Thank you for Your Help…Consumer Protection

Human Services Spotlight Series #22

Consumer Protection Resolves Spat over Scratched Glass Stovetop

A buyer blamed a pot for damaging a glass stovetop. The seller said the pot wasn’t at fault. Pinellas County Consumer Protection stepped in.

Sometime during November 2020, a consumer bought a set of cookware for $171.20. The consumer said the first time they used one of the pots, it left a scratch on the glass stovetop. The consumer found a ragged edge on the metal band on the pot’s bottom. 

The consumer believed the ragged edge damaged the stovetop. The buyer tried to resolve the issue with the seller and followed their recommendations. The seller refused to accept that their product had a defect.

The buyer subsequently returned the merchandise and was given a full refund of the purchase price but still wished to work out the issue of the damaged stovetop. They felt $500 would cover the cost to repair the damage. After unsuccessfully waiting for the seller to compensate them for the damage, they filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and Consumer Protection.                    

The consumer protection investigator tried to contact the seller on several occasions. The investigator was eventually able to speak with a seller’s representative. They discussed the damage to the stovetop and the buyer’s allegations of product defect. While the seller’s representative insisted the damage was not caused by their product, they offered to resolve the issue.

Thanks to the investigator’s efforts, the seller and buyer reached an agreement. The seller paid the buyer $200 as compensation towards the repair of the damaged glass stovetop.   

Protect – Regulate –  Investigate – Educate

Sometimes it is hard to spot fraud when it is happening. Scams can be large or small, sophisticated, or simple, but the people behind them have two things in common: They want to steal your money and avoid being caught. The reality is anyone could fall victim to a scam, no matter your age, intellect, or economic status. Most consumer transactions are completed satisfactorily. On occasion, however, any consumer could experience unresolved problems such as defective products, erroneous bills or nondelivery of goods or services.

When you are confronted with such a situation, the dedicated employees of Pinellas County Consumer Protection are here to help you. Investigators are available to speak with you regarding a consumer transaction at (727) 464-6200 or email consumer@pinellas.gov.