Hope someone can help.

Basically I bought a washer dryer in late October from a local shop that refurbs appliances. It came with a 3 month warranty.

In early November it broke (drum stopped spinning), after ringing and going through various 'have you tried' scenarios, they came to pick it up. It came back 2 days later and the fault was described as the motor brushes, and that they had been replaced.
Less than a week later the tumble dryer part stopped heating up. Phoned up and this time an engineer (independent to the shop) was sent round, he just pressed the reset button and went, he told us it was overheating. This happened about 2 or 3 more times (every time the tumble dryer was used), with the engineer told to press the reset button. The last time he visited he was told to disable/bypass the safety reset, which he promptly declined to do, he was then told to show how to reset it ourselves. The engineer also told us, and the shop, he would not be returning if it happened again, which it did.

I spoke to the shop assistant at least 4 times with promises that the boss will ring me back. Eventually he did (by this time it was early December), he said that he would replace it, but unfortunately they didnt have any in, so they would ring as soon as they got one in.

Just before Christmas I rang and was told they dont have any in yet.

Now since the beginning of January I have rang at least 7 times, every time with the promise the boss will ring me back 'when he gets in', which he didnt. I went to the shop on Friday and was told that the shop had a new owner and 'sorry the boss isnt here, Ill get him to call you back this afternoon', a phone call I have yet to receive.

Ive been played like a chump, I guess Im just too trusting. There is a lot of outrage of small high street and local businesses going under, but when you get service like this, compared to a large store that would take it back no quibbles, its not hard to see why things are going down the pan.

The worst part as far as I was concerned was that they were willing to tell the repair guy to disable the safeties that are there for a reason.

Anyone have any ideas on what I can do??

Oh and the small details;
-Paid in cash (they dont do cards).
-Yes, I have a receipt (Hand written on standard copy pad type job).

i know it's a bit "official" but you could inform the office of fair trading, trading standards and even ask advice from the police.

name and shame the shop for a start and then go to the shop again and demand to see the owner/manager and make them aware that you will not leave the premises until you have done so!!!then while your waiting if any customers come in to purchase anything make them aware of the problems you are having with the company!!believe me they would rather resolve the matter rather than have all the problems you could cause them!!let us know how you get on tho!!

I don't think shop owners like these realize that every one of their customers is a walking, talking advertisement for their business.

And we all have access to the Internet! So if we get s****y goods and/or service, EVERYBODY we know, (and even those we don't!) gets to hear about it!

And I think that's probably been a big contribution to the "down the pan" scenario... and good riddance!

I fully agree with pokerchamp, name and shame 'em! And on a practical note, try the Citizen's Advice Bureau.

Thanks for the advice so far.

I just feel like I've given them the benefit of the doubt at every turn, rather than being 'that customer' and just been taken for a ride.

The reason for not naming and shaming was I wasnt sure if it was allowed. Is it allowed to name and shame on here??

My first thought was to print a load of flyers about what theyve done, post them on every parked car windscreen within half a mile of the shop and then stand outside the front and hand them to passers by lol.

of course you can name and shame them,pm me and i will do it for you if you like!!!!hahaha

go on i dare you.you have nothing to lose

do it do it do it do it do it!!!!haha

Well, Im going to go again tommorrow and demand to see the manager, the outcome will dictate if my printer is going to be busy or not.

from your guitar shop post jawide



oh well

So, PM everyone who has commented on this thread, we'll PM all our contacts telling them to PM their contacts etc. soon everyone will know.

I think with regards to the flyers and putting them on car windscreens is that you can't actually say "don't buy anything from ****** shop" but instead have to word it as "ask me why I would never buy anything again from ****** shop" and then obviously if someone contacts you you can tell them.
I'm not sure where it was that I heard that advice but it could have been many years ago on the programme "That's Life"
Anyway, I too always try to go to small businesses wherever I can but as you say with customer service such as you've experienced makes you want to not bother again.

Just curious too, what was the difference in price with the refurbished one as opposed to buying brand new? Having bought a couple of refurbished electrical items in the past and had problems, I always try to buy new when possible.....you at least know you will have a warranty with the manufacturer and can also buy an extended one too. Good luck anyway I hope you get some satisfaction soon

a friend of mine bought a fridge freezer last july 2011 and its now gone faulty hes contacted the company that makes the f/f they said contact where you bought it from their excuse for fobbing him off is because its in your shed its not covered by warranty whats the difference it can be tucked up in bloody bed with you if thats where you want it so now they the supplier have said its not covered so I think hes going down to C.A.B. over it

You could try the Small Claims Court - info here CLICKY

quick and painless.