Not fit for purpose - Maplins runaround

sivyour

Wondering if we can get some advice...

We have used Maplins for years and neer once had an issue or bad advice from them. As my partner is a DJ, and my dad is and electrician and and electronics engineer, and I love my gadgets, we have spent a lot with them. As, I said, never once had an issue.

However, about 3 weeks ago my partner went to Maplins to get a new pair of headphones for Dj-ing. He was advised on a good looking pair and told they would be suitable. He discussed them at length including that they were for working and not play. He explained that he goes through several pairs a year and that they needed to be sturdy etc.

He was told they would be great for the job.

We went back last Monday, and spoke to another guy about the same headphones. He ran through what he needed them for again as they were £50 and he didnt want to buy something that was no good.

He was told again they would be the best for the job. He then explained to the man that if he opened them and found they were not suitable could he bring them back. The guy said he could.

Well, he came to meet me and opened them in mothercare. This is when we found out they were for MP3 players!

Back we go into maplin, to speak to the staff and the manager came straight over. We told him what had happened and were told "too bad, you opened them". We explained the above to him while he stood fiddling with a catalogue, ignoring us. We told h im they were not fit for purpose (which was discussed in detail on two occasions), to which he said "they are"

I then asked him for head offices number and he pointed to the side of the catalogue and then followed me round while I tried to call. I took the call outside instead. My partner went into the store to get the names of the people involved and the manager said "fine, deal with head office then!"

I spent some time in the carpark emailing the complaint to the person I was speaking to who said she would forward the complaint to the area manager and the store manager and get back to us.

We contacted them today, as the original woman had not got back to us because shes been off, to be told that the manager has already told us the situation but they will run through it again.

They are stating that skullcandy are selling these as dj-ing headphones and so there is nothing they are going to do.

BUT, although we cant get onto the skullcandy website, other websites are selling them only for MP3 players/ipods!
http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/skullcandy-hesh-headphones-shattered-blue-prodid-2391.html

Any advice would be appreciated
cheers

Freddie_Snowbits

Sorry, I am confused. Partner is a DJ and would know about which headphones they are comfortable with, and would, ALWAYS, buy this type. I do not see that in your post. If partner is a professional dj, he would not be buy gack from Maplin? I am not a sound engineer, though I do video work, yet I approached a music shop for advice on matters I did not understand, and now have in my possession suitable equipment that enable me to do voice overs etc for my work.
So, is your complaint about the fact you found using your google agility, and advert that says the headphones are suitable for a mp3 player?

Or rather you should have bought these
http://www.dixons.co.uk/gbuk/skullcandy-hesh-dj-headphones-shattered-blue-06874908-pdt.html#tab-tech-specs

Or are they the same item?

whatmichaelsays

Is the crux your argument that because the headphones say "suitable for MP3 players", ergo they must be useless for DJ work?

If so, that's a huge fallacy. I have used some extremely high-end headphones in MP3 players, iPods, laptop computers and high-end PA equipment. They all work on line-level and would be suitable for these applications.

sivyour

Freddie_Snowbits wrote: »

Sorry, I am confused. Partner is a DJ and would know about which headphones they are comfortable with, and would, ALWAYS, buy this type. I do not see that in your post.

He usually does, and always from the same place.

If partner is a professional dj, he would not be buy gack from Maplin?

Again, the "gack" we buy from maplin, is not usually dj based. Its usually things like hard-drives, electronics, cables, adapters, repair materials like solder etc. This is the first time we have got headphones from them.

So, is your complaint about the fact you found using your google agility, and advert that says the headphones are suitable for a mp3 player?

Cheers for the smart attitude, and the clever link, these head phones are specifically for MP3 players and are "DJ Style" not dj-headphones.

They have an MP3 sized plug and MP3 cable. This was all "hidden" inside a carboard box within the packaging. Non of it was visable, which is why we checked with the staff in detail that it was suitable for DJ work.

We were told we could buy an adapter, but these do not "lock" on which is essensial for dj's as wires get yanked about when plugged into the mixer.

All this was discussed in the shop on both occassions.

pinkshoes

Sounds very much not fit for purpose given you specifically asked for DJ headphones, and were told by two people they were.

Did you specifically ask about the jack size?

I would persist with the shop manager, as you were quite clearly sold something that wasn't suitable. If the assistants didn't know, they should have said so and not offered advice. Make it clear how much money you spend with them each year, and how disappointed you are with their attitude.

Freddie_Snowbits

sivyour wrote: »

Cheers for the smart attitude, and the clever link, these head phones are specifically for MP3 players and are "DJ Style" not dj-headphones.

I think there is a big difference between a 6.35mm Jack Pluck and a 2.5, 3.5mm jack plug for a mp3 player, the most obvious is the size.

In this case, Maplins are right to refuse a refund.

As for being smart, I was only trying to be helpfull to explain the situation for others. just because you did not like my answer, does not make me any richer with knowledge

As for an adapter, these are plentiiful, I have one to use in my main camera, 3.5 mm, though when I use the sound deck, I use an adapter. So actually they are fit for purpose.

sivyour wrote: »

We were told we could buy an adapter, but these do not "lock" on which is essensial for dj's as wires get yanked about when plugged into the mixer.

Perhaps that is why partner goes through a lot of these in a short period of time!


Anmd to think you family is full of electrical engineers, a little dab of solder and another visit to Maplin would soon cure the problems, and maybe the problems of going through lots of these items over time.

Freddie cannot be of more help.

Mark_Hewitt

sivyour wrote: »

They have an MP3 sized plug and MP3 cable.

What's an "MP3 sized plug?" Do you mean 3.5mm? If so they were around for years (decades?) before MP3 was invented!

What do you mean by MP3 cable? I've never heard of such a thing? In fact the only cable I know of which can carry MP3's in their raw form is something like USB, but I don't think that's what you mean?

pinkshoes

Mark_Hewitt wrote: »

What's an "MP3 sized plug?" Do you mean 3.5mm? If so they were around for years (decades?) before MP3 was invented!

What do you mean by MP3 cable? I've never heard of such a thing? In fact the only cable I know of which can carry MP3's in their raw form is something like USB, but I don't think that's what you mean?

I think the OP means that as it was all packaged up, and you could only see the headphones bit, then they asked the assistant if they were suitable for DJ'ing (i.e. big fat cable and socket thingy), or not (i.e. skinny cable and socket that goes in an mp3 player).

The assistants both said they were DJ'ing cables (i.e. fat ones), but when the OP opened it, they were actually thing ones (so just for plugging into an mp3).

I've never DJ'd but, have a friend who does, and know very well you need the big fat ones!

The assistants were wrong to advise when they quite clearly didn't know what they were talking about.

moonrakerz

If you Google "DJ headphones" there are zillions of hits - none of them for Maplins !

If you want something rather specific go to the right type of dealer - not a general electronics "bits and bobs" store.

Freddie_Snowbits

pinkshoes wrote: »

The assistants were wrong to advise when they quite clearly didn't know what they were talking about.

But the item is described as 'DJ Style'. but hey, not one to bicker.

The main difference is in the size of the 6.35 mm TSR Plug, which are a lot bigger than the 3.5 mm. Also, the packaging would show the size of cable to the head phone, normally on a mp3 player this is a lot finer, than the respective DJ styl, which i doubt would fit into the same cardbored box.

Also, the packaing would be a clue to what was contained. Also Partner could of course asked to inspect the items before concluding teh sale, if their needs were specific. I did when i put the sound deck, microphone stands and mikes in my studio. the guy in the musc shop set these up for me, and gave me a temporary solution, whilst I waited for the order to be fuulfilled.

One doubst the abilty of maplins to be of the same.

sivyour

whatmichaelsays wrote: »

Is the crux your argument that because the headphones say "suitable for MP3 players", ergo they must be useless for DJ work?

If so, that's a huge fallacy. I have used some extremely high-end headphones in MP3 players, iPods, laptop computers and high-end PA equipment. They all work on line-level and would be suitable for these applications.

No, thats not the crux of the argument.
The crux of the argument is the fact that all of the things my partner listed as being vital, ie cable type and quality, weak points that he wanted to avoid, things they needed to be suitable for...they do not have.

They have a very thin ipod style cable, with a tiny jack which has no screw/lock on option. They quite clearly are not for use in professional work, even though the shop said they were.

Dj's always use coiled cables, this is because they move about a lot and long cables leave you tripping up. These head phones have a short length cable, which is not coiled (also hidden by the box, so had to rely on staff again!)

The thickness of the cable is important as they get moved about alot and break very easily.

Check out some pictures of dj's. I suggest tongy as my partner has worked with him, but you can pick some of your choice.

Here are skullcandy headphones that are advertised as djphones, and not djstyle. You'll see the difference.

http://www.juno.co.uk/products/341893-01.htm

Long Thick coiled cable, larger jack, with screw on jack adapter etc.

All explained to maplin staff on TWO occasions.





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