Strange dealings with Currys

Marc

Marc

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I bought a compact camera for the better half for Christmas. I bought it in store and the sales chap broke the seal to check the contents. Now I'll admit that I probably wasn't paying 100% attention and I didn't really check anything myself, I just trusted that he knew what he was doing (yeah, I know) and just took it home and wrapped it.

Cue Christmas morning and she's very pleased when she opens and and wants to get it on charge straight away. She gets the power adapter out only to discover that it's a 2-pin European one. Thinking she's missing something obvious, she goes to check the user manual. This is where things become slightly problematic............there's no user manual, despite it being on the 'what's in the box' check list!

Not happy, I realise I'm gonna have to plan a trip to Currys on Boxing Day and was feeling bad as it's not nice to get a pressie for Christmas that you have to take back. I remembered the guy in the store telling me that he thought it may be the last in stock so I wasn't hopeful when I checked online and I felt even worse when my fears were concerned,p no stock in the area at all.

So, off I went this morning and, to my surprise, they had another one in stock! The guy went to- get it and the first thing I noticed was that the new box was unsealed. By unsealed, I don't mean that the seal had been broken, I mean that there never was a seal on that box. I asked the guy why that was but he said he didn't know.

At the end of the day, she has now got her camera up and running and is happy but it seems strange for a UK retailer to have what I can only guess is non UK stock in it's store. Also seems odd that their system states that there isn't stock when there is, usually it's the other way round.

Oh, and before anyone says that it could have been the display model, that was still, well, on display as we left.

Blimey, did I really just type all that waffle?
 
On the positive your better half now does have a fully functioning camera I've had some proper fun and games with currys in the past :(

As a side question did your niece like her new film gear?
 
fabs said:
Blimey, did I really just type all that waffle?
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That's the great thing about TP - you can get it off your chest - I read it all as I 've had my 'ups & downs' with Currys - more than once :)
 
What amazes me more than the camera situation, is you getting to find a member of staff ... not just once but twice!
 
MWHCVT said:
On the positive your better half now does have a fully functioning camera I've had some proper fun and games with currys in the past :(

As a side question did your niece like her new film gear?
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Don't know yet, not seeing her until Saturday. See the update in my F&C thread.

DayDreamer said:
That's the great thing about TP - you can get it off your chest - I read it all as I 've had my 'ups & downs' with Currys - more than once :)
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Me too but that was mostly to do with my 12 years as an employee.
 
gramps said:
What amazes me more than the camera situation, is you getting to find a member of staff ... not just once but twice!
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Indeed by they were very quiet when I bought the camera and I don't think they were as busy as they expected to be today as there seemed to be more staff than customers except for the long line at the returns desk where there was only one staff member until a manager walked by and made the mistake of asking if we were ok. Strangely, after my reply, 3 more members of staff appeared and started dealing with the queue. :D
 
fabs said:
I bought a compact camera for the better half for Christmas. I bought it in store and the sales chap broke the seal to check the contents. Now I'll admit that I probably wasn't paying 100% attention and I didn't really check anything myself, I just trusted that he knew what he was doing (yeah, I know) and just took it home and wrapped it.

Cue Christmas morning and she's very pleased when she opens and and wants to get it on charge straight away. She gets the power adapter out only to discover that it's a 2-pin European one.
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You might want to let your local TS Department know, they are breaking the law by supplying an item with a 2 pin Euro plug.

Plugs and Sockets etc (Safety) Regulations 1994.
  • General Requirements

    Portable electrical appliances intended for domestic use must be supplied prefitted with a standard 3 pin plug. Manufacturers and importers have been required to supply items with plugs fitted since 1st February 1995.

    Items fitted with non-UK plug, e.g. a 2 pin Europlug may be supplied but only if they have been fitted with an approved 3 pin conversion plug.

    The conversion plug must enclose the fitted plug and must only be removable with the use of a tool.
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+ 1 to the above.
Also, have you checked the exif, to make sure it is actually new?
 
Dave1 said:
You might want to let your local TS Department know, they are breaking the law by supplying an item with a 2 pin Euro plug.
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This ^ it's illegal to sell an electrical device without a proper non removable (without tools) 3 pin UK plug. You still get eBay sellers doing it and foreign sellers on Amazon but I'd not expect it of Currys.
 
Same the world over. In Paraguary they have very little in the way of tax on goods which is why Brazilians do a lot of shopping there and take it over the border. I went into a "posh" camera shop and through sign language and help from my Brazilian daughter in law I pointed out a Nikon 80-400mm af-s lens that was genuine in the Nikon web page with the price which was about a third cheaper than here in the UK.
They bought out the earlier version with the screw drive and tried to sell me that. When I pointed out it wasn't the AF-S with the hpersonic motor version the idiot said "well its got VR so its the same". Needless to say I walked out of that "posh" camera shop in disgust .
Sales people just are there to sell, no matter if what they say/do is correct or not and usually younger generation who have not got a clue on inter- personell skills
 
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CurrysPCDixonWorld also owns French based Pixmania I think, so I suspect that is the source of the rogue foreign spec camera. I think they're trying to get shot of it as it wasn't profitable.
 
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OldCarlos said:
+ 1 to the above.
Also, have you checked the exif, to make sure it is actually new?
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How will the exif tell me that. The file number of the 1st photo is 0001.jpg

realspeed said:
Same the world over. In Paraguary they have very little in the way of tax on goods which is why Brazilians do a lot of shopping there and take it over the border. I went into a "posh" camera shop and through sign language and help from my Brazilian daughter in law I pointed out a Nikon 80-400mm af-s lens that was genuine in the Nikon web page with the price which was about a third cheaper than here in the UK.
They bought out the earlier version with the screw drive and tried to sell me that. When I pointed out it wasn't the AF-S with the hpersonic motor version the idiot said "well its got VR so its the same". Needless to say I walked out of that "posh" camera shop in disgust .
Sales people just are there to sell, no matter if what they say/do is correct or not and usually younger generation who have not got a clue on inter- personell skills
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Interesting Bazza but not really relevant here. Apart from not checking the contents of the box as carefully as he should have, he didn't really do that much wrong. He didn't really try to sell me anything I didn't want and I couldn't fault his interpersonal skills.

andrewc said:
CurrysPCDixonWorld also owns French based Pixmania I think, so I suspect that is the source of the rogue foreign spec camera. I think they're trying to get shot of it as it wasn't profitable.
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Possibly, they also (used to?) own stores in Spain. I'm not convinced it was deliberate, a company like that wouldn't take risks like that as anyone who bought one would just take it back as they wouldn't even be able to charge it up.
 
Hi Marc. If it says #1, then it would put my mind at rest that it was new., rather than a tried & returned camera, or ex demo.
 
Currys went through a phase of being known to sell used/returned items as 'brand new'.

I suspect he 'broke the seal' so you would not be surprised the box was already opened. I remember someone a few years back on some consumer program finding socks in the drum of thier 'brand new' boxed and delivered washing machine.

I won't deal with them if I can avoid it.
 
I had to turn my back on my principles (long story) today and spend money in Currys because my fridge freezer decided to die, I was quite taken aback when the sales rep dropped into the conversation that the new hotpoint fridge freezer i'd just paid for only has an expected lifespan of 2 to 3 yrs :eek:
 
MidnightUK said:
Currys went through a phase of being known to sell used/returned items as 'brand new'.

I suspect he 'broke the seal' so you would not be surprised the box was already opened. I remember someone a few years back on some consumer program finding socks in the drum of thier 'brand new' boxed and delivered washing machine.

I won't deal with them if I can avoid it.
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He broke the seal in front of me, in fact he asked my permission to do so.
 
The box may, originally, have had both a UK three pin and the two pin. The Olympus TG-2 I recently bought from them had both in the box.
 
digital said:
The box may, originally, have had both a UK three pin and the two pin. The Olympus TG-2 I recently bought from them had both in the box.
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That would still be illegal, the only time a charger with Euro 2 pin is allowed is if it has been adapted with a non removable 3 pin adapter.

The only time I have seen both a 2 pin and 3 pin in the box is when they are separate cables that attach to the charger, not the charger itself.

martinfuge said:
I stay clear of Currys. So many problems with stock on website at one price, then different in store. They refuse to let it go at price. After not standing down they suddenly say out of stock. Most of what I see in Currys is over priced.
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The instore price being different is often noted on their website, that's what "click and collect" is for.
 
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Dave1 said:
That would still be illegal, the only time a charger with Euro 2 pin is allowed is if it has been adapted with a non removable 3 pin adapter.

The only time I have seen both a 2 pin and 3 pin in the box is when they are separate cables that attach to the charger, not the charger itself.
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Non-removable without a tool. You occasionally find a manufacturer using the screwed-together adapter shell for Euro 2-pin to UK 3-pin reversible conversions. Although the only manufacturer I can think of off the top of my head that uses these regularly is Tunze.


Now one of the interesting things the OP said is that the shop assistant broke the seal to "check the contents". He didn't do a very good job, did he? If the assistant suggests s/he needs to do this, or manages to start this before you've stopped them, and it's claimed to be the last one in stock and you really need it there an then - then I suggest that as a purchaser you make it a very long, detailed and precise check of every single piece that should be in the box. If I wasn't in a hurry, I could see this stretching for quite a long time, just to be awkward about it.
 
DSG sold Pixmania a while ago so I don't think it would have been sourced through them unless it's older stock.
 
Alastair said:
Non-removable without a tool. You occasionally find a manufacturer using the screwed-together adapter shell for Euro 2-pin to UK 3-pin reversible conversions. Although the only manufacturer I can think of off the top of my head that uses these regularly is Tunze.
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Yes, I quoted the full spec in post #7, didn't see the need to write the whole description again ;).
 
Lots of chargers come with both 2 and 3 pin. My Fuji xf1 from Curry's did. You snap on the appropriate type to the body of the charger and then its a semi permanent fix...
 
landwomble said:
Lots of chargers come with both 2 and 3 pin. My Fuji xf1 from Curry's did. You snap on the appropriate type to the body of the charger and then its a semi permanent fix...
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They come with separate adapters, not fitted, so don't contravene the law. That isn't the same as an item arriving with a 2 pin charger.

Quite a different thing.
 
I reserved a lens as it was a bargain price and when I got there the only one they had was the display model. I wasn't fussed but non the less I tried my luck and got a fiver knocked off. Happy days. :)
 
Dave1 said:
The only time I have seen both a 2 pin and 3 pin in the box is when they are separate cables that attach to the charger, not the charger itself.
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That is the case with the TG-2.
 
fabs said:
I bought a compact camera for the better half for Christmas. I bought it in store and the sales chap broke the seal to check the contents. Now I'll admit that I probably wasn't paying 100% attention and I didn't really check anything myself, I just trusted that he knew what he was doing (yeah, I know) and just took it home and wrapped it.
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You were slipped a return or ex display , No reason to break a seal, To check contents ? so why did he not notice the missing plug and manual, did not check it very well did he!

Do you play find the Queen only I can invite you to a game :whistle:
H
 
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Hell on earth said:
You were slipped a return or ex display , No reason to break a seal, To check contents ? so why did he not notice the missing plug and manual, did not check it very well did he!

Do you play find the Queen only I can invite you to a game :whistle:
H
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As already said, display model was still on display. 1st photo file was 00001.jpg so it hasn't been used so unlikely that it's a return. There was no seal on the box originally.

As for breaking the seal to check, t's something that they do often and I don't see a problem with it. No, on this occasion he didn't do a very good job but I suspect he just looked to make sure there was a camera in the box.
 
fabs said:
As already said, display model was still on display. 1st photo file was 00001.jpg so it hasn't been used so unlikely that it's a return. There was no seal on the box originally.

As for breaking the seal to check, t's something that they do often and I don't see a problem with it. No, on this occasion he didn't do a very good job but I suspect he just looked to make sure there was a camera in the box.
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Some can be reset I think it can on the XF1
H
 
Dave1 said:
You might want to let your local TS Department know, they are breaking the law by supplying an item with a 2 pin Euro plug.
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Am I missing something here and apologies if I am but how do toothbrushes and razors get around this law?
 
wolfyccfc said:
Am I missing something here and apologies if I am but how do toothbrushes and razors get around this law?
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They are specifically excluded.

Schedule 1 of the Regulations - Excluded Electrical Devices

Relevant to Regulation 4 of Part I

  1. Any plug, socket or adaptor which incorporates any other electrical device (other than a fuse link, switch or indicator light).

  2. Any plug or socket forming part of a ceiling-rose connector (that is to say a connector designed to hold up overhead electric lighting fittings).

  3. Any plug or socket forming part of a luminaire comprising a track system for electric lights and their fittings.

  4. Any non-UK plug supplied loose which is manufactured to comply with the safety provisions of IEC 884-1 and which is marked with or accompanied by a warning that it is not suitable for connection to a mains socket in the United Kingdom.

  5. Any non-rewirable or any moulded-on Europlug (that is to say any plug conforming with BS EN 50075) which is designed for the purpose of connecting to a shaver supply unit conforming to BS 3535: Part 1 any electrical shaver, toothbrush or similar appliance; and for the purposes of this paragraph the expression "shaver supply unit" shall have the meaning given to it in BS 3535: Part 1.

  6. Any travel adaptor (that is to say an adaptor which enables a plug designed for use in the United Kingdom to be connected to a socket used outside the United Kingdom).
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"As for breaking the seal to check, t's something that they do often"

I have never come across another shop that does that as routine. Do they distrust their suppliers (which will be the same ones as other shops seem to use and trust), or do they know a lot of the goods they sell are actually returns so might be missing bits/need the box to look as if its been opened legitimately?

I wont even bother to write out how dishonest they were during the return of my laptop for repair in its first year of life - one lie after another fairy tale and it came back covered in score marks all over the top.
 
MidnightUK said:
"As for breaking the seal to check, t's something that they do often"

I have never come across another shop that does that as routine. Do they distrust their suppliers (which will be the same ones as other shops seem to use and trust), or do they know a lot of the goods they sell are actually returns so might be missing bits/need the box to look as if its been opened legitimately?

I wont even bother to write out how dishonest they were during the return of my laptop for repair in its first year of life - one lie after another fairy tale and it came back covered in score marks all over the top.
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I've seen it done often. The idea is that the customer is satisfied that everything that should be in the box is in the box before they leave the store. It's nothing to do with whether they trust the supplier, it's about piece of mind for the customer. They (should) ask the customer before they do so though.

Mistakes to get made when goods are packaged so it's not a bad idea for the contents to be checked in store, especially if it's a gift.
 
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