Volume of bottle less than stated on packaging

[cardamomginger]

Hi,

I've bought several small bottles of perfume concentrate from the London branch of an international perfume house. Volume stated is 12ml. I split one of the bottles with a friend and ran out before I expected to - we were going to take 6ml each. So I measured the volume of the now empty bottle with water and a graduated medical grade syringe. The bottle cannot hold 12ml - it overflows. Allowing for displacement by the stopper, I reckon it holds 9.5ml. I am confident of the syringe, but have others of a different make, so I could test again to make sure. 2.5ml might not seem like much, but it's a large proportion of the overall volume I thought I was buying and these are expensive fragrances.

I'm wondering what I am entitled to ask for. I've used all of one bottle and most of another. So asking for my money back seems a bit much. But clearly I've got less for my money that I thought I was getting. Do I go back to the shop? Trading Standards? The question is not just what do I ask for myself, but what should the perfume house do in response. If it is not 12 ml, then they shouldn'[t continue to market it as 12ml.

They also do these in (allegedly) 30ml bottles. And I have one of these. I haven't used this one up, so can't measure the volume, but I am suspicious that I have been short-changed here as well.

Really appreciate any advice! Happy New Year to everyone .

[LovesBeingAtHomeForChristmas]

I remember a case involving heinz ketchup, trading standard received a complaint ( someone was measuring due to a recipe), all I can remember was they had to overfill bottles for x amount of time.

Guess it depends what you want, maybe try talking to them first and see what their response is?

[cardamomginger]

Thanks - might see if I can find details of the Heinz case. I don't know what I want! So I suppose knowing what I am legally entitled to ask for would help! A proportional per ml refund? I'm on quite good terms with the staff there, but I have no idea how they will react to this....

[Boomboomboomboom]

If you are really sure on your quantities I would have thought Trading Standards would be quite interested in what sounds like a premium brand being missold. If they have ripped you off, what are the chances they are ripping everyone off?

[cardamomginger]

I am pretty sure of my volumes - I checked again with a different size syringe of a different manufacture and came up with the same results.

I emailed my local Trading Standards office, and got an automatic reply that as a consumer I need to contact Citizens Advice. So I've done this and will wait to hear what they say. I'd like to hear back from them before I contact the shop. Yes - on a wider scale, this is quite major, if I am correct!