Curry's- Awful customer service

so do the headphones work or not?

Edit: also re the tablet, was it open and used? Was the fault replicated in the store?

At the end of the day they don’t have to just give you a refund especially when you’re claiming a fault they can’t replicate. Also besides that you’re not entitled to an automatic refund. They have the option of either

Repair, replace or refund. If the headphones are faulty why didn’t you just ask for an exchange?

sorry, I edited my post to add further details I hit post too early.

In my experience, Currys are a bunch of cnuts and I wouldn't buy a toothbrush there if it came with a free 60" TV. Something would inevitably go wrong.

In any case, it's not always easier to just agree with the customer and give a refund. It sounds like you went in for a refund, rather tan a replacement, which probably sent up a red flag. Customers lie and sometimes calling their bluff is a little inconvenient, but stops a high level of customers just looking for refunds when they change their mind. It shouldn't matter if it's a corner shop, or a multi-million euro chain store. The same principles should apply.

If the problem is genuine, go back and show them. If it takes 10 minutes, or an hour for the problem to happen, take their time up and insist a staff member is there with you waiting for the problem to pop up. Might only take a couple of minutes before they decide it's easier to issue a refund, but if I was dealing with you, I would offer a replacement, not a refund.

Where does it say a retailer must issue a refund if the item never worked, or had issue during first use, or anything similar?

The 3 Rs still apply, but it would be unusual for a retailer to not offer a replacement under such circumstances absent any signs of damage possibly caused by customer.

Funny story:

I opened a TV from Harvey Normans a few years back. I pulled what I thought was the protective film from the screen, but actually turned out to be a non-removable screen film that turned the screen beneath it white. It was an LG screen and a pretty píss poor design imo because there was a good millimetre border which made it easy to pick the corner and start peeling. It was arguably customer damage, but Harvey Normans replaced it on the spot. The guy said I was the second person returning the same TV that day and there were a few in the warehouse going back to the manufacturers. I didn't ask how regular an occurrence it was, but noticed signs on the same TVs a couple of weeks later warning customers not to remove the screen film.

Consumer rights concerning faulty goods changed at the end of 2022. Within the first 30 days you have a legal right to a refund if faulty.
https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/consumer/shopping/problems-with-faulty-goods/

To keep the staff free to serve people and for phone callers to talk to service advisors who can trouble shoot/advise/refer to website.

Years back, Currys used have a dedicated forum here, where their CEO at the time (Declan Ronayne) used reply directly. They were decent to deal with, and in store the experience was good as well.

They have fallen a long way from those days! I work near Currys in Cork, when you go in there the level of staff interaction is abysmal. They either hide, or have zero genuine knowledge on their products.

As an earlier poster said, Harvey Norman have them beaten on price and service.

I wouldn't be surprised if they did an Argos and pulled out of their Irish operations.

Fwiw, I have a pair of Bluetooth headphones which are excellent, but if I cycle in busy built up areas they glitch a bit, I presume due to interference from loads of other Bluetooth devices. Once I'm out of the city they work fine again. Don't suppose it could be that?

I had issues with them years back with a laptop, it was an obviously faulty unit and they had me going back 3 times, sending it off to manufacturer, wiping it every time no offer of replacement, store credit every right declined and eventually just told me it's off warranty now lol go call manufacturer yourself.

Never shop in currys. Trash place.

Anyone defending curry’s has clearly never bought from them and had an issue. A total shite hole these days.

For electronics just buy from Amazon.

Just go in demonstrate the issue with the glitching

Profit

No that’s an Irish statute act, I’m not sure where you would stand for items purchased from the UK. I suspect they probably have similar acts but which applies to us I’m unsure!

They connected them, what else is there

I’ve had no bad experiences with Currys but I have to say if I need anything and Harvey Norman are stocking it, I’m going to HN…. Customer service is excellent in terms of in person sales experience and after sales too…

I saw the link posted above. That's a real strengthening of the CRA. Good addition I hadn't been aware of.

Did you miss the bit about it being intermittent

Its not exactly the most clear post but it would seem the tested them from it

I don't think they objected to that

But ye know a cursory test

Exactly. the fault must be present. if the retailer could not replicate the fault then it requires an investigation. When the investigation is complete the retailer should apply the correct remedy and in the statute quotes they have 14 days to do so.

'Its broken cause i say so' is not present in the law. The law protects both the retailer and the customer.

The right you outline applies to items bought on-line. Return , replace , refund applies to items purchased in store. The retailer chooses which option to apply.