Homebase own brand stuff - what a rip off

QueenOfTheDesert

My shower riser was split and needed urgent replacement; it's a Mira and would take a week to order a new one so I trotted down to the local Homebase thinking anything would be better than nothing.

Thing is you can't just buy the riser because then the holder won't fit and if you change the holder the shower head won't fit because nothing is compatible so I bought the whole kit, riser, holder, head and hose for £39.99 in mock-chrome.

Home I came and removed the old riser. It was 61 and a half cm between screw holes - the riser was 60cm and stated it was adjustable which it was, about half a centimetre which is great if you don't mind having both ends balancing on the brackets so ended up using Duck Tape to hold the thing together. The hose would not uncurl so attaching it and the shower head was a drama in itself but I got there in the end and thought this arrangement would do until I could get the Mira replacement. First shower - freezing cold, a limp dribble. We have a pump but the hose turned out to be so narrow inside that the higher pressure of the cold water meant that was all that came through. The head had three settings - cystitic dribble, enlarged prostate dribble and dripping tap. The old hose and shower head wouldn't fit so ended up attaching them with trusty Duck Tape again meaning I was showered horizontally.

I used the uncurlable hose on the mixer taps where it promptly split.

So congratulations Homebase, you fleeced me again - I shall add this experience to the Own Brand staple gun that never worked, the Own Brand masking tape that doesn't stick, the Own Brand tools over the years that have been unfit for purrpose and my favourite, the emergency Own Brand loo seat that sliced my finger open the first time I lifted the lid.

God Bless Homebase and all their shelves of tat that are unfit for purpose and which you end up buying the real thing afterwards anyway and swearing you will never, ever buy anything in there again.

Proc

QueenOfTheDesert wrote: »

So congratulations Homebase, you fleeced me again - I shall add this experience to the Own Brand staple gun that never worked, the Own Brand masking tape that doesn't stick, the Own Brand tools over the years that have been unfit for purrpose and my favourite, the emergency Own Brand loo seat that sliced my finger open the first time I lifted the lid.

So stop buying their own brand stuff you moron.

This is why shops still continue to sell cheap stuff that isn't fit for purpose. Because idiots buy it, it breaks. Idiots go and buy it again. It breaks. Idiots buy it a third time, it breaks. They buy a different product from same brand. It breaks. They buy another prodcut by same brand. That breaks. Then they whine on a forum. Just shop elsewhere.

voiceofreason

QueenOfTheDesert wrote: »

So congratulations Homebase, you fleeced me again - I shall add this experience to the Own Brand staple gun that never worked, the Own Brand masking tape that doesn't stick, the Own Brand tools over the years that have been unfit for purrpose and my favourite, the emergency Own Brand loo seat that sliced my finger open the first time I lifted the lid.

So that's at least four examples, right there, of them stiffing you in the past and you getting annoyed about it - and still you shop there?

Mug.

natz7

While i do agree if you've had a bad experience in the past, you maybe should avoid shopping there if you know that what you're buying is likely to break.... i don't think calling the op a moron and a mug is at all constructive or nessercary.

QueenOfTheDesert

No, you're right - I am a mug. But B&Q aren't much better, Homebase are nearby, I don't have time and need something urgently, a year or so has passed since the last time and I think well, it's better than nothing and how far wrong can you go with a craft knife/loo seat/shower attachment.

Yeah, I'm a mug.

(At least no one is disputing that their stuff is crap)

voiceofreason

Independent plumber's merchant, anyone?

dfh

QueenOfTheDesert wrote: »

My shower riser was split and needed urgent replacement; it's a Mira and would take a week to order a new one so I trotted down to the local Homebase thinking anything would be better than nothing.

Thing is you can't just buy the riser because then the holder won't fit and if you change the holder the shower head won't fit because nothing is compatible so I bought the whole kit, riser, holder, head and hose for £39.99 in mock-chrome.

Home I came and removed the old riser. It was 61 and a half cm between screw holes - the riser was 60cm and stated it was adjustable which it was, about half a centimetre which is great if you don't mind having both ends balancing on the brackets so ended up using Duck Tape to hold the thing together. The hose would not uncurl so attaching it and the shower head was a drama in itself but I got there in the end and thought this arrangement would do until I could get the Mira replacement. First shower - freezing cold, a limp dribble. We have a pump but the hose turned out to be so narrow inside that the higher pressure of the cold water meant that was all that came through. The head had three settings - cystitic dribble, enlarged prostate dribble and dripping tap. The old hose and shower head wouldn't fit so ended up attaching them with trusty Duck Tape again meaning I was showered horizontally.

I used the uncurlable hose on the mixer taps where it promptly split.

So congratulations Homebase, you fleeced me again - I shall add this experience to the Own Brand staple gun that never worked, the Own Brand masking tape that doesn't stick, the Own Brand tools over the years that have been unfit for purrpose and my favourite, the emergency Own Brand loo seat that sliced my finger open the first time I lifted the lid.

God Bless Homebase and all their shelves of tat that are unfit for purpose and which you end up buying the real thing afterwards anyway and swearing you will never, ever buy anything in there again.

The stuff in shops like Boyes is far superior in quality and Less expensive than Homebase.I tend to avoid Homebase like the plague !

QueenOfTheDesert

It all depends what's in your area. Homebase is a ten minute walk, B&Q and any one else for that matter is a 20 mile drive. If something breaks or you're in the middle of a job, are you going to get in the car for an hour's trip through the traffic there and back with half an hour to find the damn thing, or go to the local merchant? Trust me, none of my Homebase purchases have been through choice only necessity and if there were anywhere else local they'd be out of business.

I also think they only manage to sell their own brand stuff by understocking the decent stuff or in some cases only stocking their own, who'd buy it otherwise?

dfh

QueenOfTheDesert wrote: »

It all depends what's in your area. Homebase is a ten minute walk, B&Q and any one else for that matter is a 20 mile drive. If something breaks or you're in the middle of a job, are you going to get in the car for an hour's trip through the traffic there and back with half an hour to find the damn thing, or go to the local merchant? Trust me, none of my Homebase purchases have been through choice only necessity and if there were anywhere else local they'd be out of business.

I also think they only manage to sell their own brand stuff by understocking the decent stuff or in some cases only stocking their own, who'd buy it otherwise?

I do hope Homebase goes out of business.If it does,I will buy you a drink !

Norfolk_Jim

Have you ever heard of taking it back, complaining and asking for a refund?

Helpinghand_2

dfh wrote: »

I do hope Homebase goes out of business.If it does,I will buy you a drink !

Sorry but this wont happen as Homebase are owned by ..... tad dah ... ARGOS