Lousy service from CAK tanks

[bigwow]

Lousy service from CAK tanks

Just ordered 6 push button cupboard locks from CAK, to match the other 24 on board bought from them 10yrs ago. On the same order I ordered the polished brass buttons and rosettes, for the locks, to replace the standard plastic ones they come with. I received the locks plus another 5 plastic buttons and rosettes. Assuming a mistake had been made, I telephoned to be met with a take it leave it attitude, "they are brass coloured send them back if you don’t like them". I reminded the “lady” on the phone that the catalogue stated “polished brass” not brass coloured plastic, to be told they’ve been like that for the 7 yrs I’ve been here, you would not get brass for that price. Must say I had good polite service when I dealt with them over 10 yrs ago but standards have obviously slipped.
Copy of the catalogue page below, it doesn’t say brass coloured plastic to me, and the obvious plastic ones are half the price.
FPLRKDL – Standard
Knob – Polished Brass
£1.77
FPLRKDM – Mini Knob
– Polished Brass
£1.77
FPLRKGL – Standard
Knob – Light Grey
£0.89
FPLRKMNL – Standard
Knob – Matt Nickel
£1.51
FPLRKMNM – Mini
Knob – Matt Nickel
£1.49
FPLRKWL – Standard
Knob – White
£0.83
FPLRLB – Lock Bolt
with Mounting – Nickel
Plated
£0.49
FPLRRBL – Standard
Rosette - Brown
£0.66
FPLRRDL – Standard
Rosette – Polished
Brass
£1.48
FPLRRDM – Mini
Rosette – Polished
Brass

 

[gjgm]

misread the title, not cack tanks, after all.

 

[Lakesailor]

You're right. The name says it all.

 

[bigwow]

You're right. The name says it all.

Their service used to be very good, in the past I’ve bought all my lights, door locks and holding tanks from them. It appears they now call plastic polished brass, and expect to get away with it.

 

[minquiers]

i have brought stuff from them recently, and i find them very nice people to deal with, and an excellent service and delivery.would certainly deal with them again.
there is no excuse for bad manners towards customers though, as obviously you dont really want to go back there again.good luck

 

[photodog]

Make a complaint to trading standards... they are defrauding you by attempting to pass off brass colour plastic as "Polished Brass".

 

[bigwow]

Make a complaint to trading standards... they are defrauding you by attempting to pass off brass colour plastic as "Polished Brass".

I hadn’t thought of doing that, but I will in the morning. What really disappoints me is the fact that in the past I had spent reasonable sums of money with them and always had good service and good rapport on the telephone. My previous purchases may have been some time ago but in the meantime I have several times recommended them on this very forum. This time I was spoken down too and treated as if I’m an idiot, I may now be a pensioner but I haven’t lost it quite yet and will be visiting trading standards in the morning.

 

[nickcred]

Why Not

Try a call or email to their MD/Owner. I know this has always worked for me in the past, especially when you phrase the complaint as you have below and with a "thought you would like to be aware how your company is being projected by your staff"



Jonathan Frost

Owner at Caravan Accessories C.A.K Tanks

Coventry, United Kingdom

I hadn’t thought of doing that, but I will in the morning. What really disappoints me is the fact that in the past I had spent reasonable sums of money with them and always had good service and good rapport on the telephone. My previous purchases may have been some time ago but in the meantime I have several times recommended them on this very forum. This time I was spoken down too and treated as if I’m an idiot, I may now be a pensioner but I haven’t lost it quite yet and will be visiting trading standards in the morning.

 

[jon]

Timage & Co

You can buy the solid brass versions from Timage & Co

 

[Bosun Higgs]

All a bit disproportionate IMO. Go down to your local B&Q and you will find lots of items described as "brass" and which are coated plastic. Maybe shouldnt happen but it does.

Move on , find somewhere else. Everyone is allowed a mistake without public pilloring on the net. Even the civil service Tim!

 

[vyv_cox]

Pity you have had disappointing service from them. I have bought from them regularly over many years (Hell's teeth, it's more than 30!) and have always found them good to deal with. Sometimes thay don't have what I ordered in stock but they advise when they have it, and always obliging over the phone or at the counter. They work out a lot cheaper than equivalent marine stockists, as might be expected.

 

[bigwow]

All a bit disproportionate IMO. Go down to your local B&Q and you will find lots of items described as "brass" and which are coated plastic. Maybe shouldnt happen but it does.

Move on , find somewhere else. Everyone is allowed a mistake without public pilloring on the net. Even the civil service Tim!

You are wrong and also miss the point of the post. B&Q sell “brass effect”, “brass coloured” and in case of hinges etc “brassed”. Polished brass is unequivocal.
The main point of the post was the way I was dealt with on the telephone, I was called a liar in all but name and told the items in question had always been plastic and generally spoken to in a very off hand manor. I have 24 of these catches already on the boat, got them all from CAK and also got the brass knobs from them to replace the original plastic.