Picture of Goods Not Matching Goods Received

BelperBarney

Hi,

I recently bought a set of 3 blinds, which were custom made (made to measure) from Blinds-2Go online store. I payed for these on the 2nd Feb using a debit card, coming to approx. £250.

Essentially, when looking at the blinds online they portrayed a light/bleached colour. The items I received in no way resemble to colour shown on the website, instead being a much darker brown (chocolatey colour). I've attached some photos of the product shown on the website and what I received. 

I have initially emailed them stating this, but have had the response "it's custom made and so cannot be returned/refunded".

They also said that a sample should have been ordered so we would have known what the colour would have been. Which is fair enough, but the disparity between what was shown and what was received is huge.

Is there anything I can do to get either my money back or have them replaced for a different kind?

TIA

Exodi

I'm minded to agree with their comments regarding samples, not that it's really relevant.

If you intend to reject on the grounds that they are not as described, if blinds direct stick to their position that they won't accept the return, then I guess your only resolution would be trying to take them to court and convincing a judge that they are not as described.

I looked up the blind for a close up shot of the slats and it does seem they've advertised a nice blurred style grain pattern in a light colourway, but then sent you a bog standard pine-style grain in its bog standard natural colour. That said phrases like "the disparity between what was shown and what was received is huge" and "The items I received in no way resemble to colour shown on the website" are probably a bit of a stretch as they're certainly similar.

It'll just be a challenge convincing a judge of this if blinds direct don't play ball, as they are quite alike (especially as you've taken your pics at night pointed upwards, while theirs are during the day).

sheramber

In the top picture the bottom slats, which are closed, are the same darker colour.

The open slats will be reflecting light  from the window and probably light from inside for photographic purposes.

Cpour reproduction on a computer is not likely to be exactly accurate deonding on the equipment used to view it.

DE_612183

I agree with the OP in the ad vert photos the webbing looks the same colour as the slats, whereas in the "real life" photo they are much lighter - I'd be tempted to send a LBC letter to the company saying you'll go to small claims if they don't replace / refund ( make sure you give them the opportunity to replace first ) - if they don't fold, then it's down to how much you've lost against your appetite for a fight!

maisie_cat

DE_612183 said:

I agree with the OP in the ad vert photos the webbing looks the same colour as the slats, whereas in the "real life" photo they are much lighter - I'd be tempted to send a LBC letter to the company saying you'll go to small claims if they don't replace / refund ( make sure you give them the opportunity to replace first ) - if they don't fold, then it's down to how much you've lost against your appetite for a fight!

Actually, the closed bottom blinds have the same contrast between the webbing and the slats. Light makes a big difference to how colour looks.
I'd say the colours are the same if the OP tilts the slats the same way as the photo and waits for a sunny day.

swingaloo

Looking at the photos I think the blinds are correct. On the website  photos you can see the top and first slat are dark, the rest are reflecting sunlight. Yours are photographed closed and so only show as dark.

I got blinds from them last year and they were awful. I got a sample for my first choice and seeing that made me change what I ordered. When I got them the colour was correct but the blinds are rubbish and not cheap.

Can I ask why you fitted them if they were incorrect as that wont help your case. Get someone you know at a different address to request a sample of the colour you ordered. If it arrives and it is significantly different to what you had delivered it may help your argument but the customer service are very difficult to deal with.

TELLIT01

Assuming the colour shown on a computer screen will match the actual item is fraught with danger.  Even two computer screens side by side would most likely show different colours.  Free samples are mentioned a few times on the home page of the website, and I suspect that may weaken their case even further if they tried taking the claim to court.

To be fair to the OP I do think websites of this type could make it clearer that colours displayed on screen should not be relied on, and that free samples should be requested.

Aylesbury_Duck

DE_612183 said:

I agree with the OP in the ad vert photos the webbing looks the same colour as the slats, whereas in the "real life" photo they are much lighter - I'd be tempted to send a LBC letter to the company saying you'll go to small claims if they don't replace / refund ( make sure you give them the opportunity to replace first ) - if they don't fold, then it's down to how much you've lost against your appetite for a fight!

...then they should definitely be refunded! 

DullGreyGuy

Agree with others, the top slat in the stock photos does look similar to what you have received. It's not comparable to look at open blinds in a very bright room and compare to closed blinds in a room just light by a domestic bulb. 

That said, I assume it's https://www.blinds-2go.co.uk/wooden-blinds/53136/chestnut-and-chevron-tan.html ? In which case their picture of the blinds closed gives you a stronger argument than the ones that you posted. 

Wife ordered blinds without telling me, paid much more than you did, and look very similar. The one advantage was seeing the materials in person to see how they looked in our environment because colour does change massively with lighting. 

Blinds2Go offer free samples... surely you did this before buying them?

DE_612183

Aylesbury_Duck said:

DE_612183 said:

I agree with the OP in the ad vert photos the webbing looks the same colour as the slats, whereas in the "real life" photo they are much lighter - I'd be tempted to send a LBC letter to the company saying you'll go to small claims if they don't replace / refund ( make sure you give them the opportunity to replace first ) - if they don't fold, then it's down to how much you've lost against your appetite for a fight!

...then they should definitely be refunded! 

I see what you've done there!  

Grumpy_chap

BelperBarney said:

The blinds in these two pictures look the same colour to me.
Closed blinds on a dark day and artificial light will look quite different from open / partially open blinds on a bright day and natural light.
I am surprised the OP chose to order blinds without using the sample service, but that was their risk on the colour that the OP decided to take.
It seems like an open and shut case.