Returns - perhaps, but not according to the law!!

It seems this store does not take their obligations under the consumer protection act seriously. Bought trail running shoes on the 27th December 2021. By 14 February 2022 I was ready to return them as the toe cups on both shoes had collapsed. Even with one of the staff in-store and a 3rd party running store owner both agreeing that the shoes are no longer fit for purpose, the store owner refused to replace them, instead wanting to send them to the shoe manufacturer. The consumer protection act clearly states that the obligation is on the store to replace repair or refund at the buyer's discretion, He point blank refused even though he agreed that it did not matter what the shoe manufacturer would say as he would replace them any way out of respect for customer relations with me. So then - why waste my time sending shoes to the manufacturer? If the owner of a running specialist store is not competent enough to make a self-determination as to whether a pair of shoes is fit for purpose......

So much for customer relations, because here I am writing a negative review on Hello Peter. I left with my shoes, and he has to date (13 days now) not bothered to respond to an email pointing out his legal obligations either. Chatting to colleagues about this poor service, it turns out I am not the only one having experienced this ******* behaviour from his store. Another colleague bought a running watch which was faulty out of the box. Buttons did not work. He also refused to replace it immediately and wanted to send it off to the manufacturer. Took months. So, buyer beware - in the event of a product failure, it seems this store does not take their legal duty under the consumer protection act seriously.

Next step - the National Consumer Commission. It is no longer about the shoes and the money, but when I heard he treated others in the same way, it becomes about doing what's right under law.