Woolworths online unhappy purchase

I placed an order for 2 high value Jo Malone items, a 100 ml cologne and a full sized home candle as part of a promotion online on 24 April 2022.

As it was a Sunday, I called Woolworths online the very next day, on Monday morning 25 April 2022, to notify them that both items were separate gifts, and requesting them each to be packaged separately in the Jo Malone packaging as I would receive it if I bought it at the store.

I also sent an email to Woolworths online with the same request.

Please note, at the time, the order had not yet been processed as the amount did not come off my credit card, nor had the order been picked.

Today, 28 November 2022, my order was delivered to me. Before I received delivery, I got an email from Woolworths apologizing and saying that before the request could be actioned, the order had already been picked and dispatched.

I opened my Woolworths order an hour ago. I am appalled at what I have received.

1. The 100ml cologne I purchased retails for R 2250, came unpackaged, as in not even in a box, the way cheap perfumes are packaged, just the bottle wrapped in brown paper.

2. The full sized home candle I purchased retails for R 1300, also came unpackaged, not in a box, without matches, just the candle wrapped in brown paper.

I can obviously not gift ANYONE these items in such a ridiculous way.

The apology email is a pathetic way of trying to settle the dust. I can understand if my request to have each item packaged with tissue paper in the Jo Malone gift bags could not be done, but at the very least, the high ticket items should be boxed.

I have purchased 2 Jo Malone candles from Woolworths online last year and had them sent directly to the recipients due to lockdown. I feel ashamed at how I can only imagine it was packaged and sent. Luckily for me, this time I decided I would hand deliver the gifts and so I had them both sent to me.

I regularly purchase items from the Jo Malone store as well, and I will be notifying them of my experience with Woolworths, even though it is no fault of their own, to let them know that Woolworths is not suited to carry their premium product.