Okay, I am doing overtime building a website, and it's nearly 9:00. I'm hungry, and I don't have a thing to eat in the house. So, I get the idea to order a pizza. (This all sounds very geeky and computer programmer-y; I am sure that like-minded technical people can relate.) Anyway, so I am thinking of ordering a pizza that can be delivered so I don't have to get dressed and wander out through the park where strange people frequent during the dark hours. Besides, I am busy at work on my website. Delivery would be good.
I visit the website of a well-known pizza delivery chain, and I think "Cool, I can now order online and use my credit card. I don't even need to speak to anyone on the phone." This suits me perfectly because I only have a little bit of cash on me, and that little bit is not enough for a pizza. I am happy because online payment and ordering has finally come to the pizza delivery world. If I could dance, I would be dancing around the room right now.
So, relatively easily, I place my order only to become frustrated that the website fails to process my debit card. I recheck and type again and double-check the numbers. Failure. Now, my card has processed on other websites. For some reason, it will not work on the major pizza delivery chain's website. Frustrated.
I did not give up; I rang the major pizza delivery chain. I proceeded to give my order to the person on the other end of the phone, repeating my order serveral times and even having to spell the word 'Marlborough'. At the end of it all, I find out: "Oh, we don't take cards." Even more frustrated. My heart sinks.
So, then I try another major pizza delivery chain. It also has an online ordering form. I am quite happy that pizza delivery companies are adopting the web for online ordering. I fill out the form and register myself on their website and start to place my order. I hit the 'Next' button, which I am sure will take me to a form where I can enter my debit card details to pay for my order. Wrong! It sends my order off. So, here I am, placing an order for a pizza that I am not sure I can buy! (It later turns out that after they arrive with the pizza, they have to ring in my card details and complete the transaction over the phone.)
I am happy that pizza delivery companies have started to accept online ordering, but there seem to be quite a few usability and card processing issues to sort out. It has certainly left me frustrated.
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