Faulty keyboard, credit and non-delivery after months

Southychxc

Last year I was bought a "Mechanical gaming keyboard" (Mechanical means that connections between keys are metal switches - high grade stuff)
It was almost £120, after a few months it had a few minor defects such as a single key not registering until pressed a few times intermittently. I got on with it as it was the "V" key and not much use, I didn't think it was a massive issue.
Gradually over the course of another few months more keys became defective and worsened over the matter of months to a point where some keys were pressing three times each keystroke I'd make and sometimes they wouldn't register at all.

I'm an experienced computer user and don't misuse my peripherals at all, I have been brought up with respect for my belongings.
Now the majority reason I didn't return it straight away is because it's only a small local retailer and I imagined it could have been my fault (I have long hair which could have trapped under a switch and smoke loose tobacco which could have the same effect and a cat again possible with the same effect)
Being an experienced user I whipped out my cannister of compressed air, unplugged the keyboard and gave it a blasting! Obviously dust etc did come out of it, which is bound to happen but definitely not a substantial amount. I did the best I could without taking it apart to clean everything (obviously took care not to damage the switches and innards) and all that to no avail. So about 10 months into the warranty period I emailed them my concerns, and sent it back at their request.

Because they couldn't get hold of the discontinued keyboard I had bought, they offered me the 2013 model at a charge of £35! Or they offered me an £80 partial refund or store credit (and looking through the guides this is acceptable after such a long time) so I chose to accept this and let them know this, they also let me know they'd refund me a £5 postage charge.

I'm a bit of a "yes man" (unfortunately) and asked them to send me a different model of the same brand of keyboard and they said yes and I confirmed my address with them, a month later nothing has been said to me and nothing has been delivered at all.

I was somewhat annoyed that I couldn't get the original keyboard but obviously circumstances don't always fit my wishes and I accepted that again being a yes man.

I first requested the refund/return in November, chased it up again later in December to see where the keyboard I'd sent was up to and got a fob off asking me to wait till the model came in stock.
I then chased it up early January and carried on correspondence to mid January to no avail, they will send me the replacement and I again confirmed my billing address and delivery address for them to ship it to.

Coming into April I'm using a keyboard I borrowed from work, it's not really fit for purpose, it's old and doesn't fit the aesthetics of my computer and the cable isn't long enough for my setup and I've been using it and making do since I first sent mine back.

Now it's been almost 5 months since I first sent it back and I don't particularly want to spend my money at this retailer, I'd much rather get my cash back (the whole £120 I paid for it if possible) and spend it at a reputable retailer that's closer and I trust.

I think its farcical that it's taken so long, I wasn't offered a full refund in the first place and that I've not been in the same position hardware-wise for months since I sent it back.

Can anyone help me with this issue, I don't know whether I'm entitled to anything since it's been so long but I would expect a respectable retailer to refund me even so, it's their fault it's gone past the warranty limitations but I'm not sure they have to honour my request what so ever.

TL;DR I paid £120 for a keyboard, it was faulty (3 months) and I waited a little with gritted teeth and sent it back when it was worse (10 months, I know... stupid! Wish I used MSE before hand) after degrading and numerous attempts to repair it. I've been offered a £85 refund inc. postage in November 2012 and requested this (does this affect my chance at getting cash instead?) and another keyboard from their store. Months later nothing has happened bar useless correspondence and I want my cash back and I'll go and get it from a more reputable local store that I can trust. Where do I stand? Can I get £120 or am I fixed at £85? (Could I push it for distress and inconvenience suffered?) and am I fixed with a store credit now I've told them I've accepted it?

Thanks for any help in advance and please don't be put off by the large wall of text, the circumstances are quite odd so I thought I'd explain them the best I could. I have explained the steps I took to fix it to the shop them self.

EDIT: Now I have just seen this (Sorry everyone)
"READ ME FIRST PLEASE... FAQs" sticky, the section about partial refunds for price/age/usage

I thought the reduction was allowed by retailers not consumers! Does this mean I could look to get the keyboard I'd pay £35 pound for somewhat discounted more? If I have to spend my money with this incompetent company I'll be as stingey as possible.

Fire_Fox

Write to them quoting the Sale of Goods Act and any relevant prior correspondance, request resolution within a reasonable time period or you will take out a small claims action in the county court.

Don't understand the final paragraph.

Southychxc

The last paragraph either TL;DR (Too long didn't read) for the wall of text,

Or because I said I would accept the credit am I fixed with credit or can I get my cash back

Or my own silly ramblings.

I'll write them an e-mail (or is in writing better?) quoting the law like you said, I'll include all the correspondence, and request resolution as you said, within a reasonable limit.

Thanks for the help FF

wealdroam

Southychxc wrote: »

EDIT: Now I have just seen this (Sorry everyone)
"READ ME FIRST PLEASE... FAQs" sticky, the section about partial refunds for price/age/usage

I thought the reduction was allowed by retailers not consumers! Does this mean I could look to get the keyboard I'd pay £35 pound for somewhat discounted more? If I have to spend my money with this incompetent company I'll be as stingey as possible.

I too am unsure what you are saying here.

That FAQ post is just saying that a possible SoGA remedy could be a refund, but any refund could be reduced to take account of the use/time you have had the thing.

In your case, it is possible that rather than giving a full refund of the purchase price the seller could, indeed has, offer a partial refund.

Forgive me if I've missed the point entirely.

CoolHotCold

Just like to say a Letter before action is sufficient. Distress and inconvenience over a keyboard is a little over the top.

Southychxc

wealdroam wrote: »

I too am unsure what you are saying here.

That FAQ post is just saying that a possible SoGA remedy could be a refund, but any refund could be reduced to take account of the use/time you have had the thing.

In your case, it is possible that rather than giving a full refund of the purchase price the seller could, indeed has, offer a partial refund.

Forgive me if I've missed the point entirely.

I may have mistook the article, I thought it meant I could get a larger refund/cheaper item due to the time it took to send (or not in this case) the item, or even refund the money.

And Cool, I understand D&I seems a little far-fetched for a keyboard but it has been five months, inconvenience was suffered (and it may seem trivial but I did purchase it solely for gaming purposes). Distress was definitely pushing it though