to expect a refund or at least a credit note

[Sluttybuttons]

I bought a carseat in about August and gradually over time things started to go wrong with it. The cover kept slipping off and the polystyrene at the side broke and it looks like its just been stuck with a little dab of sticky stuff (think free sample in a magazine). Just before christmas i contacted the shop i bought it from and they said that the manufacturers of the car seat were on holiday until after new year, fair enough so i waited for her to call them and call me back. Last week she called them up and they have said she needs to send the carseat back to them so they can check it. In the mean time i would be left with no carseat so i went and bought a new one (from a different shop). I took the broken carseat to the shop today so she could send it away and i said i didnt want a replacement as i have had to buy a new carseat. She said i will probably just get this 1 back fixed. So what do i do. I have no need for another carseat but my only option was keep the broken one or be without a carseat.

I dont have a dp or friend (that drives) that could have taken it. And there is no way i could manage up to 28 days with no carseat. I asked the woman in the shop if car seats were only designed to last 6 month and she said of course not. Think she realized then she had said the wrong thing.

Exactly, if she had offered a refund when i first went in i would have bought the car seat i needed from them. But since they didn't i bought it elsewhere that offers a 4 year guarantee and instant replacement.

I guess the problem is that it's easy for big retailers to take the loss isn't it? boots or halfords can afford to give away a car seat now and then to keep customers happy.
I suppose smaller retailers tend to stick to the "repair, replace, refund" because otherwise they'd go out of business.

i do think that 28 days is taking the piss a bit though. i went without one for about 2 weeks i think, and that was long enough

thisisyesterday is wrong - you are entitled to a refund on the basis that 28 days to wait for a repair is too long for something like a car seat:

In the first instance and if considered appropriate, the seller must offer to at least repair the goods. They must do this within reasonable time, at no additional cost to you and without causing any significant inconvenience. If any inconvenience is caused you should be given a replacement item on a ?like for like? basis (and not simply the cheapest and most basic model). Many consumer complaints relate to the length of time the item is away being repaired ? and although you must allow reasonable time for repair, the law does not say what ?reasonable time? is. It very much depends on the item itself and the nature of the problem. For most things, shops would usually allow you to exchange the item or give you your money back straight away. However, if the damage is minor and can be repaired easily, then the shop can insist on this as a first option, although this will not stop you from taking it back if the repair is unsatisfactory or there is something else wrong with it.

From here

Go back and just tell them you want a refund. Whatever they say, keep repeating that it's not acceptable and you want a refund. Take a friend with you if necessary

Thank you patti, think ill print that out and take it with me next time.