E-book company must fulfil school orders before start of new term – Deputy Crowe
Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson Seán Crowe has said he is concerned at reports from the Consumers’ Association of Ireland who have been inundated with complaints in the past week from concerned parents who have ordered school books from the online retailer schoolbooks.ie.
Deputy Crowe said: “A significant number of parents are saying they have still to receive the school books they ordered online and they are also experiencing trouble when attempting to contact the company.
“Earlier this week it was reported that schoolbooks.ie claimed to have employed extra staff in order to ensure all orders would be met by next Tuesday yet there is still uncertainty that they will meet this commitment.
“Their failure to respond to their customers queries just days before the new
school is about to commence is placing additional pressure on parents who face the added pressure of finding the money pay for uniforms and other back to school items.“They now need to provide the public with assurances that the delay in fulfilling orders will be rectified and that any logistical or supply problems are being dealt with.
“It is wrong that parents have been left in the dark as to whether their child will have the required books when starting school next week and Education Minister Ruairí Quinn must look into what is happening and make a statement on the matter.”
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The remaining customers waiting for orders from online retailer Schoolbooks.iewill get their books by Tuesday, the company said yesterday. It said it had reduced its backlog of orders from 5,000 to 1,300. These would be sent to its delivery partners by tomorrow, to arrive at homes on Monday or Tuesday.
With schools due to return next week, the company was under pressure to get orders out. Details of the delays emerged last Saturday after parents expressed concerns at the delays on social networking sites.
Schoolbooks.iemanaging director John Cunningham said yesterday the company was continuing to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to clear the backlog, and had 30 extra staff working alongside its regular 50-strong team.
He again apologised to customers over the delay, which was caused by “a technical issue at our warehouse”.