Can I return windscreen wipers to Halfords?

rev_henry

A little over a month ago (during the bad weather) I had just set off on a 3+ hour journey in a newish (to me, but secondhand) car and realised I really needed new wipers cuz they were juddering all over the place. So I went into Halfords and paid £15 for a pair of new ones. I only did so because I was desperate, knowing full well I could get a full set of aero ones for less than that online. This solved the problem immediately, but the wipers are now starting to judder again already, and were never really as good as I thought new wipers should have been. This would be kinda ok in my mind if they were pound shop wipers or whatever, but they're £15 Halfords ones and should last longer. Can I take them back, and will they kick up a fuss? I want a refund, not another set. I've heard rumours somewhere of them saying there's no guarantee on wiper blades etc.
I have not been doing dry wipes, nor using them to clear ice from the screen, I'm quite obsessive about not doing that kinda thing, so its not exactly my user incompetence.

Kurtis_Blue

I would imagine it is not the wipers its the pressure your wiper arm is exerting on them.

hartcjhart

yep I would take them back kick up a fuss and ask for a couple of grand in COMPO:rotfl:

Crabman

I've heard them say there's no guarantee on wipers but if you mention the Sale of Goods Act and Supply of Goods and Services Act, they should budge and give you a refund. There is no exemption for wiper blades.

A mention of Trading Standards may do the trick. They can not successfully claim that a set of wiper blades for £15 is only supposed to last a month or so.

It may be an issue of compatibility - e.g. if you have a curved windscreen. In this case the wipers should be cross checked to ensure they're suitable for your vehicle.

rev_henry

Do you know how I could go about adjusting/checking this Kurtis?
Lol hart, I know this post is a bit sad but...
That's what I was thinking Crabman. They could not claim incompatibility as they have a book to look up your car and the appropriate blades which I used.
Think I'll order some better ones online and then take them back.

Only thing is I don't have the packaging, but I do have the receipt. That shouldn't matter though? Its not as if they can put them back on the shelf faulty.

KeithP

But over a month has passed since you bought them.

Be prepared for Halfords to replace them rather than give you a refund.
I think its their choice about how they resolve the issue.

hartcjhart

have you tried giving the screen a good clean with vinegar and at the same time clean the blades,surprising how quick grease/oil can build up

whatmichaelsays

Crabman wrote: »

A mention of Trading Standards may do the trick.

Any retailer that !!!!!! a brick when the name 'Trading Standards' is mentioned clearly hasn't been in the game long enough.

They're the equivalent of a man in the corner wagging his finger and going "tut tut tut".

goldspanners

do they judder on the way up or the way down? sometimes adjusting the bend in the wiper arm can help this problem.

get a pair of pliers (wrap a rag around the flat part of the wiper arm,to save damaging the black paint coating and causing rust) then grap it with your pliers and twist the arm a little bit,depending on which way it judders will depend on which way you twist it.

your a smart lad rev, im sure you will work it out.

DaveMacD

Hmm, you bought a set of blades that were sort of working, but it took you a month to decide you don't want them...?

From the sound of it, the likely outcome will be that they will only offer a refund. A replacement will be down to the discretion of the manager (since they are a consumable item) and if you go in with all guns blazing, I can assure you, you'll end up with not a lot;)

rev_henry

Thanks goldspanners I'll try that. Well, Dave, they were working acceptably if not perfectly, but have now deteriorated to not being fit for purpose IMO. Yes, there's no need to be rude about it really. I'll see what they say...