Quote: Originally posted by Bernie47 on 16/11/2016
Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 16/11/2016
Ordered some curtains for home a week ago...they arrived with at least 1.5 inches short on both width and length so had to send them back.
Quote: Originally posted by Mike3003 on 17/11/2016
Same happened to us, the made to measure curtains we ordered were 2ins short, but it was not too bad as it was only on the bottom. Still not good enough though.
I could have managed if they were only short at the top but being short at the bottom meant they didn't reach the window sill
Quote: Originally posted by mikegalagher on 17/11/2016
Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 16/11/2016
Bought a new pair of shoes last month and after wearing them for 3 very short periods the velcro strap broke.
I think I'd have kept quiet on that one.
Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 16/11/2016
I have come to the conclusion that 90% of stuff purchased these days will be faulty or damaged on arrival or will break down inside 3 months.
Really? Wow. Not our experience, but we all get the odd thing I guess, now and again.
Each shoe had two velcro straps...not very successful because you still have to bend down to do them up
I am on my 5th electric cooker because the first 3 arrived damaged and the 4th one packed up after 3 months. I am wondering how long I can keep getting my cooker replaced with a new one although the present one seems to be doing ok at the moment.
The new fridge freezer looks like the leaning tower of Pisa because it arrived with damaged rear feet. I was going to stick a plank of wood under the rear but it is running nicely and I have become used to it leaning backwards with automatically closing doors.
Where are you buying your stuff from Bob? Trotter's Independent Traders? And who's delivering it? 3 ovens and a fridge freezer arrived damaged?
I'd have had emails going to their CEO's the very day.
No wonder you think 90% of stuff will be duff.
That's not been our experience, ever, although, actually, I've just remembered.
The heating element on our Whirlpool oven packed up. It's still under warranty so no issues but chatting to the lad fitting the new one he said they're like a light bulb. Good for 3 or 4 years maybe but then the element goes. I asked if the Boschs of this world were any better and he said they all source the parts from the same chinese factories - so no. Paying more does not guarantee longer life.
Being retired insurance people, we fully understand the concept of "peace of mind", but actually, rarely think extended warranties are worthwhile.
And so far, we've not had cause to change our mind.
------------- Mike
My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it
Quote: Originally posted by mikegalagher on 18/11/2016
Where are you buying your stuff from Bob? Trotter's Independent Traders? And who's delivering it? 3 ovens and a fridge freezer arrived damaged?
I'd have had emails going to their CEO's the very day.
No wonder you think 90% of stuff will be duff.
The first two cookers came from Currys and were delivered by their Knowhow team. The first one seemed ok until I examined it closely and both the oven doors were out of alignment. I made the mistake of going through the guarantee on that one and had to wait for an engineer to call and confirm the whole chassis was twisted. They then delivered the second one and before they even got it through the door I saw a big dent in the side so told them to take both cookers away and was straight on the phone to Currys for a full refund. I got my money back on those and then went to AO. From then on of course I examined every cooker with a magnifying glass!! The first one AO delivered had a damaged toaster element so that got no further than my front door. Then AO delivered another one but the only problem was that they didn't have any more of my original choice left so I had to buy a more expensive one. I did get a good discount on it but ended up paying £100 more than the first cooker I wanted from Currys. That cooker lasted 3 months and there was a loud click from inside and it was totally dead...fortunately I had just about finished cooking the dinner on it. So I am now on my 5th cooker and touch wood it is still working.
The fridge freezer also came from AO but I was wise by then and was quoting the consumers acts and stuff. I decided to keep that but recorded the damage with AO in case anything went wrong in the future which could be attributed to that damage...and I also got a £50 refund. The fridge is running beautifully even if it is leaning back by about 2" at the top - lol. I can't level it because the adjusting feet at the front are screwed right in and it is still leaning back. The rear feet aren't adjustable.
The 'reduced' curtains came from Next online. They have refunded the money for those. The shoes came from Premier Man...they've refunded me for those. Annoyingly the replacement curtains also came from Premier Man and are also about an inch short. I think they must come from the same manufacturers with an inch knocked off their tape measures!! My wife has given up and is keeping the new ones. They are supposed to be black out curtains but of course let in a chink of light at the bottom because they are too short. I have emailed a complaint to Premier Man and hoping for some compensation.
I even checked my own steel rule against another in case mine was wrong - lol.
At the end of the day I am becoming an expert at complaining and getting refunds or compensation and both my wife and I now expect everything to arrive damaged or 'not as described' which makes buying anything more of a stress than a pleasure.
My parents always said they were too poor to buy cheaply.
Our dishwasher was bought in 2000, A Miele which was about twice the price of my friend's Philps. Since then he has had to buy 3 other"cheap" machines.
Our oven was purchased in 1998 and the electric hob was bought in 1986.
I like to get my money's worth. I even bought my wife in 1958
Earlier this week my microwave died - only had it 30 years.
Can't believe how much smaller and lighter the new one is. I have to hold it to press the buttons as it moves that easily.
Things are no longer made to lasts.
Years ago I had an electric kettle and I was able to replace things like the seal and the element when they went. Now i would have to replace the whole kettle which is why I use a good old fashioned one on the gas. (the camper in me)
Quote: Originally posted by romany girl on 06/11/2016
I would love to find a place that sells the traditionally cured bacon that only produces propper bacon fat in the pan when cooked, not lots of salty water that is injected into the meat as part of the curing process, and to bulk up the weight of the finished product.
We too prefare our bacon to be cut thicker, but its very difficult to find a supplier who still uses an instore slicing machine to cut the bacon to whatever thickness the customer requires.
Try an independent butcher. We have a couple of butchers local to us that either cure their own bacon or buy it in from a traditional source. Both sell lovely bacon, and will slice it as thick or thin as you like.
They both do fantastic sausages, too. I can't eat supermarket sausages any more, I've been rather spoilt.
I think I must sound like a real pushover online...ordered two pairs of socks from an Amazon Shopfront outlet a few days ago and received the package today...only one pair in it!!!
I think I will give up buying things online and go back to shopping in shops where I can see what I am getting.