Possible blood found on Pumpkin's wheel - Page 11

racinghamster · 05-07-2015, 08:24 AM

The images from bloodied hamster feet from using the wheels is evidence enough that the quality is bad and it`s all very well stating that owners must check for splinters or other faults when it`s their job to do all that before a product is safe for use, surely? If a babies wooden cot was sold and the parents were advised to sand down the spokes in case of injuries, I think there would be a recall. x

Piebald · 05-07-2015, 10:47 AM

Absolutely! I doubt the sellers want the trouble and if they see those photos they hopefully will stop buying them and then the manufacturers will have to straighten up if they want to stay in business. It's all about they money I'm afraid so look to impact their sales either directly or through exposure if they don't care. xx

Leila0420 · 05-08-2015, 05:44 AM

So I've been collecting possible contacts for consumer organisations and am going to write a draft letter and send it to all of them (including photos etc.) I'm new to the forum so I don't know if it's work tracing back through all the old threads and looking for other peoples stories where they've had the same problem as added evidence... What do you think? Ideally I'd like to talk to anyone else who this might have happened to but I'm not sure if it would be wise as it's obviously quite a sensitive topic...

My plastikote arrived yesterday too so all I need is some cork and then pumpkin can hopefully have a decent sized wheel again!! (Which will be nice cos she's taken to climbing up her bars and trying to get on top of the wheel which is silly and dangerous but she doesn't listen!!! lol)

Also once I've finished the draft if I post it up here will you check it please? I know I've said it a lot but I really really appreciate all of your advice and support!!

Leila0420 · 05-08-2015, 05:45 AM

*I meant I don't know if it's WORTH tracing back through old threads... Sorry for my bad checking skills!

Piebald · 05-08-2015, 05:51 AM

I think the two pictures, especially your own, and reference to others' comments about having rough spots and splinters is plenty to start. It's better to start your complaint early in this instance in my view. If you would like me to have a look at your draft PM me and I will be happy to but I think you are doing fine. Sometimes it's better to have it all in your own words. x

cypher · 05-08-2015, 07:12 AM

I think trawling through the archives would be a bit of an epic task, I remember SynNyx saying she'd had the same problem with a wooden wheel, not sure if it was Karlie or not, but in all the time I've been here I don't remember anyone else posting about it, not that my memory is foolproof but I think that would have stuck in my head somewhere. It does seem pretty clear there's been a recent decline in quality though so it may happen more.
Definitely post your draft here, I have no idea if I'd be able to make any useful suggestions once you're done but I'd be more than willing to have a look see! I agree with Piebald that it can be better to have something in your own words but it never hurts to get opinions.
I think you're doing a great job too btw.
Hope you get your cork soon & Pumpkin can have a nice wheel again!

racinghamster · 05-08-2015, 08:17 AM

Good on you for making a stand Leila. Making your voice heard and getting the message across is better than staying silent. If it means having these wheels made better quality or removed from the market place until they are, then you will have achieved something. It would be better if Karlie or the manufacturer`s had led by example though and acted on the complaints and only sold the cork lined wheels knowing they are the safer alternative. Maybe this is something you could mention? Make a comparison to the way they describe the cork-lined wheels and compare it to the unlined wheels, making reference to the fact they state that the unlined wheels require maintenance due to splinters, while the other wheel doesn`t?

It just makes sense for the unlined wheels to be withdrawn from sale until a solution is found. It`s all a bit rule of law, but words (and pictures) can speak volumes. x

Pebbles82 · 05-08-2015, 09:40 AM

You can use my pics off the wheel thread as well if you want.

Leila0420 · 05-09-2015, 08:41 AM

OK, thank you all

I'm gona try get the letter finished by the end of tomorrow so I'll let you know when it's done.

Leila0420 · 05-26-2015, 03:48 AM

Hello everyone, I know it's been a long time but I just thought I should give you all an update on this. First of all I contacted the EU commission Piebald very kindly recommended as well as the UK 'retail ombudsman' (The Retail Ombudsman) but it hasn't got very far... (In the end I just got my mum to check the letter - she's not as good as you all for hamster knowledge but used to be an English teacher so good at correcting things

) As I have received a refund and communication from zooplus, plus the fact that it works in zooplus's interest to maintain the quality of the product to ensure no further loss seems to be sufficient information from a consumer standpoint. I just hope that zooplus has a good supplier quality control system in place to ensure no other little hamsters get hurt.
I have however, tried on a number of occasions to post a review on the zooplus website explaining what happened to Pumpkin but none of them have been posted... I sent another email to them about this but no reply yet.

I also successfully lined Pumpkin's wheel with cork, thanks to Serendipity's German link, and was going to post a breakdown of how to do it in the DIY section of this site. The soft tap-tap-tapping of her feet when she runs on the cork is lovely! I'm still keeping her cage just outside of my bedroom door and tend to fall asleep listening to her pattering away on her wheel