Rob

I ordered a Christmas hamper. When it arrived we found the contents were not as advertised. I telephoned. There was nobody answering so I left a message. No response having been received to my message I sent an email. No response has been received to either call or email after two weeks. Research online suggests this is par for the course.

We used a roofer found throught Checkatrade to repair storm damage to the roof. He was a very affable, blokey type until we tried to pay by card or cheque, upon which he became abusive and threatening. He forced his way into the house and threatened to take back the parts he had fitted. He eventually agreed to take a cheque, but refused to give an address to send it to, insisting that he would return to collect it, which he did.

We raised this with Checkatrade who offered all the money (£1,000) back if we wouldn't leave a negative review. I wasn't prepared to risk allowing this fellow to force his way onto other unsuspecting homeowners and declined the offer.

A few weeks after he left the roofer's work failed (during another storm). We have been in touch with Checkatrade regarding this but there has been no
response.

Checkatrade comes across as a sort of independent quality control guarantee of workmen or businesses. The impression I was left with was of a business promoting other businesses for payment, nothing wrong in that if it says so up front, but it doesn't say so and this isn't what it appears to be. I think those appearing on their website pay a fee to Checkatrade to be there, or pay Checkatrade a quantum of the fee for the work. Either way, it has left a bitter taste in the mouth. I won't be using Checkatrade again, and I have far less confidence in other purported quality control organisations.

This machine is right handed. If you are left handed try something else, it has been designed for right handed use only. This also applies to the harness, which has to be the worst designed harness on the planet. It can be twisted for LH use, but it doesn't feel right.

The first machine had to be sent back. I asked for a refund and they told me that if I took a replacement there would still be the right to return it, so I agreed.

The second one arrived and I got it together. Not easy, the instruction manual is not well written and uses photographs instead of illustrations - cheap and not very helpful.

I got it to run. Once running it works well enough once it is running, and so I have decided to keep it, but it isn't easy to start, and I don't recommend it unless you have a lot of experience with pull handle starters. If you decide to get one, you will have to lay it on the ground to start it, and you will need both feet and both hands - the feet are to hold it steady while you pull, and both hands are needed to pull. One hand pulling can lead to a kickback. It is by far the hardest pull start I have ever known. There is a choke or similar that you need to pull out when the engine is cold - perfectly placed and shaped to take the skin off your knuckles when you pull the cord. Use thick gloves. You can't switch it off and restart it in harness, you have to take it off and lay it on the ground each time.

The engine seems to run well enough once it gets going, this is its saving grace, it is just the general design of the thing that lets it down. Be warned, it gets extremely hot. Dangerous to use without the harness, which includes a body protector.

So far I have used the strimmer, the brush cutter, and the hedge trimmer, all successfully. I have read reviews lauding this product, well I would love to try the review machines as the reports simply don't reflect the model that I was supplied with.

The best thing about it is the name, I expect a lot of people associate Hyundai with their cars, which have a very good name for quality and service. The importers are not Hyundai, it is a company in Wales which doesn't seem to know much about the product. I rang them several times before returning the first machine and it was very difficult to find anyone who knew anything about it. Eventually, I did find someone who agreed that the harness couldn't be use left handed, he was supposed to be calling me back explaining how it could be adapted, that was a month ago, I am currently using it with the harness twisted, not good but better than nothing. If you call and get a message that somone is going to call you back in four hours, forget it. Call again.

Took about 3 weeks for the order to arrive. Before it arrived I received 2 requests for service review; not unsurprisingly I scored it lowest possible (1 star). After it arrived it turned out to be a very low quality imitation of the product I thought I was buying. Another service review arrived. After I signed I got an error message to the effect I wasn't able to review.

I found this website whilst surfing for blight resistant tomatoes. I ordered three or four packets of different varieties. There was a very poor germination rate, only about 50%, which is much lower than the usual 90%+.

It is now almost the end of the season and all of the plants have succumbed to blight. I have been growing blight resistant tomatoes sourced elsewhere for the last four years, and the worst I have experienced is a little blacking on a leaf or two here or there. The plants grown from Nicky's Nursery seeds have not quite died, but there is little difference between the tomatoes I used to grow, such as Gardener's Delight and Marmande. There is some small improvement hence two stars but that is all. Plants I have grown in previous years from blight resistant seeds bought elsewhere have produced masses and masses of clean, disease free fruit. Will be sticking to them from now on.

I also bought pepper seeds. Similar difficulty with germination, although they have gone on to produce fruit, but again, less than seeds sourced elsewhere.

So will be reverting to previous suppliers. Better value for money and better seeds. It is very bitter to spend half a year or more nurturing your tomatoes only to see the fruit rotting on the plant, especially where the seeds have been bought at a premium.

Bought a goose at Brent Cross. Have had goose for Xmas for the last 15 years or so but always bought at the farm or farm shop. Waitrose goose tough, not very tasty, a big disappointment, certainly not worth £80. Staff helpful.