Am I Being Unreason...
 

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Am I Being Unreasonable?

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Yes yes, apart from the obvious, quiet at the back.

I have a glass tumbler encased in pewter, as pictured in the 'home office' thread recently. It was a Christmas present last year, so it's less than a year old. I picked it up a couple of days ago and the glass and pewter parted company, so I now have a plain glass and a pewter glass holder. I emailed the manufacturer asking for advice on how best to repair it and got this response:

"You can use a really strong superglue or you can return it and we will repaire.  The cost will be £7.50 plus vat plus postage"

I've already replied, which I'll not post here just yet for fear of influencing responses. But Am I The Asshole in thinking that's a bit shit? It's like fifty quid's worth of tumbler.


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:19 pm
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No, I would expect a fancy glass to remain fancy for more than 12 months.


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:22 pm
chrismac, matt_outandabout, Ambrose and 3 people reacted
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I would imagine postage would be quite a lot so it doesn't seem unreasonable. Would be nice if they just sent a new one but.....


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:23 pm
jimw and jimw reacted
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Shit sometimes goes wrong and £7.50 doesn't seem too bad.


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:24 pm
weeksy and weeksy reacted
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1 year warranty shirley - assuming the present giver has the receipt and you are prepared to ask for it...


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:27 pm
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I would imagine postage would be quite a lot so it doesn’t seem unreasonable.

£7.50 doesn’t seem too bad

Yeah, but the £7.50 is for the bit of glue that presumably should have kept the two bits of the glass together. The postage, is extra.


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:28 pm
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I would imagine postage would be quite a lot so it doesn’t seem unreasonable. Would be nice if they just sent a new one but…..

They want £9 (£7.50 +VAT) PLUS the postage.


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:30 pm
kormoran, sc-xc, kormoran and 1 people reacted
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Still doesn't seem too bad to me. Depends how much you like it I suppose.


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:33 pm
andy4d and andy4d reacted
 bens
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I had a similar situation albeit with footware and not glassware. Similar in that I was offered a repair but I'd have to post said footware to be repaired. Insured postage was £23 each way.

I don't think a repair should be chargeable when the warranty is still in effect. Mine was offered FOC but in both cases, I don't see that's it's right to expect postage to be covered by the end user.


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:34 pm
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Maybe after that Mumsnet penis dunking thread they need to pay extra to get anyone dealing with glass tumbler returns.


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:36 pm
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£7.50 plus vat plus postage

They want you to pay postage both ways?


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:37 pm
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There's no onus on them to have a warranty at all. Any manufacturer warranty is in addition to statutory rights.

The fact they want paying for a repair given the age and purchase cost is one of two gripes I have here.


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:40 pm
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Is the second gripe the postage or a mystery gripe?


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:42 pm
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No. I would expect it repaired or replaced foc


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:45 pm
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Under a year old it should definitely be fixed FOC. No question.

(I mean the repair cost - postage may depend how it was bought. Your statutory rights are with the seller of course, not necessarily manufacturer.)


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:46 pm
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Is the second gripe the postage or a mystery gripe?

It's a mystery #KateBush unless someone works it out or I get bored.


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:46 pm
geeh and geeh reacted
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It's a mystery #ToyahWilcox surely?


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:48 pm
supernova, funkmasterp, Rubber_Buccaneer and 13 people reacted
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Ah, ballbags. 😀


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:49 pm
peteza, funkmasterp, peteza and 1 people reacted
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I would feel peeved.

Once I'd got over that I'd glue it myself and then every time I used it I'd have a little grumble.

After a few weeks I'd be told to stfu by madame and then the grumble would be inside voice only

A couple of years down the line id see an identical tumbler in a charity shop window and laugh quietly to myself


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:49 pm
peteza, reeksy, geeh and 19 people reacted
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I’d be told to stfu by madame... A couple of years down the line id see an identical tumbler in a charity shop

The problem here is a) madame bought it(*) and b) it's engraved so it's vanishingly unlikely for an identical one to appear.

(* - Mine, not yours. Well, I assume they're different people, at any rate.)


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:52 pm
davidr, twistedpencil, davidr and 1 people reacted
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Am I being unreasonable?

Usually the answer is, "probably yes". But this time, I don't think you are.


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 8:59 pm
chakaping and chakaping reacted
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Has it been mistreated, as in it sounds like something that should be hand washed rather than thrown in the dish washer?


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 9:01 pm
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Has it been mistreated, as in it sounds like something that should be hand washed rather than thrown in the dish washer?

A fair question but absolutely not. I don't have a dishwasher in which to place things, let alone throw them.

Honestly, it rarely gets fully submerged even. I clean it out with a sponge, then it either goes back into service on my desk or put away in the cupboard because my better half cannot be trusted not to stick it on the draining rack underneath a stack of farmhouse pans.


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 9:09 pm
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I'd expect the repair to be free at the very least.  Plus an apology.

I could perhaps begrudgingly suck up the postage costs.


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 9:09 pm
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You're right to feel aggrieved.

But honestly, glue it and move on in life.


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 9:12 pm
peteza, mattyfez, andy4d and 9 people reacted
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But honestly, glue it and move on in life.

This would be my preferred option, I don't really want to have to send it back. But having been on the other side of Customer Services I didn't want to **** it up and then enter into a "well, you should have spoken to us first" conversation.


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 9:16 pm
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To be honest if you'd have just glued it it would have taken up a lot less of your life than it has done writing to them and posting on here. But at least you've given those of us on here something to do as well so we can all be unreasonable together.


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 9:21 pm
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I’d expect the repair to be free at the very least. Plus an apology.

The repair might just be gluing it back in if it was made like that origeonaly?


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 9:24 pm
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Can they not spell repair? Charge them £8 .50 plus VAT for correcting their spelling/grammar in customer facing correspondence.


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 9:48 pm
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Thermal expansion of glass and pewter are likely very different. Any glue you use will have a hard time staying in place.


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 9:56 pm
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maybe something flexible..blob of sillicone sealent or something similar?


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 10:02 pm
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I blame the cat…

if it’s anything like mine it was the cat what did it…


 
Posted : 04/11/2024 10:03 pm
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Did you put it in the dishwasher?


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 9:17 am
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If you send it back they're going to use the same glue they used before, which you already know doesn't work.


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 9:19 am
 ctk
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I'd expect a free repair. But also as above I'd expect it to break again.


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 9:28 am
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Fix it yourself. Then leave a crap review on trustpilot and everywhere else. State both poor quality and poor service.


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 9:38 am
thebunk and thebunk reacted
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mattyfez

maybe something flexible..blob of sillicone sealent or something similar?

Yes, silicone adhesive is what I'd use. Heat resistant, waterproof, flexible, sticks to glass like fox poo to a picnic blanket

edit- link is not working, but just search 'clear silicone adhesive' on Amazon and you'll find it. No need for a posh brand. Clean the surfaces with isoprop alcohol or similar first.


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 9:51 am
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I like that according to the url this is the 12th "Am I being unreasonable" thread.

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/am-i-being-unreasonable-11/

Only Flaperon has started more than one of them (two to be precise).


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 9:52 am
multi21, thebunk, thebunk and 1 people reacted
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I think.... if I sold glasses with a pewter doofer attached I'm not sure I'd expect people to actually use it to drink beverages from it, certainly not with any regularity. Seems like more of an ornament than a utensil to me.


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 10:15 am
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I don't think you're being unreasonable,  they should be covering repair and postage both ways.

It's a drinking vessel, doesn't matter how fancy it looks, it should be fit for purpose or have warnings to the contrary.

maccruiskeen If you had a bike with a fancy custom paint job you'd not be happy if it just debonded under light use just because it was was pretty and "just for looking at"


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 10:16 am
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My other gripe which you've missed is, what is "really strong superglue"? Superglue is cyanoacrylate and as far as I'm aware does not bond with glass.

We have movement, anyway. I threw the CRA at them last night, their reply: "Please return back to [us] and we will replace free of charge, please note it can take up to 3 weeks to return the repaired one." Which is an improvement but really I was only looking for advice.


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 10:28 am
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we will replace free of charge, please note it can take up to 3 weeks to return the repaired one.”

Well, are they replacing it or repairing it?


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 10:51 am
 poly
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I think…. if I sold glasses with a pewter doofer attached I’m not sure I’d expect people to actually use it to drink beverages from it, certainly not with any regularity. Seems like more of an ornament than a utensil to me.

i have to say that was my gut feel, and hot drinks in particular…

My other gripe which you’ve missed is, what is “really strong superglue”? Superglue is cyanoacrylate and as far as I’m aware does not bond with glass.

Well whilst my inner chemist shared the upset of referring to cyanoacrylate by locktites brand name, I suspect that 98% of their customers would be clueless if told to use a CA based adhesive.

locktite sell a “version” specifically designed for use on glass to withstand dishwashing.  All CA will bond glass - but it cures so quickly it tends to have higher stress and be more prone to failure.  “High strength” CAs tend to the be CA mixes with something that controls the curing and potentially adds some flexibility to come with different thermal expansions etc.

We have movement, anyway. I threw the CRA at them last night, their reply: “Please return back to [us] and we will replace free of charge, please note it can take up to 3 weeks to return the repaired one.” Which is an improvement but really I was only looking for advice.

your final statement seems odd, because they gave you advice and offered a service where they could do it for you and your reaction was not “thanks for the advice” it was to start an AIBU thread.  In my option you were within your rights to demand a repair (if the product was used as intended) but having asked for advice on repair were unreasonable to take umbridge at getting what you asked for.

by the way this is the sort of thing I would probably pop in to timpsons for…


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 10:56 am
ossify and ossify reacted
 poly
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Well, are they replacing it or repairing it?

Will the new one be engraved?


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 10:57 am
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they gave you advice

In your professional opinion, would you consider it to have been sound advice?


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 11:20 am
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yes they should fix it (for free) but tbh I'd have just fixed it myself already, mainly as I have various different glues already. Superglue would not be my go-to here, it's too thin. That Shoo-Goo stuff for shoe repair would be ideal I think. Brown Gorilla Glue if it won't be visible once the repair is made. Even a glue-gun would probably be ok for this!

LocTite do make a specific superglue for glass but it's probably not something most people would have already https://www.loctite-consumer.co.uk/products/central-pdp.html/loctite-superglue-glass/SAP_0201DFLSG1A4.html


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 12:14 pm
 poly
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In your professional opinion, would you consider it to have been sound advice?

If there is virtually no gap between the two parts, and provided that future failure will not make it dangerous (like a handle falling off) then it seems quite reasonable to me.  Its probably what the do at the factory.  If they are not a tight fit, they are subject to big thermal shock etc there may be other glues that are better.


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 12:44 pm
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The old adhesive is still stuck fast to the pewter. If I were to DIY a repair I'd likely be gluing glass to glue rather than to metal.

I have Gorilla Glue in the cupboard, it would've been my first choice but it sets kinda brown. The extant glue is clear.


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 2:28 pm
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I'd throw it in the bin . Sounds like a load of nonsense anyway. Sort of thing they foist on you at a work 25yr service ceremony.

It's not 1845 anymore , pewter tankards are the reserve of morris men and weirdos in the pub who smell.


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 3:42 pm
andy4d, scotroutes, dyna-ti and 5 people reacted
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Hey, I'm a smelly weirdo!

It's not a tankard, it's a glass and was a present from my partner. Even if I didn't want it - and I do, I use it daily, I'm the sort of person who has MY mug and MY glass rather than a cupboard full of the things - it would not be wise politically for me to dispose of it.


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 9:53 pm
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It’s not 1845 anymore , pewter tankards are the reserve of morris men and weirdos in the pub who smell.

My 19 year old son has one, as do a few of his friends.

They are of course the group who do Dungeons and Dragons, like Dire Straights and have a penchant for iffy facial hair growth.


 
Posted : 05/11/2024 10:07 pm

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