Faulty Products

We've been complaining for some time about the state of products being sold - it is bad enough in shops, but even more aggravating online.

About 3 months ago we wanted to buy a new radiator locally from a very large DIY company - they only had one in the right size and it had already been opened. We insisted on checking it before buying and found one corner was dented, as if it had been dropped. It had obviously been bought before and returned as damaged then just put back on the shelves. After we checked it the guy who was helping us just put it back on the shelf, where it probably remains.

I think a lot of people can’t be bothered to return things and so there’s an element of “give it a try” with damaged goods.

A relative who runs a little gift shop frequently has to return around 20% of any order. The manufacturers think he’s fussy. A few have refused to supply him unless he accepts a proportion of damaged goods.

He’d be ashamed to put them on his shelves.