Wonderful service from Comet
Discussion
My father who is 89 years old purchased a Samsung TV from Comet at Maidstone.
Four weeks and three days late he returned it as the remote control was not working.
They tried it and agreed that it was faulty and said they would return it to the manufacturer for repair.
My father requested that they replace the set (it is his only TV), but was refused at that is their company policy.
I visited the shop the next day to be told in rather unhelpful terms (and certainly with any sympathy), the same thing but that the set should be back for collection by November 1st.
I emailed Comet and got a reply which although with sympathy told me the same thing.
Dad visited the shop today to be told that it should be back by Friday, so that three weeks for an old chap to be without TV.
By contrast I returned an 11 month old freeview box to Tesco a few months ago and it was replaced without question. No discussion, no argument, just good, no, SUPERB service.
Guess where I shall by my next TV?
Four weeks and three days late he returned it as the remote control was not working.
They tried it and agreed that it was faulty and said they would return it to the manufacturer for repair.
My father requested that they replace the set (it is his only TV), but was refused at that is their company policy.
I visited the shop the next day to be told in rather unhelpful terms (and certainly with any sympathy), the same thing but that the set should be back for collection by November 1st.
I emailed Comet and got a reply which although with sympathy told me the same thing.
Dad visited the shop today to be told that it should be back by Friday, so that three weeks for an old chap to be without TV.
By contrast I returned an 11 month old freeview box to Tesco a few months ago and it was replaced without question. No discussion, no argument, just good, no, SUPERB service.
Guess where I shall by my next TV?
Unfortunately this is standard practise. Comet/Currys and any other chain like this are an absolute disgrace. There are so many good retailers out there, there's no need to put up with them.
The problem is, that it needs a bit of research to take of advantage of smaller shops and you automatically think that you'll be safer by going to a big retailer, even though they are simply appalling places.
Good luck to your dad, that sucks noodles. I'd have threatened the manager's dog if this had been my dad and I would be now typing this from a cell in the local nick, so congratulations for not simply firebombing the place even though I bet you really, really want to.
The problem is, that it needs a bit of research to take of advantage of smaller shops and you automatically think that you'll be safer by going to a big retailer, even though they are simply appalling places.
Good luck to your dad, that sucks noodles. I'd have threatened the manager's dog if this had been my dad and I would be now typing this from a cell in the local nick, so congratulations for not simply firebombing the place even though I bet you really, really want to.
Last week, Comet sold my Mum a laptop - the very next day she returned it as it didn't have a mic on there (she uses Skype) - the shop runt was as suprised as her and I - that it had no mic; a laptop with a webcam but no mic is odd and it was safe to assume that there would be one. In any case, the laptop had been turned on - Windows setup and then Skype opened to test. It was on for no more than 40 minutes. It still had all the protective sleeves on.
The chap said they'd take it back but keep 10% as per policy. Arguing didn't work so we just took the money back minus 10%. I actually thought that there was a law regarding not being satisfied with one's purchase, especially a return within 24 hours. Not only did it seem unfair but they were actually quite rude as well. One manager woman seemed to relish having one over on us.
The chap said they'd take it back but keep 10% as per policy. Arguing didn't work so we just took the money back minus 10%. I actually thought that there was a law regarding not being satisfied with one's purchase, especially a return within 24 hours. Not only did it seem unfair but they were actually quite rude as well. One manager woman seemed to relish having one over on us.
LDN said:
Last week, Comet sold my Mum a laptop - the very next day she returned it as it didn't have a mic on there (she uses Skype) - the shop runt was as suprised as her and I - that it had no mic; a laptop with a webcam but no mic is odd and it was safe to assume that there would be one. In any case, the laptop had been turned on - Windows setup and then Skype opened to test. It was on for no more than 40 minutes. It still had all the protective sleeves on.
The chap said they'd take it back but keep 10% as per policy. Arguing didn't work so we just took the money back minus 10%. I actually thought that there was a law regarding not being satisfied with one's purchase, especially a return within 24 hours. Not only did it seem unfair but they were actually quite rude as well. One manager woman seemed to relish having one over on us.
Have a look from their position:The chap said they'd take it back but keep 10% as per policy. Arguing didn't work so we just took the money back minus 10%. I actually thought that there was a law regarding not being satisfied with one's purchase, especially a return within 24 hours. Not only did it seem unfair but they were actually quite rude as well. One manager woman seemed to relish having one over on us.
So you buy a laptop without checking the spec.
You don't even check the spec before turning it on.
You've set up Windows on it so they will have to expend time wiping the machine, and will legally have to sell it marked as preowned goods which will mean that they will no longer be able to sell at full price - most likely at a heavily discounted rate or even less than cost price.
They had every legal right to tell you to bugger off, and in any case the 10% won't go near to covering their loss, but that is 'unfair'?
As an aside, did you not just want to buy a £5 plug in desktop mic to do Skype?
JustinP1 said:
LDN said:
Last week, Comet sold my Mum a laptop - the very next day she returned it as it didn't have a mic on there (she uses Skype) - the shop runt was as suprised as her and I - that it had no mic; a laptop with a webcam but no mic is odd and it was safe to assume that there would be one. In any case, the laptop had been turned on - Windows setup and then Skype opened to test. It was on for no more than 40 minutes. It still had all the protective sleeves on.
The chap said they'd take it back but keep 10% as per policy. Arguing didn't work so we just took the money back minus 10%. I actually thought that there was a law regarding not being satisfied with one's purchase, especially a return within 24 hours. Not only did it seem unfair but they were actually quite rude as well. One manager woman seemed to relish having one over on us.
Have a look from their position:The chap said they'd take it back but keep 10% as per policy. Arguing didn't work so we just took the money back minus 10%. I actually thought that there was a law regarding not being satisfied with one's purchase, especially a return within 24 hours. Not only did it seem unfair but they were actually quite rude as well. One manager woman seemed to relish having one over on us.
So you buy a laptop without checking the spec.
You don't even check the spec before turning it on.
You've set up Windows on it so they will have to expend time wiping the machine, and will legally have to sell it marked as preowned goods which will mean that they will no longer be able to sell at full price - most likely at a heavily discounted rate or even less than cost price.
They had every legal right to tell you to bugger off, and in any case the 10% won't go near to covering their loss, but that is 'unfair'?
As an aside, did you not just want to buy a £5 plug in desktop mic to do Skype?
In any case, I still believe that the law would have been on our side. I'm not 100% on that I admit but I'm pretty sure. Seems funny, also, that nowadays, you can buy a mobile phone on contract and use it for 13 days then send it back no questions asked within the cooling off period. I'm pretty sure that similar rules apply.
Anyway, the rudeness was quite a suprise. Only the fist bloke seemed nice - he was obviously junior - after that, it was headmistress from hell.
As for the external mic, she already has a laptop that needs one and we wanted an all in one solution to take anywhere. Extra bits is a hassle.
Edited by LDN on Wednesday 4th November 01:32
Dixons, Currys, Comet - f
king hate them all! Every time I've been in I promise myself never to return to their outright muppetry and out of date stock, much of which has the model numbers 'tweaked' so you can't do a proper price comparison. They're the 'Elizabeth Duke' and 'Ratners' of the electrical and electronics world. s.
John Lewis is much preferable.
king hate them all! Every time I've been in I promise myself never to return to their outright muppetry and out of date stock, much of which has the model numbers 'tweaked' so you can't do a proper price comparison. They're the 'Elizabeth Duke' and 'Ratners' of the electrical and electronics world. s.John Lewis is much preferable.
LDN said:
I actually thought that there was a law regarding not being satisfied with one's purchase,
No there isn't - unless you specifically asked for a laptop to do certain things.If you Mum had said "I want a laptop for Skype and it must have a built-in microphone" then the laptop would have been not fit for purpose and could have been returned for full refund.
Where it gets iffy, is if she'd just asked for a laptop that could do Skype. It can, but needs a separate microphone, and arguably, if she'd asked, that should have been brought to her attention.
LDN said:
In any case, I still believe that the law would have been on our side. I'm not 100% on that I admit but I'm pretty sure.
Well, I will tell you for 100% that in this situation you has zero legal rights to a refund. 
LDN said:
Seems funny, also, that nowadays, you can buy a mobile phone on contract and use it for 13 days then send it back no questions asked within the cooling off period. I'm pretty sure that similar rules apply.
That is because of the Distance Selling Regulations.In a nutshell, the law is that once you have seen an item in a shop, examined it etc and you agree to buy it then there is no legal right to a refund (unless it is faulty etc).
If you are buying an item 'at a distance' then you don't have the same ability to examine the article you are buying so the DSR's give you the same rights that you would have had in a shop - that is to examine the goods, and if you don't like the look of them, not to buy them.
Of course the Distance Selling Regulations don't apply when you visit a shop as there you are able to view the item, try the item and ask questions about the item before you make a decision to buy the item.
IMHO, I would have not given you a refund and pointed you towards the £5 desktop microphone isle.
I returned a PVR to one of these places for a refund because it was too noisy (it ran the fans 24/7).
The jobsworth told me that I could not return it. Before I even drew breath, his manager jumped on him and told him to refund...
(I'd have gone down the not fit for purpose route personally).
The jobsworth told me that I could not return it. Before I even drew breath, his manager jumped on him and told him to refund...
(I'd have gone down the not fit for purpose route personally).
Mr E said:
I returned a PVR to one of these places for a refund because it was too noisy (it ran the fans 24/7).
The jobsworth told me that I could not return it. Before I even drew breath, his manager jumped on him and told him to refund...
(I'd have gone down the not fit for purpose route personally).
^-----Comedy mis-understanding about the workings of a PVR.The jobsworth told me that I could not return it. Before I even drew breath, his manager jumped on him and told him to refund...
(I'd have gone down the not fit for purpose route personally).
You would probably have complained that it didn't have instant replay but was completely silent.
Sure some are noisier than others but any time it is recording the HDD is going to be spinning.
You might just have to wait for the flash-based versions.
JustinP1 said:
LDN said:
In any case, I still believe that the law would have been on our side. I'm not 100% on that I admit but I'm pretty sure.
Well, I will tell you for 100% that in this situation you has zero legal rights to a refund. LDN said:
Seems funny, also, that nowadays, you can buy a mobile phone on contract and use it for 13 days then send it back no questions asked within the cooling off period. I'm pretty sure that similar rules apply.
That is because of the Distance Selling Regulations.In a nutshell, the law is that once you have seen an item in a shop, examined it etc and you agree to buy it then there is no legal right to a refund (unless it is faulty etc).
If you are buying an item 'at a distance' then you don't have the same ability to examine the article you are buying so the DSR's give you the same rights that you would have had in a shop - that is to examine the goods, and if you don't like the look of them, not to buy them.
Of course the Distance Selling Regulations don't apply when you visit a shop as there you are able to view the item, try the item and ask questions about the item before you make a decision to buy the item.
IMHO, I would have not given you a refund and pointed you towards the £5 desktop microphone isle.
LDN said:
JustinP1 said:
LDN said:
In any case, I still believe that the law would have been on our side. I'm not 100% on that I admit but I'm pretty sure.
Well, I will tell you for 100% that in this situation you has zero legal rights to a refund. LDN said:
Seems funny, also, that nowadays, you can buy a mobile phone on contract and use it for 13 days then send it back no questions asked within the cooling off period. I'm pretty sure that similar rules apply.
That is because of the Distance Selling Regulations.In a nutshell, the law is that once you have seen an item in a shop, examined it etc and you agree to buy it then there is no legal right to a refund (unless it is faulty etc).
If you are buying an item 'at a distance' then you don't have the same ability to examine the article you are buying so the DSR's give you the same rights that you would have had in a shop - that is to examine the goods, and if you don't like the look of them, not to buy them.
Of course the Distance Selling Regulations don't apply when you visit a shop as there you are able to view the item, try the item and ask questions about the item before you make a decision to buy the item.
IMHO, I would have not given you a refund and pointed you towards the £5 desktop microphone isle.
I am willing to bet that if you buy a laptop from any UK electrical retailer, turn it on and set it up and bring it back due to the absence of an easily added feature that you should have checked that 90% of the time you would not get a penny refund.
If getting a refund is what you are going on as an example of 'bad' service, you had best not buy anything from a retailer again.
Hi Justin, you must have missed the part where I said that I had taken a computer back in the past as - I wasn't satisfied with it and there was not a problem. You must also have missed the part where I said the manageress woman was especially rude in Comet and that fair play to the junior, he was a nice chap. A big part of this was their rudeness: a characeteristic that others here seem to have experienced also.
There's no argument here and you've no point to prove. All is well
There's no argument here and you've no point to prove. All is well
On the flip side, I found Comet to be outstanding in their customer service.
I bought the cheapest washer/dryer (£231), it broke after 11 months. The repair man came, fixed it. It broke again the day after the repair. Another repair man came, agreed it was broke and ordered a new motor and new circuit board costing £173. The parts took 3 weeks to arrive, they arrived just before Christmas and it was well into the second week of January before they were fitted.
Third repair man fitted new parts but machine was still broken. He thought the new circuit board was not identical and may have blown the main module.
Comet agreed they machine was past economical repair and gave me a new machine, which was more expensive and a full 12 months warranty.
I bought the cheapest washer/dryer (£231), it broke after 11 months. The repair man came, fixed it. It broke again the day after the repair. Another repair man came, agreed it was broke and ordered a new motor and new circuit board costing £173. The parts took 3 weeks to arrive, they arrived just before Christmas and it was well into the second week of January before they were fitted.
Third repair man fitted new parts but machine was still broken. He thought the new circuit board was not identical and may have blown the main module.
Comet agreed they machine was past economical repair and gave me a new machine, which was more expensive and a full 12 months warranty.
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