Damaged goods from Appliances Direct

kd035050

Hello, hoping for some advice. I bought a washing machine from Appliances Direct online. It was delivered and unboxed and I signed for receipt of it. After delivery guys had left I had a good look around it and notice a huge dent and scratching. This wasn't easily visible as the delivery guy stood pretty much in front of it the whole time he was in the house and I have a reflective floor, sun was shining etc so only noticed after they had left. I contacted Appliances direct immediately who said as I signed for the item I had accepted condition of item and they did not have to take it back as damaged. I could return it as a cancelled/changed mind item but it was to be at my expense to return per their t&c's. A courier would cost about £100 plus they took all packaging with them too. Do I have to pay for the return or as it was damaged when it was delivered should I expect Appliances Direct to pick the machine up? They are not budging on the matter, i have called them many times. I don't want to wait too long as there may be distance selling laws that are time sensitive?? Any help gratefully accepted.

marliepanda

Exactly how long between signature and phone call to tell them?

It's an odd story to be honest. They unpackaged it in front of you, and you signed for it, missing all of the obvious damage?

Forgive me for being obtuse but unless they were stood in a very strange way as to obscure the damage, (which would have been noticeable) why on earth did you not check properly. I don't think men stood in the way and a shiny floor meant you just saw a half obscured glared out white box and thought, yeah I'll sign for that.

kd035050

My husband was working from home, in a rush, delivery guys unpacked it, stood in front of damage (cant say it was deliberate as we just dont know), asked husband to sign for it and he did with a cursory glance at the machine. He just signed a blank screen, not a delivery note that stated the goods had been checked. He actually believed he was just signing for delivery. The machine sat in the utility room for about 2 hours until he had finished some work, he then had a good look around it, noticed the damage. We contacted Appliances Direct within 2 hours of it being delivered.

kd035050

sorry should have also said washing machine is graphite, floor is shiny graphite, i have taken photos of the damage, it doesn't show in the photo if the sun is shining but if i close the blind, it shows up perfectly. It would have been easy to miss by either the delivery driver or us.

marliepanda

kd035050 wrote: »

sorry should have also said washing machine is graphite, floor is shiny graphite, i have taken photos of the damage, it doesn't show in the photo if the sun is shining but if i close the blind, it shows up perfectly. It would have been easy to miss by either the delivery driver or us.

Well they clearly are now thinking at (for example) 2pm they signed to say it was fine. At 4pm it's suddenly quite damaged...

At 2.15 I would have said you had a better chance but they may be thinking (and it would have been possible) for you to damage it in those two hours.

neilmcl

kd035050 wrote: »

It was delivered and unboxed and I signed for receipt of it.

What exactly did you sign? Was it simply to say you accepted receipt of the washing machine or did you sign something to say that you received the goods and it was in a satisfactory condition?

By law you have to be allowed a reasonable time to inspect the goods, if this wasn't afforded to you then you shouldn't sign anything to say you were happy with it's condition.

marliepanda

neilmcl wrote: »

What exactly did you sign? Was it simply to say you accepted receipt of the washing machine or did you sign something to say that you received the goods and it was in a satisfactory condition?

By law you have to be allowed a reasonable time to inspect the goods, if this wasn't afforded to you then you shouldn't sign anything to say you were happy with it's condition.

Well by the sounds of it the I in the OP actually was the husband signing for it so we only have a second hand account...