To expect a pair of jeans from NEXT to last more than 4 months?

[CatBert]

They've split across the knee.

Because according to their Customer Services, it's down to wear and tear... extremely bored voice "I'm sorry Mrs Catbert, there's nothing we can do as you bought them four months ago. It's down to wear and tear".

What? (Said I...) I have had things from Primark which cost me 1.99 last longer than 4 months - and you are apparently a quality high street retailer? It's not like I do manual labour in them... I don't even get down on my knees and change nappies any more. I just WEAR them. Around. And About. And not every day maybe once a week. So by my reckoning, I have not worn them more than 20 times.

(continued and poignant silence from other end of the phone. When she was sure my ranting had finished...) "I'm sorry Mrs Catbert, there's nothing we can do as you bought them four months ago. It's down to wear and tear".

(I reeeeally liked them too )

Reckon you're well within your rights to shoplift another pair! But might be safer to get in touch with "Watchdog" (have always wanted to go on that show ) - don't think they'd want the bad publicity and would probably keep you in jeans for rest of your life...

Catbert, I bought jeans from Next in December and they too have split across the knee and come away at the pockets on both sides. They are maternity jeans and one size too big for me so I'm not forcing my fat ass into them or anything.

I think it's a case of live and learn. Don't buy your jeans there again. I won't. Even if I were wealthy, I'd expect jeans to last at least a year unless I were potholing in them or something!

I got a pair from Monsoon that did this. I took them back and they changed them with no argument. That was only after a month though!

Have you taken them into a shop?

It's annoying because I do like Next jeans - they fit well for me, and are not massively expensive. But I think I will vote with my feet and shop elsewhere from now on.

I think I will take a leaf out of my MILs book (she can be the matriach of all matriachs when she puts her mind to it)... Don't faff around with the customer services team - just go straight to the MD, CEO or whoevers name you can get and whine at them until they do something that makes it better

Oh - and I bought them online. But I might take them back to a shop and see what I could get face to face... It might work you never know.

I find the same with gap jeans. These things are not built to last, on purpose, especially if you have young kids and spend a good deal of time nending and squatting.

I bought some Red Herring jeans last year that got a hole in the bottom beside the pocket after 3 months. I've just mended them though as I'm too stingy to buy any more!

I bought some Next jeans a few months ago and they split across the knee the second time I wore them! I obviously took them back, and got a refund.

In your case, if they've split after 4 months of light wear that seems to indicate they are not of satisfactory quality. Maybe you'll have more luck if you go to the shop (They won't want other customers to hear you complaining, so may make a deal to get rid of you). Or ask the Citizens Advice Bureau to write/phone on your behalf?

Hmm,another one here.
Mine split across the knees in a matter of weeks as did the belt that came with them.Got them changed and lo and behold! it has happened again.

I used to work for Gap and found customers who complained the loudest usually got what they wanted.

Go into a store, ask to speak to the manager and firmly and loudly (if you don't mind creating a scene) state your case.

I used to find that my managers would agree to a refund or replacement quite often. It wouldn't look good to have an unhappy customer in front of other customers. The worse they behaved the quicker they were dealt with too!!

HTH

Unless you were wearing the jeans as work trousers on a building site every day, they surely can not suggest that they have withstood reasonable wear and tear over four months?

Go in and stand your ground. You don't have to be nasty, just ask for the manager and be firm about what you expect in return. If you're willing to accept an exchange or credit note, it may be easier, because you will appear reasonable and they get to keep your money. Good luck & report back!

Catbert, I bought a pair of jeans from Next and two weeks later the left knee area split right across. I took them straight back and was informed that a lot of customers had been returning goods because of bad quality. The denim my jeans were made of were definately thinner around the knee area. Oh, forgot to say I had a cash refund with no problems, good luck!

I think the Sale of Goods Act has some good words worth quoting to the manager of the store. It certainly sounds like there is a quality issue. I would expect jeans to last longer than 4 months! I've copied the extract from the Trading Standards Website. HTH

The Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended) says that goods should be as follows:

Of satisfactory quality.

This means the goods must meet the standards that any reasonable person would expect, taking into account the description, the price and all other relevant information. In some circumstances, the retailer may be liable for any statement made by the manufacturer about the goods.

Satisfactory quality includes the appearance and finish of the goods, their safety and durability and whether they are free from defects (including minor faults)

Fit for the purpose

• that goods of this type are generally sold. They must also be fit for any specific or particular purpose made known to the seller at the time of the agreement.

As described

• goods should correspond with any description applied to them.

Another good source of info for problems after purchase with clothes and shoes, including how to complain in writing with a template letter (might need that myself at some point!) is here:

Consumer Direct