Good buy - by - phone cust serv experiences in '23? which retailers?
May 12, 2023 12:58 PM   Subscribe

I like to multitask while driving. I also have some older friends that get frustrated easily by online processes.. sometimes it would be faster if they could just place an order 90s style. especially some relatives who are .. ahem.. a tad difficult to provide tech support for. So, I'd like to hear about good experiences you've had recently with retail companies that still allow you to buy by phone (and, for purposes of older folks part of question, still have print catalogues. tho open to those who do not as well.) I'll start - swanson vitamins. really good customer service, open late. Others? thanks in advance : )
posted by elgee to Home & Garden (13 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
You can absolutely order books by calling your local Barnes and Noble, although the quality of the customer service is going to vary. It was a reasonably common (a couple times a day at least) thing for the store I worked at, and it was mostly older people. They can order stuff to be picked up at the store (no shipping, don't have to pay until the book arrives) or delivered to your house (shipping fee, need to provide a credit card up front.)
posted by restless_nomad at 1:20 PM on May 12, 2023


L.L. Bean still sends out catalogs and takes orders over the phone, and based on their in-store customer service I assume the phone customer service is just as good.
posted by jabes at 1:23 PM on May 12, 2023 [2 favorites]


Lands' End. Selection is reduced of late, unfortunately.
posted by Rash at 1:24 PM on May 12, 2023


I like to multitask while driving.

Could I respectfully ask you to concentrate exclusively on driving? Even being on the phone hands-free causes accidents.
posted by pipeski at 1:47 PM on May 12, 2023 [41 favorites]


Vermont Country Store.
posted by JanetLand at 1:59 PM on May 12, 2023 [1 favorite]


Nordstrom customer service is great. They’ll do pretty much anything within their power over the phone.
posted by HotToddy at 2:14 PM on May 12, 2023


Oh I missed that your intention is to place phone orders for your elderly relatives while driving. Is that correct? If so I retract my recommendation because this is a terrible idea and you’re going to ruin someone’s life when you get in an accident.
posted by HotToddy at 2:16 PM on May 12, 2023 [16 favorites]


HotToddy - It sounds like OP wants this service for themselves, but it is also useful for the elderly relatives separately. That said, not sure ordering stuff while driving is a perfect world.
posted by amtho at 3:29 PM on May 12, 2023 [2 favorites]


Lee Valley for tools, gardening supplies, and miscellaneous household stuff.
posted by Mitheral at 5:02 PM on May 12, 2023


L.L. Bean is very good at this, as are most of your chain auto parts stores (AutoZone, NAPA, O’Reilly, etc.), no doubt because of their customer base.

I’m just adding to the chorus on this one, but please reconsider multitasking-while-driving. It works fine, until it doesn’t.
posted by box at 5:25 PM on May 12, 2023 [2 favorites]


Response by poster: Thanks so much for all these ! Indeed it was two separate purposes. I routinely have to do a long drive and don't drive while consulting a catalogue , I don't text , but its nice to have things that don't require a laptop or screens - when you drive for many hours on end and youre no longer 25 .. idk it's pretty normal to pull over get a snack and do a few things , yeah? I see how the wording was misleading tho.
posted by elgee at 6:32 AM on May 13, 2023


Seconding Lee Valley. They mail a seasonal catalogue that's available online and as an app. I've adjusted a number of orders by phone and they've always been super polite and helpful. The website also says they take orders by mail and fax but I'm not sure how that would work.
posted by brachiopod at 11:39 AM on May 13, 2023


I placed an order for my mom on the phone at the Container Store and they had great customer service. it was kind of a complicated order to choose a bunch of modular pieces and she knew exactly what product I was talking about and how to pick the items.
posted by radioamy at 2:34 PM on May 13, 2023


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