Manufacturers Warranty - Ex Display Receipt

shaun_from_Africa

Fair comment. (and totally correct).

However, as you stated, Homebase can't refuse a refund, repair or replacment simply because the manufacturer offers a warranty.

midget_gems

I feel i should post here as an ex-employee of Comet.

Simply put, the excuse of having to put something through as "ex-display" is not true. This was most likely a result of someone being generically lazy and/or greedy.

The system in place offers people to change prices at the till via the use of "discount codes". A discount code is basically tied to a reason in which something could be discounted.

For example, there is a code for managers discount (as in, negotiating a final sale price using discount offers), there is a code for selling ex-display items and there are codes for selling certain "status" items.

An item line is given a status in the shop to denote wether it is a current line or not. If you know where to look, it will show you on the ticket what the status of the items is. For example, an item line which is no longer to be sold will feature as "N Status", standing for "not for replenishment". These will likely garner little discount, but not much. N Status items usually only reflect the ability to sell the display item. Then there are D and R statuses, which stand for "Discontinued" and "Redundant", which are basically the same except the age of the item. Your mouse was likely a D Status item, as these items can carry up to a 50% discount simply to get shot of them.

The difference between selling an ex-display item and a discontinued item is that the discontinued item is likely never to have been on display (as you may find obvious). When selling an ex-display item, Comet employees are to do a condition report on the product and note down any inconsistences the item was sold with (for example, scratches on the unit, missing manual etc) so it can be distinguished by both parties what condition the unit was exactly in when it was sold. Both parties get to keep a copy of this.

The reason for putting something through as ex-display is probably because discounts are tracked by management on a code basis. The management know at the end of the day exactly how much discount was given at the end of the day (and it must be under a certain percentage or its "uh oh!" for the store managers). Certain codes are forgiven though, such as getting rid of ex-display items of lines that are no longer to be carried. It should also be noted, that the salesman recieves a pay bonus for selling an ex-display items (although marginally small).

It seems likely that the particular shop you purchased in had a high level of discount and was trying to keep it under the percentage by passing it off under a different code. A sneaky tactic, but one often used by the poor store managers as pressure on them (especially around this time of year) to keep to percentages is rediculously high.

I'm not sure exactly what can be done about it at the store (i was sales, not helpdesk or manager) but im sure other users on this forum may tell you.

rsykes2000

Cheers for posting, but the original post was over a year ago, it was only bumped by someone tagging their own complaint about something completely different onto it.

neilmcl

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

Fair comment. (and totally correct).

However, as you stated, Homebase can't refuse a refund, repair or replacment simply because the manufacturer offers a warranty.

Absolutetly, a manufacturer's warranty runs in addition to the consumer's statutory rights.