Buy baths online – Beware: the bath offer online

Bathroom shopping online are very much on the rise. Because of this, more information about customer satisfaction is available after delivery and, more importantly, after installation.

There are many ways the public is protected when shopping online. Ideally, we would like our products to be delivered on time, as described at point of sale and of suitable quality for installation. Using the wrong provider that cannot provide these key requirements can result in the customer having to pursue a claim against the provider, which can make the entire process very frustrating and often costly.

Recently I have had occasions to help clients who have had problems with products online from other providers that have been of poor quality. Here are some examples:

plastic mats – Although images of faucets on a website may appear chrome, manufacturers can apply chrome paint to plastic to create a chrome effect. The body will be very light, flimsy, and will feel cheap. Make sure the brass items are brass items and therefore have a chrome plated brass body and not an inferior plastic body with a chrome colored coating.

flat pack bathroom cabinet Flat packed units can be fine if you have a degree of woodworking skill and patience. Drives will show up online, but some drives can take hours to assemble and installers won’t always be happy to do so. Pre-assembled or rigid units can be easily inspected upon delivery, so make sure you’re happy with the contents before assembly.

Guarantee – Many online suppliers of bathroom equipment will rely on being the cheapest to secure your order. This is fine if you need goods that are for short-term use or future maintenance costs have been factored in. However, if you’re trying to select products to use in your own home to compare with high street showroom products, beware: many of the larger retailers and well-known names on both high street and online, they only offer a 12-month warranty. If a manufacturer is only willing to give a warranty for that period, it is likely because the product is of poor quality. Many bathroom products have moving parts, cartridges and valves, flush fittings, or hinges, so there’s a lot to break or mess up. Insist that a minimum of 5 years warranty is standard with any product you buy for your bathroom

Shipping costs – Beware of free delivery offers. The shipping cost will have had to be absorbed into the cost of the goods for sale and this usually means that the products are too cheap to make it a viable sale for the supplier. Alternatively, the cost of the delivery method may be cheap and therefore increase the risk of delay or, more likely, damage. When you have prepaid for your products, you should expect their prompt arrival without worrying about whether the quality is fit for purpose and the possibility that they will arrive late and/or damaged. When this happens it can be a traumatic experience and very difficult to obtain a satisfactory resolution and refund.

With this advice in mind, be careful when buying your faucets, bathroom fixtures, and other bathroom products online. There are companies that offer really brilliant deals online that the high street just can’t compete with, but be sure to do your research and check before you take the plunge!