The Ups and Downs of internet shopping

We all shop for things online these days, don't we? Like most people, I try and support our local business and shops wherever possible, but they don't always have the specific things I need. 

Just for instance, I needed a locking petrol cap for my little car as it didn't have one and I'd heard reports of people having their fuel stolen from cars without locked fuel flaps – strange, but true. Unfortunately, none of the shops in our area supply such rarely needed goods, but luckily, I managed to find one online and ordered it. Even more luckily, it arrived within a week or so and, to my great delight, it fitted perfectly. Mission accomplished. My fuel supply is safe.

The thing is, though, whenever we order and pay for something on the internet, there's always a risk. I admit it's less so if we use the major online stores, but even then, you can never tell. I've ordered books before that haven't arrived after weeks of waiting, but then, having complained and been refunded, the books in question have turned up, which meant, of course, I had to reverse the refund. But even that's not too bad.

What's worse is the situation I'm now in. Zoe is allergic to meat products, so I have to buy vegetarian food for her that's only been available at one particular online store. To my dismay, the supply at that store seems to have dried up, so I went in search of another supplier to buy it from and this is where I've come unstuck. 

I found a site I've never used before. It looked reliable with a good webshop page, so I decided to go for it. Having ordered and paid for not one, but two sacks of her special food, I fear I've been conned. I've had no confirmation of the order, no response to any of my requests for confirmation and an email I sent to the site yesterday has bounced back with the message that it couldn't be delivered.

This kind of issue is something I've heard about from others but it's never happened to me before, and a pet food company is probably the last sort of business I'd expect to be running any kind of scam, but you live and learn, don't you?

Who knows, though, it might turn up eventually. Meanwhile, I'm going to have to try my precious pooch on something completely different, another risk when you have a dog with allergies, but fingers crossed the new recipe will suit her. 

Not that she cares. The little minx will eat anything she can get her mouth around! She has the tastes and manners of a gutter snipe, and just this morning I had to spend an hour cleaning her up after she'd rolled in something truly disgusting. I just wish her skin and tum were as forgiving as I am!

Here she is with her best pal, Lucy. Butter wouldn't melt, eh?

Have a good week allemaal, and be careful with your internet shopping. I know I should have checked the store out before buying from them, but that's always the way with hindsight, isn't it?