Faulty Product from Boots

lksmith1989

I bought an electric toothbrush from Boots in their Black Friday sale...it retails normally for £270 but I paid £80.
This week it developed a fault and broke and I returned it to store with the receipt to get a replacement.
I was told because they didn't have the exact same model (which funnily enough IS listed on the Boots website with a retail price of £270, its just out of stock) that I couldn't get a replacement and could only get a refund of £80.
I understand they can't refund me anymore, but surely they have to offer me a like for like replacement if the product is faulty? Otherwise I'm losing out on my £270 toothbrush just because it's faulty and being penalised for having bought it on promotion. The store stocks a slightly newer model which is identical other than a new style Charger and this also retails for £270. Is anyone able to offer some clarity on this? I feel I'm being screwed over by the retailer and am going to lose out on a top model just because I took advantage of a promotion?

mattyprice4004

Nope, they can refund / replace / repair at their choice.

You're being put back in the position you were before you bought it, so they're doing nothing wrong.

meer53

They don't have a like for like replacement to give you. Accept the refund. Your older model was in the Black Friday Sale for a reason.

LadyDee

As I understand it, they would be within their rights to deduct from the £80 an amount commensurate with the amount of use, so if you have had it since the BF sale, and they are offering you the full £80 back you are very lucky.

If the toothbrush is not charging, have you checked another plug, can you borrow a battery charger stand from someone to ensure that the toothbrush itself is at fault?

I hate to admit this but I had an electric toothbrush which wouldn't charge - thought it was the internal battery then after buying a replacement discovered the plug had been switched off!

ARandomMiser

The Boots offer is fair (although it may not seem so). You could also try approaching the manufacturer directly to see if they would be willing to replace it?

shaun_from_Africa

LadyDee wrote: »

As I understand it, they would be within their rights to deduct from the £80 an amount commensurate with the amount of use, so if you have had it since the BF sale, and they are offering you the full £80 back you are very lucky.

They can only make a deduction if it's more than 6 months since the item was purchased. Before this time they must give a full refund (except for cars).
As Black Friday was the 24th November, the OP is within the 6 month period.

SouthUKMan

Boots are within their rights to offer the £80 back rather than a repair or replacement.. However I can also understand how frustrating it must be to buy a 'top end' product for a bargain price and then lose it a few months later. I'd be tempted to write a short heartfelt letter to head office along the lines of; "Your Black Friday sale afforded me the chance to purchase a 'high end' model that I would not normally be able to afford. While I recognise that you have met your statutory commitments, it would be amazing customer service if you would consider helping me to replace the item with a similar spec unit", etc. Customer service personnel do have some leeway when dealing with complaints - and most can spot the genuine cases from among the ranty / demanding letters and emails they receive.

DCFC79

Take the £80 and put it towards another one.

Whether you buy a top of the range 1 is up to you, theres 6 priced between £100 & £150.

You spent £80 and your getting £80 back so your back in the position you were.

IAmWales

ARandomMiser wrote: »

The Boots offer is fair (although it may not seem so). You could also try approaching the manufacturer directly to see if they would be willing to replace it?

This ^^ (if they still have the brush).

Philips and Braun will do a straight swap.

bris

Who pays £270 for a tooth brush? In fact who pays £80 for a tooth brush regardless of whether it was £270 or not.


I mean it's faulty so it's not as if its bullet proof is it. Mine was in their kid on half price sale for £20 3 years ago and it's still going strong.

robatwork

£270 for a toothbrush?

For that I'd expect it to float across the bathroom and brush my teeth while I was in the shower.