"Not So Much" about... Evans UK

A few weeks back I blogged about how excited I was to discover the plus size clothing store Evans in the UK. True to my word, a few days after I wrote the blog I placed my first order, paying via PayPal.

A few days after placing my order, I receive an rather vague email from Evans saying how much they value my purchase and my security and for "security purposes" they are cancelling my order and that they will refund my PayPal account. Needless to say I was puzzled.

As I've mentioned in previous postings, I've worked as a Customer Service Representative for over 15 years, and because of my history, I know that the interactions with the Customer Service Team of a company can guarantee a lifelong customer... or guarantee someone will never place a future order. Sadly, my experience attempting to simply find out why my order was cancelled and the inability to take my request seriously has caused me to boycott the company. Rather than write about it, I will share the email exchange between Evans Customer Service and myself:

From: Miss Moons Musings
Date: 03/06/2010 21:12:04
To: feedback@evans.co.uk

Subject: Evans Order #***********

Dear Sir or Madam:

I recently read about your site on a blog and was very excited about the abundance of fashionable attire offered on your site. I even blogged about the goodies I had planned on buying come payday! (http://missmoonsmusings.blogspot.com/2010/05/drools-plus-size-clothing-from-evans-in.html)

True to my word, I placed an order the following day and was very excited about receiving my order. Imagine my surprise when I receive an email informing me that my order has been canceled due to "security reasons"... reasons that were not clearly specified in the (I am assuming) template form letter. I paid via PayPal, which I'd imagine would be confirmation enough that my order was on the up and up. I guess the main reason I write this is that I am hoping that I could be advised as to what exactly the problem was so that I can avoid this error when making future purchases. Upon review of the order, there are two possible reasons why my order was canceled:

-I misspelled my last name wrong in the billing address: Not my finest hour, but I will own up to the fact.
-I was having my purchase shipped to an alternate address (specifically, my work address). I live in a multi-unit building in NYC, so it is not convenient to have parcels shipped there simply it's not a guarantee that someone will be home to accept delivery. This is why I prefer to have my orders shipped to my employer, as I am here for 9 hours each business day.

So any insight and advise you can provide regarding this purchase will be greatly appreciated. As I said before, I was very excited about ordering from Evans, and I would love to tell my blog followers that there was a happy ending to the story.

Thank you, in advance, for your attention to this matter.

From: Evans Customer Service
To: Miss Moon's Musings
Sent: Sun, Jun 6, 2010 6:15 am
Subject: Re: Evans Order #***********

Dear Mr/Ms Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your email received 3 June 2010. I am sorry you are having difficulties accessing your account. I have reset your password for you. You will receive a separate email soon, please follow the onscreen instructions and you should be able to log back in.

Regards,

Alice
Evans Customer Service

From: Miss Moon's Musings
To: customer.service@evans.co.uk
Sent: Sun, Jun 6, 2010 2:59 pm
Subject: Re: Evans Order #*********

Dear Alice,

I have a feeling you did not read my email at all. I did not mention difficulty accessing my account, as I know my password and can access it with no difficulty.

My inquiry was about Evans Order #*********** - which was cancelled by your company citing "security reasons". All I request is for information as to why my order was cancelled. I'd like to attempt to reorder my items and would be grateful if you'd explain what I did wrong to have my order cancelled. Please refer to my previous email, which I had included below for your perusal.

It's quite frustrating that 3 days after my inquiry I get a response that has absolutely nothing to do with it's content. I am starting to believe that this company does not want my patronage!


Three days passed and I had not received a response, so I figured I would email again, hoping the next representative I received would assist me in getting to the bottom of this matter:

From: Miss Moon's Musings
To: customer.service@evans.co.uk
Sent: Wed, Jun 9, 2010 2:24 pm
Subject: Evans Order #*********

Dear Sir and/or Madam:

Below, please find emails to your customer service department inquiring about my first order with your company, Order #**********. My order was cancelled, citing "security reasons", and I was inquiring how I could prevent future orders with your company from being cancelled.

I responded to Alice's email and have not yet received a response. This is why I am resubmitting my request for more information on why my order was cancelled. I have no difficulty accessing my account and do not require my password being reset.

As I mentioned in my previous email, I wrote quite a bit about placing an order with Evans on my blog and would love to be able to follow up with my readers with the merchandise I purchased, not with this story about how Customer Service is ignoring my request for more information.

Again, please advise what I did wrong so that I will be able to place future orders without incident.

Many Thanks, in advance, for your attention to this email.

Today is June 21, 2010 and I haven't heard a single peep from Evans about my order. I went as far as to post an inquiry on their FaceBook page and it was promptly deleted and ignored. There aren't a great deal of options for fashionable attire for women of size, but I would rather rock something more expensive than to give a single penny of my hard-earned money to Evans, if this is how they treat their customers!!

Cinema, Cuisine and Cocktail : "Moonstruck"

I've been craving Italiano big-time.... And in thinking about it sooo much, I decided to scour the internet for a delicious Seafood Lasagna recipe (Which is primarily what I've been craving!).

When I found the one that made my tastebuds sing just reading it, I thought I should use it instead for my next installment of Cinema, Cuisine and Cocktail. The only problem.... what movie would I pick? I could've very easily gone "Godfather" on y'all, but truly and honestly, those movies bore the hell out of me! And I always pick movies I would sit and watch while dining on these meals. (No fakin' the funk from me! LOL) I was almost considering scrapping it when my mind went to "My Cousin Vinny" (Yikes!).... Luckily, I thought of Cher and she saved the day!!! It's the perfect movie choice for Miss Moon, don't ya think? LOL



IMDB has the best synopsis of the film:

Loretta Castorini, a Brooklyn bookkeeper in her late 30s whose husband died several years earlier in a bus accident, decides it's time to get married again. So she accepts the proposal of a nice, middle-aged fellow named Johnny Cammareri. Loretta is convinced her first marriage was cursed because she and her husband had gotten married at City Hall; this time, she's determined to do things right, even as she admits to her mother, Rose, that she's not really in love with Johnny. (To which Rose replies: "Good. When you love them, they drive you crazy, 'cause they know they can." Rose speaks from rueful experience; she suspects, with good reason, that her husband, Cosmo, is cheating on her.) Loretta is convinced that marrying Johnny is the safe and sure thing to do - until she meets his estranged younger brother Ronny, who tends the ovens in a neighborhood bakery. Loretta discovers that in startling contrast to the pleasant, mild-mannered Johnny, Ronny is moody and passionate; what follow are complications worthy of a comic opera.

It's frightening to thing I was ten years old when this movie came out. Now I am approaching my late 30s (Well... mid 30s) and picking out a menu to accompany the film.

Bruschetta

Recipe Courtesy of Divine Dinner Party

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs. ripe Roma tomatoes
2 tbsp. finely chopped red onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c. chopped fresh basil
2 tsp. red wine vinegar (balsamic is also nice)
3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
Salt and Pepper
Parmesan shavings
Toasted crusty bread
Instructions: Cut tomatoes in half, squeeze out seeds and excess juice.

Dice, place in bowl. Add onion, garlic, basil, vinegar, salt and pepper (to taste), and olive oil. Let sit at room temperature 1 hour.

Brush toasted bread lightly with olive oil. Spoon tomato mixture over bread, sprinkle with shaved Parmesan cheese.

Seafood Lasagna

Recipe Courtesy of AllRecipes.com

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package lasagna noodles
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pound baby portobello mushrooms, sliced
2 (16 ounce) jars Alfredo-style pasta sauce
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 pound bay scallops
1 pound imitation crabmeat, chopped
20 ounces ricotta cheese
1 egg
black pepper
6 cups shredded Italian cheese blend

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sautee garlic and mushrooms until tender. Pour in 2 jars Alfredo sauce. Stir in shrimp, scallops and crabmeat. Simmer 5 to 10 minutes, or until heated through. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg and pepper.
In a 9x13 inch baking dish, layer noodles, ricotta mixture, Alfredo mixture and shredded cheese. Repeat layers until all ingredients are used, ensuring that there is shredded cheese for the top. Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Cover, and bake 15 minutes.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs. ripe Roma tomatoes
2 tbsp. finely chopped red onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c. chopped fresh basil
2 tsp. red wine vinegar (balsamic is also nice)
3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
Salt and Pepper
Parmesan shavings
Toasted crusty bread
Instructions: Cut tomatoes in half, squeeze out seeds and excess juice.

Dice, place in bowl. Add onion, garlic, basil, vinegar, salt and pepper (to taste), and olive oil. Let sit at room temperature 1 hour.

Brush toasted bread lightly with olive oil. Spoon tomato mixture over bread, sprinkle with shaved Parmesan cheese.

Dolce Domani

Recipe Courtesy of The Nibble

Ingredients

½ lime
2½ teaspoons sugar
3 ounces Merlot
Lime spiral to garnish
Preparation

Muddle lime and sugar until all lime juice is extracted.
Add wine. Pour with ice into a shaker and shake vigorously.
Pour into a lowball glass and garnish with a lime spiral.

A Little [PRINCE] for a Saturday Night

Can you believe Prince turned 52 earlier this month? He gave the world a birthday present on the day (June 7th) by debuting his newest song (rumored to be written about the record heat that gripped Minnesota last month.).







Happy (Belated) Birthday to Prince Rodgers Nelson

What I'm Rockin': Shecky's Girls Night Out NYC

I seriously love fashion blogs. I love when people give us a sneak peek into hot they assemble their looks and show us the finished product.

While I am always quick to post wardrobe ideas and suggestions based on celebrity looks, I've never let you take a peek into what I'm wearing.... until now!

Introducing, another new feature of my blog, simply entitled "What I'm Rockin'" ... Last night I attended Shecky's Girls Night Out at 82 Mercer in Manhattan, and of course I had to look my best for a night out with the girls!!

This is what I'm rockin':

Black Flutter-sleeve Knit Dress ($49.50, Lane Bryant)This dress features soft flutter-sleeves, peasant-style elastic at the neck and an empire waist that provides gentle, flattering gathers.

Circle Disc Earrings ($14.50, Lane Bryant)Western-inspired silvertone disc earrings feature a hammered design and an oxidized finish. Open hooks with clear cylinder backs.

Multi-row Silvertone and Hematite Necklace ($29.50, Lane Bryant)Fashion necklace is highlighted by alternating rows of silvertone and hematite chains accented by smooth and textured discs. Lobster-claw closure with extender.

Women's Plus Cropped Denim Jackets ($29.50, Old Navy) This denim jacket features a cropped silhouette and an '80’s-inspired pointed hem in front... I love this jacket to death and I often pair it with dresses for work.

Black Aunika Boot ($48.98, Torrid) Flat-soled boot has a banded top with hook-loop fastener 0-ring strap. Zipper on outer side, goring the full length of inner side. Rounded toe.

The glasses were a part of my Shecky's Girls Night Out Goodie Bag!!! It was literally crammed with loads of goodies!!!!!