Noel Gifts blames lack of manpower, 'short runway of CNY' and weather for not delivering hampers

Submitted by Stomper Joey

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Is it better to give than to receive? Perhaps not when you are using Noel Gifts.

Noel Gifts has apologised after frustrated customers complained about the non-delivery of their Chinese New Year hampers.

Stomper Joey is one of those customers.

"I bought eight hampers from Noel Gifts on Jan 6 to send to clients. I selected the delivery dates from a range mandated by Noel Gifts between Jan 10 and 12," recounted the Stomper.

"I had to key in each client and address via their website. During the purchase, their email response was super fast and commendable.

"But after locking down the order of eight hampers, the whole team went missing in action. Hampers are still not delivered. I sent emails to them repeatedly, but they simply just ignored the emails. I tried calling their hotline, but it was unanswered."

"It is way past the selected delivery dates. Clients are going on long leave for CNY and the hampers were not delivered. They didn't bother to update me.

"If your business is so good that you cannot manage, then don't take in orders. It's very unethical to make people pay for the hampers and you simply take your own sweet time to deliver after CNY."

Others have made similar complaints online. On Noel Gifts' Facebook page alone, there are more than a dozen such complaints.

One complainant shared the reply she received from Noel Gifts, which said: "We are sorry. We are facing high volumes of enquiries and our responses might be delayed.

"If your enquiry is regarding delivery status, please leave us your sales order reference number so that an enquiry ticket can be submitted to the relevant team.

"We are working very closely with our team and delivery partners to fulfil all CNY orders by Jan 20, latest by Jan 30 We will include an apology letter to your recipient/s to be accountable for the later delivery."

In response to a Stomp query, Noel Gifts said: "Like many others, we are currently facing delivery challenges.

"Notwithstanding, we would like to offer our most sincere apologies to our valuable customer who has reached out to Stomp regarding his Chinese New Year purchase experience.

"As shared earlier, we are currently facing a lack of delivery personnel, especially in the area of third-party delivery contractors, and manpower resources. Moreover, the short runway of CNY with the unfavourable weather has further hindered delivery efficiency.

"We have taken proactive steps to ease the other issues that have arisen and are getting back to our customers as fast as possible. We seek their kind understanding as we need time to reply to each customer on a case-by-case basis.

"Once again, we are sorry for any inconvenience caused."

For the Stomper, it is too late for Chinese New Year.

"Sending the hampers now is useless already," he said.