fermette2

Hope someone can help please. Are there any organic baby foods widely available in France similar to HIPP Organics in the UK and, if so, at which outlets? I've heard that some French ones still contain added salt and sugar. Many thanks in advance

Many thanks to you all for answering my question.

We did a tour of a local windmill and the miller talked about the different types of wood used in the reconstruction. He said the cogs of the wheels were made of cormier, which is one of the hardest known wood. Just out of interest we looked in the dictionary to find out the English translation but could not find it. Does anyone out there know it, please? Many thanks

A couple of years ago we used Furniture for France (see link below). Brian Muir is the owner and he sources sofas, chairs, dining room furniture in the UK and delivers them to France. We ordered two loose-covered sofas which were actually made in Wales. There is a catalogue and swatches and if you were not satisfied with the goods when they were delivered, he said he would take them back and refund the money. We were very pleased with the sofas and last year had a pine desk from him also. I am in no way connected with this company - I can only say that we would use him again. Fermette http://www.furnitureforfrance.co.uk/

Hi We have always had some molehills in our garden but during the last couple of weeks I have noticed that alongside every normal sized molehill, there is a smaller one. I hope this isn't a silly question but I wonder if these are being made by an adult and a baby mole (a molehill digger in training)? Just interested .... Fermette

Thanks, Dave, for your prompt reply. If our floor looks as good as yours when it's done, we'll be well pleased! Fermette

Hi, I'm looking for some advice please. We have a wooden floor which is, as yet, untreated. It is clean and smooth and we are looking to seal it and bring up the grain. We were unsure which product would suit best as there is such an array on the brico shelves, so have bought a tin of Boisilor Vitrificateur for parquet. We have tried it on a sample piece and the effect is pleasing but nowhere on the tin does it state what the constituents of the product are. We have bought "Incolore ciré". Is the milky appearance due to PVA or wax or both? Many thanks in advance for anyone's help. Fermette

Thank you very much Clair - very helpful. fermette2

I suppose I was working on the basis that a big chain import their own stock. Either way, the manager believed the responsibility rested with Bricomarche. BTW, do you know if, under French contract law, the consumer's redress is anyway with the shop/persons to whom he paid the money? Grateful if you have any knowledge of this area.

I had a problem a couple of years ago at our local Bricomarche. We had bought a lawnmower which ceased to work after a week (clutch problem?). I took it back to the store and asked for a replacement. I was told that I would have to contact the manufacturer - basically it was nothing to do with Bricomarche. I stood and argued about my contract being with them as they had received the money, but they would not  budge. When I got back home, I googled "droits des consommateurs" and came across "quechoisir.com" which appears to be a French equivalent of Which. I trawled throught their site and came up with the following: "01/04/05 Produits défectueux L'arsenal législatif renforcé Une directive de 1999 relative à «certains aspects de la vente des biens» a enfin été intégrée dans notre droit par une ordonnance du 17 février (art. L. 211-1 et suivants du code de la consommation). Si un bien n'est pas conforme au contrat conclu avec le professionnel (fabricant, importateur), l'acheteur peut réclamer soit sa réparation, soit son remplacement(1). Il peut en outre garder le produit et se faire rembourser le prix d'achat lorsque la réparation ou le remplacement est impossible et quand la solution demandée ne peut être mise en oeuvre dans le mois qui suit la réclamation. Autre apport du texte, «les défauts de conformité qui apparaissent dans les six mois à partir de la délivrance du bien sont présumés exister au moment de la délivrance» (charge de la preuve inversée). Le consommateur devant agir, pour bénéficier de ce point, dans les deux ans. L'ordonnance aborde aussi les garanties commerciales. Elles doivent obligatoirement faire l'objet d'un écrit mis à la disposition de l'acheteur. Et toute période d'immobilisation du bien d'au moins sept jours prolonge la durée de la garantie commerciale d'autant. Ces nouvelles modalités d'action s'ajoutent à celles déjà offertes par notre droit. Ainsi, le consommateur peut-il toujours invoquer la garantie légale des vices cachés (art. 1641 du code civil). Une action à enclencher dans les deux ans de la remise du bien et non plus dans un «bref délai» comme avant (art. 1648). (1) Le professionnel peut ne pas suivre l'option choisie si son coût est disproportionné par rapport à l'autre."   I printed this off, returned to Bricomarche and explained again that I wanted a replacement. He tried to dismiss me again but I waved the paper in front of the manager, loudly saying "c'est la loi". He read it, looked startled and said I could have a replacement mower. He also asked if he could borrow the piece of paper to photocopy it. I think he was genuinely surprised to read it. Interestingly, it says that any fault appearing within 6 months is deemed to have existed at the moment of delivery.   Hope this helps - it sure gave me a smug, warm glow.