Cross Trainer from Argos gave me a black eye

[havvauk]

I recently purchased a budget cross trainer from Argos as it had some amazing feedback considering the price of £69.99. Item no 906/1686

 

I today attempted to begin putting it together and first thing first, put the legs on the instructions say. I lift the main body of the trainer on to its back to attach the legs and as it did not have a great balance it fell on me and has given me a black eye and cut my bottom eye lid :Cry:

 

I don't see how 1 individual person is able to assemble this alone. The instructions do not suggest there to be 2 people and I am a single mum. I am quite upset about my eye but more upset that Argos Customer Services have asked for me to return it to the Store where I purchased it from and fill out a Hazard notification form.

 

Well the box clearly says 25kg and although the box has slits either side to put your hand through to hold it, you can not get your hand through as the polystyrene is in the way. I personally could not lift this as the box is of a long rectangular shape and asked a member of their staff to bring it to my car when I purchased it and even he struggled. So asking me to pack it back as best as I can and return it is something I won't be able to do. I will put half back in the box and the other half in double black bags.

 

I want to know if I have any rights with regards to my eye? Am I entitled to compensation at all? My job as a model means I can not work until my eye has heeled

[citizenB]

How was it delivered to you ?

 

Or did you have help when you purchased the item.

 

Sods law says that stuff taken out of box, never fits back in if you need to repack. I imagine they have specialist packers at the supplier.

 

It might be worth getting back in touch with Customer Services and explaining ..

 

1: You are single female weighing.. X kgs ... sopping wet

2: You are unable to fit the item back into its box.

 

Any suggestions for you being able to repack and return to the store.. on your own, would be welcome !!

 

I imagine if the item is hazardous without further detailed instructions (not least of which should be that more than one person is required to assemble) then I reckon you should be able to press for some comp.

[raydetinu]

Agree to a point that if over 20kg a risk assessment should be done! by the supplier and instructions given to that affect.

HSG do a manual handling advice sheet.

see http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg143.pdf

this relates to work but same principles apply.

 

The other point is it is up to the one carrying out the operation to assess the situation before trying to do something where you should really have had some help.

 

So yes I would complain and possibly get some compensation, but it may be mitigated by the above to some extent.

[steampowered]

Was the item really hazardous, though? I'm not sure you can blame Argos because the cross-trainer fell on you when you were putting it together, to me it sounds like one of things rather than something where someone is to blame. Argos might agree to collect the item and give you a refund but I'm not sure you will get any compensation.

[labrat]

one of the pro-trainer ones - took two of us to get it togeather

not sure but i think ours did warn us on the manual somewhere...