a complaint, put me through to what appeared to be an Indian call centre. Needless to say I got nowhere as the poor member of staff kept repeating parts of scripts that ...
Advantages: Good catalogues Disadvantages: slow and unreliable admin
I have just received a set of books from BFC that I never even asked for. I must admit i did contact them straight away and they have sent me a returns label (free) so that I can return the books and hence my account be cleared. However, it it just so annoying when books arrive that you dont even want/need.
I have used BFC years ago and although there were many bargains to be had I did find their admin system quite hard work. There statements never matched mine and there always seemed to be a
problem with late delivery or out of stock.
If they could improve in that area I think they would do better and have more customers, for longer.
Their magazines and brochures are good and the offers always look inviting but it's just the admin side that lets it down.
I have used it for years before but sadly things went down hill ...
