Homebase - Can i get my money back??? HELP

Adrian_london

Hi all

I bought a pressure washer at Homebase and was not entirely happy with it. The main problems being that 1) It was not powerful enough 2) The handle vibrated so much that I couldn't use the product for more than 5 minutes before having to change hands and even then I couldn't use it for much longer afterwards.

Here is the thing.......


I took the item back to Homebase and asked for either a refund or a credit note. The manager said no. He said that because the item was not faulty they didn't ahve to refund/credit note me.

After telling him how much the handle vibrated I couldn't use it properly he told me that all Pressure Washers were like that.

I then borrowed a neighbours PW and it was fine. This means that the manager was lying (or didn't know any different). I honestly cannot use the new PW I bought from Hombase. What (if anything) can i do?



I have been told by a friend of mine that if it is not up to standard (ie. will it do a proper job without any problems) then I am entitled to a refund. Sales Of Goods Act 1979. Can anyone help me please.




Adrian

Graham_Devon

Homebase have done nothing wrong, they have sold you a working piece of kit which does the job it is intended for.

All you can do really is take it as experience and maybe put it on ebay or something.

mpython

Sale of Goods Act means that products or services bought have to be

1 as described
2 Fit for purpose &
3 of merchantable quality.

If you want to take Homebase to the small claims court you will have to show how the pressure washer you bought fails 1 or more of these categories.

You say you borrowed one of a friend which you found OK. So you need to show how this one is not OK, say, by having an independent expert in pressure washers say the vibration is excessive (= not fit for purpose as it could cause injury). If you win your case, as well as your original money, you get any costs back associated with getting an expert opinion.

I've had a pressure washer for 5 or more years and I'm afraid its always vibrated on me and I regularly change hands to doing the car etc. So i suspect, as Graham-Devon suggests, you have a working piece of kit and Homebase have done nothing wrong.

skr00ge

Buy another washer from another Homebase and at the time of purchase ask if it vibrates as you have a problem with this. They say "no", you say "OK". Take the vibrating one you used back and say "it vibrates" and under Sale of Goods act you want your money back. They give you your money back.

You're still left with a pressure washer you don't want. But now its unopened and new. Take it back with the original receipt and get a credit note/refund.

Not legal. Not morally OK. Requires them to do what you want. Slightly risky (left with two washers you don't want) and requires a cash outlay. But if you intend using Homebase in the future they'll extract profit from you in the long run.

dmg24

Buy another washer from another Homebase and at the time of purchase ask if it vibrates as you have a problem with this. They say "no", you say "OK". Take the vibrating one you used back and say "it vibrates" and under Sale of Goods act you want your money back. They give you your money back.

But what if they say, 'Yes', or 'Don't know'?!!

Poppy9

We've had two pressure washers and neither handle has vibrated so badly that you couldn't hold it.

deanos

Just take it back to another Homebase and say its faulty they will refund straight away

IvanOpinion

I am disappointed to yet again see people offering advice that is in effect nothing more than lying, cheating or breaking the law .. that is not what this site is about.

I know with my own pressure washer (Kew) there is a definite 'buzzing' (can be tickly) felt through the hand set and my mothers old Karcher has a similar problem. Sometimes playing around with the water pressure may help.

Ivan

blue_haddock

Surely it all depends on the model purchased? Yours could be a £30 bargain basement pressure washer and your neighbours could be a £1000 rolls royce of pressure washers, in which case his is bound to be better than yours.

Adrian_london

Thank you for all your advice. I am going to take it back to another Homebase and see what happens. I'll post a message nad let you all know.

Again, thanks for your time.




Adrian

Poppycat

We have a red devil power washer had it a few years now, we have used it for hours on end 2-3 hours a go with a slight break in between of a few minutes and never experienced more than a slight vibration. In fact the worse thing I found was just the noise and have to listen to a Ipod when using it after a while.