Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: victoria_plum on April 22, 2013, 19:54
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Hi everyone. Wanted to post a warning to everyone thinking of buying a cheap chicken coop.
We ordered this chicken coop and this is what we have just unpackaged.
They are now saying we have to pay for the return of the coop. So customer service absolutely sucks too. Another battle on our hands with an unreasonable company.
Edited by Admin. to remove company name for legal reasons.
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I'm sure under Distance Selling regulations, they are required to pay for the return of the the coop.
Trading Standards and Citizens advice may be your best bet but it doesn't make up for a poor product and poor customer services :(
If you paid by credit card and it was over £100 you might be covered.
Sorry that it hasnt been a great start.
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Wanted to post a warning to everyone thinking of buying a cheap chicken coop.
Many times on these forums we have warned members not to buy cheep wooden coops. This emphasises why :(
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HERE (http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/distance-selling-regulations/) is a link for a site explaining your rights on Distance Selling. I hope it is of some help.
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HERE (http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/distance-selling-regulations/) is a link for a site explaining your rights on Distance Selling. I hope it is of some help.
FANTASTIC!!!
Many thanks
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Keep us up to date on what you do and how you get on so that other members will benefit from your experience. I hope that you get a full refund including the postage. :)
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Just out of interest, why didnt you get some sheets of ply (from wickes or any decent supplier) and make one yourself, I am sure there would have been plenty of advice here on what to get, sizes,
I made my own, after seing the silly prices they wanted
Mine may not be the best or perfect, but my hens are snug, never lost any to the cold, just to foxes when the wife didnt check they were inside
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Some people do not feel confident enough to build their own coops.
I would always advise everybody to go and see a coop before buying one and buy the best that you can afford whether that is wood or plastic - it certainly pays off in the long run.
Good luck with getting your money back.
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It's a long story!
We started keeping chickens about four years ago and have a hobby hen house from flyte so fancy. It is fantastic quality and we are very pleased with the service we got from them, faultless, but it is soo impractical.
After another winter getting on our knees in the mud and scrubbing we decided we really wanted something more practical. But we can't afford another high quality house. So we found the Sussex coop from a widely publicised website, which had great reviews. I searched everywhere for reviews that weren't direct from their website and couldn't find any. So we believed their own publicity. It was just under £200.
Four panels were completely split. The wood was balsa wood. It would blow away in a small breeze. Absolutely not fit for purpose.
The company have said we have to pay to return it, and if it does not arrive back to them in a resellable condition (which is hilarious given that it did not arrive to us in a sellable condition) with all the included packaging intact they will not refund! They also say we are liable for any damage caused to it in transit back to them. Well have you ever tried repacking a chicken coop in pieces into two tightly fitting flat cardboard boxes... Impossible. I'm afraid there was no way that the polystyrene was going back in those boxes, they wouldn't even close. Luckily I have got photos of the broken panels so they can't possibly say we caused the damage. But I get the feeling they are going to be more than difficult.
I have quoted the law to them, and so far today no response. They don't give you a phone number on the website and they don't give you one all the way through the buying process.
As for making our own coop - would love to but we are just not capable of doing it. It would be ramshackle to say the least!!!
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you may have to resort to taking them to the small claims court to get your money back and all your expenses, before doing this again send them another letter but do it by recorded or special letter so that you have proof that they have received it.
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Hoping we might also be covered by the credit card
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for future reference one good coop that is wooden but easy to clean (takes 3 minutes according to Hillfooter) is this (http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=70436.0), however again it's not cheap, but with annually treating will last you for over 10 years.
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My first one was cheap, a lot cheaper than £200 but it was good quality and not soft wood.
I've still got it and use it for rearing chicks or a broody hen. Its still in good condition, its just not big enough in my opinion for more than 2-3 bigger birds despite the advert saying fit for 5.
Whatever it is you're buying and whatever price you pay, it should still be fit for purpose. I hate shoddy companies.
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I went ad saw what was on offer, took a tape measure/note pad/pen with me, then went home and measured it all out, then bought a couple of sheets of ply and some cuprinol, had it quite some time now
The price of ply and cuprinol has gone up, >:(
Depends how far away you are, I vcould give you a hand (i got saws, hammers, screw drivers) :)
I maybe a plumber, but I put my kitchen in and made my water bed frame :)
It could be expensive taking them to court (been there, done that) its the time you take off work/travelling (its supposed to be easy) your CC maybe able to help (hopefully)
I hate buying online, even with that auction website, we all know the one ;)
I think the company should have been named so others can avoid them ;)
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the small claims court is very easy and cheap to do - most of it can be done on-line :)
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I'm in Ireland so can't advise regarding your rights, but if I were you I would email those pictures to whoever you bought the coop from. That is shoddy workmanship, plain and simple :ohmy: and maybe send a strongly worded registered snail mail letter to the company's registered address too.
I'd be furious :mad:
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What about threatening them with trading standards? That sometimes works, as does adverse publicity, like their local paper!
Hope you get it sorted.
Unfortunately by the time we get to hear of these disasters, the coop has already been bought. Fingers crossed you get it sorted out soon. x
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What a lovely lot you are.
I have contacted trading standards and they recommended the credit card route. Under section 75 of the Consumer Credit act the credit company are liable if you spend over £100 and he felt this was the best route. They will now act on our behalf and we need to do nothing else.
They're sending out the forms. I hope this helps someone else, and that for us it is the final answer to the problem.
He said the company have not met their obligations and are committing breaches.
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Yaaaaayyyyy. That's good! That will show the company that they can't keeping selling rubbish to people and get away with it!
Hope it all gets sorted soonest VP !
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great news :)
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the small claims court is very easy and cheap to do - most of it can be done on-line :)
Until its contested and they want you to attend, then they dont turn up, as it all happened to me, 3 visits to court, 3 times they never turned up, it was found in my favour, but they never paid up, just went into recievership and opened up 3 weeks later as a new company and they are allowed to do it
But if you do go that way, good luck to you
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Depends how far away you are, I vcould give you a hand (i got saws, hammers, screw drivers) :)
That is so kind - thank you very much
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Well... the saga continues
After getting the credit card company on board and leaving the matter to them I had a very shirty email yesterday evening from the company who sent the coop.
Previously (after first ignoring my request for a refund and telling me they were going to send out spare parts, then after telling me I was responsible for the cost of sending it back and they would only refund if the coop was in great condition at their end) I sent two emails to the company in question. The first stating my legal position and quoting the sales of goods act, and reissuing my request for the company to arrange the return of the coop. I stated my disgust at their attitude and said that I had photos showing the completely broken pieces (which I had sent to them on my very first email asking for a refund) and intended to show them widely on review sites to warn people what had happened to us. In the second email I pointed out the Distance Selling regulations which point out that faulty goods are the responsibility of the company. I would like to point out that I was firm in my stance on my rights and I was also firm in my use of English.. meaning I stated facts, I quoted legal acts and stated that I felt their attitude was 'discusting' - at no point did I ever resort to name calling and petty insults. I was >:( and not :mad:
The email I had back said that the sender of the email had decided that we were rather unpleasant people and the company saw no point in wasting time with us and prolonging contact with us. They have said they will arrange collection of the coop and will upon receipt, issue a refund.
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Result. :D Let us know when it is all resolved and the money is back in your account.
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great news - now you just have to hope your refund comes through quickly :)
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I still think the company should be named and shamed in case others order from them :)
I wouldnt be happy if I bought something from them and then found out that is was a company you had had problems with
It could even done in a private message (to anyone else that wanted the company name)
After all, bad company's are named and shamed on TV, the internet, negative feedback can be left on auction websites
I'd like to know who they are :)
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we have a policy of not naming and shaming as we do not want the site and it's owners ending up in court.
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we have a policy of not naming and shaming as we do not want the site and it's owners ending up in court.
Why would they ?
The website owner isnt responsible for comments made by others in here
Especially if its proven the company concerned gives a shoddy service (which going by the photos provided has been proven)
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we do not want to take that risk - people may name and shame elsewhere but as I have said it is this sites policy that we do not (and we have taken legal advice on such matters).
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The website owner isnt responsible for comments made by others in here
No... and Yes...
If we were not aware that the companies details had been given we 'may' not been seen as culpable. But as we obviously are aware we could be seen to be upholding a libellous comment. We do not believe VPs comments are libellous but we still have to be cautious.
This thread is a warning to others to be very careful when distance buying and to know what the distance buying laws are.
Do let us know how you get on with a refund VP :)
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On the bright side if a member gets good service and is really happy with their products they can put the details on the site. :D As long as they have no involvement with the company of course.
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mmmm, watchdog on TV seems to be doing well with their wall of dishonour
They even post websites, photos, and they tell viewers about their practices
Even cowboy builders get named and shamed on TV
There are a lot more viewers on TV for these programs than there are here
Seems a shame they cant be named here as a warning for others
Thats daft, we can praise a company but not say anything about a rubbish company, thats a double standard
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Please don't continue this line of argument pepsi100.
TV companies are large and rich and can afford to retain legal advisers. We can't !
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Please don't continue this line of argument pepsi100.
TV companies are large and rich and can afford to retain legal advisers. We can't !
Fair enough, but seems daft you can praise, but not name and shame
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You don't get sued for praising, me dear :lol:
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I may be a newbie when it comes to chickens but I am also a legal adviser and work for Citizen's Advice Bureau.
If you paid for it by credit card, contact your card company and tell them you want to make a joint liability claim under s75 Consumer Credit Act. The goods purchased contravene s14(2) Sale of Good Act as they are not of satisfactory quality.
You wont have to go to court, you get the refund from your credit card company, they chase the retailer.
And website owners are liable for comments other people make on their site. There have been a number of libel cases where yahoo etc have been held liable for content on their forums. Watchdog etc have the means to check out each and every case they publicise, and check where the consumer stands legally before they make accusations.
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Well... We did do that and then contacted the credit company when the company said they were collecting it 'and upon receipt processing a refund' and the cc co said we had to let them do that as it is a solution but if the refund is not processed in full they will take it up for us.
I checked on city link and the returned coop was signed for by them on the Friday. So I emailed asking for the refund to be processed and was told that they would inspect it 'at some point this week' (last week) and then quoted this at me
When you buy goods online, over the phone or by post you have 7 days
grace after placing your order to change your mind and cancel, this
can be for any reason. You will however need to notify the retailer in
writing within this time frame and return the goods within 21 days if
they have already been dispatched. The retailer is then obliged to
issue a full refund within 30 days.
I pointed out that I had not decided to cancel but had received goods not of a satisfactory condition and that were not fit for purpose.
I have heard nothing since!!
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14 days to change you mind with distance selling but nevermind :lol:
But as you pointed out, you are not returning under distance selling regs but Sale of Goods Act.
I'd give them 7 days (from the date they received it back) and then contact CC company and tell them you want a refund on your card immediately. Once you start quoting section 75 at them they are usually pretty good.
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I would give your credit card company a ring and tell them when city link delivered. They should authorise a refund for you as the company obviously doesn't know what their obligations to you are. Good luck. ;)
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This is unfortunate and a situation which happens a lot but might I also say its not always the case. I brought a cheap coop. I knew it was cheap, knew I was taking a risk and could make it myself but at the time I had a broody with chicks and no where to put them as the box was being outgrown, the coop was next day delivery. It came and it was fine. I still have it now its showing signs of how cheap it was but I will just fix it myself when it needs it.
Looking at your pictures, your very justified its actually a shocking item. Mismatched wood, door not straight, a real poor (cheap) coop. Take it as a learning curve and hope you get your monies back. :) now get to a well know diy store with orange signage and 2 big letters and get making an awesome coop :D
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I'm pretty sure that you will be covered by your credit card company (anything between £100 and £30,000). So even if you have no joy with the seller you should get your money back. No compensation for the hassle, though.
I'm surprised you couldn't find a phone number for the company. A warning sign (but hindsight is a wonderful thing) The only thing I've had like this is when I attempted to buy a pan from a very fancy-looking kitchen company. They happily took the money and then emailed me to say they were waiting for new stock. All emails were ignored, their phone wasn't answered, in the end it turned out they were in the process of going bankrupt - not surprising given the way they treated their customers - I think I've been lucky that this is the only bad experienced I've had so far of buying online, I think most of us have been stung at some point.
I hope you get your money back without too much more bother.
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I have FINALLY got my refund.
Processed at about 9pm last night (?) but at least we got it.
There is a space for trader comments and the co. have written 'reason for refund, customer chose to cancel order' cheeky or what. At every stage they have refused to acknowledge faulty goods.
Avoid any company who claim to sell quality chicken coops at low online prices!
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we have a policy of not naming and shaming as we do not want the site and it's owners ending up in court.
Why would they ?
The website owner isnt responsible for comments made by others in here
Especially if its proven the company concerned gives a shoddy service (which going by the photos provided has been proven)
Could the member just pm another member with this info or is that not okay? It's not public then.
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we have a policy of not naming and shaming as we do not want the site and it's owners ending up in court.
Why would they ?
The website owner isnt responsible for comments made by others in here
Especially if its proven the company concerned gives a shoddy service (which going by the photos provided has been proven)
Could the member just pm another member with this info or is that not okay? It's not public then.
Unless you are wanting to buy a cheap coop there would be no point. ;)
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I have FINALLY got my refund.
Processed at about 9pm last night (?) but at least we got it.
There is a space for trader comments and the co. have written 'reason for refund, customer chose to cancel order' cheeky or what. At every stage they have refused to acknowledge faulty goods.
Avoid any company who claim to sell quality chicken coops at low online prices!
So please you have finally got you money back. :D