We've sold your car seat to somebody else! (General Car Seats)

Member Name: bonz

Product:	General Car Seats
Date:	27/04/02 (410 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: variety of products, family business

Disadvantages: lies and deceit, start to argue with you as if it is your fault, if they make a mistake, no sense of guilt or remorse

This is not an opinion about car seats, but my experience of buying one.

Last December, I was about 14 weeks pregnant. I was really excited about being pregnant and wanted to buy a car seat straight away because I'd read it could be weeks to order one. Also I was in the mood. Glad I did it so soon because now I am 32 weeks gone and My bump is weighing me down. I'm also having less sleep.

Anyway, about the car seat... My dad recommended this small shop (The Playpen) in Mexborough, Rotherham, as opposed to Mothercare etc. I thought I'd give these small businesses a chance. I looked around the shop, and they had quite a variety of products. This little Irish lady served me.

I told her I was looking for a car seat. The first thing she asked me was when was I due. Since it was December, I said not until June. (But what difference does it make when I'm due, I just want a car seat!)

After thorough searching, I decided on a Silver Cross one. I had bought the pram earlier, and got the car seat to match. It was the same colour (beige with navy blue.)

Just one problem, said the assistant. This is the last one they have and it comes without a box. If I would like a new one, they could order it for me. However, if I do decide to take this one, they could give me a discount.

Great, I'll take the discount! I'd looked hard at the car seat and there was nothing wrong with it. I paid the woman in full then and there for both the pram and the car seat.The woman offered kindly to keep both the pram and the car seat in their store room until the baby was nearer.

I thought at the time it was a good idea, because they would just clutter the house. The thought of knowing that I had a pram and a car seat safetly tucked away somewhere was enough. Then again, the assistant reminded herself that I wasn't due until June. Yes, I said, but I'll be picking the car seat up in Apri
l during the Easter holidays. I left the shop feeling really happy because I'd bought a pram in the sale and a car seat at a discount price.

Anyway, April arrived, so I phoned up the shop to inform them I'd be in to collect my car seat. Oh dear, said the woman. It hasn't come in yet. What does she mean?, I thought. I've already paid for it and they put it away for me. Well, if you remember, she said the one in the shop had already been sold and we ordered you anoyher one and it hasn't yet come in.

My mind started reeling. But I bought the one in the shop!! And if I ordered a car seat way back in December, surely it would have arrived by April! Something was not right. I told the woman on the phone once more that there must be a mistake, because it was placed away with my pram until April.

She tried to claim I never bought it (even though I have a receipt for it at its knock-down price)and they'd sold it before. I thought, if they'd sold it what was it doing on the shop floor? My mind started playing tricks. I know it was 4 1/2 months ago, but I'm sure I bought the one in the shop.

My dad was with me in December, so I phoned him up to tell him the news. Dad, didn't we buy a car seat at a discount price in December? He backed me up and added that it was putaway with th epram (after all, he was the one who paid for them). This confirmed my suspicion.

I phoned the baby shop up again, and told them they were lying to me and in the end, I got them to admit that I had bought the one in the shop, but they sold it to someone else after I left (when I paid for it!). I told them, I 'd bought a car seat and want to collect it Now, since I paid for it it is my property and they had no right to selll something which was no longer theirs.

All the woman said was, Well you're not due until June! I asked her what if I was to go into labour early? I'd have no car se
at! WEll, the woman said, we don't mind lending you one. At this point I was fuming at their cheek. But I've PAID for one!!!!!!!!!!

Well, you will be getting a brand new one, and it will come in a box! Wow, lucky me! They told me they noticed the car seat I'd bought was soiled, so they they thought they'd sell it and order me a new one.

WEll if this was the case, why didn't they phone me up to let me know? What's more they had no right because that car seat belonged to me. I could have took it out of the shop with me in December! Why didn't they phone me to ask my permission to re-sell it? After all, I had got a discount on it.

They told me not to worry because they had marked URGENT on the order. I asked when it will be in. They told me its due in a week. I begged them to phone and let me know this time. That was now two weeks ago.

Anyway, today I received my new car seat in a box. The fact of the matter is, they didn't think I was going to come in for it so early. What they'd planned was to sell it, and get a new one in without me knowing about it. It was just their attitude towards the whole mess.

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