Returning cage to P@H?

Gerbil · 07-10-2017, 07:55 AM

Would anybody who's had some experience with returning a used pet cage to P@H please respond to this thread? I emailed P@H a few days ago and haven't heard anything back, but some members of the forum have told me that they have successfully returned unsuitable cages.

Concerned that time is running out to return Dudley's cage, and I need every penny I can get to be able to afford the Duna Multy that I was planning on getting him...

Thanks

Carla Gordon and Derrick · 07-10-2017, 08:20 AM

It's definitely a tricky one as they'll probably try to pass it off as a 'starter cage'. Worth a try though and definitely keep us updated on whether you have any luck with the return.

Also, we got Derrick's Duna Multy Maxi from Porton Aquatics which was reasonable at about £36, but you could always look at making a big bin cage for Dudley?

Pebbles82 · 07-11-2017, 01:21 AM

It might be an idea to phone your local branch. An email could just go to a head office or something, whereas individual branches make their own decisions.

Gerbil · 07-11-2017, 04:31 AM

So unfortunately P@H have refused the return on the grounds that it's been used. I'm a little frustrated because I didn't find it easy at all to go in and talk to them and, after preparing myself for a long and arduous conversation, they simply refused and sent me on my way. Now I don't know what to do

MissJeliza · 07-11-2017, 05:50 AM

Could you try to get your money back by selling the cage else where?
Like an online site or on facebook?

If the cage is unsuitable and you dont want it to be used as a full time housing cage you could sell it as a travel or starter cage?

FelicityAnn · 07-11-2017, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerbil

So unfortunately P@H have refused the return on the grounds that it's been used. I'm a little frustrated because I didn't find it easy at all to go in and talk to them and, after preparing myself for a long and arduous conversation, they simply refused and sent me on my way. Now I don't know what to do

How did they describe the cage when they sold it to you? As a hamster cage, or starter/travel cage?

Just wondering if you could use the Consumer Rights Act 2015, on the grounds that it was "not fit for purpose".

"Fit for purpose The goods should be fit for the purpose they are supplied for, as well as any specific purpose you made known to the retailer before you agreed to buy the goods"

Has anyone in the UK tried this? If they knew you had a Syrian (do you? I can't remember) then knowingly sold you a cage that was too small, then theoretically it's 'not fit for purpose' Did you ask their advice about which cage to buy? All the better if you did.

These are the recommended cage sizes from The National Hamster Council in the UK. You could perhaps quote this :

https://hamsters-uk.org/content/view/29/#cages

Pebbles82 · 07-11-2017, 08:00 AM

I am so sorry. It's not a pleasant experience. Face to face is harder than post or phone as well. I know other people have found they would accept one back, even after it's been used. Maybe it depends on the size/price of the cage. How long have you had it now? I think it was a duna fun large wasn't it, which arguably is suitable for a Syrian. Whereas if it had been a much smaller or cheaper cage they couldn't argue. Is your hamster still chewing the bars?

Gerbil · 07-11-2017, 08:22 AM

That's right, it's the large Duna fun. It was sold to me as "more than big enough for a Syrian hamster" although I had a feeling that it wasn't quite large enough

Dudley thankfully hadn't chewed the bars (that I've seen) since the first few days in which he came home

Pebbles82 · 07-11-2017, 08:55 AM

I think as mentioned on another thread, it's not a bad size for a Syrian, if set up so a big enough wheel would fit, but that because Dudley was bar chewing it could have been that he needed something bigger. If he's stopped doing that, then he might be fine in the cage, or you could think about upgrading later, if necessary.

I am sorry for your experience though and it's probably my fault! For mentioning that others had been successful with refunds. You deserve a feather in your cap though for tackling a difficult situation. I had to read an assertiveness book to deal with things like that face to face! The book I read recommends you just keep repeating yourself when a salesperson argues that something is ok when you say it isn't. It doesn't always work though. Maybe your cage isn't small enough for a refund!

You could try writing another email to follow up your first one and say that you have been into the store and told you couldn't have a refund. That you are aware the cage is used, but that is how you found out it wasn't suitable. That you need to replace it with something else and would like a refund. Or just give up if Dudley is happy in his cage now

Gerbil · 07-11-2017, 10:30 AM

Thanks so much for your help, Serendipity.

I guess it's worth having a go at trying to sell the cage. The only other way I can justify buying a new one is saying that this one would be suitable for a dwarf, which I would like to keep in this future.

Either way, you're all so friendly here. Part of the worry for me was that I would get a lot of comments about me being a bad owner, and I'm glad I haven't. At least that takes the pressure off to do anything within a certain time frame.

Have people had much success posting in the "for sale" section of HC?