Repackaged items being sold as new

PhilipCSwift

B&Q. Not told it was a repackaged item. Parts missing from a heated towel rail with a heater blower. The manual showed a picture of what you are meant to get. It gave a warning to not use the blower without the air filter (intake) being fitted.There is also a wall mounting strip for the bottom fixings missing.

• Parts missing
• Towel rail put in box upside down (there is a picture label on the front)
• Plastic bag not over the goods, just shoved in at the bottom of the box
• Clear parcel tape put on roughly with messy ends and 3 strips slapped on over one joint
• The manual (thick and weighty; 8 different languages) was not secured so was banging about inside the box when carried
• Screw heads that were painted had cracked paint where a tool did not fit properly
• Heating bars were scuffed and some dirt marks on the side rail

This item got discounted twice before so I thought I was getting a bargain. It is guaranteed for 2 years (well...the parts you get are) and had a 3 star, online customer rating. This rating may not be just for product, which of course cannot be tested or used. Like this review, it is also includes a rating for B&Q trying to pull a fast one.

I bought a strimmer from B&Q in the summer and the box looked repackaged. I asked the counter staff if I had just bought a reconditioned item and they said "oh no, we don't sell refurbished items, they are all new". So there is 2 things going on here. Has it been repackaged and also, has it been reconditioned to some/any extent.

Always ask to open box, clear taped goods before picking it up and going home. Check the manual for a picture of parts and check they are all there. Also check for scuffs and marks.

user1977

If you don't have a question for us then I think this is for

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/praise-vent-warnings

rather than here.

But yes, B&Q have a longstanding habit of just chucking returns straight back onto the shelf without checking the contents.

sheramber

it wonlt be reconditioned. it will have been bought and returned. Then put on sale agin without checking what was in the box.

The strimmer may have been returned or may ahave been a display model put back in the box whiih had been kicking around in the storeroom.

Forwandert

There's also a chance it's neither of those things and it's just a random customer that's opened a box, taken everything out to look at it and left it all out for it to be repackaged.

Haven't worked in retail for many years but this was usually the reason for repackaging things (they usually took a sealed up one after opening too to buy)

Le_Kirk

user1977 said:

If you don't have a question for us then I think this is for

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/praise-vent-warnings

rather than here.

But yes, B&Q have a longstanding habit of just chucking returns straight back onto the shelf without checking the contents.

Unless it has been moved without a message saying it has been moved (unusual) it is in the right place Praise, vent and warnings!