Millets wont give us an exchange on a faulty tent - please help

movette2000

Hi

I'll try and be brief. We bought a Torridon 6 man tent from Millets (Blacks) only in January for £200 reduced from £499. We opened it a couple of weekends ago when the weather was nice to find that the tent had been used - the groundsheet was covered with mud :mad:. We thought ah well. Shall we complain - no let's leave it, it'll get muddy anyway. But when we were packing it away we found a hold in the groundsheet. So we complained to Millets asking for an exchange as we still want the tent. They wont send us a replacement saying they didn't have it in stock. I sent them a link to their website showing that they did and they are claiming this is 2011 model - even though it looks exactly the same. They are offering us a full refund with free collection and 20% off our next purchase as goodwill but this isn't going to be enough to replace the tent we already have. We're tempted to keep it and patch it up but that's not the point. They sent us a used tent for our money which I think is out of order.
Can anyone give us any advice - we are at the stage now of saying to them = well if we keep this tent and mend it ourselves, what will you give us as a form of compensation. Is there anything else we can say? £200 was a lot for us to spend ... we can't afford £499 to buy it all over again. They're also telling us that we did buy it on offer to which we've replied - so! We bought a new tent in good faith and it didn't say it was a second hand one.

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks

Carmen

uk-tyler

Try and get them to pay for a professional repair job instead of a refund, there are plenty of companies around that will do a repair for you.

Like you say it will only get muddy again, so a repair may be the way forward.

http://www.imagescotland.com/scottishmountaingear-home.asp

halibut2209

They are offering you a refund AND a discount? That's more than they need to do.

Oliver14

movette2000 wrote: »

They wont send us a replacement saying they didn't have it in stock. I sent them a link to their website showing that they did and they are claiming this is 2011 model - even though it looks exactly the same.

Why would they lie to you? Do you think they want unhappy customers?

movette2000 wrote: »

are offering us a full refund with free collection and 20% off our next purchase as goodwill but this isn't going to be enough to replace the tent we already have.

They have offered you a full refund and a discount which is more than they have to. I'm afraid if you buy stuff that is reduced it normally means that if there is a problem and you have to return it you wont be able to get the equivalent.

themull1

Halfords often have their big tent reduced to 99.99 i think, get a refund on tent and buy elsewhere.

sueturnersmith

themull1 wrote: »

Halfords often have their big tent reduced to 99.99 i think, get a refund on tent and buy elsewhere.

True, but Halfords tents are nowhere near as good quality as Black's tents.

miniemma

Looks like they make a habit of this:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2626285

shadowcamper

I've known several people to have this issue with Millets/Blacks (i think they are very overpriced anyways) buying as new faulty or previously used tents as previously mentioned they seem to be developing a habit of it lately.
I'd take the refund and discount you can probably buy the same or even a better tent on ebay for less money, then use the discount on any other items you want (don't forget quidco).
If your not sure about what you want have a look on ukcampsite tent reviews they are really good, also a good website to find yourself a nice campsite to test drive your hopefully new and improved tent at too!
Good luck!

ailuro2

Are you happy to pay £200 for a second hand tent with a hole in it?

If you are then don't accept the refund...if not take the money and shop elsewhere, or use the discount and open the tent out in the shop before you buy it.