Dec 29, 2010 02:22 PM
39913 Views
My second review in Mouth shut unluckily happens to be a negative one. I am putting up this review because I have come across several reviews on this product which happens to be extremely negative and very much similar to my experience. Please excuse me if you find this review a little long. This is because I felt I should explain in detail so that prospective buyers going through this review stay away from this product just due to the extremely poor quality of after sales service.
I felt myself too lucky when my friends gifted me a PUREIT water purifier for my marriage about three years ago. It was at a time when I really wanted to buy the product, about which I had high expectations since it comes from a very reputed company. There were absolutely no concerns with the product during the first two years and a feedback check was done by the company every three months or so. The product was in regular use and we had almost stopped boiling water for drinking. Some calls by me to the service center were promptly attended to.
By the end of the second year (I think in November 2009), I got a call from the company stating that the BATTERY KIT is due for replacement. I used to monitor the battery closely which showed no signs of a need for replacement (the battery would become red). When I informed this to the telecaller, she informed me that the battery should not be used beyond two years as it is the maximum recommended life of the battery. Since I was very much satisfied with the product and services, I agreed to replace the battery. She advised me not to use the product till the battery is replaced. I therefore emptied the purifier and informed my family members about the call, so that no one uses it.
Now starts the horrid part of the affair. Even after two weeks I saw no signs of the battery**, and therefore contacted the customer care helpline and asked for update. They informed me that the battery kit would reach me within a week, a promise which was never kept. The funniest part is that I used to get SMS on my mobile several times for confirmation of my order!!! Again after two weeks, I contacted the customer care, again to no yield. The faulty promise of one week was given again. For the third call, I had lost all my temper and asked the executive whether I should beg to get a service that too for one which is to be done under payment basis. This worked and I got the kit replaced in less than a week along with the pre filter (on which the cap is fixed) and the secondary filter (dome shaped and grey in color finished with some sand like material), and I still wonder why these two were replaced. To add to my dissatisfaction, I used to get SMS updates several times for more than a week even after the replacement of the parts!!!
Within a week of replacement, I felt that the taste of the water is different than what it used to be initially. Coupled with that, there was some foul smell. Since I was OVER CONFIDENT (even after the above experiences) about the brand, I thought it might be due to the bottle used for collecting water from the purifier, and hence changed the bottle but the problem persisted. Then I thought this might be because it is time to clean the filter. To my utter dismay, when I removed the pre filter, it had some discoloration (the original filter had became muddy color before replacing but that was after using it for almost one year) and it had become some pale color. Then I took the dome shaped filter and started cleaning it using the “PUMP” that they had provided with the purifier. To my complete dissatisfaction, I found sand like particles peeling off from the top of the filter, and when I ran my hand over the filter, I could find that the particles are actually peeling off from the filter. The previous filter was very smooth finished but this filter’s top had become uneven. And even more horrifying was when I looked inside the glass chamber!! There were several dust particles and algae kind of formation inside and yes, the smell which I got from the bottle was very much there*!!! Remember, we never used to boil water after we received this product and I had given water even to my two year old child from this IDIOTIC & STUPID (sorry to use this language) *product.
Now I feel that the replaced parts are non-genuine and that is what caused the trouble. I have been trying ever since to contact PUREIT, but to no use. The call never gets connected and even if it gets connected, it gets disconnected the next moment. I am totally frustrated with this whole issue and the product is sitting like AN ANTIQUE EXHIBIT in my house. Only good thing is that I have not spent money to buy this product but the sad thing is that it was given as a gift to me by my friends. From this experience, whoever is planning to buy a water purifier, I would suggest rather request to PLEASE STAY AWAY from this product. It is a product with one of the worst services I have ever experienced. Also after reading the most reviews of similar products available in the market, I feel is better to drink boiled water rather that running behind these products to save cooking gas or electricity. I strongly believe that at a later stage, such saved money can be spent at hospitals, treating for various diseases arising out of using these products!
