Thumbs up for PC world!

Posted about a week ago looking for advice about bringing back my faulty camera to PC world. I had bought it in the sales about 10 days previously.

Having checked the consumer agency as well I saw that I was entitled to a repair, refund or exchange as agreed between the consumer and the seller.

I didn't hold up much hope for an exchange but, lo and behold, after the techie person checked it for about 5 mins I was presented with another one without quibble.

Even better - they only had a different colour in the shop that day and phoned several other stores to locate the same colour as I had originally bought and offered to have it reserved for my collection (or brought to their store if I preferred). I opted for the different colour as it made no odds to me - but I'm happy that they were ready to go to the trouble for me.

I was relieved and impressed with their no hassle exchange.

Thumbs up PC world!

Are they not legally obliged to do so?

No, they're not unfortunately.

According to the national consumer agency : http://www.consumerconnect.ie/eng/Get_Your_Rights/Shopping/Repairs/Your Rights.html

"If an item that you bought is faulty, you have the right to return it to the shop and seek a replacement, a refund or a repair. This is your statutory right. It is up to the shop to sort out your problem. But if the shop offers to repair the item, the repair should be permanent"

i.e. they don't have to replace or refund it they can choose to repair it!!!

I phoned the nca to question how a decision on whether it is a replacement or a refund or a repair is made and I was told it's up to the buyer and seller to agree amongst themselves. I pointed out that I'm in a fairly weak position if I don't want it to be sent away for repair and the shop only offers that. I asked what happens if we don't agree and the nca person says 'the act doesn't cover that and the nca has no say in that" - not very helpful at all IMO!

So it seems that each shop has a policy. I'm relieved that PC world seems to have a policy to replace without quibble.

I'll certainly shop there again.

I bought a new printer in PC World (Galway) a few weeks ago. The sales guy was patient and didn't try to flog the dearest one to me. I bought a HP printer for about €120 eventhough I told him that my budget was 150 to 200.

If his boss reads this, he could get fired!