fermette

We had a problem last month with a petrol mower on which the clutch burned out after only 1 week.  We were brushed off by the manager of the Brico who said that our contract was with the manufacturer and it would have to be sent away.  Overnight I searched on Google and found the equivalent of WHICH (www.quechoisir.org).  I found a law relating to "produits defectueux" which basically stated that any item which goes wrong within six months of purchase is assumed to have been faulty at the date of purchase.  You are entitled to a repair or replacement and the supplier is not allowed to offer you a third solution.  I printed off the law as summarised on the quechoisir website, quoted the exact words at the customer service desk and showed them the print out and it worked like a charm.  Immediately they said they could take the clutch off the only remaining new mower of that type and put it on our machine within the hour.  Job done!  Incidentally I think this is a European wide law and although they looked surprised at the brico when I quoted it, I can't believe that they didn't already know it. I am not sure when it was enacted so that might affect your purchase last year.

Thanks for all the replies - will certainly go to FLY and we intend to visit Bordeaux later this year so will visit IKEA also.

Thanks - yes I'd looked on the Ikea website but they don't do the colour we want.  I'll try the Marie Claire website - and now that I know what the French for loose covers is I will maybe have more luck.

Hi, we've been looking to buy a couple of sofas with washable loose covers but the shops in the our area don't seem to stock them (Jonzac, 50 km north of Bordeaux).  Can anyone give me the name of stockists for such items, either national or local? Otherwise it seems we may have to order them in the UK and ship them down. Thanks in advance