Re: Further interesting Dixons versus the DVD stories.

I don't understand why people buy anything from Dixons -- there are just so many instances reported of their staff behaving like this.

It's no consolation, but have a giggle at

This is the website you want:

Hmm...

..........buy from the local paper and if anything goes wrong...

Bought a camcorder from Dixons years ago. Didn't work properly. They sent it to be repaired. It came back worse. Twice.

Took it back, asked for it to be replaced.

"The manager's not here today. I can't do anything." "Well, who's in charge if the shop catches fire?" "I am." "Right. What are YOU gonna do?" "I can't do anything." "OK, I'm gonna stand right outside the door and tell everyone who walks past that Dixons are a bunch of liars and crooks."

Camera replaced with better model immediately.

Never shopped there again in 14 years.

If you don't fancy that approach, have you got legal expenses cover on your home insurance?

Strap a bit of plastic explostive looking material to your body, have a few wires hanging out to make it more authentic - put a towel around your head and go buy a copy of the koran. Then run in Dixons and shout something in Arabic (or in gibberish that sounds like it could be Arabic) and then say something about wanting to blow up Dixons (but in english because you want people to hear that). Wait for a reaction.

Fax the MD. IMHO, this is the best way of actually making sure he sees any communication.

A refund, yes.

When you bought the player, a legally binding Contract was formed between Dixons & yourself. The relevant legislation in this case is "The Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended by The Sale & supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002)."

As you bought the player three months ago, then Sec. 48A(3) applies. This basically states that an item which develops a fault within 6 Months of delivery will be considered not to have conformed to the Contract at the outset, unless the particular item had been demonstrated to your satisfaction at the time of delivery.

In other words, unless the player which you bought, was demonstrated to you at the time of sale, then, if it develops a fault within the first 6 Months, it is deemed as being faulty from the outset. This entitles you to very specific remedies against the seller & which are contained in S.48B-D of the Act.

Briefly, you have four options. You can require the seller (i.e. Dixons) to;

1. Repair the item. In which case the seller must do so within a'reasonable time & eithout causing significant inconvenience to the buyer. Their actions to date demonstrate they have failed this test. You are not obliged to give them a second opportunity.

2.Replace the item. You can insist that they replace the item with a brand new one. (But see Note a) below).

4,Rescission of Contract. You can insist that they refund the purchase price.

Note, a)You cannot demand a certain action when it is impossible for the seller to comply with that demand. for example, you canot insist upon a replacement item if the seller no longer stocks the item. b)The SoGA states that you, as the buyer, are entitled to decide which of the four options above are preferable in order to resolve the problem. The choice does NOT lie with the seller. c) I have made reference to only the most salient pointsas I understand this matter & in respect of the SoGA.

I would recommend Option 4 i.e. Recission of Contract & refund of purchase price as the seller appears to have no interest in resolving your problem.

I would not recommend you pursue this matter with Sony. Although they may assist you it would be purely as a matter of good will & would be of little benefit to you if the player failed again in 6 Months time. At the moment you have the benefit of a legally enforcable Contract available to you & the option of taking your money elsewhere.

Also I would not recommend you stage a simulated terrorist attack on your local Dixons, tempting though it is :)

I am not a lawyer.

Joe Lee

Even better fax the MD's sec,pa etc. They will MAKE sure he see's it.

Dave

What did they say when you telephoned that branch and spoke to the people who you saw during your visit and asked them about the proof of sale? Perhaps it is their policy to keep it to enable the repair work to be carried out, or perhaps it was just a mistake without any bad intent.

Perhaps it might have been better just to send a letter to the Area Managers office or a sub manager these companies have rigid protocol they insist on being followed. If you don't tell someone what the problem is then presumably it would be more difficult to resolve your issue?

It seems you have not contacted anybody at Dixons about this issue yet so there you have not given them a chance to remedy the situation which seems to be that they have not yet sent your machine to the repair center due to the computer operator being away sick? A delay for sure, even you might say a mistake, but is it something that really justifies watchdog when you yourself have not approached the manager of that shop for an explanation or a remedy, unless you have done so already.

My advice would be to try to get a solution from Dixons themselves first despite your initial frustration, but try a less senior manager, for example the manager of the existing shop that you originally bought the device from.

Good Luck

"stuart noble" like the bad publicity, and will often go way beyond their legal obligations

In my experience (Widescreen TV on the blink.) Sony don't give a flying f*ck about after-sales service. The best I was offered was "Bring it through to Glasgow", I live in Edinburgh and, "We don't open on Saturday afternoons".

My experiences with Sony were very different. Big telly went red in one corner after about 14 months and because it was over a year old I took it to the local tv repair man. He said that it needed a new tube which was going to cost nearly £500.

I wrote to Sony and said that I expected a quality product such as theirs to last longer than 14 months and they send me a new tube for free.

Nick Brooks

Legally, Sont are not involved, but I dare say they would like to know what their distributors are geting up to.

I woild think that you are entitled to a new machine or a refund from Dixons (although your original acceptance of tehir offer to have it repaired might complicate this).

Go in, ask for the manager, and ask for your money back (or at the very least a credit note). If they won't play ball, leave the shop and acquire a policeman (if you can find one) and bring him in with you. I have known this to work wonders - although the presence of a large police station a few doors away was helpful.

Sadly, that *is* the bloke that (a) promised it would be back in a week (b) grabbed the docket out of the hand of the bloke who went to fetch teh machine for me and (c) gave me a completely stupid explanation that is a complete and utter lie, from the shifty looks on his staff. and (c) somehow failed to give me back the original card voucher and dixons guarantee, which, sadly, I failed to notice till I got home.

I know what he will say 'you only gave me the repair ticket' ...why admit anything else when he knows I cannot prove it?

But will a policeman be even remotely interested in what is essentially a civil matter of contract???

-- Richard Sampson

email me at richard at olifant d-ot co do-t uk

In message , The Natural Philosopher writes

I assume that they have CCTV in the store? Try asking for a copy of the tape that includes your visit. As I understand it under the data protection act you are entitled to a copy if it contains your image. I believe though that they can charge you a reasonable fee for providing this and also that they are supposed to remove any one else's image from it. I'm sure some one will correct this if I'm wrong. It may not show what you are looking for i.e. all the paperwork being handed over but it could show him that you mean business.

Good luck

More to the point, how will you grab him when he's driving past at 100mph with blue lights on because he's late for his tea?

Turn up prepared with a flask of tea and a big mac. Like a moth to the light.....

;-)

-- Richard Sampson

email me at richard at olifant d-ot co do-t uk

Yes they are - since last year the warranty is a contract.