Returning an online purchase not fit for our purpose

Buzzovich

Hi,

I wondered if any of you would have any advice regarding an item we purchased online. We required a new kettle so bought one from AO.com (TWK8633GB Bosch) which has the description "There’s no guessing when the water’s ready either as it’ll let you know thanks to a little bleep at the end"

However, when the kettle arrived, it has a ridiculous beep (90db at 4,000Hz) when you turn it on, when you change the temperature and when it finished. The moment we turned it on, we realised this, so didn't use it and immediately e-mailed AO. After a few e-mails they said it sounded like it might be faulty, so we spoke to Bosch who informed us it was designed like that, to alert people in other rooms.

We've being told now that we can't get a full refund as we plugged the thing in and a few reviews mentioned the noise.

I know the Sale of Goods act states something must be:

- Fit for Purpose
- As described
- Of satisfactory quality

As far as I'm concerned, not mentioning such a loud beep (louder than our doorbell) is misleading. We have a disabled member of the household so this kettle will most certainly be an inconvenience to them.

Do we have any recourse if an item has something additional that isn't described and impacts it's purpose for us?

shaun_from_Africa

In my opinion, you certainly have a case for getting a refund for the kettle not being as described.

The AO website description for that kettle states

"There’s no guessing when the water’s ready either as it’ll let you know thanks to a little bleep at the end"

(my emphasis in bold).

If the figures that you give are correct (90dB and 4Khz), there is no way that sort of sound level can be described as "a little bleep".
There are many different websites giving noise comparison tables, but in general they all state about the same thing and that is that 90dB is the approximate sound level that you find on a busy street or from a large diesel lorry.

We've being told now that we can't get a full refund as we plugged the thing in and a few reviews mentioned the noise.

It doesn't matter what the reviews state. It is the retailers description that forms part of the contract of sale and this description is expected to be accurate.

Fosterdog

Where did you get the 90db rating from? Your own measurements or from the description?

If it is in the description but you just didn't know how loud 90db would be then there's not really much you can do. It makes perfect sense that something that has an alert beep would be loud enough to alert you in another room.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Gosh schools are out.



Kettle has an audible signal!
http://ao.com/product/TWK8633GB-Bosch-Styline-Kettle-Black-28693.aspx

My kettle, when I bought it a good few years back gave out a whistle when ready. Over the years, this has got a bit whinier, though the kettle still gets on the back ring.

Used to really knacker up Social Services when the Elf inspection for Fostering though!!!

Note amazon whistling kettle £6, the Bosch £62 thinks PUNTER!

shaun_from_Africa

There is no mention of the sound level on the AO webpage:
http://ao.com/product/TWK8633GB-Bosch-Styline-Kettle-Black-28693.aspx?cmredirectionvalue=TWK8633GB
so I'm assuming that it was either on the box or written on the instructions.

Fosterdog

Well looking here http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/noise/ 80db-90db is the same level as a blow dryer, kitchen blender and food processor. Given two of those are kitchen appliances it would make sense that any beep should be heard over other appliances that may be running in the same room at the same time.

visidigi

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

In my opinion, you certainly have a case for getting a refund for the kettle not being as described.

The AO website description for that kettle states
(my emphasis in bold).

If the figures that you give are correct (90dB and 4Khz), there is no way that sort of sound level can be described as "a little bleep".
There are many different websites giving noise comparison tables, but in general they all state about the same thing and that is that 90dB is the approximate sound level that you find on a busy street or from a large diesel lorry.


It doesn't matter what the reviews state. It is the retailers description that forms part of the contract of sale and this description is expected to be accurate.

I read that as little being the duration, not the sound. Little vs long instead of little vs loud which doesn't match...

As for the OP, the item doesn't meet their purposes, that does not mean the device doesn't work to the purpose of design, which Bosch has confirmed its normal.

shaun_from_Africa

Fosterdog wrote: »

Well looking here http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/noise/ 80db-90db is the same level as a blow dryer, kitchen blender and food processor.

Using that same chart, 90dB is also the same as a subway or passing motorcycle, something that in my opinion, would be too loud for a kitchen appliance.

If AO had just stated that there was a bleep, then fair enough. However their statement of a little bleep could be open to interpretation.

Buzzovich, if there is a small hole for the sound to come out, a tiny bit of silicon sealant (or something similar may quieten it down a tad.

Buzzovich

Thanks for your replies, folks.

Regarding the volume, it's only my own measurements. Doesn't mention anything anywhere in the description. They originally said that due to those volumes, the kettle might be faulty, but then Bosch confirmed it's actually meant to be like this.

Whilst I do understand a kettle will make a noise at the end, my main concern is that because it's got variable temperature, you have at least 3 loud beeps at the beginning before even boiling.

Because of this amount and volume/frequency, it's more similar to an alarm and a doorbell than a kettle and having someone in the household with hypersensitivity, I think this is a huge inconvenience not advertised anywhere.

I'd certainly not be complaining as much if it was just a single loud beep at the end.

Buzzovich

As for a soundhole, no such luck. Can't change the volume, and the only way from what I can see is to remove the back and unplug it. That would ruin the warranty.

bris

Still does exactly as described and to you it may not be suitable but that is subjective and doesn't make it unfit for purpose.