Gary Lloyd V Comet Group Plc ***WIN***

[fitsw6]

I am a bit late in posting this but I though it was about time I shared.

 

Basically I was wanting to buy a new TV and Bluray near the end of 2008 and I did a lot of googling and signed up to Which? to see all their product reviews.

 

I narrowed down my choices and decided to visit Comet near where I live. I asked the assistant to show me my choices in action which he did. Being a very good salesman (and he was) I soon found I was interested in a few other products as well. I told him I was not going to purchase any items today because I have Asperger's Syndrome so therefore I would need to go home first and get everything right in my head.

 

I asked him to write all the products down with prices. At this stage the manger got involved and was offering me a small discount if I purchased the good right there and then. I explained Asperger's again but he continued to 'close the sale'.

 

I continued to say no and in the end he said he would make a deal with me. He said that if I purchased the goods now he would honour anything that came up after - like finding it cheaper. I carified this further to which he replied 'I will honour anything you come up with'.

 

So I shook his hand and took the deal.

 

When I got home, I googled again and looked at my previous research and straight away noticed that they had some of my items cheaper on their own website. I also remembered that the company I work for give me discounts on vouchers so I contacted the manager and he said come on in.

 

At the store after I explained the above he said he would give me a refund on the items that were cheaper but that he would not be able to anything about the vouchers. I reminded him of the deal we made and he said he could not do anything about it.

 

I made a few calls and sent a few emails but they just dug their heals in and would not budge. I explained about my Asperger's Syndrome, again, and about the deal that was made and I even pointed out the Disability Discrimination Act and in particular the part about 'reasonable adjustment'.

 

Still they would not budge. So I went to the small claims.

 

I was advised to get court mediation which I agreed and they offered me £70 to settle which I declined.

 

So the court date arrives and I turn up. Comet sent a (different) manager from the store to attend. Apparently the original sales advisor and store manager no longer worked for Comet so they sent this poor person who apparently overheard all the conversations I was having on that night - thats about an hour of conversations. This was a lie of course.

 

The judge read my case and it became very clear that she was on my side.

 

The good I purchased totalled £1720.84. I was given a £90 discount at point of sale. I was refunded £72 a few days later but was still out of pocket by £213 because of the deal that was made with the manager.

 

My claim was for £213. I was awarded £262.05 which included interest and £80 costs. She even asked if I wanted my bus fare included in the order but I declined (although in hindsight I should have said yes). The judge even thanked me and congratulated me on my preparation and presentaion.

 

This took 1 year and 14 days.

 

Of course I will never shop thier again but I will use them for thier advice which I do find very helpful.

 

 

Sorry its so long... I did try to summarize

[blitz]

Well done Shame it took so long, glad you got it sorted out!

[fitsw6]

I learnt patients when claiming back the bank charges lol