Comet - never ever use them

basill

I`m with the OP Comet really are a poor shop. I bought a vacuum cleaner there while out on my travels, I bought it on price alone I was not really expecting to need good service. When I got it home a hose clip was found to be broken off. When I visited my local store expecting a simple swap I was told that I must phone Hoover to arrange repairs.
I must admit I kicked up a stink as I had my contract with them, not hoover etc.. I eventually had to return to the distant branch where the manager tried and failed to nick the broken part from the display model. I got a replacement in the end but they made such a meal of it I wont be shopping there again however keen the price may be.
I would have price matched with John Lewis but in this case it was an odd model No, very similar to the one in JL but subltly different and £40 cheaper!

B

smcaul

Comet are the worst to buy from - I have had the "Our T & C's" comments from them lots of times, you really have to play hard ball with them to get what you are entitled to. As for their T&C's, it might be worth you pointing out to them that they are written on the back of your receipt, therfore you do not have time to read them before you make any purchases, quite apart from the fact that they are not legal - stick to your guns and don't except anything less then a full refund or relacement, threaten them with the small claims, that has always worked with me.

MrsTinks

Oh so it isn't just me having fun with them
Actually I employ someone who used to work in one of their shops and it's been entertaining to say the least to deal with Comet in the last couple of weeks... I ordered the multifunction Brother printer posted on the Grabbit board and arranged delivery on a friday. Long and short the printer was not delivered and their courier said they'd tried to deliver but not only was I home all day ill, the time they say they tried to deliver my OH was home too!
I needed the printer that weekend and so had to drive all the way to a store (not happy! This was what I was hoping to avoid by ordering it for delivery!) and bought another model which actually cost more (don't mind it's a great machine so I'm quite happy). MONDAY after speaking to Comet several times and having the order cancelled Parcelforce delivered my printer to my neighbour... So on the phone again to Comet to say Now have printer please come fetch it. "Sure no problem we'll arrange collection on saturday, someone will call to arrange the time" and I duely stay at home all saturday... SUNDAY when I have 10 people round for an AGM the phone rings to tell me they'll be there in 30 mins. Uhmmm they might be but the door will not be opened so good luck. Collections chap says ok he'll let the relevant department know etc. About 20 mins ago a VERY shirty lady called to say they don't do collections from my area on a saturday. What sunday can they come to collect if I won't be in on friday? None... I am busy most sundays and there is no way I am re-arranging my life to fit round them! They can get it on saturday or I'll start charging them storage at £5 per week and it will be back dated! Tine vs Comet - The Battle Continues!

Edited to add - They made the fatal mistake of already refunding me the money for the printer... So now I have WHAT incentive to go out of my way to return their goods on anythign other than MY terms?

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

the answear is to take them to the small claims court dont bluff ,ive had dealings with these idiots,i bought 2 items £700 told them i would hire a van and pick up on friday 2pm
fine say them i phone again and wife went in on thursday afternoon, we will pick up friday 2pm
hired van went at 2pm no items....... complained they ignored all the times i had gone in said if you dont like it have your money back and go some where else ,although the manager never new how close he came from getting a thick lip (very close) i did this. i wrote to head office complained ,ignored every thing i said and said you cant just turn up and excpect the items to be there no mention of my arrangements,total muppets if you buy you must take it there and then other wise you get it when they feel like it if your going for pick up option ,

gibby

well - its not getting any better

The engineer came on monday - poor chap -
and came to look at a faulty grill pan
not a scratched/damaged unit.

he filled out the paperwork saying the item was damaged and that they would be intouch.

As they had not bothered to call back as promised I called them today and wasted another 2 hours on the phone.

I have to admit the call centre girl I spoke to really tried to help.

She was confused as to why an engineer was sent out - as they didnt need to send an engineer out for a scratched/damaged unit.

She went through every dept - inc the store we got it from and they all refused to handle the matter - saying it was another depts case.

Eventually she said she was confused and her manager was too as she couldnt get the matter resolved.
"As a company we can not refund or replace the item for you" she said very apologetically and then told me me to write to the head office to log a written comlplaint.

I have spoken again to trading standards who advised me to write to HO before taking them to court.

We also rang the credit card company who said they would offer the refund asap and sort the matter out with Comet for us.

Shame that as I was just about to go down to the shop, leaflet the car parks and put posters up on the lamposts.

Ill get the sods yet

Gibby

gibby

well the situation is getting worse.

On following the TS advice we ahve got no further

I wrote to comet and they have not even bothered to reply.

We also contacted Barclay Card - who said they were shocked at the level of service and that such a problem had occured.
They asked for a copy of the invoice, the engineers report and copies of notes of phone calls with the nice people at comet.

As we had not heard anything from Barclay Card we rang them up to be told they had lost the documentation and could we send it again.
They rang back the same afternoon before getting the documentation to tell us they wont help us at all as we had used the cooker.

They told me that comet had told them the unit had been used before we told them it was damaged (untrue!!) and that comet would not not entertain a refund or replacement.
I expalined this was untrue but then the lady at Barclay card told me Comet was a great company and that the never ahve probelms with them.

I Mentioned this site and Martin and she claimed she had never heard of either and that they were not going to do anything about the matter.

I explained we would now be taking legal action against both Barclay Card and Comet as advised by TS and she got very stroppy and said I must not put Barclay Cards details on the court forms as it has nothing to do with them.
She also told me TS talk alot of rubbish and that I should not have contaced them but dealt direct with barclaycard as trading standards dont know what they are talking about.

So its off to the small calims court and time to start causing comet some trouble.

Gibby

hjb123

Good Luck with it all, sounds like you are having a terrible time with them! Are Trading Standards helping you along with everything?

Did you not use the cooker at all then?

gibby

we did use the cooker - several days later
only after we had complained twice and spoken to TS as they told us we were entitled to do so.
The woman from Barclay card told me she expected anyone in the same situation to use the microwave and eat takeaway until the matter was resolved
sadly I forgot to mention in the previous post that barclay card have taken so long to respond over the matter that my parents would not have had a cooker to use for many weeks.

The guy from trading standards is helpful but it would have been easier if he had got on the phone and spoken to comet.

from speaking to him today it looks as though a new gov body is taking over from TS for future complaints - as the phone numbers dont go to TS now but to the new dept.

they could be better and the public need protecting from cowboys like Comet

G

royalsteve

gibby wrote:

My parents bought a new cooker but just after delivery we noticed it was scratched on one side very badly.

Tried to ring them on an expensive 0870 number
after 20 mins of waiting we were told we couldnt get connected tot he store - try tommorow as they are always busy

We found other problems with the cooker - as the grill pan handle was not safe
so we diecided to get another model

rang again and couldnt get through to the store so I explained the problem to the call centre and was told a refund was ok

within 3 mins the local store ring and tell us we cant have a refund only a replacement - after an enginner had looked at the unit.
The manager was extremely nasty and she only made matter worse

On ringing trading standards they said we could reject the unit and expect a full refund - but on ringing comet back - the call centre said no problem but when the spoke to the store they would only send out an engineer.

My question is - how are they still in business - when they claim the state in store they will not refund for goods that have been opened - when trading standards say they are talking rubbish???

G

Write a letter to Comet demanding a refund. The TS will request you try this first before they get involved anyway. Also, ask for the managers name and recommend that they receive the appropriate training re: Consumer law.

Comet are terrible.....i bought a freezer from them and it was faulty......every possible failing on their part occurred. I even updated their systems with specific requests as the staff couldnt operate it. Some muppet deleted these.

delivered faulty item
phone calls not logged - approx 30
shop visits not logged - approx 12
letters sent recorded and were signed were mislaid and not responded to - sent 8
despite requests not to, delivery driver came to collect our freezer to send it for repair....sent him packing saying he could be will have to pay for the £1000 worth of food that would be lost if he did!

6 months of wrangling and i got a replacment, but compo......not even an apology...not even a response to the letter sent recorded to their director!

how this company is still in business i will never know....in my letter to the director I stated that I would not visit his shop again unless I received compo for wasted time/calls/etc and an apology.....received neither.....so true to my word i have not bought anything from this company since this fiasco occurerd 4 years ago.......

I would only buy electrical goods from Euronics branded indepedent stores or John Lewis stores

deanos

I know Comet are crap but any retailer does have the right to inspect goods before giving a refund thats why they insisted on seing the goods first and sending someone out.