Energy saving light bulbs from Maplin

tonerlab

Hi,
I bought four GU10 Energy saving light bulbs from maplin this morning. Upon trying them, one was found to be faulty. I returned them back to maplin within three hours of buying them to be informed they dont accept returns on bulbs (even though they cost £5 each and that was a sale price!). I held firm and quoted their returns policy which was on the receipt and they begrudgingly relented.

Fair enough they replaced the bulb, but if I had been someone who wont push their rights, I would have been very unhappy. I just wanted to make people aware that if they want to buy these type of bulb from maplins, to challenge them before they buy if they will accept these back if there is a fault.

I am also going to email Maplin's Head office for their comment as I would like to buy some more, but not if I have to argue the toss if there is a problem!

hollydays

This rings a bell somewhere I don't think Maplins are alone here,but they can't do this,can they? You were not even asking for a refund,but an exchange.
What possible scam could you pull on a long life bulb bought that day-muppets!

d.edna

How do they know you haven't gone home, replaced the bulb you purchased and trying to return the faulty bulb? Ive seen alot of people try this with other products in another store

(Extreme example) Would you go into a petrol station, fill your tank up then claim the petrol wasn't petrolly enough for your liking and demand another tank for free?

hollydays

d.edna wrote: »

How do they know you haven't gone home, replaced the bulb you purchased and trying to return the faulty bulb? Ive seen alot of people try this with other products in another store

(Extreme example) Would you go into a petrol station, fill your tank up then claim the petrol wasn't petrolly enough for your liking and demand another tank for free?

Explain please?

poker_face

I used to work at a Maplin store. Refunds are exempt on perishable products, such as light bulbs, fuses, batteries, components, even if they do work as there is no way of proving it in store. The reason being that there are some people out there out will just buy a new one, then put an old one in the box and take it back saying it didn't work.The best way to deal with it is just to explain to them calmly, don't demand your money back, but ask for a replacement. And the longer you leave it, the less convincing you will seem.

hollydays

I understand what people are capable of.

A low energy bulb is us usually long life,why would a person buy a bulb,presumably keep it for ten years or so,take it back,looking brand new presumably?? Then buy two additional bulbs at the same time,as a decoy? Not exactly a feasible crime plan.

When you say they are exempt,is that the law?

I still am assuming the OP wanted an exchange.No great gain to the OP even if he had carried out this fiendish 10 year scam,for about £5 say?

Thrifty_2

d.edna

what you say may well be true but as a business owner i find the majority of customers are trustworthy.

As a business owner i can return them to my supplier under an
understanding between wholesaler and retailer so i do not loose out.

The customer has rights.

If Maplin want to take this attitude then customers like tonerlab will not shop there again and will visit business owners like myself who value our customers.

shame on Maplin.

d.edna

Thrifty wrote: »

d.edna

what you say may well be true but as a business owner i find the majority of customers are trustworthy.

As a business owner i can return them to my supplier under an
understanding between wholesaler and retailer so i do not loose out.

The customer has rights.

If Maplin want to take this attitude then customers like tonerlab will not shop there again and will visit business owners like myself who value our customers.

shame on Maplin.

We have only the OPs statement that they didnt try and do the scam I said, how do we know they didn't, Another story where it is one sided, the Retailer has to protect themselves same as a consumer has to.

So be it you might have an informal agreement, but maplin doesn't work on informal agreements, as said they do not accept returns.

As for my petrol example, you might be after something for nothing. Sorry to say I smell that here.

hollydays

WE only ever have the OPs statement that what he is saying is correct,in any post,otherwise we can ask questions,which is where their stories invariably fall apart.
To look at the arguament another way,we could say the retailer was deliberately selling faulty bulbs.Nowhere in the dreaded soga does it say you can't have a refund or exchange on a lightbulb.
lightbulb paranoia..

oldone_2

I have a friend who runs a small newsagents/general store.Last week he had a customer come into the shop with a toy he claimed was faulty, and wanted a refund.

When my friend pointed out that the shop doesn't sell that toy, and never had, the customer became abusive saying they knew their rights and were entitled to their money back.

One of the many reasons to never run a small shop.

tonerlab

Hi, thanks for the posts here, just to clarify things a little. Maplins print a list of items they will not take as returns on their receipts. Light bulbs, especially expensive ones! are not on this list. They also arent on the list behind the counter. Some items you buy from other stores e.g. underwear have a no return policy, but you are always told of this fact before you buy.

As for Maplin treating their customers as criminals, as this would be theft, is a terrible way to do business. 99.99% of customers are honestpeople. This post is to make people aware that Maplin follow this policy, at least in the store I used. I would love to buy some more bulbs from them , but dont want to go through the rigmarole of being criminalised! I dont even own a hoodie!