Well, I was waiting patiently for my replacement trampoline cover which I was told would be delivered early October 2015. Guess what? Still no cover and the person I was dealing with at Toys R Us seems to have switched his phone off. Will have to start again to see if Toys R Us can finally provide me with a replacement cover. Zero points for customer complaints follow up.
I will be investigating consumer protection laws & practices in Bahrain and will share with you my experiences
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Showing posts with label Bahrain Consumer Protection Law iA100 iHome D G Sahraf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bahrain Consumer Protection Law iA100 iHome D G Sahraf. Show all posts
Friday, 1 January 2016
Disappointed by Toys R Us
Well, I was waiting patiently for my replacement trampoline cover which I was told would be delivered early October 2015. Guess what? Still no cover and the person I was dealing with at Toys R Us seems to have switched his phone off. Will have to start again to see if Toys R Us can finally provide me with a replacement cover. Zero points for customer complaints follow up.
Saturday, 10 March 2012
Final update on my complaint with @SharafDG Bahrain - Case resolved
Case resolved!
Finally, my complaint with @SharafDG has been resolved. My faulty iPhone/iPad docking station could not be repaired and as it was no longer in stock I was offered vouchers in the amount of my initial purchase price. A satisfactory outcome.
In my post case analysis, I would like to note that the @SharafDG staff in Bahrain were courteous, polite and friendly throughout. One employee, named Asim, stood out for being particularly helpful.
That said, I felt that the whole process took longer than it should have and I certainly would have felt a lot better if this resolution had occurred much quicker. It seems that the delay was caused by @SharafDG liaising with the "supplier". Indeed, when I looked at @SharafDG's terms of warranty (on the reverse of the receipt and on a notice board in small print at the customer service desk) it says:
"Primary responsibility for warranty service rest with the brand owner, principal supplier. Sharaf DG is a facilitator only"
I have some suggestions for @SharafDG in this regard:
I think @SharafDG should not be a "facilitator" when it comes to warranty claims. Whilst it is understood that @SharafDG is not a manufacturer it should have an arrangement with its suppliers that in the case of faulty/defective goods the customer should always have either a replacement, repair or full refund at the cost of the supplier. No quibble, no discussion. Complaints about faulty/defective goods would then be resolved much more quickly and this in turn would probably encourage more purchases as customers would buy goods knowing that any problems would be resolved quickly.
If @SharafDG continue as a "facilitator" they should make this clearer to customers. You would only know this after you have bought something as this is printed on the back of your receipt. It is also found on a notice board in small print at the customer service desk. I am sure you would agree that you would be less confident buying something where your warranty claim will either be successful or unsuccessful depending on the supplier - whom you don't know and didn't think you were dealing with.
See @SharafDG's terms of warranty. Would you be able to read them?
When I presented my replacement item to the cashier I was informed about a warranty extension BUT there was no explanation about the warranty I would have without the extension. The cashier also did not mention @SharafDG's role as a "facilitator". I think some training is needed here.
In conclusion, I am grateful to the @SharafDG customer service team in Bahrain. I am pleased with the outcome although it would have been much better if the outcome had occurred sooner. I will continue to shop at @SharafDG although I will make sure that I keep my receipt in a safe place just in case....
Friday, 9 March 2012
A further further update on complaint regarding faulty iPad/iPhone docking station bought from @sharafdg
How much longer?
I have been fighting the urge to post another update about my complaint with @SharafDG as I was giving time for a positive resolution. I felt like this especially as @SharafDG have been pleasant and courteous in their dealings with me. Here is the latest tweet I received from them:
@AskAliFareed I am starting to feel that @SharafDG are hoping I'll give up - I don't understand why its so long to repair, replace or refund
@pamercer @AskAliFareed We're following up your issue with the concerned department in our Bahrain store. You'll be contacted ASAP.
The last Twitter message was received on 6th March 2012.
Yesterday (Thursday 8th March) I received a call from @SharafDG 's customer service team in Bahrain. Was this the resolution I have been waiting for? Well the "technician" has finally completed his work and he has confirmed the iPad/iPhone docking station doesn't work and he cannot fix it. We are now waiting for the "supplier" to decide my fate. Will I get a replacement? Will I get a refund. All should be revealed by this Saturday or maybe Sunday, could be Sunday.....
Whilst @SharafDG have been courteous and pleasant throughout I am disappointed that it is taking so long for a relatively simple decision. Indeed, I think I have established that I am a genuine and frequent customer but that doesn't seem to count for much. Anyhow, I hope my next update will be the final one for this case.
I have been fighting the urge to post another update about my complaint with @SharafDG as I was giving time for a positive resolution. I felt like this especially as @SharafDG have been pleasant and courteous in their dealings with me. Here is the latest tweet I received from them:
The last Twitter message was received on 6th March 2012.
Yesterday (Thursday 8th March) I received a call from @SharafDG 's customer service team in Bahrain. Was this the resolution I have been waiting for? Well the "technician" has finally completed his work and he has confirmed the iPad/iPhone docking station doesn't work and he cannot fix it. We are now waiting for the "supplier" to decide my fate. Will I get a replacement? Will I get a refund. All should be revealed by this Saturday or maybe Sunday, could be Sunday.....
Whilst @SharafDG have been courteous and pleasant throughout I am disappointed that it is taking so long for a relatively simple decision. Indeed, I think I have established that I am a genuine and frequent customer but that doesn't seem to count for much. Anyhow, I hope my next update will be the final one for this case.
Monday, 5 March 2012
Further update on complaint regarding faulty iPad/iPhone docking station bought from @sharafdg
Time goes by so slowly....
Yet another update on the complaint with @SharafDG and still no satisfactory resolution. The customer service staff in Bahrain are polite and courteous but I still don't have a (free) repair, refund or replacement. Apparently, the "technician" has my device and he is looking at it. I should find out either later today or tomorrow whether the device can be fixed. In the meantime I am waiting. This is starting to irritate. The Twitter and Facebook responses seem unconnected to the customer service department in Bahrain and I am starting to feel that the Twitter and Facebook replies are intended to handle the PR aspects of a complaint and are not involved in the resolution of a complaint. Will there be a happy ending to restore my confidence, trust and faith in @SharafDG? Let's wait......
Saturday, 3 March 2012
Update on complaint regarding faulty iPad/iPhone docking station bought from @sharafdg
Time is passing and still no satisfactory outcome
On the positive side, @SharafDG have been responsive to my tweets and messages on Facebook and the customer service department in Bahrain has been polite, courteous and helpful throughout. All that remains is for me to receive either a free repair, refund or replacement so we can have a happy ending to this case.
It is now over a week since I contacted @SharafDG about a defective iPad/iPhone docking station (iA100). At first I was unable to locate my receipt and this hindered the help @SharafDG could provide as their after sales customer services is based on presenting a receipt. That said, @SharafDG customer service in Bahrain very helpfully located my purchase. The issue now is I am waiting for @SharafDG to offer a solution. Will they provide a free repair, a replacement or a refund? There was a bit of confusion as to whether I benefit from a 1 year warranty as I made my purchase on 26th February 2011 BUT I made this latest complaint on the 25th February 2012 so I would have thought that this is within the 1 year warranty period? Not to mention of course that I made a complaint several weeks ago but didn't follow up on it at that time as I was told nothing could be done without a receipt.
What is frustrating is the time waiting for a solution as to me this is straightforward, either repair (for free), replace or refund. Indeed, I think that those retailers who offer a "no quibble" and quick solution will ultimately do better as it will instil customer confidence.
Here is my latest exchange with @SharafDG via Facebook
Sharaf DG Online Hello Paul Mercer, we believe that you have been contacted by our Bahrain store regarding your sales invoice. Hope it helps solving the issue.
Paul Mercer Thank-you for your reply. Yes, your Bahrain store is in contact with me. They helped locate my purchase in their system and now I am waiting for a solution. Whilst you and your customer service staff in Bahrain are very responsive, polite and courteous (and I appreciate that) I would like to resolve this. I understand that your Bahrain store will contact me either Monday or Tuesday. I would have thought that this would be easier to resolve.
On the positive side, @SharafDG have been responsive to my tweets and messages on Facebook and the customer service department in Bahrain has been polite, courteous and helpful throughout. All that remains is for me to receive either a free repair, refund or replacement so we can have a happy ending to this case.
Friday, 2 March 2012
Do you lose your consumer rights if you lose your receipt?
I don't have the receipt
Here's a response I received from @sharafdg in relation to a faulty electronic item for which I had lost the receipt for:
Is Sharaf DG's response correct? I don't think so. It is my understanding that you do not lose your consumer rights if you lose your receipt. A receipt is a proof of purchase and is useful for confirming you have purchased a certain item from a particular store. If you don't have your receipt you could perhaps produce another proof of purchase such as a bank statement or credit card slip. Indeed, some retailers, may not insist on you providing the original receipt.
Just to support my understanding that you do not lose your rights if you lose your receipt see the following link to the famous UK consumer rights campaigner Which?
http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/sale-of-goods/returning-goods-your-legal-rights/your-rights/
Here's an extract from that link:
"I don't have the receipt
The good news is that if your item is faulty you should not need a receipt to return it - your rights don't depend on you having one. However, without a receipt you need another way of proving that you bought the item from that shop. The best way to do this is with a bank statement or credit card slip. However, this may not confirm exactly what you bought – if they sell a number of things at that price, they might not be keen to refund you. To avoid any problems, it is always best to keep the receipt for any expensive items. "
It is certainly good advice to keep your receipts for expensive items BUT it is good to know how a store will treat you if you lose your receipt as I am sure that genuine consumers would prefer to shop at stores where their rights are not lost when their receipt is lost. Is it fair that a retailer can avoid its rights to a customer because the customer lost his/her receipt?
Thursday, 1 March 2012
Sharaf DG were quick to respond to my online complaint and
on 27th February I received the following email:
The same day (27 February 2012) I received a call from Sharaf DG’s
customer service department in Bahrain. The call was courteous and polite.
Following the call I visited Sharaf DG’s customer service department and
presented my defective iPad/iPhone docking station (iA100). The Sharaf DG
employee handling my case was courteous, polite and helpful throughout. He
explained to me that Sharf DG’s after sales care was geared to working with a
receipt and searched his records in an effort to locate my receipt. Sadly, we
had no success finding the receipt. Despite this the Sharaf DG employee
explained that the company’s technician may be able to help but in the meantime
if I could find the receipt that would help.
Today (1st March 2012), I reviewed my bank statements and
found a purchase I made at Sharaf DG on 26th February 2011. Could
this be my purchase of the defective iPad/iPhone docking station (iA100)? I
provided the date to Sharaf DG’s customer service department and they
subsequently informed me this was the date I had purchased the iA100. Finally
the receipt (from Sharaf DG’s records) had been found! Was this the end of the
story? Was I now entitled to my rights? Would I get my device fixed, replaced
or perhaps a refund?
Well, the answers to these questions are still unknown. The helpful
customer service employee explained to me that the warranty was for 1 year and
as the anniversary of my purchased had passed a few days ago maybe I wouldn’t
be covered and he would liaise with the supplier to see what could be done. I said that I would wait for the decision of
the supplier but I explained I had made a verbal complaint several weeks ago
(which I didn’t pursue at the time as I was told I couldn’t make a claim without
a receipt) BUT I had started this complaint within the 1 year warranty period
(see Sharaf DG’s internal email above whereby they acknowledge my complaint on
the 25th February 2012).
Not long after my call with Sharaf DG’s customer service employee I
received the following messages via Twitter and Facebook:
Sharaf DG Online
Hello Paul Mercer,
we thank you for agreeing to the paid service. As a policy, we offer after
sales services to customers with reference to the sales invoice. We expect our
customers to retain the invoice as proof of purchase. The policy is in line
with the authorities governing consumer laws. The retailers keep the record of
their customers for their internal usage.
5 hours ago
· Like
You can imagine my slight surprise at these messages. I didn’t think
I had agreed to the “paid service”. I was actually waiting to hear whether I
was covered by the 1 year warranty now that evidence of my purchase had been
located in Sharaf DG’s records. Indeed, I suspect that these messages were sent
by a customer service employee who was unaware of the recent development in my
case (i.e. the finding of my receipt in Sharaf DG’s records).
I am now waiting to hear from Sharaf DG as to whether the 1 year
warranty applies to me now that my receipt has been located.
I will write more later on Sharaf DG's comment "We expect our customers to retain the invoice as proof of purchase. The policy is in line with the authorities governing consumer laws. The retailers keep the record of their customers for their internal usage."
I will update this blog as and when there are developments.
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Update on my complaint with @SharafDG and a faulty Ipad/Iphone docking station
Do manufacturers warranties apply to purchases in Bahrain?
@pamercer @ihome We regret the inconvenience and have forwarded your complaint to the concerned department. We will get back ASAP.
So my hopes are only with @SharafDG. But interesting to note that some manufacturer warranties do not apply for purchases in Bahrain. This is certainly something consumers should be aware of.
In my pursuit of seeking a solution for my malfunctioning Ipad/Iphone docking station (iA100) I have had a very good response from Sharaf DG which, at all times, has been courteous and polite.
That said, we still don't have a resolution as it seems Sharaf DG are unable to make a decision as to how to help me without a receipt. A Sharaf DG employee searched their records but could not find details of my purchase and I will also look at my records to see if I can find evidence of my purchase. Therefore I am still stuck and the concern is that losing your receipt means losing your rights. Is that fair?
I also contacted the manufacturer @iHome to see if they could help. Here is their response:
I'm sorry but the manufacturers warranty only applies in the US. -----Original Message----- From: Paul Mercer [mailto:pamercer@hotmail.com] Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 9:08 AM To: Daniel Cohen Subject: Customer Service inquiry about iA100 via iHomeaudio.com Department: Customer service Product: iA100 Country: Other locations Name: Paul Mercer Email: pamercer@hotmail.com My iA100 no longer works and the store I bought it from in Bahrain (D G Sharaf) cannot/wont help me as I lost my receipt. Can you help? I emailed you before but no reply. Here's is my blog where I explain my complaint in more detail http://pamercer.blogspot.com/2012/02/dg-sharaf-city-centre-mall-bahrain.html
So my hopes are only with @SharafDG. But interesting to note that some manufacturer warranties do not apply for purchases in Bahrain. This is certainly something consumers should be aware of.
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