How to complain? Saucer broke and cut my hand!

MORPH3US

mirandamayhem wrote:

if you have a new item and it breaks, surely it's not fit for the purpose?
you could always contact these guys though http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/, they'll be less sarcastic for a start and will be able to advise on who to put your complaint to.

BUT WHATS THE POINT?!?!?!?

I could understand if a) it had been a £2000 tv and b) you had taken it back and they point blank refused to do anything..... but from the original post it gives the impression that neither of the above has been tried.

And that is the point of dbonbon's post..... its a broken saucer and a little cut on the finger. No one has died, no one has incurred huge medical bills, no damage has been caused to the OP's home....

Get over it. I am the first to complain in situations like this, but a) you have to be realistic in what outcome you want from the complaint and b) you have to complain to the right people (i.e. start at the bottom and ONLY THEN go higher if you don't get sorted).

Jeez

EDIT

And as for Consumer Direct advising you who to put the complaint to, I wonder what the first question they will ask will be..... "Have you tried taking it back to the shop" maybe.....

Or perhaps they'll send out the broken saucer squad to assasinate the person responsible....

mirandamayhem

what is with the sarcasm? Seriously?!
The OP asked if it was best to go to the shop, or contact the manufacturer, that's what they were asking. I guess they were thinking about contacting the manufacturer because it could be a risk if lots of saucers could be this fragile. But then i am guessing.
And actually a broken saucer could have been quite a serious thing. I've still got scars on my hand from a plate breaking in my hand when i was 5. Wouldn't be quite so funny if it was a child would it?

I don't get why there has to be this superior sarcasm, and why people can't jusat answer the OP's question, or not because they can't be bothered.

lisyloo

Normally you should raise this with the retailer and then if they think it is warranted then they will involve the retailer.
However if you feel strongly about it then write to both.

In my experience you are better off writing a letter.

I don't think you will have much joy in starting a personal injury claim but if you want to point out the problem so that no-one else is hurt then that it very public spirited.
You may get something out of either as a "goodwill gesture".

I cut my arm and my shirt in B&Q once (by something sticking out in the aisle).
I said my shirt was quite old but they gave me £20 because I had been honest and hadn't tried to exaggerate it.

Peanuts

I think it is a good idea to notify the shop at least to advise them of the substandard quality of the product and you never know you might prevent someone else having a worse accident.
Are you actually thinking of getting compensaton or just complaining about the quality from a danger aspect?

babyangel10

Hi, any chance of revealing where you bought the item from, or which manufacturer it is?

Just being nosey TBH!

Although I do agree that some of the posts above have been a bit OTT - the OP was only asking for a bit of advice and has received a virtual slating! :rolleyes:

speedyjoe

Wasn't there a very similar thread on here recently? Somebody cut their hand on a sharp product and wondered if they could sue. Can't find it with the site search though (not very surprising) or Google. Maybe it got deleted.

boofy_2

It's getting more and more like America!! "Sue" mentality.

Happychappy

And you think you have problems and don't know what to do, that's nothing compared to my situation :mad:

I bought a suit from a well known high street retailer, Well it really did look good and really did highlight my athletic figure honed out of bacon cobs consumed every morning for twenty years without fail. Anyway, back to the suit, I happened to wear it out one evening and this very pretty lady who I am convinced would not normally have spoken to me, struck up a conversation and commented on my suit :cool:

One thing led to another and the affair went on until finally three months later my wife happened to find a letter...yep you've guessed it...in my suit, well I am now facing a divorce, which will be very expensive

ooops, nearly forgot, Take the cup back and ask for another one.

The question is "Is the suit to blame" I firmly think it is, as this whole sordid and sorry affair would not have started if I hadn't bought the damn suit, so what should I do ? Sue for compensation, set fire to the suit, or take it down to a charity shop, but will I be liable if the next person goes through what I have been through, and that would not be fair.

Help ? any advice for my dilema :rolleyes:

redmandarin

mirandamayhem wrote:

what is with the sarcasm? Seriously?!
The OP asked if it was best to go to the shop, or contact the manufacturer, that's what they were asking. I guess they were thinking about contacting the manufacturer because it could be a risk if lots of saucers could be this fragile. But then i am guessing.
And actually a broken saucer could have been quite a serious thing. I've still got scars on my hand from a plate breaking in my hand when i was 5. Wouldn't be quite so funny if it was a child would it?

I don't get why there has to be this superior sarcasm, and why people can't jusat answer the OP's question, or not because they can't be bothered.

lisyloo wrote:

Normally you should raise this with the retailer and then if they think it is warranted then they will involve the retailer.
However if you feel strongly about it then write to both.

In my experience you are better off writing a letter.

I don't think you will have much joy in starting a personal injury claim but if you want to point out the problem so that no-one else is hurt then that it very public spirited.
You may get something out of either as a "goodwill gesture".

I cut my arm and my shirt in B&Q once (by something sticking out in the aisle).
I said my shirt was quite old but they gave me £20 because I had been honest and hadn't tried to exaggerate it.

Thanks miranda and lissyloo. Thanks too, to the others who gave helpful and constructive answers - your generosity is appreciated. I don't think there is any need for sarcasam either. If you look at the top of this page (and every other) it says, "Please be nice to all money savers". I made a simple request for a little help and in my experience members of MSE usually tend to offer supportive advice, rather than mean-spirited responses given by some who answered my post.

To clarify: the saucer cut the back of my hand, not my finger - a 1cm gash. Having to return the item would be a real nuisance for me at the moment - I am disabled and I'm in pain a lot of the time (and I have no car) and I can't go out as much as I'd like to. The shop where I bought it from is in the city centre and it's a difficult journey.

In response to the sound advice given, I've decided to write to the retailer and to the manufacturer, (as I think they should both be informed). I bought the item in good faith, expecting it to be fit for its purpose. I am on a low income (which is why I went to a discount shop) and I can't afford to waste money buying products that are of no use. The saucer broke very easily. If it is a manufacturing flaw, then I don't want to risk using the rest of the set either, just in case. Nor would I want it to happen again to someone else - they could be holding a hot drink and be scalded.

gertyberty - it's ok to be nosey. It's good for us to share our consumer info, but it's probably not a good idea to say who they are just yet. When I get a response, I'll let you know what happened.

jap200

I clicked on this thread as I thought it was a joke - something to keep me amused - well, it certainly has!