Gadgets and the like

Now if you are anything like me you enjoy the 21st century gadgets, anything from computers to mobile phones, everyone it seems has one. And great they are too, until that is they stop working, or have a problem. Well I have just discovered a new site I would urge you all to look at, it covers all sorts of gadgets and gizmos, has postings to help you out of a crisis with your mp3 player and the like. Its still early days on the site so at the moment there are somewhat sparse postings but it will , I am sure, grow over the next few months.

http://www.unofgadgets.com

Give it a try.

FLYMO part worth more than gold !

2 years ago I bought a Flymo Petrol Strimmer XLT250 lite for the garden. This year when I came to use it the small rubber primer bulb had split. ( any one who has a petrol mower or strimmer will know the part I mean) It's only a small rubber bulb held on by a small metal plate and two screws but it a vital part, needed to start the motor, without it it simply wont work. Easy enough to replace, literally in a few seconds, so I though I would contact Flymo to get a new one.

I emailed them in July, no reply. I telephoned them a few weeks later only to hold on for 20 minutes to be cut off so I emailed them again. 2 months later I received this reply.

We have a mail order service available from our factory. Unfortunatly the primer bulb is not available by itself, it comes as part of the carburettor. The cost of the part direct from us is £77.02 plus £3.50 postage and packaging. Please quote part number 5300718-11/0

UNBELIEVABLE ! That makes the tiny rubber bulb worth more than gold! Never mind the appalling waste of throwing a perfectly good carburettor into a landfill site.

Not being put off by this appaling situation I searched on the web and came across Southwest Garden Machinery in Launceston

http://www.southwestgardenmachinery.co.uk/

I emailed them, within hours they had emailed me back giving me the same information, but saying that they would almost certainly have a suitable spare primer bulb that would fit my strimmer, and to take the part into them to check. A few days later I drove over to Launceston to see and they did - cost £3.95. I fitted it in about 1 minute and the strimmer is now back in action.

I have emailed Flymo / Husqvarna and informed them that I certainly wont be buying another product from their group. In this day and age of recycling it is, in my opinion immoral to deal with customers in such a way. The natural lifespan of the primer bulb is certainly far less than the metal carburettor so not supplying it as a seperate part is ridiculious, and down right profiteering on their part.

Oh yes and by the way the original strimmer is priced at £79. How do companies like this get away with it?

A heartfelt thanks to Southwest Garden Machinery for coming to the rescue, I am now strimming away happily and will certainly use and recommend Southwest Garden Machinery again.