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AIBU?

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Original poster

To want to name and shame Britax and Halfords....Grrrrrr

73 replies

purplehonesty · 10/05/2011 21:21

Bought a car seat from Halfords online, the seat belt keeps slipping out of the clamp and the seat will not recline without you taking it out of the car, reclining it and then reinstalling. It did not say this online, what use is a seat you can't recline when bb falls asleep? The belts get stuck in the back of the seat every time you tighten them.
We drive 40 miles to Halfords this morning - they say its not their problem, phone Britax who say we can't exchange it, they will only repair it. We say its not fit for purpose as sold and we want another one, we are happy to pay extra. Halfords refuse, Britax say its not their problem how we get DS (20 months) home again without a seat.
We leave as manager refuses to budge (despite looking at seat and saying its not safe and that a lot of people have complained about it not reclining like it says). Manager says he will speak to his boss and call us. Nothing as yet.
I am livid at the manager and his very rude assistant and britax. Grr.

OP posts:
MadamDeathstare · 10/05/2011 21:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Groovymoves · 10/05/2011 21:23

TBH I wouldn't have bought a seat online before checking it in my car.

YANBU to be annoyed but its not Britax's fault you didn't check it.

Original poster
purplehonesty · 10/05/2011 21:24

I actually had to say to the snippy woman assistant, would you let me speak please as she talked over me constantly when i tried to tell her what was wrong with it. she treated me like a complete idiot.

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Original poster
purplehonesty · 10/05/2011 21:25

groovymoves, you are right i should have bought it from a store, but as its faulty I wouldn't expect to be sent home on a 40 mile drive with a 20 month old and no car seat...

OP posts:
FabbyChic · 10/05/2011 21:26

If you bought it online within the last 7 days you are protected by the distant selling regulations.

I would however, suggest you contact both Britax and Halfords Head Office and threaten them with Trading Standards.

Groovymoves · 10/05/2011 21:27

That's true Purple, their customer service was shoddy.

thisisyesterday · 10/05/2011 21:27

your contract is with Halfords as they sold it

however, the recline thing you have no comeback on you... it DOES recline, just not in the way you want it to, but that isn't their fault it is? unless the description specifically stated that it could be reclined while fixed in place then you don't have a leg to stand on

if the belt slips out of a safety clamp and that is a fault with the seat then they should replace it, but I do think they are allowed to send it for repair first and IIRC you do have to accept that.

thisisyesterday · 10/05/2011 21:28

purple... you would have to send someone else to take it back, not go with your son and return without him in a seat Hmm

but actualy fabby is right... you do have rights under distance selling... how long have you had it?

Original poster
purplehonesty · 10/05/2011 21:29

ah no I've had it longer than that. I am hopeful that after the 'child safety' lecture my husband gave the manager as we left that something will be done!

OP posts:
bronze · 10/05/2011 21:30

Out of interest which seat is it?

SecretNutellaFix · 10/05/2011 21:30

is it the Prince?

Original poster
purplehonesty · 10/05/2011 21:31

yesterday we didnt have anyone to look after him today and I naively (sp?) thought it would be easy to return a faulty seat and buy another one.

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thisisyesterday · 10/05/2011 21:33

well yes, ideally you would have been able to exchange it.

just out of interest... did they view it in your car and comment on the fit and the seatbelt issue?
ie,. did they say the fit was ok and that the clamp SHOULD hold?

SecretNutellaFix · 10/05/2011 21:34

How long have you had it?

trixymalixy · 10/05/2011 21:34

Is it the evolva 123?

Original poster
purplehonesty · 10/05/2011 21:34

hmm I can't remember the name of it and the manager kept our receipt. Car is at work with hubby so I can't nip out and look

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trixymalixy · 10/05/2011 21:35

If the clamp won't hold the belt then it is definitely faulty. I wouldn't have let the manager keep the receipt.

KickArseQueen · 10/05/2011 21:35

Have a look at the email confirmation u should have received when you ordered it?

Original poster
purplehonesty · 10/05/2011 21:36

yes they checked the car thisisyesterday and he couldnt get the clamp to hold the seatbelt either.

OP posts:
KickArseQueen · 10/05/2011 21:36

Or! Look on the website and see which one it is?

thisisyesterday · 10/05/2011 21:36

why did the manager keep the receipt??? very dodgy

Original poster
purplehonesty · 10/05/2011 21:37

I'm just going throught my emails now but all i can find is the 'satisfaction survey' they sent after we bought it. LOL will keep looking

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SecretNutellaFix · 10/05/2011 21:37

So the seat belt keep slipping out of the buckle. The car buckle? Is that what you mean? or the harness in the carseat?

TurkeyBurgerThing · 10/05/2011 21:38

Halfords are fucking abysmal.

I went to buy a car seat at our local store out of desperation and lack of choice. The "Car Seat person" was doing an interview at the time I needed help and I was asked to wait for 5 minutes. (It was a replacement for one the same that we never saw again after some diseased little shitty scrotum stole our car, so I knew exactly what I wanted and how to fit it.)

Anyway 25 minutes later I was feeling aggitated as I really didn't need to waste any more of my life and went up to the desk where "Car seat person" was. I overheard the discussion that there was in fact a "car seat person B" who could have helped me in the time I was waiting. CSP B declared he was not going to help the customer (me) because he was off on his break. CSP A made it clear she couldn't be arsed because she was finishing work in 10 minutes. I overheard this and told them what I thought and that I was off to Argos instead.

Write to their head office, and even if Y were BU any excuse to shit on Halfords is a good one because they're such dicks.

Original poster
purplehonesty · 10/05/2011 21:38

2 secs will check website. manager took receipt and went off to let us choose another seat while he returned the old one. then he came back and said britax have said no.

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