2BA or not 2BA
Ok, I apologise for the pun in the title.
Last week I bought a pack of 2BA machine screws from an internet based supplier (who for the time being will remain nameless). When I received them I was puzzled to find that they didn’t fit the electrical equipment coverplates, or more tellingly the 2BA nuts I had received from the same supplier only the week before.
After a few minutes rummaging in my collection of old screws, I found that I had been supplied with M5 machine screws. Unsurprisingly I phoned to complain….
“Well they are equivalent” I was told.
“What do you mean by equivalent?” I enquired.
“M5 parts can be interchanged with 2BA parts”, came the reply.
“But I have 2BA threaded holes and I need 2BA machine screws to fit them”.
“Sorry sir, but I think you’ll find the M5 will do the job better”.
“But I need them to fit the equipment that already exists with 2BA threads in it”.
“You will find that if you use the M5 it will fit perfectly well”.
“No it doesn’t!”
“Yes it will!”
“Please can I speak to your supervisor?”
After a 5 minute wait, a lady picked up the phone and we went through the whole discussion again... No improvement. Not the slightest understanding of the problem.
“Can I return them and get my money back as they don’t work?”
“Have you opened the packet?”
“Yes”.
“Sorry sir you can’t return it if the packet has been opened”.
“But it says 2BA on the packet, and you now admit that you’ve supplied me M5, so you have mislabelled them”.
“No sir M5 and 2BA are equivalent, so the labelling is correct”.
“But equivalent to is not the same as identical to”.
“Yes it is”.
“No it isn’t. I think I better speak to your manager…….”.
To cut the rest of the story short, I went on eBay found some 2BA parts, confirmed with the seller that they were genuine. And three days latter they were fitted and the equipment covers were back in place….
Back to the original supplier; I have taken out small claim paperwork and sent them a copy with a note saying that I will submit it to the court unless I receive a full refund within 28 days. I’ll keep you posted….
Last week I bought a pack of 2BA machine screws from an internet based supplier (who for the time being will remain nameless). When I received them I was puzzled to find that they didn’t fit the electrical equipment coverplates, or more tellingly the 2BA nuts I had received from the same supplier only the week before.
After a few minutes rummaging in my collection of old screws, I found that I had been supplied with M5 machine screws. Unsurprisingly I phoned to complain….
“Well they are equivalent” I was told.
“What do you mean by equivalent?” I enquired.
“M5 parts can be interchanged with 2BA parts”, came the reply.
“But I have 2BA threaded holes and I need 2BA machine screws to fit them”.
“Sorry sir, but I think you’ll find the M5 will do the job better”.
“But I need them to fit the equipment that already exists with 2BA threads in it”.
“You will find that if you use the M5 it will fit perfectly well”.
“No it doesn’t!”
“Yes it will!”
“Please can I speak to your supervisor?”
After a 5 minute wait, a lady picked up the phone and we went through the whole discussion again... No improvement. Not the slightest understanding of the problem.
“Can I return them and get my money back as they don’t work?”
“Have you opened the packet?”
“Yes”.
“Sorry sir you can’t return it if the packet has been opened”.
“But it says 2BA on the packet, and you now admit that you’ve supplied me M5, so you have mislabelled them”.
“No sir M5 and 2BA are equivalent, so the labelling is correct”.
“But equivalent to is not the same as identical to”.
“Yes it is”.
“No it isn’t. I think I better speak to your manager…….”.
To cut the rest of the story short, I went on eBay found some 2BA parts, confirmed with the seller that they were genuine. And three days latter they were fitted and the equipment covers were back in place….
Back to the original supplier; I have taken out small claim paperwork and sent them a copy with a note saying that I will submit it to the court unless I receive a full refund within 28 days. I’ll keep you posted….
Labels: 2BA, complaint, imperial, internet suppliers, metric, supervisor
posted by TonyB at 12:21 pm
0 comments
