********* business

I purchased a Grundig induction hob from Hirsch's because the product matched the decor in the kitchen of our new home and we were told by Hirsch's that it was a good brand.

After installing, it quickly became obvious that the product appeared to be faulty. With the exception of one pot, the hob would either stop cooking half way through (see photo) or the hob would lose one if not all the heating zones. We use those high quality induction pots from Le Creuset.

It took months of nagging before a technician from Defy Appliances eventually paid a visit to try and sort out the problem. Quite shockingly, their technician Ndu, broke the glass corner off the hob while trying to investigate the problem. He **** about it to his boss Roger Govender, who then fobbed me off by stating that it was already chipped with Ndu arrived - quite simply a lie.

A further month went by and still nothing was done. I had to escalate all the way to Margaret Hirsch's office to try and get any sort of action from Defy. Eventually the Sales Manager from Grundig got involved - and during a lengthy conversation he admitted to me that the product was just a poor design and that in fact Grundig were going to stop selling induction hobs altogether.

So Grundig's position was that the Grundig induction hob was not "faulty" - it was simpy an inferior product. Clearly it is not fit for sale to a consumer.

I took this up with Margaret Hirsch's office who said they would not be prepared to refund me as the product was not faulty - just inferior. They acknowledged that the product did not work as expected and even apologised - but would not pass me a refund or store credit so that I could get a better brand. They also decided to take Defy's position that the technician had not chipped the corner of the unit and would not replace it on that basis either.

I have been making large purchases for multiple homes from Hirsch's for the past 3 decades. My experience previously has been that they have in the past been an ethical company with fair business practice, guided by a set of morals.

How the mighty have fallen. I have lost faith in the brand, and do not trust them to sell me anything because they clearly put profits before customer. A false sense of economy in my case.

That's the last time I make a purchase from Hirsch's ever again.