DO NOT by from ao.com

martinsurrey

Faisal_Iqbal wrote: »

DO NOT buy from AO.com, they are just another cowboy outfit. They are quick to take your money and then absolve themselves of any responsibility if the appliance is falsely specified on their website.
I bought a Smeg UK34XPNF fridge freezer that had the reversible door feature stated in the specification only to be later told by AO.com, that in fact the doors can only be swapped by a Smeg engineer. The cost for this, £70.00.

When I pointed out to AO.com that it does not state anywhere in the specifications given on their website that an additional cost will be incurred to have the doors swapped, there reply was, "It says on our website that the doors are reversible because they are and we're not required to offer any more information than this.", basically what they are saying is that they could not care less and I'm lumbered with it so ha, also if I want to return my appliance they will charge me 45% of the value that I paid for it.

At present we can only use the freezer door by placing a thin wire on the door using a sticky tape to open it as there is no space to get the hand into the handle from the side.

To summarise I am stuck with a fridge freezer that I can't use properly through no fault of my mine and yet I am out of pocket and both AO.com and Smeg say it's not there problem.

Buying from AO.com has been a most bitter experience and I would hope that other customers can save themselves from suffering a similar fate by avoiding shopping with them.

Needless to say I will not be shopping with AO.com anymore.

Why didn't you use the 14 day return period? they offer free collection.

So they delivered the fridge freezer for free, you opened it, saw that it didn't open the way you wanted, called them, they said you need to pay for an engineer, but you started using it?

I for one cant fault AO.com in all my dealings with them or their delivery drivers. I do know that there are some difficult customers though.

SnowTiger

martinsurrey wrote: »

Why didn't you use the 14 day return period? they offer free collection.

I wondered that too: http://ao.com/services/fourteen-day-returns-guarantee.

tomtontom

Azari wrote: »

But anything goes wrong and the warranty is void. And having tampered with it when told not do his SOGA rights will be affected.

A very bad idea.

Such a term would be likely to be deemed an unfair term - unless there is something particularly unique about this fridge it is quite reasonable to expect to be able to change the door positioning yourself.

One does have to question what an engineer can do that the OP cannot do himself?

Azari

tomtontom wrote: »

Such a term would be likely to be deemed an unfair term - unless there is something particularly unique about this fridge it is quite reasonable to expect to be able to change the door positioning yourself.

So he tries it himself, mucks up the door, and then it turns out there is some good reason why it requires an engineer.

Given that he has no way of knowing why they say it needs an engineer, it would be a stupid risk to take.

If you actually think about it, it is a bad idea.

shaun_from_Africa

Looking at the pictures in the brochure, it doesn't look as if switching the door itself would present any great problem but there is the switch for the internal lamp to consider.
It looks like this is a mechanical switch on the side which would need moving to the opposite side of the cabinet, something that would be far from easy for an average DIYer as it may well require quite a bit of disassembly.


I'm with Azari on this.
If something is described as reversible in the adverts for it, I would expect it to be user reversible unless stated otherwise.

Hasbeen

Azari wrote: »

Don't be absurd.

It's not the fact that there is a problem that's the issue.

Problems happen, and in this case it's Smeg's fault, because the retailers only repeat what Smeg have told them.

The issue is that the retailer are not doing anything to mitigate their mis-selling. That's what would tend to indicate a cowboy outfit.

And if they are still advertising that the unit has reversible doors (without a suitable caveat), then that is a further issue showing a lack of concern for their customers.

If I want to be absurd then I will at times. In this country it is my right! Perhaps others will think it is a contribution to this thread, whilst unfortunately others ??? will not?

ALL suppliers of this advertise doors reversible!!! which is true!! Not just AO but everyone.


If you have to do it yourself which I have done, or get someone to do it for you then fine.


From instruction manual


Repositioning the Door








• It is not possible to change the opening direction of your fridge door, if the door


handles on your fridge are installed from the front surface of the door.


• It is possible to change the opening direction of the door on models without any


handles.


• If the door opening direction of your fridge may be changed, you should contact the


nearest Authorized Service to have the opening direction changed.


SMEG say this so they can get customers who do not know any DIY skills to call and get it done


Unfortunately any one buying these items has to expect a degree of work on their part to change the door or a charge if they choose to get someone to do it for them

Hasbeen

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

Looking at the pictures in the brochure, it doesn't look as if switching the door itself would present any great problem but there is the switch for the internal lamp to consider.
It looks like this is a mechanical switch on the side which would need moving to the opposite side of the cabinet, something that would be far from easy for an average DIYer as it may well require quite a bit of disassembly.


I'm with Azari on this.
If something is described as reversible in the adverts for it, I would expect it to be user reversible unless stated otherwise.

Inside of door makes contact with switch regardless of hitting it on right or left

Azari

Hasbeen wrote: »

Inside of door makes contact with switch regardless of hitting it on right or left

Oh, good grief!

The problem is not that it doesn't hit the switch, it's that it may well not release it unless you open the door wider than you want.

Azari

Hasbeen wrote: »

ALL suppliers of this advertise doors reversible!!! which is true!! Not just AO but everyone.

As I alread explained (in the very post you quote above ), they do, because that's what Smeg tells them. The problem is that AO are not mitigating the problem caused.

If you have to do it yourself which I have done, or get someone to do it for you then fine.

Why don't you read the post in the thread instead of continually posting irrelevancies?

Smeg say that you need to use an engineer and that will cost £70. If you go against their instructions and anything goes wrong then you will have voided the warranty and probably invalidated some or all of your SOGA rights.

The facts that you did it and all other retailers say the same thing are neither here nor there. We are concerned with the way the item was sold by AO, and their response to the problem, not what Tom, !!!!!! or Harry did, what other retaiilers do or any other irrelevant details.

From instruction manual

Irrelevant to the case at hand.

Hasbeen

Azari wrote: »

Oh, good grief!

The problem is not that it doesn't hit the switch, it's that it may well not release it unless you open the door wider than you want.

Yes ok then? this fridge is different from the other million or so sold that you have to alter doors and switch still works?


Sorry now wasting my time discussing this with people who have no clue re what is required!!!
ok. whatever! every one is getting upset re changing a door on a fridge!!! really!! Not anything else happening I suppose?


Changed a lot in my time no big deal, but lets try and make it one!!!


Feel free to discuss with others your limited knowledge re appliances




I am out
Goodnight