Dont buy Power Devil Pressure Washers (2023 Update)

[merayar]

I bought a Power Devil Pressure Washer from Argos and it worked fine on the occasions that I used it. However it developed a fault and I diagnosed the problem.

When trying to locate a replacement part, I managed to find that the Customer Support is done by a company called ALBA Plc (tel [phone]

0094).

In answer to my query about a replacement part they said

QUOTE Quoting CustomerCare :

> Thank you for your e-mail, regarding a spare part for your Power Devil > pressure washer. > > Unfortunately the part in question is not available as a spare.

UNQUOTE

So I asked if there was a dealer who could repair the item. They replied back,

QUOTE

----- Original Message ----- From: "CustomerCare" Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2006 8:28 AM Subject: Re: Power Devil Pressure Washer Spares Enquiry

Dear Sir/ Madam,

Thank you for your reply.

Unfortunately we do not provide service facilities for the product in question, meaning we are not able to refer you to a service centre for a repair. This is due to the fact that servicing is simply not economically viable in most cases.

UNQUOTE

I would recommend that if you are thinking of buying a Power Devil then steer clear of this product.

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

Well you've gained a valuable experience ie if your after a spares back up and a service centre then don't buy cheap imports. However you are entitled to a new one or your money back if they can't come up with a replacement.

[Chris Bacon]

How much did it cost? How long have you had it? Have you approached Argos about this WRT a refund?

[meow2222]

This is normal policy with bottom end products. You get what you pay for.

NT

[Guy King]

The message from Chris Bacon contains these words:

That's the relevant question. If it's five years, forget it. If it's six months then it's clearly not lasted as a reasonable person might expect it to - so go nobble the shop.

Don't take any crap about "Take it up with the supplier" either.

worth a read.

[Guy King]

The message from [e-mail] contains these words:

You mean like using Google Groups and starting a new thread each time you reply? (insert smiley here)

[meow2222]

probably :) But I didnt start a new thread, check your reader settings maybe. Or did you also get what you paid for? :)

NT

[The Medway Handyman]

No surprise. The economics are simple; Retail in UK (inc VAT) say £40. Excluding VAT £34. Retail margin £7, importers margin £7, cost ex China inc frieght £20 (and China is a long way away). It's a £10 pressure washer.

Service engineer absolute rock bottom minimum £30 per hour. Cost of stocking & sending parts?

You have to expect that if you buy low end goods. I do buy some low end stuff, last purchase a £20 drill driver from Argos for light duty jobs. I don't expect any parts or service back up. If it lasts a year under guarantee it's cost me 40p a week, any longer is a bonus, when it breaks I'll buy another.

[Guy King]

The message from [e-mail] contains these words:

It's something I keep meaning to mention to the bloek who writes it! I don't think I'm the only one, though, who has trouble with Google Groups starting new threads.

[Andrew Gabriel]

You changed the subject. As many newsreaders display threads by subject, it will be treated as a new thread in many cases. (Mine shows it as sub-thread.)

[meow2222]

but its upto you what you change its settings to.

NT

[Guy King]

The message from [e-mail] contains these words:

That'd depend on the newsreader. Mine goes by subject and doesn't have the facility to cope with gratuitous subject changes.

[Stephen Dawson]

ALBA = Argos Low Budget Appliances !!

[Owain]

ALBA = All Lousy Bastard Appliances.

GOODMANS = Great Once, Originally Decent; Many Appliances Now Shite.

AMSTRAD - Authentic Manky Shite Trying Reincarnate As Decent

MATSUI - Manky Asian Tat Sold to Uninformed Ignoramuses (-ami?)

DIXONS - Dubious Insurance Ex Oikishly Naff Salesmen

(Etc., al for the purposes of acronymming amusement and no reflection on the companies or products concerned of course)

Owain

[Bob Eager]

Wasn't that the brand that DRG 'invented' to sell British made stuff to people who were after what they considered to be high quality Japanese stuff?

Originally, that is.

[T i m]

I can't remember the last time I bought electronics that *were* actually 'British Made' (in spite of the British sounding name plate)???

"Assembled" in Britian tops? ;-(

Oh, I do have an Arcam Alpha 6 amp sitting in it's box upstairs somewhere .. don't think it works though .. ;-(

All the best ..

T i m

[meow2222]

Ah, the plaintiff got what they paid for.

NT

[Guy King]

The message from Owain contains these words:

Thing is - all these are just badge-engineering fronts now. A friend is a self-employed graphic artist who does work for DSL sometimes - they have meetings at which they play with a bit of kit and decide what quality level it fits in and assign a badge accordingly then negotiate with the name owner for a price.

[Clive]

I bought a Power Devil model PDG4024 in 2001 from the local market for £20. It has given years of good service but about 2 years ago it lost pressure. I filled it with 5% white vinegar and forgot about it for a couple of weeks. 6 months or so ago my son told me it was playing up again. This time I stripped it down and gave it a good cleaning with acetic acid, have put it back together and unfortunately the bypass valve is passing when it should not be. I am going to try and acid clean it and exercise the valve in situ or take it out (assuming it will come out, it may be stuck through scale in the water) and replace the O ring.

[Ronnie]

ACTUALLY ! I bought mine from Sainsburys and after a year the wheel fell off I emailed the manufacturers asking for a new wheel but t hey posted me a whole new jet washer FREE OF CHARGE … I’ve had it years & it’s never let me down