Can I get my money back?

Sotiria

Hi all,
I'm hoping for some advice from experienced moneysaving forum posters. I bought a tent from a well known chain-store last week. We used it for 4 days and every 48 hours something broke or fell off. I returned it tonight and was told that they will only give me a replacement and not give me my money back. What do people think?

Thanks

Forwandert

You are entitled to ask for a refund, repair or replacement. The retailer has the option of deciding which option they want to take unfortunately. I'm guessing it's one of those items people use once or twice and they 'break' with people wanting a refund so they now only offer replacements.

McKneff

Ditto from me.

Sotiria

I would have been happy with a replacement as we really liked the tent at first. However, we've had our camping holiday this year and won't use the tent for another year. They will only give a 12 months guarantee and so the next time we use the tent it will be out of guarantee and if it is just as unfit for purpose then we will have wasted our money. Hence me asking for a refund rather than a replacement.

arcon5

You can reject faulty goods for a full refund within 'reasonable' time', 7 days is borderline for a tent I think, but not necessarily out of your reach. Email their head office or the stOre rejecting the goods and see how they respond

Sotiria

Thanks for the replies. I have read on the "Which" website that reasonable time is up to 4 weeks. We usually go camping for a week so I think it's a fair amount of time.

wealdroam

Sotiria wrote: »

I have read on the "Which" website that reasonable time is up to 4 weeks.

My understanding is that the "up to 4 weeks" is dependant on the complexity of the item.

In my opinion, one night's camping should be more than enough to decide whether a tent is "acceptable" or not.

Sotiria

We bought the tent last Tue and joined a festival of about 7 thousand campers. On Thurs there was a short storm in which one of our poles broke. No other tents were damaged. We took the tent down on Sat and part of the tent came off. I think that the tent was not fit for purpose as it broke while taking it down and it didn't last a reasonable time. What do others think?

wealdroam

Sotiria wrote: »

We bought the tent last Tue and joined a festival of about 7 thousand campers. On Thurs there was a short storm in which one of our poles broke. No other tents were damaged. We took the tent down on Sat and part of the tent came off. I think that the tent was not fit for purpose as it broke while taking it down and it didn't last a reasonable time. What do others think?

I tend to agree with you, but that does not mean you are automatically entitled to a refund.

Forwandert described the possible remedies in post #2.

Maybe a read of MSE's Consumer Rights article will help.

vaio

I'm struggling to see what will qualify for a reject & refund if a tent bought on Tuesday that fails on Thursday doesn't qualify.

OP....I'd go for a reject & refund

Sotiria

Thanks for advice. I will ask the manager tomorrow for a reject and refund. The assistant manager decided on exchange only. They seem to have a special policy on returning tents as so many have been brought back. I suggested that this may be because the quality is low. He didn't disagree.