Does "battery needs replacing" indicate a material fault with the product, that should be rectified?

user1977

mikcatta said:

If it was a car, and the warning light came up on the dashboard, irrespective of whether there was a fault with it or not, I would expect it to be rectified.

If it were a car, you'd risk being stranded somewhere if the fault actually occurred without warning - so a different level of problem I think. It's certainly a fault, but I wouldn't regard it as a material one in this context.

Mickey666

mikcatta said:

I purchased an Owl electricity monitor last week, and everything appeared to be working, except that, despite being brand new, out of the box, it is saying the battery on the transmitter is depleted (using the supplied battery). I have spoken to the supplier and it is a known fault, and there answer was that, it doesn't affect the usage of the unit, and therefore I have to live with it, as the cost to Owl of replacing all faulty transmitters, "would put them out of business". He would, however, speak to them.
I feel robbed, I paid full price, and I expected the item to work with no errors or faults and this is clearly not the case with this item. As the item, is less than a week old, do I have a case for returning the item for a full-refund and how should I proceed?

Hmm.
Firstly, yes you can return it for a full refund.
Secondly, the supplier knows this and might be trying to fob you off from returning it.
Thirdly, why would they continue to sell a product with a 'known fault'?
Fourthly, I have an Owl electricity monitor and it works fine.  When it reports the battery is low I replace the batteries.  It's quite possible that the batteries supplied with the device are not fresh, so I suggest trying it with some known good batteries.

mikcatta

I have replaced the batteries with brand new (just out of the packet) Energizer Ultimate and that has made no difference, it is still showing as "batteries need replacing". I was told (and took with a large pinch of salt), by my supplier, that it was affecting a large number of Owl products, and to replace them all, would effectively put them out of business! 
I have contacted Owl (2 Save Energy Ltd) to see if I get a better or more truthful response from them direct. 

pbartlett

Doesn't matter what Owl or the supplier says - the product you have is faulty so it is your judgement if you keep it and live with the fault or return it.

unholyangel

mikcatta said:

I have replaced the batteries with brand new (just out of the packet) Energizer Ultimate and that has made no difference, it is still showing as "batteries need replacing". I was told (and took with a large pinch of salt), by my supplier, that it was affecting a large number of Owl products, and to replace them all, would effectively put them out of business! 
I have contacted Owl (2 Save Energy Ltd) to see if I get a better or more truthful response from them direct. 

That argument never holds any water. 

"being made to deliver what I promised will put me out of business".....and bloody good riddance, if that's the attitude they take to their responsibilities as a supplier/contract dealings. 

greyteam1959

It's faulty return it for a full refund.

mikcatta

Well ... Owl and my supplier, between them are being an a**e, Owl says return the transmitter, my supplier SmartGreenShop told me last week, they all had this inherit fault (so I would swap one bad unit for another). They have until until end of play today, to come up with an action plan to resolve this (yeah I know it doesn't affect the operation of the unit, but it is brand spanking new and should work 100% and bothers me that it doesn't). If nothing comes of it, then first of all its going to be a letter of intent. 

Al_Ross

If it is under 28 days old and you have already told them it it faulty,return it now for a full refund that is your rights.

No letter of intent needed.

mikcatta

Just a quick update.. having had a very rude reply from Owl (2 Save Energy) this morning. I have spoken to my supplier and given them 1 week to produce a working replacement (as I actually like the product, just don't want to have any inherit faults). If after that time, nothing materialises, then it will be returned for a full refund. This is still well within the 28 days. Thank you all for chipping in with comments

Ditzy_Mitzy

The problem is, perhaps, that the path of least resistance is to offer you a full refund.  What are you going to do then?  You'll have to learn to live with no OWL monitor, presumably.