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broken tv and lied to by salesman... wwyd?

11 replies

flyingspaghettimonster · 09/05/2012 18:47

In 2010 we finally decided to replace our ancient, tiny, nail varnish coated television for a decent size one for watching Netflix on as we don't get any tv channels here. It was the biggest purchase we have ever made, and we used a combination of savings and gift money to splash out on it. We hadn't planned on getting such a big one, but got a bit carried away in the store and I was persuaded by the idea of having a life size Robert Downey Jr. in my living room whenever I fancied Blush. We were also lied to repeatedly by the sales associate and bullied into buying a $430 protection plan, that he claimed covered everything except theft. Including accidental damage to the screen. We asked several times and he confirmed each time, we were covered and wouldn't need additional insurance as the protection plan covered everything.

The inevitable happened - the screen broke, and then we realised we had been lied to - we researched online and found a website with a forum for staff and ex-staff discussing how they were encouraged in daily meetings to lie and bully until the protection plans were sold. It is clearly a common practice and the only way the staff made a good wage so our associate had a lot of incentive to lie to us.

I need to write a letter that gets across how upset and angry we are, how we were lied to by the sales associate repeatedly and that, because of his lies we never took out additional insurance which we obviously would have done if he had been honest. He was also supposed to give us a protection plan booklet which he didn't.

I want to make it clear that at the very least we want all of the protection plan refunded, since it was mis-sold. Ideally they would replace the tv as we were told would happen, but I realise that won't happen.

How can I word my letter that makes it clear I will happily picket daily outside the store with big signs calling them lying scumbags if they do nothing, but whilst being polite enough so if the manager has a good will gesture option, he might use it?

OP posts:
DairyNips · 09/05/2012 19:04

Have you tried speaking to trading standards about it? I found them helpful in a similar situation..

Flisspaps · 09/05/2012 19:06

Are you in the UK OP?

You say you paid $430 for the TV so our consumer laws and advice won't apply if you're elsewhere.

ratspeaker · 09/05/2012 19:20

Are they refusing to repair the tv?

flyingspaghettimonster · 09/05/2012 19:54

I am in usa and british... I know uk trading standards won't work so not sure how to deal with it. we can apparently pay for it to be fixed, but it costs the same as a new tv... It is a plasma screen.

They repaid $250 of the protection plan as apparently it is very common for people to change their mind so you can get the money back for the remaining period. I really feel in the circumstances they should refund all the plan though.

OP posts:
Flisspaps · 09/05/2012 20:06

flyingspaghettimonster you (obviously) know UK law won't apply, but posters may offer you advice thinking you're over here, not over there Grin

amicissimma · 09/05/2012 20:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Naoko · 09/05/2012 20:09

If it were me I'd not stop making a polite nuisance of myself until they replaced the TV, but that's just me, I get tenacious about this. I don't know anything about US consumer law, but maybe these people can help you?

flyingspaghettimonster · 09/05/2012 21:32

Thanks for advice. Oh, we did take it as a huge life lesson, believe me! It was broken months ago and I was too mad to call them until now... we had an inheritance at christmas and replaced with a cheaper, insured version so I am now calmer. feel very lucky we were able to replace after only a few months, because netflix is our main entertainment.

I am just unsure how polite I should be. I could go in guns blazing and try face to face with the manager, but I prefer a letter first. I just don't know if I should start slow and polite, exposing shock at not getting the promised repair, then work up to the protesting outside the store with leaflets... Our just go straight for threats...

OP posts:
theoldtrout01876 · 09/05/2012 23:26

flyingspaghettimonster first off great name,Dh also of that persuasion :o

Id call the attorney generals office in the state you live in, they usually have a consumer protection type division . Ive used the 1 in my state 3 times over the years and had a very good resolution in 2 of them. Id also contact the store manager, take his name etc and if that gets you no where contact the store corporate offices.

I find that going in all guns blazing here gets you no where,they are used to it and can tune it out. British ( or in my case, Celtic :o ) charm works much better. The secret is not to give up easily, keep going, politely, if you dont like what your hearing, take that persons name and insist on speaking to their manager/supervisor. Ask for the address for their complaints dept, inform them your going to attorney general etc.

Emphasize the fact you were lied to. Do you still have the receipt? most will actually have the name or number of the person who sold you the item printed on it.

Good luck, the squeaky wheel does usually get the grease in this country :o

greenplastictrees · 09/05/2012 23:32

Bit of a side issue to the sales issue but what make is the TV?

greenplastictrees · 09/05/2012 23:35

The reason I ask is our Siemens Tv broke twice (both out of warranty) and they fixed it both times, no problem at all!

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