Lidl let down

Even 'wearing parts' should last a reasonable time, depending on their nature.

If, for example, the strimmer is under a year old, the switch shouldn't have worn out in normal use. (I'd argue longer than 3 years in domestic use.)

How on earth can a fuel pipe be a wearing part? Do they use sand filled petrol in it? Did you ask them which parts are non wearing parts? Brian

In my experience, apart from getting an exchange of goods at the till, Lidl's customer service is worse than anticipated.

Now when I buy an item of hardware from Lidl, I consider it to be essential disposable.

Seems you're not the only one to have trouble with this item....

Perhaps this is a design fault and maybe your council's trading standards department will give you some joy although I doubt they have the resources to follow this up.

I would normally treat it as the nuclear option, but it sounds like the sort of thing where a small claims court case is worth doing. They haven't just dropped the ball, it sounds as if they're actively being disingenuous.

It's probably worth getting a 'final answer' from them first: eg respond to their offer insisting on a full refund or zero-cost repair, giving your reasons. If they don't counter-offer, they don't budge on their position, or they don't respond, send them a letter before action. If there is no response, commence proceedings. It is likely that a letter before action will wake them up, but if not it isn't that complicated to follow through.

If you do it online, the base fee is 25 pounds. The small claims track is designed so that, even if you lose, what you have to pay to the defendant is capped (though non-zero if witnesses or expert reports are involved). That means there's an incentive for the company to settle, because it will cost them more to defend the case than to settle.

Theo

Very sad to hear that. I have a set of screwdrivers from Lidl and they're awesome. I have a friend that bought a drill from there and is also very pleased. I guess there's bit of bad luck involved here.

I've bought lots and lots of Lidl tools and generally been very satisfied by them. As being exceptional value for money.

Some time ago I bought a graphics tablet which didn't work properly. Exchanged it for another which was just as bad. Eventually took it back for a refund. All as painless as could be.

I've never needed to test their three year warranty some way down the line.

lead-free petrol has a nasty effect on many of the rubber and plastic components in the fuel systems of cheap garden kit.

I suspect most people buy cheap stuff from Lidl and probably replace it anyway before 3 years - or simply dump and replace if it fails.

There are people who buy clothes from Primark and never wash them, they just throw them in a recyling bin or out with the rubbish.

Really? Considering leaded petrol was banned some 30 years ago?

Fuels with lots of ethanol are said to cause problems with some types of fuel rails etc. But high ethanol petrol isn't sold in the UK.

No power tool I've bought from Lidl has failed. But of course they only get DIY use. But then you'd not expect a shed brand to last for pro use either.

sadly the generator I bought wouldn't start. It took about 6 weeks to get them to agree to repair it. I actually was sent another machine back. That failed - for a dfferent reason on Saturday. I'm thinking of asking for my money back.

Or rather, the methanol in it does.

No methanol in petrol

Possibly ethanol

But in general its the polycyclic anti-knock compunds that are so carcinogenic and corrosive.

Another myth,it may be extremely rare but a limited amount is allowed to be sold by a number of outlets, possibly no more than a dozen or so over the whole country. I presume there are enough customers in these pockets with old vehicles that make stocking it and selling at a reasonably high cost worthwhile. This is one of them,

The google car picked up the mention of it on their board last September.

and here is another in Worcestershire.

G.Harman

Best way would be to get a refund. Somehow I don't see how 'they' can make a reasonable quality generator at the selling price. Unlike something like an electric drill, etc.

Depends on how the ethanol is produced. There will be some of that with most petrol with ethanol included.

No, there won't. Any more than there is methanol in vodka or whisky.

There's always one. ;-) I assume Andrew travels the length of the country to get leaded for his garden tools, then?

I doubt it. Any valuable old car would be worth converting to run on unleaded - if it needed it which many don't. And those with an old banger wouldn't be willing to pay the extra.

Still justifying your killfile entry, I see.