Stay clear of these shark-infested waters (Comet.co.uk)

Member Name: lars_msh

Product:	Comet.co.uk
Date:	20/04/03 (2240 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good selection, View the goods 'in person' before buying online!

Disadvantages: Very poor service from staff, It's probably more enjoyable being a defendant in court

Somehow, I got the idea into my head that Comet, along with their competitors, had cleaned up their act a little. Surely we live in enlightened times where the infamous "extended warranty" is not routinely thrusted on unsuspecting customers with such brute force?

Don't kid yourself! If you must go to Comet, you need some solid mental preparation in advance.


The setup

Just the bare details: I'm soon to be married, moving into an unfurnished rented house and in need of fridge/freezer and washing machine. Looked online, but we had some spare time and decided to look around the shop.

This proved to be a good idea. I'm more than comfortable with shopping online, but it was good to see and touch the appliances. A Bosch washing machine we liked the look of turned out to have a rather silly design with the door handle pointing "the wrong way" - not fatal, but we went for a Whirlpool in the end.


The Comet store

This was an established outlet at Lewes Road, Brighton on a fairly busy Easter Saturday. We were attracted by the large range of makes on offer and the promise of being able to choose specific (half-day) delivery slots. You pay a small premium, but in some situations it's worth it.

We'd seen off at least a couple of sales vultures before, 10 minutes into our visit, a reasonably inoffensive sales woman offered her assistance and took it upon herself to accompany us as we chose our fridge freezer.


It's all relative

Don't get me wrong, I know you won't sell much by being shy. The aforementioned Comet employee was a bit on the pushy side, but nevertheless able to accept the reality and go along with what us, the customers, wanted.

The most amusing eposide was when she wanted to sell us some Calgon descaler for the washing machine. She explained that the appliance is like a kettle, and will become full of limescale aft
er a time. Ah yes, but I don't drink the water from the washing machine! No thanks.

If you want some descaler then go for it - but check the price in advance. On the day I had no way of verifying the claim that it's cheaper in Comet.


Downhill from here on...

No, of course I wouldn't write a review about washing machine descaler! For some reason, at the checkout desk another, male colleague decided to "assist" our sales woman in concluding the sale.

And this is the warning I want to give you: going to Comet you will inevitably find pushy and unhelpful sales staff. I'm sure most people can deal with that. But watch out for the real nightmare sharks you'll sometimes meet: you stand to have your intelligence insulted, your judgement questioned; you will be tricked, have doubts placed in your mind. In short, you might meet the same bully boy that I had the intense misfortune to encounter.


The credit scam

Bully Boy asked me if I wanted to be billed for the goods a month later, although don't for a minute think that any answer other than "yes" was acceptable. It happens that I can put the goods on my card and clear it next month, so I didn't see any need for messing around.

He painted it as simply billing after the event, like a phone bill or business invoice, but if you think it sounds like he was trying to force-sell me a credit deal you'd be right. After a bit of haggling he let slip that (a) I would have to give him all my bank details and (b) an account would be set up for me. No thanks!

Trying to express my wishes in a language where "no" is not a word, I took my credit card out and pointedly asked him if I was able to pay by credit, and do they take Visa?

Sure, it's good that they offer credit, but trying to force customers to sign credit deals they don't need, hiding the fact that it's a credit deal - t
hat ought to be illegal.

If you do need to buy on credit - as I have done in the past - for heaven's sake, check out all the details before you set foot inside this pressure-cooker of a shop because you will not be allowed so much as a microsecond to think it through. Comet don't like customers who can think for themselves, and Bully Boy of Brighton is a master in this particular art.


The disposable washing machine

Undeterred, Bully Boy launched into full attack mode. At stake was the most important conquest of the campaign: the extended warranty.

Did you know that in around 1998, all the washing machine makers collectively decided to start using plastic drums that disintegrate after precisely three years? It must be true, because as "BB" pointed out, even Watchdog say so.

This is a crafty way of spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt. After all, how can this "fact" be questioned? Hardly anyone you know will have a washing machine post-1999 but old enough to have reached it's three-year time limit. And how can you possibly verify what Watchdog really did say on the matter?

Even someone as cynical as I can be blown off-course by such a sudden and ferocious ambush. But not for long. I don't think a new washing machine is going to stop working after exactly three years, and to be honest I don't really care if it does. I'll just buy a new one.

I must be some kind of idiot, according to Bully Boy because "we'll GIVE you a new one!" Silly me, why on Earth would I want to buy a new washing machine when they'll give me one? Erm, maybe because I probably won't need it, or the fact that I'll have paid about £150 up front, whether I need it or not. In fact, the cost of the insurance is roughly what they'll pay the manufacturer for a replacement, I shouldn't wonder.

My advice: stay well clear. Don't even consider it. They&
#39;re not ramming it down your throat because they care about your well-being. They'll try and tell you what good value it is, that there's no risk, that it's much cheaper than in the bad old days. They'll question your judgement, look at you with suprise and disdain at just how stupid you can be. If you're not alone they might try to play you off against one another.

Bully Boy always came straight back with answers, raising his voice more each time so that it became somewhat confrontational almost right away. I was having to defend myself from the outset, and even if I'd thought of some better answers it would make no difference.

In Comet, you are not a valued and respected customer. You are on trial.


The return of the Calgon

So it transpired that, in complete exhasperation at my intransigence, Bully Boy exclaimed "but at least you should buy some Calgon with it!"

If I were destined to become a Saint, I would have just seen the funny side, laughed good-naturedly at his desperation and said "no thanks". But the rapid-fire insults had started to sink in.

I looked at him for a second, took a deep breath and said "Look, I'm only going to stand here another five seconds talking to you. Either you leave or I will." Not very constructive I'll concede, but the damage had already been done.

His choice was telling. "Ok, would you leave the store then please."

Surprising, not because I hadn't sworn at him or been in any way threatening, but because he was prepared to lose his colleage the commission on a £700 sale purely on account of his own arrogance and pride.

I was happy to oblige, and I don't intend ever going back. I bought from Tesco online instead.


Conclusion:

Worth looking around the large selection of appliances, but only try buying from Comet if you feel the need to repent for s
ome past sin.

Summary: