Very.co.uk product faulty after 13 months of almost no use

Bubble87

I recently contacted Very.co.uk regarding a butterfly table and chairs set that I purchased from them in August 2013 - this table is designed to be folded up and tucked away and has had very little use during the past year (perhaps 4 occasions of using all 4 chairs).

In Sept 2014 one of the chair slats snapped in half, very easily. There is an obvious weak point in the wood; it is not even a slat that takes much of the weight of a person sitting on it. After 13 months I wouldn't expect a £200 dining set to break. I have since looked on the reviews of the product; in April this year one of the chairs snapped with a 5 year old sitting on it.

I have contacted Very.co.uk who have been extremely unhelpful, they say that as it is out of 12 month guarantee they can't do anything.

I quoted the Sale of Goods Act, but that hasn't got me anywhere.

It is not like I want a refund, just a slat to replace the broken one, or a new chair. This is obviously a manufacturing fault, I have honestly barely used the chairs.

Please can anyone explain, where do I stand?

[Deleted User]

Bubble87 wrote: »

Please can anyone explain, where do I stand?

You will certainly have to stand as your chair is broken!:D

If it's only a slat, can't you easily replace it yourself with some ply or MDF?

wealdroam

Bubble87 wrote: »

I recently contacted Very.co.uk regarding a butterfly table and chairs set that I purchased from them in August 2013 - this table is designed to be folded up and tucked away and has had very little use during the past year (perhaps 4 occasions of using all 4 chairs).

In Sept 2014 one of the chair slats snapped in half, very easily. There is an obvious weak point in the wood; it is not even a slat that takes much of the weight of a person sitting on it. After 13 months I wouldn't expect a £200 dining set to break. I have since looked on the reviews of the product; in April this year one of the chairs snapped with a 5 year old sitting on it.

I have contacted Very.co.uk who have been extremely unhelpful, they say that as it is out of 12 month guarantee they can't do anything.

I quoted the Sale of Goods Act, but that hasn't got me anywhere.

It is not like I want a refund, just a slat to replace the broken one, or a new chair. This is obviously a manufacturing fault, I have honestly barely used the chairs.

Please can anyone explain, where do I stand?

Unfortunately the one year guarantee will not help you, and you will need to seek a remedy through The Sale of Goods Act.

As Very are not being helpful, you will need to prove to them that the damage is due to an inherent fault. An inherent fault is one that was present at the time of sale but not necessarily apparent at that time.

Maybe you could get an independent report confirming the fault is inherent?
Perhaps The Furniture Ombudsman can help you.

The amount of use this has had is not important.
Your statement "perhaps 4 occasions of using all 4 chairs" is not helpful either, as within that criteria you still could've used the one damaged chair all day and every day since purchase.

Bubble87

Thanks for your feedback. I really think the poor quality is proven by another customer having a chair Snap by a 5 year old. It is obvious that the slat has a thin weak point in it. I could repair the chair but I'm reluctant to do that when there is a clear fault with the slat. I will try ombudsman, thanks.

wealdroam

Bubble87 wrote: »

Thanks for your feedback. I really think the poor quality is proven by another customer having a chair Snap by a 5 year old. It is obvious that the slat has a thin weak point in it. I could repair the chair but I'm reluctant to do that when there is a clear fault with the slat. I will try ombudsman, thanks.

The fact that another customer has seen a similar fault in his chair is not proof that your chair is inherently faulty.
All it proves is that his chair was faulty... it does not even prove that his chair was inherently faulty.

The two important words are proof and inherent.

gik

Bubble87 wrote: »

Thanks for your feedback. I really think the poor quality is proven by another customer having a chair Snap by a 5 year old. It is obvious that the slat has a thin weak point in it. I could repair the chair but I'm reluctant to do that when there is a clear fault with the slat. I will try ombudsman, thanks.

I'd find replacing the slat myself both easier and less time consuming. Wood is a natural product and subject to weaknesses.