Camping table drama

[robbo792 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close robbo792]

Hi all, I bought a camping table at the Batemans Bay camping show on the 3rd of Nov, a week later I opened it an it was broken. We took photos, sent them via emailed and then called the company. At best they have seemed not very helpful from the very first call.

After a few emails and calls they asked me to send it at my cost to them, once they received they claim the table was more damaged then my photos show and seemed excessively used therefore was obviously damaged though my misuse.

I have a Coleman table which I bought about 7 odd years ago which has seen some hard times but is still in perfect working order and I have owned this table for less than a month, even if I had been a bit rough with it ( which I have not ) I would expect it to be able to handle some abuse as it should have been designed for the outdoors.

The issue with the table is the the two screws that hold one of the legs on have been screwed in too shallow and have cracked the plastic, my Wife noticed that the leg was loose before it was even out of the box. We opened the box on our back lawn and as the table is heavy was slide on the grass which has stained some of the edges. I believe this staining is to signs of excess use they are referring to.

The company currently has my table, I have written one more email pleading that the cracks were obviously caused during manufacture if they still stand by their claim that I misused it I would like to know what next step others would take.

Cheers

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

Fair trading.

So far you have done everything right, if at the end they turn around and say that they will not honor the warranty and provide a refund or a replacement then let them know you will be contacting fair trading and let them deal with it.

You'll get your money back or replacement as soon as you say it or not long after fair trading gets involved.

[brogers Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close brogers]

Hey Robbo,

What table was it and where did you get it from, just interested....so I can avoid both...
I'm not asking you to commit libel , just provide further details of your personal experience, and we can make up our own minds....my decision will be to avoid both table and retailer

"PradoPointers, united, will never be defeated"

[robbo792 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close robbo792]

Appreciate the comments.

(Pradopointers, united, will never be defeated) love it!

I will give them few days in the hope once I provide full details that I can say they did the right thing in the end.

The latest is they simple have not responded to my email from two days ago ( stand operating procedure ) will have to call tomorrow in order keep the ball rolling.

[Palmer Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Palmer]

I agree with brogers, in that if you get no satisfaction from them I'd like to know what table it is, so I can avoid it.
I certainly don't want to be spending money on new gear if problems aren't going to be delt with properly.

[robbo792 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close robbo792]

Well, a week, 3 emails and 5 phone calls later and they finally told me their intentions, which is to return my old table. I stayed calm as he told me it had obviously been dropped ( never happened ). I said it left the post office with 2 cracks and some minor grass stains, he said it was in worse shape and if caused in the post I should take it up with Australia Post ( WTF ).

Still I mostly remained calm and said my complaint was with the cracks I had photographed and sent to them the day it was removed from the box and that this was a manufacture fault. I also said even if Australian Post dropped it 10 times causing damage and I somehow got them to repaired it, we would still be back here talking about a manufacture fault and cracked plastic and that I would be making a complaint with Fait Trading.

The table is a Diamantina Dura Tuff Bench purchased from Kangaroo Tent City North Parramatta.

[robbo792 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close robbo792]

Double post

[Heath74 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Heath74]

Robbo that's a pain in the ... Every now and again when someone tries to screw me, I go down the VCAT path, I've only had to threaten this twice and both times the companies have folded, and done what I've wanted. I'm sure if you check consumer affairs tas, you'll find the info.
I usually tell them that I'll get a day or two paid leave, and I'll have a good story to tell at the pub, so I'm more than happy to go to VCAT, and that its only $ 30 to lodge.

You'll be surprised how often they come to the party.

[robbo792 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close robbo792]

So I made a complaint with fair trading and they call me yesterday to say they had contacted KTC and to expect a call from them in regards to the new table they will be sending me.

Good result which could have been sorted out without intervention.

[SOL Find all posts View Profile Close SOL]

Robb Well done. Great result. Always good to remind companies that they do have to have after sales carefactor.

SOL.

[letsgoplaces Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close letsgoplaces]

That's awesome news for you. Pity you had to take that path though. But also pity for them because I don't see them getting any business from anyone on here

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

Well done. You did the right thing and followed the correct steps from the start.

[robbo792 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close robbo792]

In the interest of helping others take the Fair Trading path below are some points I believe helped my case.

Take photos as soon as you find a problem
Have a read of the Fair Trading site ( even though it cost me $20 it was my responsibility to return the table )
Be polite, state facts, tell them what you expect to happen and don't stop until you get an answer
Forward as much correspondence to Fair Trading as possible but only once you have confirmed your not getting the outcome expected

I received my new table yesterday and called KTC to say thanks ( I was a pit concerned this would seem like gloating but did it anyway ). After speaking with them I am convince they thought they were doing the right thing and they really believed I had caused the damage and new it ( any one in retail would have had to deal with this once or twice I'm sure ).

Hope this info help others who have a legitimate warranty issue.

Robbo

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

In the interest of helping others take the Fair Trading path below are some points I believe helped my case.

Take photos as soon as you find a problem
Have a read of the Fair Trading site ( even though it cost me $20 it was my responsibility to return the table )
Be polite, state facts, tell them what you expect to happen and don't stop until you get an answer
Forward as much correspondence to Fair Trading as possible but only once you have confirmed your not getting the outcome expected

I received my new table yesterday and called KTC to say thanks ( I was a pit concerned this would seem like gloating but did it anyway ). After speaking with them I am convince they thought they were doing the right thing and they really believed I had caused the damage and new it ( any one in retail would have had to deal with this once or twice I'm sure ).

Hope this info help others who have a legitimate warranty issue.

Robbo

Sage advice.