Sainsbury's destroyed my living room! Help?!

LeeTheRed

Hi everyone,

I really could use some advice on how to go about claiming for a problem caused by a TV Wall Bracket purchased from Sainsbury's.

I had a friend of mine, a joiner by trade, site manager by profession, put it up for me. He really went the extra mile, reinforcing the plasterboard despite the instruction manual of the bracket stating it would hold etc.

The book stated "upto 46"..... upto 80lbs...." and my TV is 42" and weighs less than 60lbs.

You can all guess where this story is going....

Got home from football training last night to find my girlfriend white as a sheet as, when watching her reality programmes, she heard a massive crack and the TV came down in front of here eyes!

TV - SMASHED
Wall - Dented
TV Unit - Cracked
£250 Pro Photo - snapped
Ornament - crushed

On further inspection, the screws and the wall are STILL rock solid, it is the plastic bracket to which the TV was attached that has snapped in 4 places!

Anyway, I called the Sainsbury's store where I bought it from after 10pm last night so I am awaiting a call back from the Deputy Store Manager. Head Office Customer Care Team advised I need to register all the details with this person and they will pass it on to their Case Management Team to investigate.

Is there any advice anyone can give me prior to me speaking to her?

Do I have any rights here?

Would I be right in saying that Sainsbury's are liable seeing as they are the 'seller' of the product?

Would really appreciate some advice. Kind Regards, Lee.

dogbot

So the bracket its self has failed? Take lots of photos now of it and the damage. Don't throw anything away.

If the product failed they should pay for the resultant damage - when did you buy the bracket?

Sainsburies will take the claim and either deal themselves or pass on to their product liability insurer - I think it is correct that, as the vendor, sainsburys will have to deal in the first instance.

Best thing is get a claim registered somewhere - get a reference number and then put everything in writing. Sounds like they have a process set up for this so go with it. Understand that it is upsetting thing to happen, but remain calm and polite to those you are dealing with as it isn't directly their fault.

LeeTheRed

I will do that Dogbot, thanks. Got the photo's last night as I assumed they would come in handy.

And yeah its the plastic bracket itself, the screws are still in the wall fully intact! Can't believe it.

LeeTheRed

It was an EZmount by OmniMount. I cant post a link as I am a 'new user' but if you google theomnimount.com it will come up with is own site.

I don't have the pictures here at work, but I will add them on here soon if that helps.

property.advert

I'd also keep a detailed record of all your time spent on this and invoice for that as well.

DCFC79

I always thought the brackets were made of metal and not plastic, what model bracket is it

System

According to the company website one of these brackets will only support 40lbs in a dry wall (aka plasterboard). Is your TV less than 40lbs?

It definitely sounds as though the wall bolts were tightened too much and distorted/stressed the plastic.

DCFC79

OP, you started a second thread of same topic,

heres the link, its got more responses,

LeeTheRed

DCFC79 wrote: »

OP, you started a second thread of same topic,

heres th..ts got more responses,

Thanks mate, posted on there now. Thanks everyone for your comments.

LeeTheRed

Final Update:

Thanks for the information guys, you gave me the confidence to pursue this to the extent required, and deservedly so I have recieved a payout to replace eveyrthing damaged in this unfortunate event. They even reimbursed my sky subscription while my TV was down and threw in £100 compensation.

They did send me a replacement EZmount, but I dont think I will be using that on my new television!

Thanks again everyone.