Airport Duty Free - Buyer be aware

[captain_jeeves]

Last month I purchased an “O2” Mobile device from a Duty Free shop in the Hong Kong Airport. When I returned home (out of Hong Kong), the device stopped working. I took it to the local “O2” shop, where I was told that I would have to pay $300 to have it repaired, and the only way I could have it repaired under warranty, would be to deliver it to the repair centre in Hong Kong. So, any savings I had by purchasing it as Duty Free, is completely lost, EVEN IF I could courier it them.

The printed warranty included with the device clearly states that any authorised repair centre can complete the repairs, but it seems that "O2" does not want to honour this warranty.

Also, I advised “O2” (Asia Pacific Region) that I would be advertising this dissatisfaction in a public forum. They couldn’t care less.

You may want to think about this before purchasing electronic goods at Duty Free Shops.


Cheers

[Avman]

I had a similar problem quite some years ago with an airband radio I purchased duty free at Gatwick (I'm a non UK resident). Brought the radio home to find that it didn't work correctly. I could only have it replaced if I took it back to LGW. Any repairs I would have had to pay for myself in my country of residence. From that day on I never again purchased electronic equipment from duty free shops.

[rvf]

Contact Nokia directly

[BusyB]

Anytime you buy anything electronic that might require repairing outside the country of purchase say you require an international warranty. Quite often some items only have a local warranty for different reasons.

A standard precaution believe it or not.:rolleyes:

[Globaliser]

I had a similar problem quite some years ago with an airband radio I purchased duty free at Gatwick (I'm a non UK resident). Brought the radio home to find that it didn't work correctly. I could only have it replaced if I took it back to LGW.BAA's shopping guarantee means that you should have been able to return it to them by post for a full refund including the cost of the postage. Not a perfect solution, but an option.

[Avman]

BAA's shopping guarantee means that you should have been able to return it to them by post for a full refund including the cost of the postage. Not a perfect solution, but an option.

Unfortunately, it was before any such guarantee existed.

[Globaliser]

Yes, that's definitely a pig of a problem then.