Customer Services should I bang my head against a brick wall

My friend bought a washing machine from Currys - with their 'price promise'. I found the same machine £80 cheaper so we went to get a refund.

After a few hours and endless arguing with various staff - we eventually got the money. I couldn't believe the first excuse:

'That shop is not on our list of competitors!'.

It's a small chain of UK based shops, the exact same make/model/colour/terms etc. - so a competitor with free delivery too! We stood our ground, asked to see the manager etc. until they eventually honoured their 'promise'. Never again!

Euronics have 11,000 shops, situated all over Europe.
It’s their buying company that keeps the prices low.

We have a local Euronics shop and it is absolutely brilliant. The prices of items are always competitive with Currys etc. and being local we get quick and friendly service. Compare this to the experience of DS1 who had a new kitchen fitted a couple of years ago and the hob has broken down loads of times. I don't know who the suppliers were but he's found it difficult to get through to arrange for it to be looked at.

We use a local(ish) Euronics shop. It’s a family firm, but Euronics is obviously country wide and I assume they sign up to join them.Then part of a large buying deal so can get competitively priced stock.

We have had a chest freezer, washing machine, cooker all from them.

They deliver, install, take away old goods. The delivery is free in a reasonable distanced local area, you pay extra for installation and removal, but worth it.

Charleygirl5

I would never go back to Currys to buy even an AA battery. I go to Euronics, a local one-man band which has fabulous after-sales service.

I second this. I live in a different part of the country to Charleygirl15, but in my small town we have a Euronics shop. I buy white goods from there. They have an excellent reputation for customer service and after care.

I would never buy from Curry's - had too many problems like that in the past.

We buy from a local company who are brilliant.

We have Euronics, charletgirl so not sure it's a one man band. Is it a buying collective?

I hope you get sorted biglouis. It's very frustrating when you can't get through when you ring anywhere. Don't give up it sounds important to see the specialist.

As a long time seller Ive always had really good customer service on Ebay. I usually use online chat (US times as my shop is on the .com site) and the problem is usually solved within 24-48 hours. I also deal with other US companies and many of them have 24 hour chat.

A few weeks ago my GP referred me to a liver specialist as he was worried by my blood tests. I received a generic letter saying "if you do not hear from us by August 20 ring thie number". I tried 3 times today and it either rang engaged or no one picked up. I will try again a couple of times more and then just give up.

Funnily enough I had a problem trying to pay on EBAY today. I know I wanted to give them some money but it caused an error!! To cut a long story short I contacted them Online, spoke to someone and they managed to sort out my problem and how to cure it in future. They were brilliant, so I gave them 5 * in the review. The thing is it stands out these days when someone is really good on Customer Service, so yes I really was not expecting it. Says it all I guess that my expectations have considerably lowered when it comes to Customer Service.

Never buy anything from Currys!

I don’t take out extended warranties. All too often it is just an excuse to take extra money off you. Not many appliances break down in the first few years so they know they will benefit. I save the money instead and if something goes wrong I either buy new or get it repaired depending on which is economically viable.

When my disabled son was alive I took out boiler insurance with Domestic and General via Vailliant. The service was appalling from trying to get someone to answer the phone to actually coming out. Now I have a new boiler and just get it serviced by a local engineer who is reasonably priced and who would come out in an emergency. If not I have the wood burner.

I would never go back to Currys to buy even an AA battery. I go to Euronics, a local one-man band which has fabulous after-sales service.

Theexwife

Does the company have Facebook or Twitter?, if they do messaging them on there often brings quick results. I would not cancel the warranty yet as you have paid so far and have not had any service from them.

Yes. I’ve found that messenger works better, especially as the company then realise you can name and shame them on Facebook. Another thing I’ve found when not getting satisfaction from customer services is to phone their sales department because the call is always answered straight away( unlike when you try to make a complaint) and you quickly end up speaking to a real person that you can ask for help and advice.

It's 10 years old Primrose.

You don’t say how old your appliance is. Could it still be under guarantee?

Just thought I'd update you. You couldn't make it up. After cancelling my Direct Debit I tried a local company who I know are reputable but the repair man was only back today off his holiday so I rang him up to get a call out. Then the postman came with a letter from Knowhow asking why we had cancelled and to ring them. So I did and got through and told them we were unhappy about trying to get a repair. The upshot is they are now coming next week and have reinstated my direct debit. So I've had to ring the local man to apologise and cancel his call out. So frustrating.

I don't know how we came to have a Knowhow warranty because we have a washer/dryer which we bought from Currys and have a warranty with Domestic and General. They have been endlessly to repair it but it is 20 years old and still going strong. No problems getting a repair booked online with them.

We have had the worst ever customer service from currys. Their aftercare is shocking! Wouldn't buy again although electrical outlets are fewer and fewer!

Twitter can be very useful

I looked on their FB page but there's nothing to message them. I've already cancelled my Direct Debit. I'm going to have to find an address and write. Customer services are rubbish everywhere.
I've just spent nearly a year trying to sort out my smart meter out with EON. Next and their customer services. Had to get the Energy Ombudsman on it and hopefully with my latest reading and bill it seems to be sorted.

Does the company have Facebook or Twitter?, if they do messaging them on there often brings quick results. I would not cancel the warranty yet as you have paid so far and have not had any service from them.