Not happy with new Quartz worktop 😢

a minimum of 300mm from edge of draining board to nearest edge of socket.

I think that is for the SCC to decide, and again, it really depends on what representations were made to the op, such as was he/she given written instruction that the sample/end top could be v different. It’s the T&Cs on the contract that will determine if the op has a good claim.

Yes. SCC suggested if the op thought it was a mistake on the part of the supplier because it is very inexpensive and simpler to do. Yes there is a day in court.

Point taken about the quartz.. Ithought it came from a natural stone slab.

Surely then the OP would have more recourse then if supplied something so different to the sample?

I would have gone in to see our full slab "in the flesh" but if the company did not suggest this to the OP or make proper pictures available then that is not good on their part. Not everybody would be able to get to see the full product in the warehouse but showrooms should have accurate representation of the finished product.

Such a big ticket item for anybody.

Sorry, no, what you posted is BS.

The op obviously has evidence of a consumer issue, a photo of the sample used during the conversation when purchasing, the the photo of what was fitted, they look nothing alike. So it will come down to what is written in the contract.

Of course the sample is important, why have them at all if they do not reflect what is being ordered? By your logic, displays is shops would be irrelevant, the buyer could receive something completely different to the sample on display. That is a unique viewpoint.

Whether the op’s claim has merit, is for a court to decide. For €30, it should be all upside, with little downside other than €30.

Professional reports are not needed for SCCs, but certainly they help. The SCC is designed to make it easy for consumer to seek justice when they feel they are being mistreated by a business, Judges are capable of ruling without the need for expensive professional/expert reports.

Christs’s sake, it isn’t a random sample, it is what was used in the shop to represent the product being sold. I accept that the whole counter top could not be expected to look like that, but what the op received is vastly different from the sample.

I don’t know why I’m even engaging with you on this, op if they don’t help you out, for the sake of €30 open a SCC case and ignore this nonsense.

Isn't the SCC limited to claims of €2500? I'd say the countertop cost more than that so it's probably a moot point

wouldn't be happy either

kick up a fuss - that's definitely outside the realm of understandable material variance

If the only information was that specific sample, he would have a case. But all of the information about the selected finish indicates that its has a high degree of colour variation and looks very similar to the slabs installed. The the supplier had no images of full slabs or the like, that's critical missing info could be used make a claim. And we don't know where it came form obviously, so maybe. But it's a bit odd to assume that was the case without evidence.

From the sale of goods act;

—————————————————

“Sale by Sample

Section 15 of the Sale of Goods Act applies to a sale by sample. The sale is by sample where there is an express or implied term that this is so. The contractual provisions should clarify whether and what there is a sale by sample. In some cases, the sample is also the description. The sale may be by sample and by description, in which case, both implied conditions apply.

There are three conditions implied.

• 1: that the bulk will conform with the sample in quality;
• 2: that the buyer will have a reasonable opportunity to compare the bulk with the sample;
• 3: that the goods will be free from any defect rendering them unmerchantable, that would not be apparent on reasonable examination of the sample.

The provision applies to sales to consumers and non-consumers.”

——————————————————

No2 would appear to be the only reasonable grounds here for the buyer to reject the worktop, and a Mellor pointed out pictures of the whole slab are available on the website.

Sample are literally random pieces of a whole slab. That's been pointed out a few time, baffled that people are stuffing to grasp what that means. Wall and floor tiles sample are usually whole tiles not pieces of tiles. Wood flooring is pieces, so you get some variation. Stone (and imitation stone) is probably the more variable material.

Here is what a slab of Ashford Grey looks like, it's a few metre long. When this is cut up into 100-150mm samples, some will be very white with light vein, some will be a very dark with light specs - and a small amount will be a mix.

Typical advice is to get around 3 samples. And to view the slab (for natural stone). Viewing is less critical for recon and photos are fine as there is more consistency between slab.

@zipee it's unfortunate this wasn't made clear to you at the sale. A lot of idiots working in retail. Give it time. I think whole slabs you ended up with have far more character that the plain sample you based it on.

Oh right, I didn't realise you could essentially make a "partial" claim in the scc - handy for when the amount is above the threshold but not far enough above to make it worth your while going to court

On a domestic scale the specifier is often a layperson, but not always. Some get help from professional designers, as I said earlier in the thread, this is one of the areas where that expertise is huge a benefit. On a commercial scale, it's almost always professionals handling this.

I agree that the sales person should give better guidance. But I wouldn't assume they were an expert. They could be 30 years sell stone and recon. Or they could be on the job the first week have been a Dulux rep. Ultimately they are a sakes person, and I've seen sales reps make ridiculous mistakes (on a project I have the "expert" rep has submitted the incorrect sample for sign off 4 times, where it was rejected each time".

I agree with the last line. If the OP can point to the sales rep's incompetence, the manager/owner may be willing to take a hit in good faith for the same or positive relations. I'd be incline to go that route over court. But as I said, I think the variation is character over the plain.

Again, apologies for the digression? But could you clarify please?

Sorry the 300mm came from me. I googled it and just went back and it’s a recommendation not a rule.

Bit mad all the same that there’s no regulation though.

You’re contradicting yourself. You said a section of the slab I posted would be an accurate representation. But the section OP has, which is a section from a similar larger slab, is not accurate. Which is it?

To say it the sample looks absolutely nothing whatsoever like a section of the delivered slab or the images is plainly incorrect. Surely you can see that the sample came from a pale less dense sections, and how cutting up the full slab in smaller pieces would create many similar samples? I'd have thought that was pretty clear, but see as you like visual aids here's a side by side.

Obviously different white balance and lighting conditions. But it's pretty clear 3 sections of very similar material. And obviously none look very like the overall slab.

As I've been saying this is really routine situation when dealing with selection of marble and other variable stones. I under that a first timer might not realise, but any self build situation is full of risk and lessons learned.

If they are given a tiny sample only with no other information or context, then I’d completely agree. How could they know it's from a larger slab with dark sections? But they’re no indication that’s what happened here. Suppliers include images of the full slab and installed slabs precisely to avoid that confusion. People are assuming this info was hidden for some reason. Seems less likely than the alternative.

I love that image, lol.

If you engaged an artist for simply a drawing of a horse based on that sample alone and no other context, sure you'd have a compliant. But when the artist also advertises a collection of work to illustrate their wacky style, that you were pretty foolish to not consider that how that would impact the end product.

It's like asking Picasso to paint you a picture, and being surprised that it ends up looking like a "Picasso".