comet how to complain about them

uktim29

THE_LONE_RANGER wrote: »

may be not on that board, but the negative experiances still out way the positive experiances

No thats because the British like to moan about anything!

HC_2

Regarding Which? magazine, taxiphil is perfectly correct.

It's unusual these days to be able to put your faith in any organisation that professes independence, impartiality and respectability but Which? is one of the last bastions of all three of these traits. Its publications do not compare with What Car? and other consumer magazines of that type.

uktim29

I wasn't doubting it's reviews as I said. However 'experts' that work for a consumer magazine will be biased towards wanting more rights for the consumer etc therefore believing theres not enough at the moment/consumers get poor service etc.

I'm still struggling to remember the last time I bought something that hasn't worked/had problems taking something back. Nope, I can't!

HC_2

uktim29 wrote: »

I wasn't doubting it's reviews as I said. However 'experts' that work for a consumer magazine will be biased towards wanting more rights for the consumer etc therefore believing theres not enough at the moment/consumers get poor service etc.

I'm still struggling to remember the last time I bought something that hasn't worked/had problems taking something back. Nope, I can't!

But consumers often do get poor or indifferent service. I can't imagine how you can deny that, unless you rarely shop on the high street, shop only at John Lewis et al., or complete your transactions with a bag over your head. Most people don't post on the Vent Board when they get completely ignored by the assistant in Boots, completing their purchase while she chats to a colleague and says not one word to you. That's pretty normal all over the country.

Like any other profession or job (or whatever you want to call it) there are people who are poor at their job and ones who are excellent.

The lady in my local Superdrug won the town's Best Shop Assistant award. She is fabulous at her job and clearly enjoys every minute of interacting with customers and ensuring that they leave the shop smiling.

Waitrose, John Lewis - absolutely superb. And you'll find instances of excellence in almost every retail outlet.

Even Comet have their nuggets of gold. Comet have prime locations, keen prices and a superb range of products, hence the customers who return again and again, despite often indifferent, lethargic customer service and product knowledge.

I made a visit recently to buy a vacuum cleaner and a carpet shampooer, and was so stunned by the top-notch service provided by a young female assistant that I wrote a letter to the CEO. This young lady knew everything about every vacuum cleaner and carpet shampooer, and recommended mid-price models for my needs (house full of stinky dogs) rather than the most expensive. If I'd asked her for details of each toaster, set-top box or tumble dryer on display, complete with the history of each manufacturer I think she would have had no problem.

I know you worked in retail for a long time, and you instantly spring to the defence of any retail organisation like a mother tiger with her cubs. (I must admit, I spring to Royal Mail's defence because I think they do a superb job, and I've never even worked for them!) You may well have been like the Comet girl I mention above in your retail days, but if you think that's the norm - you're fooling yourself.

taxiphil

uktim29 wrote: »

I wasn't doubting it's reviews as I said.

Then what did you mean when you said:

uktim29 wrote: »

I can imagine Which doesn't give an amount of people they've spoken to, a magazine like that will speak to two and then make it sound all round.

and:

uktim29 wrote: »

they probably haven't done any research at all

Do you stand by these allegations or not? Yes or no?

taxiphil

Here's a little quiz for you Tim. Do you approve of any of the following...?

1. That cars have seat belts fitted as standard
2. That children's toys don't have poisonous lead in them
3. That new cars in the UK no longer cost vastly more than in the rest of Europe
4. That property sellers are no longer allowed to tell barefaced lies in the descriptions of their properties
5. That when you send a cheque crossed "account payee only" the bank is liable to refund you if it pays it into the wrong account by mistake
6. That a travel agent isn't allowed to increase the price of your holiday by however much it wants after you've booked it
7. That tobacco companies have to print levels of tar and nicotine on packs
8. That you can shop on a Sunday

If you answered 'yes' to any of the above, they are all changes in the law which happened because of investigations and intensive lobbying of the government by the Consumers Association, a.k.a. Which magazine, over the last 50 years.

HC_2

taxiphil wrote: »

Here's a little quiz for you Tim. Do you approve of any of the following...?

1. That cars have seat belts fitted as standard
2. That children's toys don't have poisonous lead in them
3. That new cars in the UK no longer cost vastly more than in the rest of Europe
4. That property sellers are no longer allowed to tell barefaced lies in the descriptions of their properties
5. That when you send a cheque crossed "account payee only" the bank is liable to refund you if it pays it into the wrong account by mistake
6. That a travel agent isn't allowed to increase the price of your holiday by however much it wants after you've booked it
7. That tobacco companies have to print levels of tar and nicotine on packs
8. That you can shop on a Sunday

If you answered 'yes' to any of the above, they are all changes in the law which happened because of investigations and intensive lobbying of the government by the Consumers Association, a.k.a. Which magazine, over the last 50 years.

Nice piece of research, Phil.

I think it's just that Tim didn't know much about Which? and the Consumers Association. He probably thought they were just some ordinary publication and consumer lobbying group.

As you and I both know, they've been going for donkeys' years and are hugely respected (indeed revered for their impartiality and common sense) by both retailers and consumers.

uktim29

taxiphil wrote: »

Then what did you mean when you said:



and:



Do you stand by these allegations or not? Yes or no?

I was talking about 'market expert' opinions not product reviews! (both times!!!!!)

Talk about Chinese whispers with you Phil!

HC wrote: »

I think it's just that Tim didn't know much about Which? and the Consumers Association. He probably thought they were just some ordinary publication and consumer lobbying group

I know exactly what the magazine is. I know it's well known for it's product reviews etc. But as soon as so called market experts come in to things then you start taking things with a pinch of salt. Particularly what The Lone Rangers apparent market expert was saying.

Read it again:

"high street shop staff were fobbing off customers and giving misleading advice on their rights"

Thats just a generalization. Not everywhere is going to be like that in fact it will just be a minority. Theres no mention of any actual research carried out, no figures eg 'we found that 50% of retailers' etc. If that statement had some quantitative information in it (that I thought Which? prided itself in) then I would view it differently. However that is just blatent statement from someone who is biased towards consumers.

andyrules

taxiphil wrote: »

Here's a little quiz for you Tim. Do you approve of any of the following...?

1. That cars have seat belts fitted as standard
2. That children's toys don't have poisonous lead in them
3. That new cars in the UK no longer cost vastly more than in the rest of Europe
4. That property sellers are no longer allowed to tell barefaced lies in the descriptions of their properties
5. That when you send a cheque crossed "account payee only" the bank is liable to refund you if it pays it into the wrong account by mistake
6. That a travel agent isn't allowed to increase the price of your holiday by however much it wants after you've booked it
7. That tobacco companies have to print levels of tar and nicotine on packs
8. That you can shop on a Sunday

If you answered 'yes' to any of the above, they are all changes in the law which happened because of investigations and intensive lobbying of the government by the Consumers Association, a.k.a. Which magazine, over the last 50 years.

Excellent post, phil. And these are just a few examples!

HC_2

uktim29 wrote: »

I know exactly what the magazine is. I know it's well known for its product reviews etc. But as soon as so-called market experts come into things then you start taking things with a pinch of salt.

Why?

(If you accept that Which? is noted throughout the industry for its impartiality etc.)

Ignore LR's posts.

uktim29 wrote: »

Thats just a generalization. Not everywhere is going to be like that in fact it will just be a minority. Theres no mention of any actual research carried out, no figures eg 'we found that 50% of retailers' etc. If that statement had some quantitative information in it (that I thought Which? prided itself in) then I would view it differently. However that is just blatant statement from someone who is biased towards consumers.

You make generalisations yourself, all the time.

Here is one, from this thread:

"However 'experts' that work for a consumer magazine will be biased towards wanting more rights for the consumer etc., therefore believing there's not enough at the moment/consumers get poor service etc."

And another:

"No, that's because the British like to moan about anything!"

Sometimes generalisations are essentially true. Sometimes they're not. It's not the case that your generalisations are true and those of others are not.