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Original poster

In shock...DD2 nearly had serious fall from highchair!

26 replies

lady007pink · 08/07/2007 16:26

My DD2 (7mo) was after having her lunch followed by a Farley's rusk while seated in her highchair. The tray needed a clean so I detached it and, right in front of my very eyes my daughter fell from the seat and was suspended upside-down in mid-air by the harness. I managed to free her. After a lot of cuddles she was okay. I examined the harness and, to my horror, discovered the stitching had become undone on one side of it and broke away. Thankfully the stitching didn't come undone on the other side of the harness too (as could have happened while taking the full weight of DD2) or she would have fallen head first onto the hard ceramic tiles. As it is, she has a bruise on her thigh.
I'm so angry this happened. Seemingly it complies with BS5799. You imagine a child should have been safe in it, and this should never have happened. I only bought it in Argos a few months ago.

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winestein · 08/07/2007 16:29

I would contact the manufacturer and lay it on very thick.
Easiest and quickest way to do this is often via their website. They should be keen to help you out.
How frightening for you

JeremyJayneVile · 08/07/2007 16:30

Deffo get in touch with argos or manufacturer, if for no other reason than to highlight a possible fault.

Poor DD, at least you were right there.

Original poster
lady007pink · 08/07/2007 16:34

I phoned the Customer Service Representative and she just told me to bring it back to my local Argos with a receipt and I'll get a replacement!!! As if I'd want the same one again!!!
I'll do that tomorrow. It was the cheapest highchair in Argos (unfortunately I'd given away my previous deluxe highchair 2 years ago as I was certain I was never having any more children!). Should I demand an upgrade without paying extra?

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Original poster
lady007pink · 08/07/2007 16:35

Yes, JJv. And it scares me to think of the times I'd leave her sitting in it playing with toys while doing some tidying up around the kitchen!

OP posts:
JeremyJayneVile · 08/07/2007 16:36

Well you'd certainly not be unreasonable to say you dont want that one again, if it was the cheapest then i would imagine they'll offer you the next one up instead, either way you shouldn't be left out of pocket.

winestein · 08/07/2007 16:36

I'm not sure you would be able to do that in the shop. I think you would be on better ground demanding your money back and buying a different one.
I'm shocked that the manufacturer didn;t want to know though.

winestein · 08/07/2007 16:37

That's a good stance JV - worth a go.

LIZS · 08/07/2007 16:42

"I'm shocked that the manufacturer didn;t want to know though." Don't think the OP said that . Her contract is in the first instance with Argos , who seem to be being ok so far . Worth dropping an email to them afterwards and the manufacturer though highlighting the safety aspect.

NannyL · 08/07/2007 16:44

excatly which hight chair was it? (just so we all know which highchair to avoid in future )

what a bit of luck she was 'strapped' in.

Lesson to us all always strap them in!

Original poster
lady007pink · 08/07/2007 16:44

Thanks a million, Winestein and JJV! Crikey, my day started off well as I found an old scratchcard in the car this morning with a free ticket win, so I handed it into the newsagent and got my exchange scratchcard. I won e50 on it!
But the rest of the day could have gone so differently.
It's great to have Mumsnet to let off steam like that!

OP posts:
Original poster
lady007pink · 08/07/2007 16:45

Am I allowed to say here which highchair it was? Will i be banned from Mumsnet if I do?

OP posts:
IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo · 08/07/2007 16:47

No, in terms of products,name and shame, we all do it from time to time (they are called reviews)

winestein · 08/07/2007 16:49

Lol
I'm pretty sure you can say which one. It's not liable, it's a product.

Second thought - before you take the chair back, ring Trading Standards to get their take on it.

Original poster
lady007pink · 08/07/2007 16:49

Okay, I've give a below average Review of this highchair!
www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3760103.htm

OP posts:
IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo · 08/07/2007 16:51

You can also post your opinion here:

www.mumsnet.com/pubcats.html?o=1183909781991

Original poster
lady007pink · 08/07/2007 16:54

Thank you all, DD2 has just awoken. It's time for dinner, only I'll have to give it to her seated on my knee - should be fun!
I'll do that posting later on, Isabel!

OP posts:
NannyL · 08/07/2007 16:59

can you not just put her back in the highchair and use reins?

also if the tray is on and you are beside her she is very unlikely to fall out...

LIZS · 08/07/2007 17:00

Do you know who actually makes it ,as it is argos' own brand.

Original poster
lady007pink · 08/07/2007 20:05

NannyL, just did that using a Boots harness and it works reasonably well. I'd trust Boots's needlework better than that of the highchair manufacturers! We might stick with that as I don't fancy lugging it to Argos with DD1 and DD2 and the highchair, esp as you're not allowed park your car anywhere near that Argos!
Lizs, the brand name on the highchair is "Beanstalk".

OP posts:
edam · 08/07/2007 20:09

Thank goodness you were right next to her.

If you want to alert the manufacturer to a possible safety problem, then I'd go through trading standards, tbh, they know the system (via your local council).

WRT Argos, I'd ask for my money back (and don't let them mess you around, you are entitled to a full refund under the Sale of Goods Act). And go and buy a new highchair from somewhere else.

NannyL · 08/07/2007 20:51

I agree with edam, take it back and alert manufactures!

boots reins do seem to be good.... my 13kg 2 year old regualry falls over while wearing them and gets 'caught' on them and they are still as good as new

(he is the 2nd child to have used them!)

Original poster
lady007pink · 09/07/2007 14:34

Returned seat and harness to Argos, but I may as well have been complaining about scratched paintwork considering how seriously they took it! I asked if I could fill out a form outlining what happened, I was told I'd have to write direct to Beanstalk - I asked for an address but they didn't have it (can't find address online either). Then, because I didn't have a receipt only the credit card statement showing when I made the transaction, They refused to give me my money back! They gave me a gift card to the value of the seat instead.
They refused to budge despite my plea that I needed a high seat but I didn't want to buy it from them because I was afraid the same would happen again!
Anyway, I'll buy another, but from a specialised baby shop that might care more about it's customers.

OP posts:
LIZS · 09/07/2007 16:03

lady007pink that is actually against your statutory rights to insist on a voucher and let alone what they had verbally promised . I'm sure Beanstalk is just the Argos badge for another manufacturer (possibly Cosatto or Cam looking at the picture, in this instance) but the Buying Office will know. Make a fuss with Head Office and contact Trading Standards .

mumsville · 09/07/2007 21:03

I think that graco make some of their stuff (century pushchair eg) but I don't know if graco also do highchairs.

What a horrible shock and their attitude has been unsurprisingly rubbish.

NannyL · 09/07/2007 22:53

your high chair was not of reasonable quality and was also unsafe which is why it was not of reasonable quality.

could also argue it was not fit for purpose.

therefore you are legally entitled to your money back

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