Too pedantic?

dave :

Dear Dave, if you don't mind looking like a prat, ask for a refund of

I'm sure if he contacts them, they'll send the missing length.

More seriously, it does seem a bit off. If I'd ordered a length and I actually needed that length, I'd be annoyed.

I would personally send them a message and see what they say. If they aren't interested, I'd do neutral feedback with a suitable comment.

Nah park the cars 4 metres apart then you won't need them

Regards

Yes ok - but you miss the point. Let me make it easy for you - why isn't the cable 1.5 too long? fyi prats often hide behind percentages :-) You did see the price per metre I take it - and anyway buyer could have needed at least that much - that's why it was ordered you see.

dave :

No, I have no idea what the price per metre is, but 0.5% is 0.5%. I'd put it down to carelessness unless I had good reason to think otherwise. You don't know what the average error is, you have only a sample of one, and a suspicious nature (NTTAWWT).

In the past I have returned and got refunded for an extension lead from CPC that was slightly shorter than advertised, because it wouldn't do the job I bought it for. So I'm not averse to being "pedantic".

But in your case the 2.85m would still do the job, and in your position I probably wouldn't complain. I might take the trouble to inform the seller if I thought he'd be interested and would take more care in future. And/or I might mention it in my feedback (I'd definitely mention it if I didn't get a positive response).

Yes - but supply proof. A pic of the cable alongside a tape measure or whatever.

I've recently had an Ebay buyer trying it on for a partial refund - and he refused to supply proof.

sorry misread the op

I would order another length as 1.4925 metre per jump lead is pretty useless for a jump lead and 1.5 metres would be no better

mine are 5 metres

Regards

Just to add, if you've already put it to use, you can't now claim a full refund on the return of the unused goods. Which is the only other option the seller is obliged to offer. So it is now down to his goodwill.

IIRC there is no statutory provision for the accuracy of goods sold by length (unlike those sold by weight or volume) so it's possible the old legal principle of "de minimis no curat lex" ("the law takes no account of very trifling matters") might apply if you did you specify the importance of precise measurement.

On a separate track, is this multistranded wire where IIRC elongation can depend on handling and temperature (and I don't mean the trivial linear thermal expenasion)? If so, did you measure it when it was warm and fully straightened?

Hmm, if I were that bothered then it's the sort of thing where I would have gone to a real shop[1] so I could ensure that I got exactly what I need. I've always found online to be more risky unless there's no margin for error in what I'm buying - in other words you too a risk and didn't get exactly what you were expecting, but it's probably far more trouble than it's worth to fix it.

cheers

Jules

I dunno any real shop where I could buy jump lead cable by the metre, despite living in London. It's such a specialist thing most would be forced to use mail order. My quite extensive experience says it's unusual for Ebay sellers to give short measure. It's usually the opposite.

Hmm, maybe it's different in the UK; it's typically the same stuff that's also sold as welding cable here in the US (with a range of AWG), which broadens the supply potential somewhat - it's the kind of thing I'd expect my farm place to have in stock, even without clamps at the ends (although jumper cables with clamps aren't particularly expensive over here).

cheers

Jules

I had my jump leads made up to "Ford Sierra length". That is the SI standard length needed to jump start one Sierra from another Sierra when they are both facing the same way and parked bumper to bumper on a single width driveway.

If I had more money at the time I would have bought he "Ford Granada length" cables:-)

Hmm.. it's a 0.5% error. If he'd sent you 301.5cm would you send the surplus back?

My local has superb tractor quality jump leads, far superior to the cheap s**te sold in most car shops and pretty close in price.