jacksdad Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Rant time! I bought a halfords own brand pressure washer in October last year, reduced from £200 to £100. Used it to jetwash the driveway then put it away. Came to use it this Saturday, didn't work Says on the washer to ring customer care and not return to store, which I did: shut, only work mon-fri. Rang store, snotty kid says " errr dunno, err get manager..." Manager takes over, asks whats wrong with it, "broke!" says I. "what have you done to it?"..."I beg your pardon!" etc. etc. Then, manager says "what sort of detergent have you used?", "none, says me, its a jet washer!" Manager then says "thats why YOU have broken it, you MUST use detergent all the time to lubricate it" :blink: So I, as politely as possible, said he was talking rubbish, eventually Manager tells me to return it to the store and he will send it off for inspecting. I said its goosed and I want a replacement, but no, has to 'go back' and would take at least 2 weeks! Yesterday I took it back to the store, the spotty yoof on the till didn't know what to do so called the manager, who eventually showed up, tried the on/off switch (not plugged in!), prodded it then says "where is the box, you cannot return it without the box"... WHAT? then he wandered off with my receipt, to the glass office thing, where he stood eating a sandwich. His oppo looked at me, said something, Manager turns and looks at me, then sat down so he was out of view. Came back and told me I had to ring customer services! I said " You ring them" .. "no, you have to", I say "can I use the phone then?" he says no! So I went home and rang customer services: They told me to take it to the store Its still in my van today, I have to go into town again, this has cost me about £15 in fuel and phone calls already. My advice....DON'T USE HALFORDS !!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docholiday Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Rant time! I bought a halfords own brand pressure washer in October last year, reduced from £200 to £100. Used it to jetwash the driveway then put it away. Came to use it this Saturday, didn't work Says on the washer to ring customer care and not return to store, which I did: shut, only work mon-fri. Rang store, snotty kid says " errr dunno, err get manager..." Manager takes over, asks whats wrong with it, "broke!" says I. "what have you done to it?"..."I beg your pardon!" etc. etc. Then, manager says "what sort of detergent have you used?", "none, says me, its a jet washer!" Manager then says "thats why YOU have broken it, you MUST use detergent all the time to lubricate it" :blink: So I, as politely as possible, said he was talking rubbish, eventually Manager tells me to return it to the store and he will send it off for inspecting. I said its goosed and I want a replacement, but no, has to 'go back' and would take at least 2 weeks! Yesterday I took it back to the store, the spotty yoof on the till didn't know what to do so called the manager, who eventually showed up, tried the on/off switch (not plugged in!), prodded it then says "where is the box, you cannot return it without the box"... WHAT? then he wandered off with my receipt, to the glass office thing, where he stood eating a sandwich. His oppo looked at me, said something, Manager turns and looks at me, then sat down so he was out of view. Came back and told me I had to ring customer services! I said " You ring them" .. "no, you have to", I say "can I use the phone then?" he says no! So I went home and rang customer services: They told me to take it to the store Its still in my van today, I have to go into town again, this has cost me about £15 in fuel and phone calls already. My advice....DON'T USE HALFORDS !!!!! Sounds like a letter to head office time, explaining what happened, would also name store and staff involved, suspect they will resolve pronto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex C Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 How would you stand if you just waltzed into the shop, picked another up off the shelf and dumped your knackered one and walked out with it? Would it be classed as theft if you left your details or would the police consider it a civil matter between you and the vendor and it would then be up to Halfords to chase you for the money? I would suggest a bit of research into the sale of goods act - knowledge is power Hope you get sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 bet you left it in the shed pressurized over winter Thats why they send them off, if they just replaced the ones that froze each winter they would go bust very fast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksdad Posted March 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 (edited) No, not pressurised, I know how to work them, and it was in the garage, nice and warm! AND, my Karcher, that was in the shed, needs a new hose/lance (which is what I went for in the first place!) still works a treat: Think I will get a lance off eBay and a refund of Halfrauds Edited March 2, 2011 by jacksdad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bb Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 I'm quite astounded that that chain is still in business. On the rare occasions when I go there (to waste time while SWMBO is in a nearby clothes shop) I never buy anything and never see anybody else buying anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 They always have radio one or similar blasting out speakers thats enough to stop me going in to be served by a spotty youth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 I have lodged a fair number of complaints. I always ask for the manager. I always ask for his / her name. I then ask for the e-mail address of their Chief Executive. It normally works. If it doesn't. I then point out that I will contact their head , even if they fail to provide the address - only a phone number. I recap what I will complain about and ask them to note my name. If that doesn't work, I follow up the complaint in writing. I have lost count of the number of sweeteners I have received from Curry's, Alliance and Leicester, McDonalds, Comet, ASDA and a whole lot more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcooke25552 Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 I had a push bike an they built it ( I'm an engineer buy my mum insisted so that I don't invalidate warranty). 5 weeks later the rear wheel hub destroyed it's self and hen I complained to the manager, he said that I had built it wrong. He very soon back tracked when I told him it was built by his staff. They banned me from the store so I left my bike there, they rang. 2 days later saying I need to remove it so went down to pick it up and complain. Someone had ground halfway through re tube on the frame so I lost my rag and came out with a refund and a ban from buying bikes there. Complained to head office and they weren't interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Go back to store one last time and ask again, take allnames of people you have spoken to times and dates . Get the coinciding fuel recipts with dates etc then send all in a letter to head office , prior to all of this phone customer service with the CEO name that you would have already found on google and simply ask for his contact address. They should rectify you there and then hopefully with a new washer, apology and compensation in voucher form. Make a point of the stand off ish unhelpful attitude of the manager and the fact he ate a sandwich when he should have been serving you.if that doesn't work send all the info to there correspondence address and go from there ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Halfords are great for flogging air freshners etc,but know very little about anything else which is to be expected when the average employee age is 13. Have you seen how much they charge for sticking a new windscreen wiper on...£5!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcooke25552 Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Have u seen how much they charge for the wore blade. £25 a pair. I bought the same ones for£6 in euro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonno 357 Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 I don't think I've every bought anything from Halfords. Haven't some of there stores been on rouge traders ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 I don't think I've every bought anything from Halfords. Haven't some of there stores been on rouge traders ? Are you suggesting that they are gay? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 Buy another one from a dififfernt branch, clean the old one up, put it in the new ones box and recipet take it back get a refund and if its back to £200 you will make £100 and you will have another or is that kind of thing not allowed :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksdad Posted March 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 I like your thinking, that would work 100% as the numpties on the shop floor would never think to check it...well, just 'never think' actually! Plan B now primed and ready! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksdad Posted March 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 Its now £145 and you still get a free cordless vac worth £48 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Fox Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 Buy another one from a dififfernt branch, clean the old one up, put it in the new ones box and recipet take it back get a refund and if its back to £200 you will make £100 and you will have another or is that kind of thing not allowed :yp: If they are not playing fair - that is exactly what I would do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentKill Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 If they are not playing fair - that is exactly what I would do Or just ring up their head office and explain. its under a year old, but just remember you have to give the retailer the chance to repair or replace before refund! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 I bought 5 Ltrs of semi synthetic from the Bletchly store about a month ago cos it was on offer-when i got to the till i asked the lady if she knew if the oil was o.k. to use for frying food being part synthetic (i like to have a laugh)-to my suprise she said that she would ask someone and ,before i could tell her it was a joke, she paged the manager!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 Buy another one from a dififfernt branch, clean the old one up, put it in the new ones box and recipet take it back get a refund and if its back to £200 you will make £100 and you will have another or is that kind of thing not allowed :yp: That's brilliant ........ Not that I would endorse it of course :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksdad Posted March 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 Well, I got a phone call from Halfrauds yesterday...thought the oik was going to say the jetwasher is ready...oh no: He said it is being picked up by the repair geezer TODAY...its not even left the store yet! Then it will take about 2 weeks for them to repair, God knows how long to send it back to the store, I doubt I will ever see it again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksdad Posted March 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 Update...I got my pressure washer back yesterday The brain donor who rang me said that "they have had a couple of these back, they seem to have a fault" and that mine had indeed had a new motor fitted. I went to the store to collect it and it was given to me in a new box, complete with jobsheet that says 'no parts or accessories' which is correct. I got home and unpacked it...inside was a brand new complete kit! On closer inspection, I noticed the lift up handle button was broken: it won't extend as it is supposed to. Looks like someone took it back without using it, noticed the broken handle so took it straight back and exchenged it. I also marked the case on mine and took pictures of them, so know this is a relacement. I am just keeping this one, and my spare hose and lance, just feel sorry for whoever gets my old washer back minus all the parts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 Good man finally eh ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksdad Posted March 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 Well yes, I've got a washer again, but its not the one I bought, and its not had a new motor fitted as the repair sheet stated As the 'new' one looks brand new, albeit with a slightly faulty handle, I will keep it, but what if I got a washer that had been hammered until it broke? Mine had only done about 2 hours and it still died LESSON....Buy a Karcher from somewhere else ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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