An Interesting Conversation in a Chandlers.

[rotrax]

During a visit to a busy well known Chandler the other day I overheard a conversation with a customer and an assistant. The customer was returning a fender that had deflated. The Assistant took it away, returned shortly after with it inflated but leaking badly from a split.

" Look mate - its split! Look at all these rub marks, its been under pressure and been rubbing up and down on something, you can see that quite clearly! " Said the Assistant.

The customers reply was measured. " EEERR - Its a fender! "

" I know mate, but just look at it - its 'ad an 'ard life! " came the reply.

Another measured reply from the customer. " You have the reciept, I bought two just three weeks ago. They have been on the boat since then, holding it off the pontoon. It is a Fender, that is what it is for. "

" I know all that mate, but look at it! It is in a right state wiv all them scratches and rubs! " said the assistant.

The customers demeanor changed here. " Would you go and find a superior who understands the Sale of Goods Act for me? "

" Orlrite mate - I'll get 'Arry. " And he did.

Arry sorted it real quick. " Cor - a little split - dont get many like that! I'll change it for you. "

And replace it he did...........................

 

[capnsensible]

Mrs S used to work in a chandlers at a Marina on the south coast that was being developed. They also sold a range of come in handy groceries and stuff.

Gary Glitter kept his boat there and often popped in for tea, milk and biscuits.

Don't think he ever took any back, though.

 

[Frogmogman]

Gary Glitter kept his boat there and often popped in for tea, milk and biscuits.

Not sweets and toys ?

 

[Ink]

During a visit to a busy well known Chandler the other day I overheard a conversation with a customer and an assistant. The customer was returning a fender that had deflated. The Assistant took it away, returned shortly after with it inflated but leaking badly from a split.

" Look mate - its split! Look at all these rub marks, its been under pressure and been rubbing up and down on something, you can see that quite clearly! " Said the Assistant.

The customers reply was measured. " EEERR - Its a fender! "

" I know mate, but just look at it - its 'ad an 'ard life! " came the reply.

Another measured reply from the customer. " You have the reciept, I bought two just three weeks ago. They have been on the boat since then, holding it off the pontoon. It is a Fender, that is what it is for. "

" I know all that mate, but look at it! It is in a right state wiv all them scratches and rubs! " said the assistant.

The customers demeanor changed here. " Would you go and find a superior who understands the Sale of Goods Act for me? "

" Orlrite mate - I'll get 'Arry. " And he did.

Arry sorted it real quick. " Cor - a little split - dont get many like that! I'll change it for you. "

And replace it he did...........................

I'm with the assistant on this one. Customer buys two new fenders. Comes back two weeks later with an old rubbed, scratched and split fender that he has had in the cockpit locker for about a year and gets a refund. Three for the price of two. Probably shops a lot in ASDA.....

Ink

 

[Gary Fox]

Fenders should more than 2 weeks, well done for returning them, quite right.

 

[rotrax]

I'm with the assistant on this one. Customer buys two new fenders. Comes back two weeks later with an old rubbed, scratched and split fender that he has had in the cockpit locker for about a year and gets a refund. Three for the price of two. Probably shops a lot in ASDA.....

Ink

No, it was obviously pretty new, was the same type as shown on his receipt.

Thats why 'Arry, the more senior guy, replaced it.

I and one other punter were chuckling over the young guy pointing out rubs and scratches.

As the Customer said " EEERR - its a fender............................."

 

[bitbaltic]

I'm with the assistant on this one. Customer buys two new fenders. Comes back two weeks later with an old rubbed, scratched and split fender that he has had in the cockpit locker for about a year and gets a refund. Three for the price of two. Probably shops a lot in ASDA.....

Ink

doubt you’re right but it’s a great idea for an informal fender scrappage scheme

 

[Bobc]

A lot of people working in retail still don't understand what the term "fit for purpose" means.

 

[dom]

The customers demeanor changed here. " Would you go and find a superior who understands the Sale of Goods Act for me? "

" Orlrite mate - I'll get 'Arry. " And he did.

And Arry Pedant said, "Look ere Mate, the Sale of Goods Act of 1979 was replaced by the Consumer Rights Act 2015!"

And then as Bobc says, he refunded the money because the product was not "fit for purpose".

 

[RichardS]

A lot of people working in retail still don't understand what the term "fit for purpose" means.

Although the former Sale of Goods Act has been repealed.

Richard

 

[[2574]]

The assumption being made here is that the fender wasn’t fit for purpose. But we’ve all seen a fifteen tonne boat pinned by 20kts on the beam to the pontoon with two inadequate fenders being squashed flat and excruciatingly ground down to destruction through improper deployment/use. So yes, “fit for purpose but also “used as intended” is required to balance the assumption being made?

 

[Concerto]

"Another measured reply from the customer. " You have the reciept, I bought two just three weeks ago. They have been on the boat since then, holding it off the pontoon. It is a Fender, that is what it is for. "

Why has no one noted the fender owner only uses 2 fenders to protect his boat from the pontoon?

 

[Bobc]

"Another measured reply from the customer. " You have the reciept, I bought two just three weeks ago. They have been on the boat since then, holding it off the pontoon. It is a Fender, that is what it is for. "

Why has no one noted the fender owner only uses 2 fenders to protect his boat from the pontoon?

The fact that he only bought two, doesn't mean that he only used two. He may have already had some.

 

[Mark-1]

The assumption being made here is that the fender wasn’t fit for purpose. But we’ve all seen a fifteen tonne boat pinned by 20kts on the beam to the pontoon with two inadequate fenders being squashed flat and excruciatingly ground down to destruction through improper deployment/use. So yes, “fit for purpose but also “used as intended” is required to balance the assumption being made?

I think a fender should survive being squashed flat. Anything except fire and sharp objects are fair game IMHO.

 

[Blueboatman]

I am trying to imagine the accents reversed..

“Oy mush I bought this for me jetski yeah and it’s bust yeah ? Its not fit for nuffinc yeah? I know my rights , ya posh....” etc etc
Doesn’t change the outcome nor the efficacy of course

 

[Yellow Ballad]

It's obvious in this case a 2 week old fender should be replaced (if the customer has a reciept). I have had a customer try to return a batter 3 years after we stopped selling that brand (1 year warantee), swore blind it was 2 months old but "we didn't give him a reciept".

As someone who works in retail, it's very annoying dealing with returns to have the boss who can't be bothered to support his staff gives in at the first bit of grief. Have a company policy (within the consumer rights) for all and stick by it.

 

[38mess]

I am trying to imagine the accents reversed..

“Oy mush I bought this for me jetski yeah and it’s bust yeah ? Its not fit for nuffinc yeah? I know my rights , ya posh....” etc etc
Doesn’t change the outcome nor the efficacy of course

Did the guy really talk like this??

 

[MikeCC]

'Not fit for purpose' is often quoted but mis-applied. It's only not fit for purpose if it's design and construction is not adequate for the intended use. IE it is inherently crap. If an occasional item fails during its intended use, then it's just faulty in some way.

But just replacing the fender was the right thing to do.

 

[Supine Being]

I've not seen such convincing cockerney-talk consigned to print since this from Ben Fogle:

 

[Blueboatman]

Did the guy really talk like this??

Deep fake accent, me old 38

Of course it might as well have been mockney

As any experienced salesperson will say, never judge the customer solely by appearances or first impression -well, mostly!