Shop won't refund or exchange faulty toaster!

[AcorgicalledTiffany]

So about six weeks ago I went to DC's school as they were holding an autumn fair. I bought a book of raffle tickets, £5 in total, and later found out I had won a prize. All prizes had been donated by local businesses for free advertising I suppose, not sure how they got involved but there we are.

I won a brand new four slice toaster, it said on the label it was "worth" £49 and had been donated by a local hardware shop. All was ok until last week when one side of the toaster stopped holding the bread down. So I took it back to the shop where it had originally come from. Man in the shop said there was absolutely nothing he could do as it was a gift to the school, which I really wasn't happy about. He said I could try contacting the manufacturers, so I went home and called them and they said no way could they do anything as this toaster had been out of production for almost FIVE years!!!

So back I went to the hardware shop and told this to the man, I was really cross by now as it was obviously some old stock he'd given away which he admitted it was, he said it was something he'd had in the stockroom for sometime and that he hadn't had such expensive toasters for sale for a while as nobody seemed to buy them, all of this of course is not my problem. The only thing he said he would be prepared to do for me would be to order me a new toaster and sell it to me at the cost price, he showed me the suppliers catalogue and the cheapest one he could get that is anything like this was over £30, so obviously I told him no.

I am really peed off about this as he got free advertising for his shop only its backfired now! As I will be telling people to avoid the place. But why should I lose out?

Has OP changed her name to @Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService?

Things do degrade over time; but most importantly from the pov of a shop/supplier with integrity, if an item is no longer produced, it can't be replaced like for like if it does turn out to be faulty.

Why on earth would he keep a toaster in stock for in excess of 5 years and never have reduced it to clear long before now - and then suddenly think of it when he's asked for a raffle prize? It's meant to be a shop; not a museum!

It's a shame when people see things like raffles and harvest festivals - and indeed charity shops - as a way of getting rid of old rubbish that then just becomes somebody else's problem. If you don't want to or can't afford to donate a prize, it's not difficult to politely decline.

You're making yourself look a right nutter, OP.

Are you the OP?

There's no need for a return or a replacement because nobody has purchased it. The perfect opportunity to kindly donate an item.

Offloading rubbish would be giving a broken toaster. This was perfectly working for 6 weeks. As a PP said, that's 6 weeks of free toast.

Was meant to quote

When I started reading the OP, I thought she was going to say she complained to the school, which would have been cringe enough. But she actually went to the shop that donated it.

Maybe you’re a bit too heavy handed OP.

Not what you asked but a Repair Cafe may well be able to fix this for you. It breaking is just one of those things.

You didn’t buy it. It cost you a fiver. Just bin it.

No I'm not.

Believe it or not, people sometimes have different opinions on things from others and can agree with the OP, even when the majority don't - and online discussion fora are a popular place for those opinions to be conveyed!

Apologies to anybody who wanted a 100% pile-on for the OP!

PMSL

Thanks for the entertaining thread @AcorgicalledTiffany

It brightened up my dull Thursday.

Well done, OP. You have no doubt ensured that at least one local business will avoid supporting your dc's school in future. And potentially others if this guy decides to share his experience with other local business owners.

Result!

Seriously just buy yourself another toaster

I think you have been unreasonable OP. If I were you I’d call the hardware store and tell them you’ve had a rethink and realise you’ve been unreasonable.

You could ask for your raffle ticket money back but I wouldn’t recommend it.

Best plan is to see if you can fix it. Ask ai.

This can only be a joke. An amusing one nonetheless, i can imagine the supposed OP cringely explained said saga in the playground 😂

I feel your pain @AcorgicalledTiffanyOP - my DP won a haircut at our school fete for a newly opened barber’s shop. It was so humiliating - he’s been bald for years. The barber refused to swap it for a cash equivalent - he said “it’s the luck of the draw mate”. Honestly, the cheek of it! So many people laughed as DP went up to collect the ‘prize’. We were both devastated and left shaking and sobbing.

The Head ignored my repeated complaint calls, as did the Chair of the PTA. The whole school What’s App message I sent was met with abuse. People just don’t care although one very kind parent offered to give me the £1 back, which I gratefully accepted, but I had to take all the children over an hour on 3 buses to go and collect it because she wouldn’t deliver it to me - not very kind.

We were so disgusted by this whole debacle that we withdrew our children immediately and now home educate. You should do the same, it’s so unacceptable.

He did nothing wrong in donating the toaster that wasn't selling. I think most people donate things they don't have use for if asked to give a raffle prize.

E.g. we've been asked to send in bottles tomorrow for prizes at the school Christmas fete. I happen to have been gifted 2 bottles of Irish cream (one Aldi, one Baileys) and we won't get through both over Christmas so the Aldi one is going to the raffle tomorrow.

@AcorgicalledTiffany you have no contract with the shop.

You could contact the school and ask for your £1 to be refunded but that would be unbelievably petty and cringe.

Just take it to a local repair shop. It will be an easy fix.

Did you check it wasn't crumbs blocking the lever? Most common cause. If not it will be the electromagnet, perhaps just the contacts need cleaning.

Feel embarrassed for you! It was a raffle prize! Get over yourself!

It's annoying that the toaster broke after 6 weeks, it would have been nice for him to give you a replacement but he won't so just buy another toaster and move on with your life.

You are in the same position as if you'd bought raffle tickets and not won anything.
Which presumably was something you were quite willing to chance.
Bit disappointing your prize broke. But it happens. The shop doesn't owe you a toaster.
If anyone owes you something the school could refund you for the cost of the winning raffle ticket. Please don't ask them though. It would be embarrassing for everyone involved.

Did you actually read the thread? Or do you have difficulty understanding?

Is it one of those dodgy Norwegian imports? And is it blue?

Love it!
It's obviously a joke but you nearly had me there!

Yes, I've read the whole thread - and no, I don't. Have you read the whole thread - including my other comments?

Do you understand that threads very often begin with the OP and then broaden out to connected circumstances and experiences that don't necessarily apply to the OP's specific scenario - such as the one that I replied to, and you quoted my reply to?

It's a shame how many people feel unable to disagree with somebody without just calling them stupid - it takes me right back all of those years to the playground days!

What is the point exactly OP apart from the fact you are coming across as a bit unhinged. You didn't buy the toaster, he has no contract with you and doesn't owe you anything. Take to CAB if your that determined, but fgs don't make a tit of yourself going on socials or telling people to boycott hte shop.
If I was the owner I would taking action if I knew you were slagging off my business without reasonable cause.