Sharps Bedrooms

georgic_99

Hi all

Hopefully a quick question to get some thoughts..

I recently ordered a wardrobe from Sharps (in the UK). This is quite a large one for more than £6k in total. They have designed something that was suitable for my purposes - I have agreed, signed the designs and paid a deposit. When a surveyor came he indicated that it could not be done the way it was designed and that the wardrobe would need to have a void space in order to make the construction work. They have asked me to agree to this by signing an amended design plan, but I said that I cannot because I do not like this idea (I did not sign). Instead I asked them to check with their factory if they could do it the way that we initially agreed as this would be a key consideration for me (not having a void). The process was put on hold subject to this issue.

A few days later the designer called me up saying that we can go ahead as planned according to the initial signed plan. I thereafter paid the balance of the amount. When the installation was completed the void was present. Seeing this I have not signed anything that the fitter offered up as a confirmation of my satisfaction, and I have immediately followed up with Sharps asking why this is the case and if we can reverse asap.

Now some weeks later Sharps have admitted that there was a mistake at their end and are offering me a discount of 10%. Calling up various departments and asking them to move this along was horrible… I have asked for a 20% discount but they have refused.

Does anybody have any idea on what my options are? Can I ask them to remove everything for a full refund? Or do I have to take the 10% and leave it at that.

I know that litigation is likely an option but I work long hours in an office and would not have the time for anything like this. This is also causing us (my wife and me) to live out of a suitcase in our new apartment for the last few weeks as we do not want to use the wardrobes until everything is resolved.

Sharps have effectively sold me what I specifically told them I did not want to buy, so I am rather upset about this. However, if I do not have any other options bar litigation I will likely accept the 10% and move on.

Maybe a key issue here will be that the void is not huge – perhaps something along the lines of a space which is 30 by 50 cm from the floor up to the ceiling.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated…

grannyjo

Have you kept their correspondence- especially the bit about doing it to the original design. - and the company admitting it had not fufilled the desin agreed afterwRDS.
dID YOU PAY ANYTHING - EVEN A deposit on a credit or debit card. They will help you.
If it was me and I could live with the new design I would say Either take it away and give me what I signed for- or I'll pay half price. You could try the Citizens advice bureau - you could tell them you are going to invoice them for the inconvenience of not having access to what you had paid for. You could try a very indignant letter to the directors. I presume you have paid them , but if not the full amount deduct what you think and tell them they will have to sue you for the rest. The small claims court is a fairly cheap option p- good luck

pinkshoes

Send a "Letter Before Action" detailing that you agreed X design, you specifically rejected Y design with the void as it was not what you wanted, and that they have fitted Y design and not X. You are now proposing the following resolution:

1. A 20% refund within 14 days or

2. Remove the wardrobe, returning the room to its original state, and a full refund or

3. Re-doing the wardrobe to match design X.

GIve them 14 days to respond, otherwise you will take them to court for the 20% discount.

grannyjo

I answered in a rush yesterday and come back to it now. I agree totally with pink shoes. Putting your complaint in a letter is worth a thousand phone calls and their answer - insist on written reply- is evidence for if you want to take it further. The 14day clause is very necessary too.You will be living with this bedroom for hopefully a good number of years and you need it put right or a hefty recompense.
The credit or debit card route is an excellent scheme if available. They get all the money back from the company until resolution is met. there is an excellent section in MSE on it.
We've just had a quote from Sharps for over £6500 and you have paid for a top quality product. We have had other quotes for about half the price.