littlwoods / very, inaccurate product description. Advice?

[callmedave]

I bought this:http://www.littlewoods.com/zoostorm-intelreg-coretrade-i3-processor-8gb-ram-1tb-storage-nvidia-geforce-gt-740-1gb-dedicated-graphics-wi-fi-desktop-base-unit-with-optional-microsoft-office-365-home-personal-black/1460409233.prd?_requestid=554508

when ordering there is an option to add office 365 to the order for £60 extra, i did so. Upon opening it up, i notice that the office is limited to 1 year of use.

I cannot see where it say so in the product description on littlewoods page. I have contacted them about this saying it is incorrect, they say they would need everything returned (computer and activation code) BUT the computer cannot be returned as i have turned it on (ive also made hardware and software changes to to it) it does state that the computer is non-returnable, but i dont see why they cannot accept back the office activation code (which i have not used) and refund/credit me the £60.00

Does anyone have any advice for me? Im happy to either return it/destroy it and get my £60.00 back, or get a unlimited version of office.

[callmedave]

littleredrooster said:

That is exactly what Office 365 is, though.

https://products.office.com/en-gb/office-365-perso...

"Office 365 Personal is a subscription service built to help you get things done on the go and on all your devices."

Im am (now) aware, and you can buy monthly or annual subscriptions, BUT the advert does not state that.

for example, you can buy XBOX live subscription based, monthly, 3 months, 12 months etc. each is clearly marked which is which.

If there is more than one option for office365 then should they not show this? I honestly not aware it was subsription based until after i tried to activate my copy.

[callmedave]

vanordinaire said:

Under distance selling regs, don't you have an absolute right to return for full refund?

No, it clearly states 'this is non returnable' as once i turn it on, it cannot be 'new' again. I understand that and am not in dispute.

[callmedave]

esxste said:

Revert the hardware changes. Use whatever system reset tool they have to reset the Operating system, box it up, Put the Office 365 thing in and send it back.

Distance selling terms apply if it was bought in last 14 days- you can return it in a used condition, but not misused.

Agree the website lacks information about the Office 365 option... but there is a clue in the name as to the nature of the beast. A little research (that should have been unnecessary) might have given you more information.


Will they not just refund the Office 365 portion?

Ive made physical changes, some of which cannot be undone.

They are not willing to accept back just the activation code, but thats all im after.

Ive requested a £60.00 credit on my account and i keep the code. they always take 24 hours to reply.

[callmedave]

HantsRat said:

Or an easier and more sensible option would be just to sell the code to a friend/put on ebay/advertise on facebook then just forget about it and enjoy your new computer.

This will be the most likely option if i dont get anywhere with littlewoods.

[callmedave]

esxste said:

So you want office 365 and £60 back... a bit cheeky, no?

I dread to think what you've done to the PC itself that means it can't be reverted. I had assumed you meant you'd installed/replaced a component, which should be easily reverted.

Yes its cheeky, but i was willing to return it for a refund, they are not willing to accept it for credit.

I had to install another wifi card as the one that came with it was not compatible with my router, this involves 'snapping off' a small panel on the rear. (this is part of the computers design) I also snipped one cable tie to extend a wire for a secondary HDD.

[callmedave]

PurpleMoonlight said:

You have enough computer knowledge to do that but not enough to know 365 is an annual licence?

I find that hard to believe.

Yep! honestly did not know! used office 2007 all the time.

[callmedave]

Mojooo said:

I think you are stuffed legally but it owuld be prudent for retaielrs to make clear Office 365 is a little different to the standard version of MS Office as most people may not be aware.

Agree. i dont think Littlewoods are going to budge.


Thanks for all the help guys.

[callmedave]

johnfm said:

read the latest distance selling regs. They cannot contract out of them just because they want to. But, they could make a deduction from the refund to reflect your use.

Read the regs - they're simple enough to understand.

I dont want to return the computer, If they wont back down then il take it as a lesson learnt and get what i can for the code and go back to office 2007.

[callmedave]

MrBarry123 said:

I see where you're coming from OP however regarding the Xbox subscription...

I'm assuming if you purchased a Xbox One that shipped with a subscription to Xbox Live, you'd know it wasn't perpetual? The same is true here.

True but I honestly did not know the new office was subscription based.

Surely they should have said if it was 12 months, 1 month, 3 months etc?

[callmedave]

Mr2Mike said:

There are only two options, and it was hardly going to be £70 per month. Is it only me that does at least a bit of research before diving into a purchase, rather than relying on luck?

It wasn't subscription for office 2007, I had no idea it would be for this one. I didn't question it. Lesson learnt.

[callmedave]

Joeguard1990 said:

I think the biggest problem here is that you bought a PC from Littlewoods...

This is a company that overprices their products massively and gets away with it by allowing people to pay monthly for the item and thus thinking they are getting a great deal. IT it by no means a place to be buying a brand new computer from.

You would have been better off buying it cheaper from somewhere else and purchase with a credit card and meeting the monthly payments if you are paying monthly for it. If not, then why Littlewoods...?

Hi, appreciate you looking at it like this.

It was part of an offer, i get 20% credit back on my account so effectively its £~550. and yes im paying this monthly. I know the price is inflated with Littlewoods, but it was the only option i was aware of that best suited my needs - Didnt think of the credit card payments.

[callmedave]

Hi all.

I agree that the '365' in 'office 365' should stand out to me, but it didnt. Also, it is possible to have a one month subscription to this, the website does not specify which one you are getting.

After a little research £60 is about the going rate for 12 months of office, but to me it also seemed a good price for the software outright as part of a promotional sale.


Littlewoods have come back with a resounding no. and have not budged or made any goodwill gesture. I will sell the code i have and continue to use office 2007.

Il take this as a lesson learnt and move on. I looked at over clockers a few months back to build a potential system, but never saw any details on buy now pay later.

Thanks for all the feedback guys.