Burnt-out barbecue sparks auction warning

BUYER FRUSTRATED THAT COMPANY WON'T PAY REFUND FOR ITEM 'ONLY GOOD FOR THE BIN'

- By RUCSANDRA MOLDOVEANU

A DISAPPOINTED woman has slammed a Nottingham auctions company after she was sent a "burnt-out" barbecue that did not work.

Nicci Ryan, 53 and from Southwell, bought the Ninja appliance online during a John Pye Auctions sale. Ms Ryan and her husband thought they had bagged a bargain as the barbecue, which usually sells for £400, cost £214.49 after they successfully bid for it.

But their excitement quickly wore off when they realised "straight away" after opening the box that the item would not work.

Ms Ryan said: "The description didn't mention anything about the item being damaged. We had the opportunity to view it before we purchased it but it was at their branch in Staffordshire.

"I thought I could trust them because we bought from them before and their head office is in Nottingham. Upon opening it, we knew straight away. It was a burnt-out mess. It was perished. It was filthy.