Don't buy anything expensive in Heathrow duty free
Sep 15th 2009, 6:03 pm
#1
womble
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,675
Don't buy anything expensive in Heathrow duty free
well durh to us & lesson learned and all that
we bought some watches from Mappin & Webb in Terminal 3 duty free on return home here. when we landed we noticed one of the watches isnt working.
tried to return it. M&W say to go to BAA. BAA pulled their website (today!!!) with the original terms & conditions that said they refund all postage costs, and replaced it with one that said "registered post only"
sneaky trick.
unfortunately registered post in Oman is not insured despite Oman Post's website saying they can insure (internal mail only and only up to 15 OMR compensation - or so we were told at the post office by the nice supervisor behind the counter, and by his supervisor on the phone who double checked for us).
BAA refuse to accept courier costs depsite this being our only way to return the faulty watch for refund.
So lucky us get to pay for the privilege of having a faulty watch and returning it.
Lesson learnt - dont buy from Heathrow Airport.
we bought some watches from Mappin & Webb in Terminal 3 duty free on return home here. when we landed we noticed one of the watches isnt working.
tried to return it. M&W say to go to BAA. BAA pulled their website (today!!!) with the original terms & conditions that said they refund all postage costs, and replaced it with one that said "registered post only"
sneaky trick.unfortunately registered post in Oman is not insured despite Oman Post's website saying they can insure (internal mail only and only up to 15 OMR compensation - or so we were told at the post office by the nice supervisor behind the counter, and by his supervisor on the phone who double checked for us).
BAA refuse to accept courier costs depsite this being our only way to return the faulty watch for refund.
So lucky us get to pay for the privilege of having a faulty watch and returning it.
Lesson learnt - dont buy from Heathrow Airport.
Sep 15th 2009, 6:12 pm
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,553
Re: Don't buy anything expensive in Heathrow duty free
well durh to us & lesson learned and all that
we bought some watches from Mappin & Webb in Terminal 3 duty free on return home here. when we landed we noticed one of the watches isnt working.
tried to return it. M&W say to go to BAA. BAA pulled their website (today!!!) with the original terms & conditions that said they refund all postage costs, and replaced it with one that said "registered post only" sneaky trick.
unfortunately registered post in Oman is not insured despite Oman Post's website saying they can insure (internal mail only and only up to 15 OMR compensation - or so we were told at the post office by the nice supervisor behind the counter, and by his supervisor on the phone who double checked for us).
BAA refuse to accept courier costs depsite this being our only way to return the faulty watch for refund.
So lucky us get to pay for the privilege of having a faulty watch and returning it.
Lesson learnt - dont buy from Heathrow Airport.
we bought some watches from Mappin & Webb in Terminal 3 duty free on return home here. when we landed we noticed one of the watches isnt working.
tried to return it. M&W say to go to BAA. BAA pulled their website (today!!!) with the original terms & conditions that said they refund all postage costs, and replaced it with one that said "registered post only"
sneaky trick.unfortunately registered post in Oman is not insured despite Oman Post's website saying they can insure (internal mail only and only up to 15 OMR compensation - or so we were told at the post office by the nice supervisor behind the counter, and by his supervisor on the phone who double checked for us).
BAA refuse to accept courier costs depsite this being our only way to return the faulty watch for refund.
So lucky us get to pay for the privilege of having a faulty watch and returning it.
Lesson learnt - dont buy from Heathrow Airport.
Last edited by The Dean; Sep 15th 2009 at 6:13 pm. Reason: y... r...
Sep 15th 2009, 6:19 pm
#3
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 18,187
Re: Don't buy anything expensive in Heathrow duty free
Sep 15th 2009, 7:52 pm
#5
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2007
Location: Utopia
Posts: 1,644
Re: Don't buy anything expensive in Heathrow duty free
What did you use to pay for it?
If it was a credit card then your CC company is liable for it potentially.
If it was a credit card then your CC company is liable for it potentially.
Sep 15th 2009, 8:43 pm
#6
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Riyadh.
Posts: 1,899
Re: Don't buy anything expensive in Heathrow duty free
If you bought a 'reputable' brand from M&W, then it should come with an international warranty? Is there not a dealer in Oman who can take a look a the watch for you?
I bought a laptop in the Uk, and now currently in the process of claiming back the VAT, around £100, but if I'd bought it at heathrow ( T5 ) , then the price was VAT free anyway, so considerably cheaper, but still come its own international warranty.
I bought a laptop in the Uk, and now currently in the process of claiming back the VAT, around £100, but if I'd bought it at heathrow ( T5 ) , then the price was VAT free anyway, so considerably cheaper, but still come its own international warranty.
Sep 16th 2009, 3:59 am
#7
Is not impressed...
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Dubai
Posts: 258
Re: Don't buy anything expensive in Heathrow duty free
When watches don't work, it's usually a bad battery. I just had mine swapped here for 50 dhs. Try that instead of the post and all.
Sep 16th 2009, 5:13 pm
#8
womble
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,675
Re: Don't buy anything expensive in Heathrow duty free
thanks guys. It's one of those self-winding ones so a bit more complicated than a battery unfortunately.
Yes, it comes with an international warranty, but given it has not worked from day zero would you ever feel comfortable with that kind of watch? I've had it before where we tried to get something repaired straight away and ended up spending years and time and money basically trying to revive something that was dead at the beginning.
I hadnt thought about the credit card option. That's a good idea. I will follow that up.
Thank you.
Yes, it comes with an international warranty, but given it has not worked from day zero would you ever feel comfortable with that kind of watch? I've had it before where we tried to get something repaired straight away and ended up spending years and time and money basically trying to revive something that was dead at the beginning.
I hadnt thought about the credit card option. That's a good idea. I will follow that up.
Thank you.
Sep 16th 2009, 5:25 pm
#9
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Dubai
Posts: 656
Re: Don't buy anything expensive in Heathrow duty free
thanks guys. It's one of those self-winding ones so a bit more complicated than a battery unfortunately.
Yes, it comes with an international warranty, but given it has not worked from day zero would you ever feel comfortable with that kind of watch? I've had it before where we tried to get something repaired straight away and ended up spending years and time and money basically trying to revive something that was dead at the beginning.
I hadnt thought about the credit card option. That's a good idea. I will follow that up.
Thank you.
Yes, it comes with an international warranty, but given it has not worked from day zero would you ever feel comfortable with that kind of watch? I've had it before where we tried to get something repaired straight away and ended up spending years and time and money basically trying to revive something that was dead at the beginning.
I hadnt thought about the credit card option. That's a good idea. I will follow that up.
Thank you.
Sep 16th 2009, 5:38 pm
#11
womble
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,675
Re: Don't buy anything expensive in Heathrow duty free
It was M&W and cost around 1600 pounds sterling, so am VERY pissed off and will never buy from them again.
I will also never buy anything from Heathrow Airport shops again if there is a tiny thought that I might want to return them.
I will also never buy anything from Heathrow Airport shops again if there is a tiny thought that I might want to return them.
Sep 16th 2009, 7:25 pm
#12
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Riyadh.
Posts: 1,899
Re: Don't buy anything expensive in Heathrow duty free
thanks guys. It's one of those self-winding ones so a bit more complicated than a battery unfortunately.
Yes, it comes with an international warranty, but given it has not worked from day zero would you ever feel comfortable with that kind of watch? I've had it before where we tried to get something repaired straight away and ended up spending years and time and money basically trying to revive something that was dead at the beginning.
I hadnt thought about the credit card option. That's a good idea. I will follow that up.
Thank you.
Yes, it comes with an international warranty, but given it has not worked from day zero would you ever feel comfortable with that kind of watch? I've had it before where we tried to get something repaired straight away and ended up spending years and time and money basically trying to revive something that was dead at the beginning.
I hadnt thought about the credit card option. That's a good idea. I will follow that up.
Thank you.
Good luck with getting a refund / replacement.
Sep 23rd 2009, 5:52 pm
#13
womble
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,675
Re: Don't buy anything expensive in Heathrow duty free
Fair enough, good point. I bought an Omega Seamaster Pro, had it a few years now, and would be seriously cheesed off it didn't work from day one. Though, with the international warranty, you may be able to get it replaced.
Good luck with getting a refund / replacement.
Good luck with getting a refund / replacement.
well latest update is that they told us to send it by courier but at our cost.
just found out from DHL that the b*****s have refused to accept the shipment!
wtf?!?!
what on earth do we do now?!
sob
Sep 24th 2009, 3:15 pm
#14
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Bur Dubai
Posts: 291
Re: Don't buy anything expensive in Heathrow duty free
I'm currently in the UK, returning to Dubai on the 30th, but returning to the UK on the 8th October and flying back to Dubai on the 13th. I'll be flying Emirates (thus to and from T3)
I know you don't know me from Adam, but I'll offer my transport services to return the watch for you. Obviously you'll have to get it to me in Dubai.
I know you don't know me from Adam, but I'll offer my transport services to return the watch for you. Obviously you'll have to get it to me in Dubai.
Sep 25th 2009, 5:40 pm
#15
womble
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,675
Re: Don't buy anything expensive in Heathrow duty free
I'm currently in the UK, returning to Dubai on the 30th, but returning to the UK on the 8th October and flying back to Dubai on the 13th. I'll be flying Emirates (thus to and from T3)
I know you don't know me from Adam, but I'll offer my transport services to return the watch for you. Obviously you'll have to get it to me in Dubai.
I know you don't know me from Adam, but I'll offer my transport services to return the watch for you. Obviously you'll have to get it to me in Dubai.
we got resolution today - apparently according to BAA, DHL's driver was being a moron and didnt ask the site security guy where to deliver to and just said that the recipient refused, and to be fair, BAA emailed us to let us know that they did finally receive it, but only after I wrote a strongly worded email to DHL! took DHL 6 days to clear customs - can you imagine?!
keep your fingers crossed everyone for me that we will get the refund after all this!