By MONIQUE DEVEREUX
"Operational weaknesses" have forced Farmers to cancel its popular wedding gift registry service until its accuracy and efficiency can be improved.
Brides-to-be last week received letters of apology from the national retail chain saying any registries scheduled for after August 1 would not be honoured.
Farmers would not say how
many weddings were affected.
Customer relationship manager Delwyn Karanikolaou said it was "our preference not to go into detail" about the operational weaknesses, but admitted the service had received criticism.
"We have to date received a few complaints, which we have dealt with on an individual basis. The decision [to cancel the service] was mostly an internal assessment."
Brides yesterday talked about receiving duplicated gifts, being given options that the store could not supply, and a lack of assistance from Farmers staff when trying to view wedding registers.
One woman, who married last year in Nelson, received seven identical platters. She did not complain to Farmers and therefore did not want to be named.
"But isn't that exactly what the register is for? Especially when you have guests coming from all over the country. I didn't moan to Farmers but I certainly told everyone else not to use them."
Delwyn Abercrombie, who married last month, said the Farmers' registry service could have been more professional. She received one "double-up" gift.
"It is a service which could be very lucrative but they let themselves down," she said
"But I did receive $25 in vouchers last week, being the amount they give you for every $500 spent with them, which was very nice."
* The register is a list of gifts that guests can choose from knowing that the presents are ones that the couple want or need.
