consumer rights notebooks

goofygirl62

I recently purchased a notebook from Maplins. we werent happy with it, as the battery charging light wouldnt go out, we figured this was a fault, also there was no paperwork in the box, or warranty. We went into Maplins to discuss the battery fault with the manager, he basically turned round and told us we dont have any consumer rights and its down to him whether he sent it away to be fixed, which we didnt want, he said we couldnt have a refund or a credit note.I again asked him about consumer rights and he said we dont have any. Surely if the notebook isnt in perfect working order I am entitled to a refund or credit note, and shouldnt have to go through them sending it away to be fixed for 3 weeks. Can anyone help.

wealdroam

What time scale are we talking about?

How long between buying it and taking it back?

Didi you buy it online or in a shop?

goofygirl62

I bought the notebook last Thursday 08.07.10, rang them that same night, and Friday, then went into the store today after ringing them again and getting nowhere.

adam.mt

So it was bought in person?

If it's faulty then if you advise them in a 'reasonable' time you're entitled to reject the goods and get a refund (SoGA). Reasonable is open to interpretation, but telling them same day and taking to store two days later is pretty much as prompt as you could get!

If it was bought online/mail order than you're covered by DSR, allowing you 7 days to inform them you wish to return and get a refund for any reason (only made to order/perishable goods are excluded).

Were there any signs the notebook was already used apart from the missing paperwork/warranty card? It might be worth checking with Maplin's head office and/or the manufacturer to see whether paperwork is supposed to be present or not. It's actually possible (slightly unlikely yes, but still possible) having none may indeed be normal for that model.

Are you also sure that the battery charging light is supposed to go out? Asking this since on some machines it doesn't, since it's designed to trickle-charge the battery to ensure it stays 100%. Again check with the manufacturer or try googling the model number for other user's feedback.

Hopefully, that assists?

goofygirl62

Every site we have looked at for this product states you get a user manual, and a warranty within the box, so we knew we were right on that score. The user manual we found on line states that once the battery is fully charged the light will change from amber to white, which it didnt, so we knew we were right on that score as well. The free months trial on the netbook said we could no longer use it, so that set alarm bells ringing.
Thanks for the advice, we are thinking of writing to the head office with our complaint as the manager was so pig headed and wouldnt listen, and frankly just dismissed us,kind of two finger salute and you are on your own attitude.

KeithP

Goofygirl, you still have not said whether you bought it in store or online.

As Adam explained, your rights are different and may be easier to enforce if you bought online or by mail order.

goofygirl62

Sorry I bought the notebook instore and in person at Maplins, nothing about the notebook rings true, we have done extensive research,and it all points to the notebook being used, as the defrag was extensive and shouldn't be on a new notebook, and we didnt have to register, it just skipped that stage.

adam.mt

If the store isn't willing to help then contact head office and see what they say. That would seem you second port of call (the shop being your first).

adam.mt

Or, of course, try taking it back to a different branch; it seems like you've just found an awkward manager!

Jakg

goofygirl62 wrote: »

Sorry I bought the notebook instore and in person at Maplins, nothing about the notebook rings true, we have done extensive research,and it all points to the notebook being used, as the defrag was extensive and shouldn't be on a new notebook, and we didnt have to register, it just skipped that stage.

A slow defrag and not having to "register" doesn't mean it was used.

What do you mean by "register"? What netbook is it?

goofygirl62

I know a slow defrag doesnt mean its been used, it was so fragmented for a new model, it was unbelievable. We werent asked to register for microsoft, and we have always been asked when we have had computers before.The free antivirus was out of date, and we couldnt use it, never had that before either. The model is a Mio, you cant even get in contact with the company that makes them, because the phone line is dead.