Comet refused to replace item or give refund

5:00pm Monday 19th November 2012 in Local

Lincoln Bachelor with the faulty kettle he bought from Comet Lincoln Bachelor with the faulty kettle he bought from Comet

A BASINGSTOKE man is steaming after his bid to replace a faulty kettle fell foul of the fact that the store he bought it from had gone into administration.

Lincoln Bachelor, 45, bought the Russell Hobbs kettle for £19.99 from Comet, in Winchester Road, Basingstoke, in late October but soon found that it wasn’t working properly.

Mr Bachelor, of Novello Close, Brighton Hill, took the kettle back to the store on November 7, complete with a receipt. After explaining to staff that he was happy to either take a replacement, have a refund or pay a little extra for a different model, he was stunned when a member of staff informed him that the kettle was “his problem”.

Mr Bachelor, a chauffeur, said: “I was told that Comet no longer existed because it had gone into administration and that I wouldn’t be able to get a refund or have another kettle.

“I was being told this while standing in the Comet shop which was serving customers. So how can they tell me they no longer exist?

“It’s not a lot of money but it’s the principle of it. They’ve sold me something which doesn’t work so surely they have a duty to give me either a refund or a replacement?

“I was furious. I walked around the store telling customers who were shopping that they wouldn’t be able to do anything if what they bought was faulty, and a lot of them started putting their shopping back on the shelves.

“I was told that there was nothing they could do, and that the kettle was now my problem. I just think it’s absolutely disgraceful.”

Comet Group Ltd went into administration on November 2 and Deloitte LLP has been appointed administrators.

James Igoe, senior PR manager at Deloitte, said: “Unfortunately, we are not able to offer refunds at this stage. The item should be protected by a manufacturer’s warranty and if the customer purchased either an ExtraCare Service Plan or an extended warranty, he should contact The Warranty Group, which is unaffected by the administration.”

Comments(33)

jonone says...
6:47pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Oh boo hoo. Good excuse to get your face in the paper though.

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Rocket123 says...
6:54pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Its better to shop around than to think that a Comet disaster sale is cheapest, this kettle is 15.99 on ebay.

Russell Hobbs 17870 Argyll Illuminating 1.7L Stainless Steel Metal Kettle.

Life is full of lessons to be learnt.

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Marina Morris says...
7:23pm Mon 19 Nov 12

This is news?

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Rich P says...
8:22pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Amazing you got yourself in the news, but as i have heard it (and seen a mobile phone footage taken at the time) you were shouting and screaming at the colleagues in Comet/Delloitte, and even accused one of them of being Racist because they wouldn't give you a refund......?????
They are in administration, their is nothing they can do apart from what they are told they are able to, that's why you have a manufacturers warranty, get in touch with them and give them your proof of purchase and they will deal with it for you.
But be really careful in this day and age going to the papers with one side of the story, new technology is a wonderful thing, and maybe you should remember that!!!

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Tyra66 says...
8:29pm Mon 19 Nov 12

i was in the shop when this happened, this man was so rude and agressive the staff had to call the police after he threatened to smash up his kettle in store, one other customer actually stayed until police arived to support the staff with his statement. the guy needs anger management in my opinion.

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schmoo76 says...
8:34pm Mon 19 Nov 12

This taxi diver has clearly forgotten about the way he spoke to comet staff who were only doing their jobs and rather than telling him that it was 'his problem' apologised to the gentleman and tried to explain the options that were available to him.

Maybe it was because he was too busy aggresively shouting at and accusing them of not helping him because he was black and wearing a hoodie. Also think he forgot to mention that they had to call the police because of the way he was behaving. It's amazing what people remember!!

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schmoo76 says...
8:39pm Mon 19 Nov 12

This taxi driver has clearly forgotten about the way he spoke to comet staff who were only doing their jobs and rather than telling him that it was 'his problem' apologised to the gentleman and tried to explain the options that were available to him.

Maybe it was because he was too busy aggresively shouting at and accusing them of not helping him because he was black and wearing a hoodie. Also think he forgot to mention that they had to call the police because of the way he was behaving. It's amazing what people remember!!

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JohnH78 says...
8:43pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Classic one-sided journalism from a quality local paper serving the community! Even made the editor's choice section... amazing what qualifications you can get in a cracker these days!

News please... you're not TMZ!

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Marina Morris says...
8:47pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Marina Morris wrote:
This is news?
Wow! I take it back! This IS news! Wonder if the Gazette investigative journalist can get hold of the video?

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tr4cey says...
8:48pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Is this seriously a news story?! It's a totally one sided story from a man who has clearly abused the staff for following instructions from their company/administrato
rs!! Maybe he needs to think about the staff who's job's are at risk and how they feel rather then a £20 kettle!!!

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Rich P says...
9:09pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Marina Morris wrote:
Marina Morris wrote:
This is news?
Wow! I take it back! This IS news! Wonder if the Gazette investigative journalist can get hold of the video?
I'm trying to get the person with the video to pop it onto you tube!!! No names of course, but it would show the other side of the story which unfortunately the Gazette didn't manage to get hold of!!! ;-) Amazing the lengths people go to, if he had spent the time he did on telling his story on a quick fone call, he would have had a new one in the post!!! ;-)
Shame the staff at the store had to worry about him, rather than helping the genuinely nice customers and thinking about how they are going to feed their families going forwards and keep a roof over their heads for them and their kids, let alone pay the bills just before Xmas... oh yeah, and Xmas..... IT'S A KETTLE!!!

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Mrsflower says...
7:10am Tue 20 Nov 12

This man was,not calm the staff,tried to explain to him the situation. He would not listen and didnt seem to understand that they could not do anything. Things are out of there control. There doing what they are told to do. It isnt very nice going through that situation anytime but the uncertainties at this time of year must be awlfull. I feel for the staff. They store the stock that comes in if they knew things were broke they would not sell it. That man owes the staff that was working an apology there yummy no need for his shouting and to go to the paper over a 20 pound kettle is stupid.

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HC1 says...
8:48am Tue 20 Nov 12

Bet this guy feels like a plum now!!.Anyone got a link to the video footage?

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WTF2012 says...
8:52am Tue 20 Nov 12

I can not believe there is so little going on in Basingstoke that this makes the paper. I think the alleged video footage of this man would make for a lovely little series of articles regarding the abuse of shop staff.
I like the fact that that the date he purchased it is very vague, just 'Late October' whereas the return date is very specific, '2nd November.' What took him so long to take it back? Im sure his cab would have passed by at some point. Did anybody in the comet store ask him if he had actually plugged it in?

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Upontheroof says...
9:09am Tue 20 Nov 12

Can someone not pass the instore footage of this guy having a rant to the media, or even better and put it on youtube?

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Ding says...
12:51pm Tue 20 Nov 12

Storm in a tea cup

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jackadam says...
1:32pm Tue 20 Nov 12

I must say that the gentleman is a real price of work. He has NOT told the whole story. Didn't mention how aggressive he was to the staff and how rude he was too us. Would be great if the paper printed the story from both sides not just his. I for one am glad that such a small minded man will never be coming back into store again. We don't need customers like him at this very hard time in our lives.

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Ding says...
3:54pm Tue 20 Nov 12

Sounds to me like Lincoln Bachelor should have bitten his tongue, gone home, put his feet up and made himself a nice cup of ......... oh.

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jonone says...
6:44pm Tue 20 Nov 12

LOL, brilliant. Looks like the Gazette dingbats managed to get the totally dull side of the story and miss the real one!! Come on, let's get this footage and show this nasty taxi driver (Chauffer? Don't make me laugh!!) for who he clearly really is!

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Folkestone Saint says...
10:34pm Tue 20 Nov 12

Is that a really huge kettle he is holding or is he a very small man

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Buster Preciation says...
8:29am Wed 21 Nov 12

Folkestone Saint wrote:
Is that a really huge kettle he is holding or is he a very small man
Judging by the comments above I would say the latter.

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jonone says...
11:45am Wed 21 Nov 12

Folkestone Saint wrote:
Is that a really huge kettle he is holding or is he a very small man
And why does he have a pink post-it attached? Did he have to remind himself it didn't work??

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Best_Name_Ever says...
5:26pm Wed 21 Nov 12

I would really like the Gazette, in the interest of a fair view, to interview the Comet staff who dealt with this individual. Will that be arranged?

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jackadam says...
8:14am Thu 22 Nov 12

The sad thing is the staff are not permitted to talk to the press about work matters. I'm sure that some of the staff have put messages in here and rightly so. Maybe once we have all list our jobs the real truth will come out. Maybe a video clip of him shouting at the staff and making them feel unsafe will also make it on the web. What a plum !!

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Folkestone Saint says...
8:52am Thu 22 Nov 12

Buster Preciation wrote:
Folkestone Saint wrote:
Is that a really huge kettle he is holding or is he a very small man
Judging by the comments above I would say the latter.
You saw where I was going with that.

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TellMeMore says...
9:02am Thu 22 Nov 12

WOW I think this is just a lot of hot water that has boiled over. i can understand why this taxi driver is steaming but I cant help but feel perhaps the people that have left messages may have missed a serious point here. Is this JOURNALISM? or simply story telling. A classic case of how the media just does as they like and hope it sells. I believe the Gazette should print a formal apology to US The readers as it is clear this story was not investigated properly by the paid story teller. However i cant help but feel they will just simply ignore it and move on to the next story that sells. I wonder if the story teller that wrote this piece had not long since purchased an item from said retailer?
LETS HAVE AN APOLOGY!!

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jackadam says...
9:04am Thu 22 Nov 12

Folkestone Saint wrote:
Buster Preciation wrote:
Folkestone Saint wrote:
Is that a really huge kettle he is holding or is he a very small man
Judging by the comments above I would say the latter.
You saw where I was going with that.
Very good.

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jackadam says...
9:05am Thu 22 Nov 12

jackadam wrote:
Folkestone Saint wrote:
Buster Preciation wrote:
Folkestone Saint wrote:
Is that a really huge kettle he is holding or is he a very small man
Judging by the comments above I would say the latter.
You saw where I was going with that.
Very good.
Nice too see people on the staffs side.

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Buster Preciation says...
1:04pm Thu 22 Nov 12

Folkestone Saint wrote:
Buster Preciation wrote:
Folkestone Saint wrote: Is that a really huge kettle he is holding or is he a very small man
Judging by the comments above I would say the latter.
You saw where I was going with that.
You set 'em up and I'll knock 'em down!

To be serious, I think an editor's apology would seem to be in order.

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jackadam says...
1:31pm Fri 23 Nov 12

An apology from the editor would be a good start. However I don't think this will happen. Only bad news sells.

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Folkestone Saint says...
9:57pm Fri 23 Nov 12

Buster Preciation wrote:
Folkestone Saint wrote:
Buster Preciation wrote:
Folkestone Saint wrote: Is that a really huge kettle he is holding or is he a very small man
Judging by the comments above I would say the latter.
You saw where I was going with that.
You set 'em up and I'll knock 'em down!

To be serious, I think an editor's apology would seem to be in order.
Or maybe the staff at Comet should book his taxi and ask him "is it busy tonight" then get out after 100 yrds/mtrs

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kenilworth road resident says...
1:11pm Sat 24 Nov 12

There must be a law against idiots throwing the racist card anytime they dont get there own way,

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jackadam says...
1:37pm Mon 3 Dec 12

Store closes for the last time Wednesday. I really hope he's now sorted himself a new kettle.

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