Porta Potti - how to fix it?

[BobT]

We bought a Thetford Porta Potti 465, top of the line.  It broke on the very first outing.  I was trying to relocate it in the dark.  It has a good handle on one side but the handle on the other side doubles as the slide handle.  The flush reservoir was full with 15L so the unit was quite heavy.  As I lifted it, I slipped and pulled the slide handle right out.  As I pushed the handle back in, it popped the slide out of it's runners.  I've got to say, this is a crap design and I'm not trying to be funny.  I got onto a guy at Thetford who explained the only way to fix it is to take off the spout and get your hand in there and try to put the slide back.  After much pain, pushing and scratches, I got my hand in there.  It was obviously designed for the Asian hand. but the setup is so complex I couldn't work out by feel alone how the slide goes it.  Has anybody done this?  Any ideas?  If I can't fix it, I've done $325 cold in about 2 seconds.  Good one Thetford!

[Jeepers Creepers]

If you paid for postage there and back, would they fix it for as a warranty thing?

It would be worth around $60 to go both ways at a guess.

Just a thought, as i have no idea if the supplier would fix it for you, but worth asking.

[KingBilly]

Mate, bad luck there.  Our Thetford 365 lasted two days from new before the hose disconnected from the flush pump.  I could see the problem but there was no way of getting in to fix it.  I had bought it from BCF so phoned them and they said "no worries, drop it in and we will replace it".  And that's what they did.  Top service.  Have you tried taking it back to whence you purchased it?

KB

[Bird]

Warranty... why are you fighting with it...

[cruisindub]

You want to get those 'scratches' treated.

Sounds like your pushing sh1t, just like my day........

[BobT]

Warranty... why are you fighting with it...

I like to fix things myself.  I usually end up with a better job and less hassle.  But yes in this case I guess I'll have to send it back to Snows.  To my mind, any item that needs fixing in the warranty period is not worth buying.

[BobT]

You want to get those 'scratches' treated.

Sounds like your pushing sh1t, just like my day........

You are right.  Luckily it had only ever had a couple of wees in it and the missus doesn't have hep C.

[KingBilly]

To my mind, any item that needs fixing in the warranty period is not worth buying.

So you'd never buy a new car?  Things break, that's why we have warranties.

KB

[BobT]

So you'd never buy a new car?  Things break, that's why we have warranties.

KB

I don't buy cars that I think will break!

[KingBilly]

To my mind, any item that needs fixing in the warranty period is not worth buying.

None of us buy things thinking they will break or we would never buy them 

I don't buy cars that I think will break!

Good luck with that philosophy 

Anyway, not sure why I bought up getting it fixed under warranty as I just re-read your original post.  You damaged the toilet yourself so it is obviously not a warranty issue.

KB

[Jeepers Creepers]

I don't buy cars that I think will break!

Must have a Jeep..... LOL  LOL oh crap, just wet myself. 

[BobT]

If you paid for postage there and back, would they fix it for as a warranty thing?

It would be worth around $60 to go both ways at a guess.

Just a thought, as i have no idea if the supplier would fix it for you, but worth asking.

The thing is that I bought it from Snowys in Adelaide and I live in Sydney.  I rang Thetford to see what can be done.  They said just take it to any authorised dealer and they will handle the warranty claim.  They suggested BCF or Ray's Outdoors.  Incidentally, BCF, Ray’s Outdoors, Supercheap Auto and Rebel Sport are all owned by the same company.  So I went to the nearest BCF being BCF Belrose.  I had the part and the documentation.  They couldn't understand why I brought it to them since I didn't buy it there.  After some head scratching they rang the boss.  The boss suggested I leave the matter with them, they would ring Thetford and let me know the following Monday.  Two weeks later, no phone call.  If that's what they call service, I won't be walking through the doors of Buy Crap From Belrose any time soon.

So I rang Kangaroo Tent City Chatswood.  They said that while they are authorised dealers, their particular shop no longer carries Porta Potti but to bring it in anyway and they will see what they can do.  I brought in the porta potti with all the paper work.  They wanted only the paper work and my details.  I had a bow peek around their shop and by the time I had finished they had faxed off the warranty claim to Thetford.  Now that is service!  Kangaroo Tent City Chatswood is now my "go to" camping shop regardless of the price.  Now I hope Thetford come good.  It seems they regard it as unfixable and will simply replace the bottom section.

[Tjupurula]

I was going to be "cheeky", but that could be taken wrong, so I figure I am glad I just carry a shovel, and live here in the desert.
Tjupurula

[nick_4x4]

The thing is that I bought it from Snowys in Adelaide and I live in Sydney.  I rang Thetford to see what can be done.  They said just take it to any authorised dealer and they will handle the warranty claim.  They suggested BCF or Ray's Outdoors.  Incidentally, BCF, Ray’s Outdoors, Supercheap Auto and Rebel Sport are all owned by the same company.  So I went to the nearest BCF being BCF Belrose.  I had the part and the documentation.  They couldn't understand why I brought it to them since I didn't buy it there.  After some head scratching they rang the boss.  The boss suggested I leave the matter with them, they would ring Thetford and let me know the following Monday.  Two weeks later, no phone call.  If that's what they call service, I won't be walking through the doors of Buy Crap From Belrose any time soon.

So I rang Kangaroo Tent City Chatswood.  They said that while they are authorised dealers, their particular shop no longer carries Porta Potti but to bring it in anyway and they will see what they can do.  I brought in the porta potti with all the paper work.  They wanted only the paper work and my details.  I had a bow peek around their shop and by the time I had finished they had faxed off the warranty claim to Thetford.  Now that is service!  Kangaroo Tent City Chatswood is now my "go to" camping shop regardless of the price.  Now I hope Thetford come good.  It seems they regard it as unfixable and will simply replace the bottom section.

Ive had the same thing with BCF and Rays.

BCF, went in to look for some handhelds that they had in stock at another store but not my local, manager was to ring me when they turned up waiting 3 weeks for a call i ended up going in and only to find they never rang me, got them in and sold them 2 days prior to me turning up. Apparently they said they wont call.

Rays, had a problem with a staff member and her attitude, she treated us like *$^@ and my wife just walked out saying you can shove it, i had enough and rang head office got onto a nice guy on the phone who chucked some credit onto my account and put in a complaint order for this worker, last i seen she was not working there anymore.

I now shop around at the other 3 local camping shops usually i can get better service and a few extras chucked in if im nice (which i am always).

Hopefully your toilet is fixed under warranty, mine had the bellows break on it and i cannot for the life of me work out how to replace it.

[CBRK]

So I rang Kangaroo Tent City Chatswood.  They said that while they are authorised dealers, their particular shop no longer carries Porta Potti but to bring it in anyway and they will see what they can do.  I brought in the porta potti with all the paper work.  They wanted only the paper work and my details.  I had a bow peek around their shop and by the time I had finished they had faxed off the warranty claim to Thetford.  Now that is service!  Kangaroo Tent City Chatswood is now my "go to" camping shop regardless of the price.  Now I hope Thetford come good.  It seems they regard it as unfixable and will simply replace the bottom section.

I too have found that Kangaroo Tent City Chatswood to be very helpful with a range of questions over the years, reasonable cost for gas bottle refills too.

Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk 2

[BobT]

The thing is that I bought it from Snowys in Adelaide and I live in Sydney.  I rang Thetford to see what can be done.  They said just take it to any authorised dealer and they will handle the warranty claim.  They suggested BCF or Ray's Outdoors.  Incidentally, BCF, Ray’s Outdoors, Supercheap Auto and Rebel Sport are all owned by the same company.  So I went to the nearest BCF being BCF Belrose.  I had the part and the documentation.  They couldn't understand why I brought it to them since I didn't buy it there.  After some head scratching they rang the boss.  The boss suggested I leave the matter with them, they would ring Thetford and let me know the following Monday.  Two weeks later, no phone call.  If that's what they call service, I won't be walking through the doors of Buy Crap From Belrose any time soon.

So I rang Kangaroo Tent City Chatswood.  They said that while they are authorised dealers, their particular shop no longer carries Porta Potti but to bring it in anyway and they will see what they can do.  I brought in the porta potti with all the paper work.  They wanted only the paper work and my details.  I had a bow peek around their shop and by the time I had finished they had faxed off the warranty claim to Thetford.  Now that is service!  Kangaroo Tent City Chatswood is now my "go to" camping shop regardless of the price.  Now I hope Thetford come good.  It seems they regard it as unfixable and will simply replace the bottom section.

Six days after giving my details to Kangaroo Tent City Chatswood, I got a call to say that Thetford has replaced the entire bottom canister and it is in to be picked up.  Picked it up this afternoon, no charge.  Great work Kangaroo Tent City Chatswood and Thetford.