I tried to buy a few things online today and the experience has left me all bitter and twisted.
Why? Because every company tried to trick me. That's why I'll stick with amazon - their delivery options are sometimes frustrating, but I trust them. The same with John Lewis. I trust them too.
Who wants to do business with a company you can't trust?
Here's just 2 examples from one of the companies: BT.com (the UK's main telephone provider), a company which, I assumed, would know better.
1) While trying to sign up a telephone/TV/Broadband package I discovered this confusing and suspicious sentence hidden away under a "learn more" link:
"A minimum call commitment of 2 calls per month is associated with this product."
Huh?
In other words (I think), they'll effectively charge me 20% more on their quoted £10 line rental if I don't use the phone for any calls. That's rude.
That's devious.
2) Also, the line rental shown on their front pages is £10 (plus a little bit) but when you start to "buy" the product, you discover the monthly fee is actually £14.50 unless you pay the entire first year up front.
That's devious too.
So, what did I do? I closed the browser window, called up my current provider and told them I was leaving. They put me though to their retention team and made me an offer I couldn't refuse.
If BT had been upfront then they would have had £36 a month, all up for the entire package, from me.
