To remind people of their consumer rights

[Sleepeazie]

Last week our 10 month old kettle from Cuisinart stopped working..

initially I looked to buy a replacement, then somewhere within me niggled I might be able to claim under trading standards - reasonable expectation of life.

so I contacted cuisinart and they’re sending out a (non identical) replacement.

I was shocked when I think of how I almost forgot my right (to a product of certain longevity) and my upbringing (whereby we’d always return to the manufacturer/ seller
first.) vs trends to throw broken goods and replace

I think in today’s ‘throw away society’ we forget our consumer rights’ and I just wanted
remind people of these where applicable.

Yeah it's a good reminder actually OP.

A couple of years ago I bought a little folder to keep receipts and other proof of purchases in, and even I would've probably just bought another kettle without thinking.

Growing up in the 70s and 80s, every high street had repair shops on them and my parents would always go there before even considering a replacement, no matter how old the item was.

Thanks @NoahDia im actually bordering on anal with my budgeting/money saving and it struck me how it wasn’t an instinctive response - which is unusual

I think because things aren't really built to last anymore, we've learned not to expect them to.

It's bad really when you think of the amount of stuff that ends up in landfill, because they're now 'impossible' to repair.

We had the same TV for at least 20 years when I was growing up.

The TV repair man replaced so many parts over the years, it ended up like 'Trigger's broom' 🤣

Anything electrical should automatically be guaranteed for 12 months, so in future OP, keep your receipt, and write the date on the back with a pen, as all too often the receipt fades, and if you need it, you can't read the date. I tend to then staple it to the instruction book, so I know where it is.

Thanks for your reply’s’. I’m sure my family are hanging their heads in shame, in the next life, that I even contemplated contacting the necessity of contacting cuisinart!

Good to be reminded OP.

I don't think it's just a throwaway society. Companies are tacitly telling us that they're unreachable unresponsive behemoths now that customer service is essentially a bot on a screen, so it's easy to forget that actually they do have to answer to us when things go wrong.

Glad you got it sorted.

I always get money off replacement big white goods too, if they go wrong within ten years. Regardless of when a guarantee technically runs out, there's a reasonable expectation that something you've paid ££hundreds for should last that long.

Thanks @Emori i can’t pinpoint when it became ‘against the norm’or the reasons why, but i identify that the general psyche had changed.

It’s sad that we have to, but good that we can, identify the reasons why we don’t readily call on our consumer rights’ anymore, as items get more low price/ high turnover.

we still, as consumers, should expect a level of longevity though.

Great reminder. And I completely agree.

I do feel we are on the cusp of something though, where people are much less willing to keep buying new and enshittified stuff. Things should last a decent amount of time.

Now moved to take my poor quality ruined boots back to M&S even though I bought them 10 months ago. Reckon they have had two months of sporadic wear only.

DH just had his Spear and Jackson pruners replaced, just under a year old for free. Very good customer service, they are about £100.