Item ordered is too heavy for advertised use and too heavy to return - what to do?

dilby

Hi all - I'm having my bathroom refitted by a building team I've recently ordered a bath shower screen (the hinged variety that sits on the edge of the bath) from Victorian Plumbing for £370.

The courier delivered it to be entrance hall where I opened the box to check for damage and all seemed fine. It was time for the plumber to fit the screen the other day but they refused to do so, saying it was too heavy; not just for the bath, but for the fixings provided (they supplied two small screws to hold a bath screen that is over 43kg) and for safe opening. The plumber said he'd fitted one a few months prior and it had fallen on a child. I can see what they mean too; it's incredible heavy, the kind of screen you'd see fixed to the floor of a fancy walk in shower, not something you'd expect to put on a bath and be opening and closing, with it bearing on the wall on two screws and the base of a hinge.

I complained to victorian plumbing who sent me a returns form, and I had to organise my own courier which I did (£70). However when they came they refused the delivery as the screen was not 21.3kg (I had used this weight as it's what their shipping label said), but 43.5kg. 

So I went back to victorian plumbing who insisted they couldnt help, and just gave me the link to a parcel comparison website. However when i put the weight and size into this website it tells me there are no services able to help. 

I can't help but think that the fact that couriers are unable to take the bath is proof enough that it's too heavy for it's intended use, and therefore I've been mis sold to.

I have found one service that will take it but I'll need to pay £115! 

In regards to the item choice itself, my building team said i would need to source all the parts, but they would give me the thumbs up if i sent them the links, which i did. They said the screen would be fine, but am I barking up the wrong tree taking this further with them?

As of now I'm in a bit of a pickle, with an expensive screen sitting in my house and not knowing what to do. Would really appreciate some advice from kind folks out there.

Thank you

DullGreyGuy

Do you have a link to the product?

What is the construction of the wall you want to mount it to?

cannugec5

If their shipping label declared a markedly different weight, then I wonder if they (VP) had actually sent you the correct product in the first place. 

I’m particularly interested because VP sent us the wrong sized shower tray  but in packaging labelled as the one we’d ordered. I sent them pictures as proof and they quickly sent the correct one. They never did send a courier to collect the incorrect one, but neither did they even suggest we needed to return it. 

photome

If VP shipping label says 21 kg have they sent you the wrong panel ? If so they should replace at their cost

Could you use different fixing screws

Aylesbury_Duck

If you're happy with everything about the panel other than its weight, is there any way the plumber can fit it safely?  I can't believe someone is producing a panel that no-one can fit.  It's probably just a question of preparing a proper support and using more appropriate fixings.  Might be a better outcome than all the faffing about you're having to do to return it.

As others have said, if they've sent the wrong one, it's a much easier situation to deal with.

Undervalued

Aylesbury_Duck said:

If you're happy with everything about the panel other than its weight, is there any way the plumber can fit it safely?  I can't believe someone is producing a panel that no-one can fit.  It's probably just a question of preparing a proper support and using more appropriate fixings.  Might be a better outcome than all the faffing about you're having to do to return it.

As others have said, if they've sent the wrong one, it's a much easier situation to deal with.

^^^^^ Exactly

The fittings supplied with something like this are very unlikely to be suitable for every kind of wall, nor can the manufacturer know the structure of your building.

Also, sadly, many plumbers (electricians etc) may well be good a joining up pipes and wires but are frankly hopeless and carpentry and building work, despite the obvious overlaps in their trades!

A 1/4 inch steel thread, properly used, will support over a ton.

I find it hard to believe that a competent tradesman couldn't fit this properly and safely.

mcplumb

A bath screen @ 43.5Kg??????

Okell

@dilby -  are you sure it weighs 43kg?  Can you put up a link to it?

I've got a bar and weight plates at home, and looking at the size of cast iron plates totalling 40kg I find it hard to believe that a glass shower screen probably about 1400mm by 900mm can weigh over 40kg

Of course if VP have sent you the wrong product in the first place, it's their responsibility to take it back at their cost - not yours.

When did you take delivery of the screen?

Okell

Undervalued said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

If you're happy with everything about the panel other than its weight, is there any way the plumber can fit it safely?  I can't believe someone is producing a panel that no-one can fit.  It's probably just a question of preparing a proper support and using more appropriate fixings.  Might be a better outcome than all the faffing about you're having to do to return it.

As others have said, if they've sent the wrong one, it's a much easier situation to deal with.

^^^^^ Exactly

The fittings supplied with something like this are very unlikely to be suitable for every kind of wall, nor can the manufacturer know the structure of your building.

Also, sadly, many plumbers (electricians etc) may well be good a joining up pipes and wires but are frankly hopeless and carpentry and building work, despite the obvious overlaps in their trades!

A 1/4 inch steel thread, properly used, will support over a ton.

I find it hard to believe that a competent tradesman couldn't fit this properly and safely.

This  ^^^^

I also find it hard to believe that a competent tradesman couldn't fit this screen properly and safely - even if it really does weigh nearly 100lbs...

Aylesbury_Duck

I'd be worried about the competency of a plumber who freely admits he fitted a screen that fell on a child just a few months ago.  Presumably he's the subject of an HSE investigation or an insurance claim, or both?

Or perhaps he was making it all up because he didn't want to do it or doesn't know how.  I suspect that's the case.

TELLIT01

The OP needs to check the description of the item they ordered to confirm whether or not it matches the description of the item they received, particularly the weight.  If the weight is out by as much as the OP says, then they should be able to return at no cost to them as the item is not as described.