AIBU to take my brand new bikini trimmer back to the shop becuase it's useless, but in order to find that out I had to use it!

[Thandeka]

There are some things that customer services shouldn't have to deal with and this is probably one of thembut am really peeved as had to buy a new bikini trimmer today as old fab ones hair length guidy thing has gone AWOL meaning a buzz cut with bloody scabs if unless used with extreme dexterity which I don't have.

It was £17 from boots (boots own brand) and it just doesn't cut the hairs properly seems blunt, leaves a really uneven finish, takes ages and ages and if you try and adjust the hair trimmer the battery back falls off- it's useless! I might have well have used scissors except for the fact am 38 weeks pregnant and can't see what am doing! (wanted to be nice and trim for the midwives haha!) Am so tempted to take it back but that's really gross isn't it? Do I just suck up the loss of 17 and put it down to experience? I spose once bub is here I shall nevermore have need for a neatly trimmed fanjo. But bah!

If it doesn't trim your hair properly and the back falls off, its not really fit for purpose. I'd take it back. Offer to show them the results, they'll soon pay up

The exact same thing happened to me. I just couldn't bring myself to go back in with it and explain what was wrong. To be honest, I found buying it in the first place strangely mortifying. But yanbu. It doesn't work and you are entitked to a refund. Wouldn't blame you for taking the hit and losing the money though...

As long as it is clean, take it back...

It is clean but then I lifted the head off and found some stray pubes (boak!) so I am not sure even if I spend ages making sure is super clean that I won't miss a pube and I am not sure I want my pubes to go to head office!

Hmmmm Maybe I will email boots customer services and see what they say before embarrasing myself further...

I was once in Ann Summers and a man was bringing back a large vibrator. The customer services lady was waving it about as he described why it was faulty. She then asked him if it had been used- he said yes. She put it down rather quickly! I would never send take of those back!

I think that you should consider sending a carefully/discreetly worded e-mail to them first. I would also be upfront in the e-mail and explain that for fairly obvious reasons you would prefer not to have to present yourself and this item in the shop and have a discussion with a sales assistant about it!

A big store like Boots should take this complaint seriously.

Offer to post it (in a clean condition, obviously) with the receipt so that they can sort it out.

Lol @ vibrator story.

If you can't get the pubes out, surely its not possible to clean it properly. Sounds like a bad design.

If you write to Boots and complain about it, you'll probably get your money back and complimentary vouchers. (stress the embarassing situation their poor product has placed you in).

Yes, really lay it on thick with them that you are in an advanced stage of pregnancy, very distressed and disappointed in the product. Anxious about having to expose your untrimmed bikini line to the delivering midwife.

Oh, and say you are looking forward to spending oodles of money on their website/in your local Boots on baby wipes, nappies etc etc once lo is born!

am writing to boots now.

How do I say "leaves an uneven finish" without it sounding embarrasingly awful.

What I actually want to say is "it makes my nethers look like they have been attacked by a blunt hacksaw and I suspect a hedge trimmer would do a better job" but i suspect they may then think it is my pubes at fault and not their machine! I have normal pubes they ain't made of steel wool!

uneven finish sounds fine imo.

Perhaps even very uneven finish.

Love this thread. 37 wks today and full of sympathy...

'Hair is not trimmed evenly' or don't you want to mention hair?

You're going to have to be fairly specific or they won't know what the problem is!

lol this thread has made me giggle!!!

I didnt have time to get rid of mine when I had dd.... poor midwife had to deal with the Amazon! So once I had had dd they offered me a bath and a requested a razor!!!

They were very amused and said no one had ever done that before but I could not stand the though of a hairy muff and all the mess!

Get rid of it all whilst you can!

Right ladies what do we think of my letter (is making me cringe but fook it less embarrassing than saying it too a spotty teenager on the customer services desk!):
(the "smooth solution" reference is because that is what the product is called see here

Hello,
I purchased this item today from the XXXX store to ensure I was neat and hygienic for giving birth imminently. Unfortunately this item is not at all fit for purpose. The trimmer is very blunt so it does not cut the hairs properly and therefore takes a ridiculously long time to use and leaves an uneven untidy appearance not a "smooth solution at all". Also if you try and adjust the hair trimmer the battery back falls off at the same time so basically it is a very disappointing poor quality product and a complete waste of money. Due to the nature of the product I would prefer not to have to present myself with the product into a Boots store, especially being so advanced in pregnancy as it is too stressful to have to make a special trip and explain this in person. I have been a loyal customer of Boots for years (in fact the majority of our baby stuff has come from you) so I am hoping I will be able to return the item for a refund via post.
Thankyou

That's true Onepiece, - tell them its a bush-mangling bastard OP.

Lovely.

I love a good "complaint" type letter that is very polite but clear in what you expect.

Update us, won't you?

ooops x-posted - your letter is more tactful Thandeka.

Kurri I thought that she could perhaps put something dramatic along the lines of her fanjo being ripped to shreds...however this could cause confusion if the person didn't understand the term fanjo.

Overall I think the op's letter sets the right tone.

ooh have just amended last sentence to
"so I am hoping I will be able to return this item in a clean condition with reciept via post."

And do I give them my phone number!? Bad enough to give name and email addy!

I personally don't tend to give out my phone number unless there is a good reason. E-mail address better imo.

I'd avoid phone numbers unless you want to discuss your under-bits with some young lad from customer services.

Right have sent it- without phone number!

Hehe- if they refuse to refund shall I threaten to set Mumsnet on them!

My next letter will be

"The power of mumsnet shall boycott all your fanjo shredders for ever more unless you give me my money back,
Ta"