duke
Part of things
Posts: 17
|
|
Dec 17, 2006 20:09:59 GMT
|
|
argh
i bought a trolley jack quite a while ago (less than a year) from halfords and today i go to jack up the mini and it seems the seals have gone. Being a cheapass student and the fact it should still be under warranty I took it back to the shop expecting a simple exchange but no.
They want me to try and find the instruction manual (which as a man i have no need of) so they can see if the replacement seals are available, which if they are then i will have to wait 2-3 weeks for them to arrive (by which time ill be back at uni).
I'm positive that because its under a year old they should offer a like for like exchange, and i think its very petty that they are making me order them!
rant over
but still, anyone have any advice on what i can do? are they within their rights to do this?
cheers
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 17, 2006 20:13:59 GMT
|
|
Smash it through their glass Ripspeed display counter then order a decent one off Machine Mart.
Not gonna help you get your dough back, but mighty satisfying.
|
| |
|
|
Snoozin
Posted a lot
Toyophile
Posts: 1,557
|
|
Dec 17, 2006 20:17:09 GMT
|
I don't know how it works in the UK, but here the retailer would be entitled to offer repair as the first option. As such, the customer here is not automatically entitled to an exhange if the retailer deems the product to be repairable within a reasonable time frame. Them saying they need the instruction manual is a tad naff though, I run a store specialising in engineering equipment, we stock a range of jacks etc. (a lot sourced from China/Taiwan as I suspect this one of yours is) but make sure we have copies of all technical data and users manuals on hand, in the instance of this sort of case. With a lot of the Chinese stuff, the manuals contain a parts listing, if you don't have a particular part number you're basically screwed. That was probably of no help whatsoever, but at least it's a glimpse into the psychii of a retailer  |
| |
|
|
duke
Part of things
Posts: 17
|
|
Dec 17, 2006 20:23:05 GMT
|
|
right cheers snoozin
I'm not sure if you realise but halfords is a national motorfactor, huge company etc. they definately should know what parts etc are necessary. Although the problem lies in the fact that they have changed suppliers and need the manual as you say to get the correct part number.
i wouldnt normally kick up such a fuss but my situation doesnt allow me to wait for them to order the part, then for it to arrive, and then for me to fit it. If it were me behind the till i would have saved all the hassle and just replaced it, and everyone would be happy.
argh i hate halfords, fine if you want to buy a cabbage launcher or 'indukshun' kit, wibblepoo if you actually arent a chav!
|
| |
|
|
Hirst
Posted a lot
This avatar is inaccurate, I've never shaved that closely
Posts: 3,930
|
|
Dec 17, 2006 20:29:52 GMT
|
|
Oh Halfords, the place where despite them listing all of the service parts for the Charmant, don't actually have any of them and won't order them in.
I was actually going to buy one of those Halfords trolleyjacks but I'll probably keep away now!
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 17, 2006 20:32:04 GMT
|
get pic's if you go with pog's solution  |
| |
 once again rocking with 1117cc and 4 gears! |
|
|
|
|
Dec 17, 2006 22:38:28 GMT
|
|
So are they going to supply the seals and then leave it to you to fit them. Or are they going to fit the seals once they are ordered.
Seems a bit strange if they are expecting you to do the work on a piece of lifting equipment yourself. What happens if you make a mistake and the car collapses down on you. No disrespect to yourself here, I am sure you will have no problems fitting them but I am also sure that a lot of people would struggle to fit them.
I am surprised they don't offer a like for like exchange on something like that though if its still under warranty.
|
| |
|
|
duke
Part of things
Posts: 17
|
|
Dec 17, 2006 23:51:06 GMT
|
trust me i was defo in the right frame of mind to go with pog earlier!!! lol i assume they want me to fit them, as they said 'they will order the part on behalf of me', which i agree isn't good practice - especially with the average halfords customer thinking that neons actually do make you go faster! To be honest I will be going back tomorrow, without the instruction manual and leaving one way or another with a replacement, even if it means a life sentance it will be worth it lol |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
They want me to try and find the instruction manual (which as a man I have no need of) Love it!  Hmm not sure of the rules, usually 1 year guarantee, you'd need to see the actual warranty. There are painful bashguards about for sure, I have argued till blue with teh fuggas!  However in my past customer services roles, when a fairly returned product is returned not used so much with clear non user faullt and recipt (ideally) I have swapped, spcially for cheap items like this which are rarely fixed! Chat with manager, then take to head office etc I had a shockingly hard job getting my money back for for a digital camera owned for 1 day that was curse word from a store named direct and like 'Empire stikes back' Similar probs with my camcorder PITA complain complain complain, it works for the victor meldrews...  |
| |
 it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts  |
|
bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,962
Club RR Member Number: 71
|
halfords did it againbstardchild
@bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member 71
|
|
|
|
Err - I've had some good experiences with Halfrauds
Angle grinders
Buy new angle grinder
- Cut up senator shell with it - almost finished when phuuuuut oooops thats toast then (smelly toast)
- Take it back same day and woot get a new one!!!
two weeks later and cutting an RSJ to fit
Amost finished and phuuuuuut oooops thats toast then (smelly toast)
- Take it back and woot get a new one!!!
Cutting a pair of drive shafts
nearly done and phuuuuuut oooops thats toast then (smelly toast)
- Take it back and woot get a new one!!!
I will add at this current point in time the latest one is still going but I've run out of staff that I haven't taken a smelly burnt out angle grinder too
My chances next time are slim!!!
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Which jack is it I have one of the yellow 2 tonne ones, which I have the instruction manual for as I've only just bought it...
If need be I could send it to you as a loan? (as long as i get it back in case the same thing happens to me!!)
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 18, 2006 10:30:14 GMT
|
|
Halfords can be a funny bunch,they blow hot and cold,sometimes they bend over backwards to help other times they are a waste of oxygen.
i bought a halfords 'dremel' style drill in the sales,it packed up,took it back,straight swap ,new one packed up ,took it back,full refund (acutally more than full as they refund me the rrp not the sales price,so i'm up a fiver)
same with a halfords battery ,i never had the reciept ,it came with my yellow imp but i knew it was about a year old,so i phoned up halfords and had a chat with the very helpful manager who agreed to swap it over,provided it 'looked' like it was still in warranty.cool
the missus bought me a tool box,one of the big snap on stylee ones last crimbo and i'm still waiting for the keys.after 3 months of being fobbed off with 'on order' i've given up.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 18, 2006 11:38:00 GMT
|
|
The golden rule with places like that is if the first guy gives you any static at all just say "Ok cheers thanks for your help" then speak to someone else. Keep going until until you get someone who is in a "can actually be arsed" mood.
Staff turnover will be high in these places and if you get a new guy who doesnt know the ropes he will say some strange things, so if thats the case theres no point arguing, it would be like trying to negotiate with an earthworm, just ask someone else.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 18, 2006 11:44:30 GMT
|
My local Halfords recently told me that I must be wrong... Mini drum brakes weren't listed, so obviously didn't exist.  ;D |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 18, 2006 12:39:08 GMT
|
|
Ask to speak to the manager. Then explain that their staff were advocating and incouraging dangerous practice of self maintenance of complex hydaulic equipment and that kind of thing requires engineering training which you don't have. Ask the manager if he would lie jack up a vehicle using a jack he had "serviced" or would he use a specialist. Ask if it is legal under health and safety law and wether they have ever heard of the sale of goods act. A sbeing polite didn't get the good, be an curse word. Won't help in future, but just use an other branch. They are getting like Starbucks these days.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 18, 2006 13:08:32 GMT
|
Yeah they can offer a repair as first solution under sale of goods act, however it's a repair and not a 'get some new parts for the customer to fit themselves'. And as nobody in Halfords is usually trained at fixing them, and they cost more to send away for repair than to give you a new one, they should really be just giving you a new one. Alternatively, let them order you the parts, then a week later pretend to be a lawyer and ring them concerning your 'client' who has just had both legs amputated after a trolley jack accident, and did they advise him to repair it himself? |
| |
Never trust a man
Who names himself Trevor.
Or one day you might find
He's not a real drug dealer.
|
|
bryn
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,913
|
|
Dec 18, 2006 13:11:07 GMT
|
It seems more and more commonplace to knock Halfords these days, yet quite evidently you all still go in there... WHY? If you dislike the place so much you have to discuss it here, call it all the names under the sun and berate the levels of service and knowledge, just don't go in there. I'm sure they won't miss you asking for stuff that they sell maybe one of every year. I appreciate the problem with the jack, but if you haven't got a receipt... What did you expect? It's a large chain store and as such the prices and policies will be fixed. Granted I don't think it's good practice to supply a spare part and expect you to fit it, but again that's what you expect from Halfords, plus I should think you went there because it was convenient and the price was right, huh? Look at it this way, I've just ordered a bit of meat from my mate for Christmas, grown in his field and slaughtered in his barn. If I wanted a burger I'd have gone to McDonalds. You get back what you put in. As Bstardchild pointed out, he's had a couple of exchanges from them with no problem. I did the same myself with a grinder a few years ago, I then went out and spent proper money and haven't had a burnt out one since... We all go on about the local motor factor, just buy from them, again there are good and bad. Here in Taunton I have a couple of places to buy from depending on what I want, the service is good and the price right. For a little more effort and money you'll often get a much better result. Just please stop whingeing about Halfords, they're about as retro as my mobile phone |
| |
Volvo, Buggy, Discovery and an old tractor.
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 18, 2006 13:36:09 GMT
|
It seems more and more commonplace to knock Halfords these days, yet quite evidently you all still go in there... WHY? If you dislike the place so much you have to discuss it here, call it all the names under the sun and berate the levels of service and knowledge, just don't go in there. I'm sure they won't miss you asking for stuff that they sell maybe one of every year. I appreciate the problem with the jack, but if you haven't got a receipt... What did you expect? It's a large chain store and as such the prices and policies will be fixed. Granted I don't think it's good practice to supply a spare part and expect you to fit it, but again that's what you expect from Halfords, plus I should think you went there because it was convenient and the price was right, huh? Look at it this way, I've just ordered a bit of meat from my mate for Christmas, grown in his field and slaughtered in his barn. If I wanted a burger I'd have gone to McDonalds. You get back what you put in. As Bstardchild pointed out, he's had a couple of exchanges from them with no problem. I did the same myself with a grinder a few years ago, I then went out and spent proper money and haven't had a burnt out one since... We all go on about the local motor factor, just buy from them, again there are good and bad. Here in Taunton I have a couple of places to buy from depending on what I want, the service is good and the price right. For a little more effort and money you'll often get a much better result. Just please stop whingeing about Halfords, they're about as retro as my mobile phone it comes down to choice; i have only two choices,halfords or a local factors.halfords is usually the lesser of two evils.i have a good idea which shop is best for what and shop accordingly.the local factor got re-vamped recently and has gone all barry,with the induction kits etc.so if i want a cheap tools i go to halfords,if i want a lightweight racing ,quick lift jack cost £200 i'll know my factors sells one.if the tables were turned i still think people would berate the factors,its just that halfords are a national chain and more people have had experiences with them,my local factors is an independant i don't suppose any one on here ever to have had dealings with them. |
| |
|
|
bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,962
Club RR Member Number: 71
|
halfords did it againbstardchild
@bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member 71
|
Dec 18, 2006 13:42:40 GMT
|
As Bstardchild pointed out, he's had a couple of exchanges from them with no problem. I did the same myself with a grinder a few years ago, I then went out and spent proper money and haven't had a burnt out one since... I've bought a proper one too since - buy cheap buy twice I reckon We all go on about the local motor factor, just buy from them, again there are good and bad. Here in Taunton I have a couple of places to buy from depending on what I want, the service is good and the price right. For a little more effort and money you'll often get a much better result. Just please stop whingeing about Halfords, they're about as retro as my mobile phone Agreed - the only time I use halfords is when the late evening/sunday early afternoon and I need summut and I need it now - so I can't moan at em for that!!! Prefer local MF any day of the week - parts people there actually understand what you need and often keep it in stock OT A guy in full race suit and boots turned up a my local MF's last summer having tried all the others inc halfords - he was racing at Snetterton in a Alfa V6 and he'd destroyed his rotor arm - he was desparate for it as he hadn't got much time left before final practice - the motor factor looked it up and said sorry haven't got one of them but I know who will have as it cross matches with the Opel/vauxhall 3.0 24V six..... and he ran me up and I asked if I had a spare - sure I said send him round He sent his parts chaser lad out with a van to guide them to my house and I pulled one off an engine I was building to get him back racing again!!! I didn't take any money for it - just seemed like a nice thing to do.... |
| |
|
|
bryn
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,913
|
|
Dec 18, 2006 15:00:01 GMT
|
Agreed - the only time I use halfords is when the late evening/sunday early afternoon and I need summut and I need it now - so I can't moan at em for that!!! Exactly my point, they're great for being open when nobody else is, and if I have to pay a premium for wanting a box of spade connectors at 7.30pm, that's my look out. ;D Nice touch with the Alfa guy, it's amazed me over the years what parts cross over... I like Citroen Ami wipers, the same as some 911 ones. |
| |
Volvo, Buggy, Discovery and an old tractor.
|
|
|
|
However in my past customer services roles, when a fairly returned product is returned not used so much with clear non user faullt and recipt (ideally) I have swapped, spcially for cheap items like this which are rarely fixed!
;D