Bought Fridge from AO - Has a Euro Plug!

Hedge said:
I'd have unboxed it. Realised it had an EU plug. I would have went on Amazon or treated myself to a walk to almost any supermarket, and bought myself a plug adapter.

Mountain out of a mole hill or what!
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I grew up in the days when appliances were routinely supplied with bare wires and you had to fit the plug yourself before use as a matter of course.

I despair of what the world of today has become! :confused:

(Oh, And a 65 year old really should have learned all about wiring up mains plugs (And indeed rewiring house fuses) as a young woman, If she didn't then there was something lacking in her education. In any case, she should certainly know other people of her (Damn, its nearly mine for that matter! ) generation who would know how to do so :p)
 
Orionaut said:
(Oh, And a 65 year old really should have learned all about wiring up mains plugs (And indeed rewiring house fuses) as a young woman, If she didn't then there was something lacking in her education. In any case, she should certainly know other people of her (Damn, its nearly mine for that matter! ) generation who would know how to do so :p)
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Thats a little black and white isn't it.

My grandad had severe arthritis at 60 so knowing how to wire a plug wouldn't help him as he could hold a screwdriver. He would have had to call out an electrician adding ££ to the cost of the fridge.

Sending it back was a little OTT but expecting it to come with a 3 pin plug for immediate use isn't.
 
mattyg said:
Thats a little black and white isn't it.
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Yeah, maybe I was a little harsh.

But, I am concerned generally as to how during the course of my lifetime, there has been an almost officially sanctioned policy of encouraging a culture of helplessness (Often in the guise of "Improving safety")

And that bothers me a lot.

If you look at the DIY magazines from the 50's you will see articles about how to build home extensions, install central heating, rewire a house and all sorts of things that nowadays are officially discouraged (if not out right prohibited) on the grounds that you are "Not Qualified"

I just think it is rather sad. :(
 
I thought high power usage white goods had to come with a moulded plug now for safety law compliance? must be wrong.
 
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Greebo said:
Be careful you soon won't be able to say let's go without mentioning Ao.

Can't believe they are allowing companies to trade mark single words now.
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that isn't what has happened at all, and you shouldn't be surprised at all. when you actually read and understand what they applied for.
 
Glaucus said:
that isn't what has happened at all, and you shouldn't be surprised at all. when you actually read and understand what they applied for.
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Please educate me then? From what I have read specsavers applies to more than just the optical industry and is much broader and includes all printed matter.

Which in theory means OCUK couldnt use "should've" in it's advertising?
 
Greebo said:
Please educate me then? From what I have read specsavers applies to more than just the optical industry and is much broader and includes all printed matter.

Which in theory means OCUK couldnt use "should've" in it's advertising?
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nope and nope, only applies to their business sector, same as any other company that has done the same.
"It means that the retailer could soon have the right to exclude others from using the word 'should've' or 'shouldve' when communicating about certain classes of goods, including optician services, medical hearing aids and eyewear."
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.Lethal said:
An electrical good must be sold in the UK with a 3 pin plug or with an approved 3 pin plug adapter. With the exception of Toothbrush, Shavers and what not.

I don't think the Fridge should be sent back just because it's missing an adapter, and calling AO's premium phone number should result in them sending an adapter out.
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This, though I'd expect to be offered something in return for the cost of calling a premium number in order to report a mistake they made. Also they seem to have cocked up communication wise in this instance, they've not made clear that there wouldn't be a UK plug and they've just resent the thing despite knowing there was an issue - surely on the second delivery they ought to have included an adapter given they've been notified why the first one was rejected.

Yup it is a simple job to fix and OP could just buy a UK adapter or plug but it is extra faff and wasn't expected when he agreed to buy the item.
 
Orionaut said:
If you look at the DIY magazines from the 50's you will see articles about how to build home extensions, install central heating, rewire a house and all sorts of things that nowadays are officially discouraged (if not out right prohibited) on the grounds that you are "Not Qualified"

I just think it is rather sad. :(
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I think for the sake of the safety of future owners it is a good thing unqualified people are discouraged from rewiring their own house or messing around with say gas central heating.

I'm all for a bit of DIY but there are serious risks with some things and given how many numpties there are out there it is a bit dodgy... (though I think you can still carry out electrical work if you wanted to so long as you get it checked over by a qualified electrician.)
 
Simian said:
She went on to say that it might be a batch error from the manufacturer, and they will check...

But the person who my Mo-in-law spoke to said, very unhelpfully, "That's how they come!"

So someone is telling porkeys...

Plus, strangly, the Fridge is now no longer listed on their website!! (I'm not sure of Make/model, but My wife checked and told me this!)

Plus No there wasn't an adaptor in the packaging!!

I didn't think AO was a 'Budget' re-seller, I thought they were like Amazon for Appliances!
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you ought to get a full refund

if they start messing you around then stay as polite and friendly as possible and keep it really reasonable... if you're really annoyed by them then as a last resort you can basically tell them you're going to go to the 'small claims court' unless they refund you the additional costs plus X (small amount) for your time wasted in dealing with this)... so long as you're polite and X is a modest/reasonable amount you might well find they'll pay

a friend of mine works as an in house solicitor for a retail customer facing business, he regularly has to look over complaints where staff members have done something stupid or customers have lost money - if someone is rude or obviously taking the mickey he is more inclined to fight them but AFAIK as a general rule if the company has at least partially messed up and someone is asking for refund + X and stating they'll go to the 'small claims court' he'll pay out as it is a bigger waste of time and money for them to try and fight it + these things can be unpredictable when it is honest consumer vs big company... can quite easily go against the big company if the court feels like making a point. (especially if all the correspondence has been polite and the company has clearly messed them around, given conflicting info etc..)

ergo if you want to make a point and they're still not giving you a simple refund then escalate and ask again politely for your weekend delivery + whatever charges and whack on an extra demand for your additional time wasted, say £10 for each phone call, £15 for each e-mail/letter etc..etc.. build it up to £100 or so, send them an invoice and see what happens. It would still cost them more than £100 to fight it and low level courts can be unpredictable.
 
Whats wrong with just chopping and changing the plug? Wouldn't give it a second thought.

Could buy an adapter to check it works first I guess.
 
Changing the plug would have been so much easier, but I see your point sending it back.
 
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