Blinds direct -- pulling the wool

DirectBlinds have quite a nice website. But something is wrong with the website. I use Amazon all the time; I have never used that site before.

I ordered a blind a few weeks ago. I entered 106 cm width, or 3 feet+ in real money, expecting made to measure. So I was rather surprised to get a blind just over a foot wide.

Naturally I wondered whether I had had a "senior moment" and entered the wrong value. I did not think I could have done; but of course you doubt yourself under such circumstances.

But then I went to the site last week, entered those measurements again, pressed "Get price", then "Add item to shopping cart" and found that the site then altered the width down, silently, on the next page by a number of centimetres, although not to the same extent as in my first go!

This made me suppose that they must in fact be selling standard sizes. So I wrote to them asking for a refund (why not, if it is a standard size blind?)

They wrote back today, refusing, on the grounds that it was made to measure. So I tried again -- and today the widths remain exactly as I input them at 106 cm.

Indeed if I fiddle change "recess size" to "exact size", the width still remains exactly at 106cms (which sounds a little odd - aren't these supposed to change to allow some headroom in the former case?)

But I'm not barmy here. There's no way that I can use this site three times and get three different results, if the site is working correctly. I may not be quite certain about what I did a couple of weeks ago; but I am very certain that the site did one thing last week and a different thing today. I would imagine that the code that adjusts width for "recess size" and "exact size" is defective in some way.

Of course I can't prove any of this, and the sum of money is too small for me to spend a lot more time on it. They sent me a very nice blind, it is true. But because it is the wrong size -- and not, I am now sure, because of any error by me -- I shall have to consign it to landfill. Not a good experience.

Avoid these people. And if you do use them, check and recheck the measurements on the order after each click. Because sometimes ... they silently change them. I would never have bought a blind 43 cm wide -- but the order did say that was the width. Be alert ... or lose money.

Plumb Center -- the place to go

I've got a bath tap that's playing up. Taking it apart, I find the brass core of the tap seems to have a problem. I go up, carrying the duff item, to B&Q, and what's on sale isn't really what I need.

Foolishly I go to Plumbase next, of whom I have written before. I show the brass widget to the man on duty, and ask him if he has a replacement. He walks off and returns carrying replacement tap units. He doesn't even examine the brass widget. Then he tells me that spares are not made for this part. And then he then tries to tell me, with a "let's see if I can kid this guy along" look on his face, that the taps on my bath operate in different directions. Fortunately I know better and realise what is going on.

Out I go, and up to Plumb Center in Derby Road. The assistant takes the widget and tries to fit it to a tap they have there on the counter for the purpose. It doesn't fit, and he tells me that it is clearly an unusual size. He then gives me advice to try B&Q, as having the widest range, and some info on what to look for. In short he does his best to help me.

Well done Plumb Center.

No returns at the Asda Carphone warehouse?

Funny experience today. I went and bought a smartphone at the Carphone Warehouse near Asda. Once I'd got it home and charged it up, I made a first call ... and found I got buzzing when I spoke. It's the old "short-circuit" bug that some phones have.

I take it back, and they demand I prove to them that there is a problem. This is a bit weird -- if I haven't got a problem then why am I there? -- but I do my best. Of course it's nearly impossible in the noisy showroom to hear yourself, never mind a buzz. I do produce the effect eventually -- but am told that since I'm calling an ansaphone, it might be the ansaphone (!).

I get refused a return or exchange! I ask for the manager and am told he is in tomorrow.

I recommend we avoid these people. Who needs an argument when returning defective goods?

Good service at XL Windows

Don't you just hate dealing with double-glazing people? I've seen them all. There's the majors (people like Anglian Windows) who won't give you any idea on price until a salesman comes "to measure up", and promptly sits there for hour after hour beating your ear until -- in desperation -- you fling him out, quoteless. Or there's the small players who aren't that much good. And one and all seem to be out to cheat you.

Of course you can go to B&Q and look at the windows on offer there. That will give you a pretty good idea of what costs what. It is not actually very difficult to fit these things -- but if you are not very handy, you'd really rather have someone do it for you.

For years I've rather hopelessly tried to get my house done, and always been put off by the sheer difficulty of dealing with the shysters and swindlers. But I'm finally getting there.

If you want plastic windows, tho, XL Windows seem to be OK. They have an online calculator, which means you can work out precisely what it will cost. The prices are not very sensitive to size, which is natural (and casts an interesting light on the demand of major companies to "send someone to measure up").

The prices charged are about double what the frame alone would cost to buy from B&Q, although no doubt they get them wholesale. Then there is the glazing and the fitting and, of course, a reasonable profit. Standard retail mark-up on anything is 50%, and that seems to be about what they're charging.

I've had a set of sliding doors, a door and three windows done so far, in two chunks. It takes 6-8 weeks to get the items made, and they then fit them fairly quickly. They don't ask for any money up front. The quality of the fitting is good, and it took a morning to fit the door plus three windows.

They're also responsive to what customers want, and easy to deal with. They even will deal with you by email. Once you agree a price, someone does come round to measure, which just takes minutes.

So ... consider them recommended. My experiences so far have been pretty good.