Retail purchase what are my rights?

[DuckDuckG00se]

I bought a white company dressing gown 3 months ago. Now the stitching is failing and a belt loop has broken which is really not the quality I would expect.
It's outside the months return period but do I have any rights for poor product quality?

What did White Company say when you contacted them?

I would contact them first off. You should expect it to last a reasonable amount of time.

Yes. Under consumer rights a product should last "a reasonable amount of time". What is a reasonable amount of time will depend on the product but it's absolutely not unreasonable to expect dressing gown to last more than 3 months.
I had some headphones returned for a full refund after 23 months after one ear bud stopped charging. The warranty was 12 months but it came with 2 year customer support. I argued that I would expect the batteries to last at least 2 years and I got a full refund if I returned them. I was probably on the edge of what was reasonable and I think if they had been more like 2.5 years they would have said that's a typical life span.

I work in customer complaints and deal with refunds and exchanges. Just contact the complaints department, be nice and explain the situation, they may surprise you.

I might be wrong, but i think you have to warrant goods for 12 months, and for any fault under 6 months, the company has to 'prove the fault wasn't there at manufacture'. After 6 months, you have to prove it's a fault with the goods.

Don't quote me, mind!

Contact them and explain the quality issue, you're covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, garment is falling apart and not of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose or as described, as it's falling apart. Explain you want a refund, or it replaced.
You are fully covered, don't accept any excuses.
Best of luck with it OP.

Such a shame that white company dressing gowns are no such poor qulaity
I ahem one that is 2o years old and great. Have probably had 6 more since then- each getting poorer and the last onehas lasted a year

They have valued price over quality- they cost hardly anything more (actually just checked and they are cheaper now) than 20 years ago.

Shame really- they built a name based on quality- lovely free packing nd now exploit it to sell low quality goods.

Thank you for your replies, they're really helpful & exactly the sort of information I was hoping for!
So I contacted them a couple of days ago and was just told that they wouldn't do anything because I bought it over a month ago.

There's only room on the contact form for a couple of sentences so I will try ringing them next!

@DuckDuckG00se

I'm surprised at that. You'd expect the customer service to be good when you pay the amount white company products are.

Definitely speak your them.

They're fobbing you off. Standard. These companies like to make it as convoluted and difficult as possible to get in contact with them, to waste your time so you give up, it's deliberate.
They also like that you're ignorant of the law too.
Make a formal complaint. Call them to ask about making a formal complaint and where to send it. In your email quote the Consumer Credit Act 2015, USE CHATGPT for speed. Explain that you are appalled at the poor quality of a high price point product and you expect a full refund.

They depend on customer ignorance more than anything. This also extends to ignorant staff. They have no clue and just repeat what management training has told them to say.

I usually do this at the counter, I'm given the same fob off as you so I quote them a small portion of the Consumer Credit Act and explain they need to take the item to send to their manufacturers to investigate as the product is not fit for purpose. As the product they are selling is in breach of the Consumer Credit Act and I expect a full refund.
At this point they usually refer it to a manager and if I don't get my refund I ask it to be escalated or to have contact details to where it can be escalated.
Ask for their name also to put in your correspondence if you are emailing.
The 30 day rule doesn't include faulty products that fall apart after a short time.
If you are asked any questions, ensure you state that you followed all the label guidelines for washing/care. Do not say anything else re garment care.

Good luck OP

I think you mean the Consumer Rights Act, not the Consumer Credit Act.

The price point of a branded product has zero relationship to quality. It depends on where it's manufactured. Most likely is of course China.
Need I say more.

I do, was typing quickly, thanks, will correct.

Could they argue wear and tear?

@DuckDuckG00se
FYI please excuse the typo, I'm doing many things at once today! 😉
I meant the Consumer Rights Act 2015 😀
Best of luck with it OP!