B&Q won't refund Valspar paint.

CassandraN

Hi there, I've had a look at some information online but I'm still not sure of my rights.

I bought Valspar bathroom paint from B&Q a few months ago and prepared the walls as they told me to (plain white emulsion).

The second coat of Valspar started to come up in bubbles and blisters that has totally ruined the finish. Also, if you have a shower or bath, a new patch of bubbles will emerge and not go away. We'll have to strip it all back and repaint. The white emulsion underneath is fine, no bubbles. When I stripped off a test patch a huge sheet peeled away, about the size of A4 paper.

I contacted B&Q on Facebook and they agreed it was a problem and told me to go into the store I bought it from. I did this and spoke to someone at the Valspar counter. They also agreed that shouldn't have happened but told me they could do nothing as they just stock it and I have to contact Valspar directly. They also said Valspar was likely to just offer me a voucher for more paint.

Valspar has horrible reviews and ratings, especially for customer service. Are B&Q correct or as the sellers should they refund me?

I just want my money back so I can purchase paint elsewhere.
I can't find the receipt but only B&Q stock it.

daveyjp

Your contract is with B&Q.

KeithP

CassandraN wrote: »

I can't find the receipt but only B&Q stock it.

Apart from anything else, that may well be a problem.

You need to be able to demonstrate proof of purchase.

Just because B&Q are the only stockists, it does not mean that you have bought it from them.

Take just one unlikely scenario:
B&Q detected a faulty batch of this paint, probably because a previous customer had similar problems.
B&Q decided to throw the whole batch in a skip.
An enterprising individual found it in the skip and sold it down the pub.
You bought a tin down the pub.

Now, of course I am not accusing you of any wrong doing - just pointing out one reason why so often sellers require proof of purchase even if they appear to be the only stockist.

CassandraN

Oh dear, that didn't occur to me. The tub has all the stickers they printed at time of mixing and purchase, including the 'mixed by' name label which is filled in.

Would that prove I bought it through them?

bris

You can't find the receipt, so that's your right's right out the window.


It could have been lying in you hut for years for all they know. Paint goes off, when it does it bubbles and peels, oh wait....

daveyjp

CassandraN wrote: »

Oh dear, that didn't occur to me. The tub has all the stickers they printed at time of mixing and purchase, including the 'mixed by' name label which is filled in.

Would that prove I bought it through them?

Yes. Thats why they do it. If there is a problem the batch can be traced and they can inform Velspar.

Loanranger

We left some Homebase own brand emulsion in the shed during freezing temps and it had separated out and would not re- combine. Apparently this is what happens to paint if left in freezing conditions. Homebase did refund but we knew we had been at fault for not storing it correctly.
Am not suggesting you stored the valspar incorrectly but add this comment in case it helps in some way.

CassandraN

Thanks for all the replies so far. So is it down to B&Q to issue a refund?

sevenhills

CassandraN wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies so far. So is it down to B&Q to issue a refund?

The issue may be your preparation, not the paint!

powerful_Rogue

CassandraN wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies so far. So is it down to B&Q to issue a refund?

If you can provide a proof of purchase.

CassandraN

I told the person at B&Q that we followed their preparation advice and they agreed we'd done the right thing.

It would seem the labelling put on the tub at time of purchase is proof that we bought it from them and when.

We've painted plenty of walls successfully before, just never with this brand. Online reviews are generally terrible and I wish we'd known about it beforehand.