Faulty flatpack - compensation?

AMS1

Hello

Can anyone tell me if you can claim compensation from a company if their flatpack furniture is not fit for purpose and you've wasted time assembling (and disassembling) it?

I ordered a tv unit and bookcase from NEXT and assembled the tv unit just fine, but after taking about 3 hours assembling the bookcase I went to put the top on it and found that the top didn't fit properly - the pre-drilled holes were not equidistant and so consequently would not fit the rest of the unit.

NEXT said they'd send another unit and would take the faulty unit away at the same time, so I waited in for this second delivery (it was a Saturday, but I work full time through the week so my weekends are the only chance I get to do stuff). It also meant, of course, that I had to disassemble the whole unit and try at fit it all back into the box - which took as long as assembling it did in the first place.

The second unit was delivered as promised but the courier said he had no paperwork for taking collection of the faulty unit (he was reluctantly willing to take it, but I didn't want to as there'd be no proof I'd ever given it back as he had nothing for me to sign).

So, I was miffed on 3 counts:

1. Time and effort assembling a faulty unit
2. Time and effort disassembling a faulty unit (and separating all the different screws etc) and getting it back in the box as I'd been told they'd be taking it - only for them not to ... if I'd known I'd have kept the faulty unit built and just added the replacement lid from the replacement box.
3. Having to spend more of my free time waiting for another courier to take away this faulty unit ... which is very big and very heavy and taking up room in my front room.

I'm writing to NEXT to complain, but I'm just wondering if I'm eligible for compensation (I notice that you can get compensation for your time being wasted for non-delivery of goods and was wondering if this was similar).

Thank you.

neilmcl

Have you actually suffered any losses or merely feel "put out" and would like some goodwill gesture?

I think you'd be looking at the latter I'm afraid.

AMS1

No monetary losses, but a lot of my time has been wasted (in the week before Christmas when I could have been doing a ton of other things) assembling and dis-assembling the faulty unit, waiting for the second unit to be delivered and the future hassle of waiting in again for couriers when NEXT reschedule to pick up the unit they said they were going to collect a couple of weeks ago.

AMS1

neilmcl wrote: »

Have you actually suffered any losses or merely feel "put out" and would like some goodwill gesture?

I think you'd be looking at the latter I'm afraid.

I'm sure you're correct (and to be honest I'm not optimistic of even getting a goodwill gesture) - but it sucks.

This isn't just the minor inconvenience of buying a dress, getting it home, discovering the zip's bust and taking it back to the shop - it took blimmin' ages to put the thing up, and just as long to take apart again and try and fit it all back into the box, plus as I've said having to wait in again for them to collect it.

Oh well

bod1467

At least this time you'll know what you're doing so assembly should be a lot quicker. And you'll know what to look for BEFORE you start assembly.

unholyangel

Tbh this is why I check flat pack furniture before I even touch a screwdriver. It usually always comes with a list of what should be included.

Lay them out if needed and check to make sure the numbers are correct and that there are holes where there is supposed to be holes and no damage to any pieces.

Only takes an extra few minutes and at least when you're building, you know where all the parts are Plus it saves on the frustration of getting to the last piece only to find its missing scews/damaged/whatever

AMS1

unholyangel wrote: »

Tbh this is why I check flat pack furniture before I even touch a screwdriver. It usually always comes with a list of what should be included.

Lay them out if needed and check to make sure the numbers are correct and that there are holes where there is supposed to be holes and no damage to any pieces.

Only takes an extra few minutes and at least when you're building, you know where all the parts are Plus it saves on the frustration of getting to the last piece only to find its missing scews/damaged/whatever

Yes, I know all that - and do all of that each time I get flat pack, count the screws, make sure there's no missing parts, check that's nothing's damaged etc etc before I even pick up a screwdriver.

But what I don't do is get my ruler out and make sure that all holes are equidistant on each piece of wood, which is where the problem occured ... 2 of the holes were out by half a cm (which you can't really spot by just looking at it) but it meant that it wouldn't slot into the rest of the unit.

ILW

AMS1 wrote: »

Yes, I know all that - and do all of that each time I get flat pack, count the screws, make sure there's no missing parts, check that's nothing's damaged etc etc before I even pick up a screwdriver.

But what I don't do is get my ruler out and make sure that all holes are equidistant on each piece of wood, which is where the problem occured ... 2 of the holes were out by half a cm (which you can't really spot by just looking at it) but it meant that it wouldn't slot into the rest of the unit.

Could you have just drilled a couple of holes?

AMS1

ILW wrote: »

Could you have just drilled a couple of holes?

No, the new holes would have been too near the old holes so it would have just created bigger holes.