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Mum 'Devastated' After Buying £50 Telescope That Doesn't Clearly Show The Moon

Mum 'Devastated' After Buying £50 Telescope That Doesn't Clearly Show The Moon

The telescope was a present for her four-year-old son

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A mum is furious after splashing out £50 on a telescope for her son, that she says doesn't show the craters on the moon.

Twenty-three-year-old Emma Selby bought the telescope in Smyths for her son Billy, four, but shortly after setting it up and looking to the skies, little Billy reported back to say he wasn't able to see 'the moon's craters or the rings of Saturn'.

So, Emma went back to the Smyths store in Plymouth to ask for a refund, but was told she couldn't have one and that store would have to 'investigate'.

Four-year-old Billy was gutted after the telescope failed to show the moon's craters.
SWNS

Emma said: "It was a Christmas present for my son as he's been learning about the moon and stars at school and is really interested in it.

"It was really wobbly and it was just really useless. He was getting really cold and bored because he couldn't see the moon craters.

"We asked a man who worked there if the £50 one was any good and if we would be able to see stars, the Moon and Mars, and he said yes.

"We even asked if we could return it if it was no good, and he said we could.

"So, we came home to Dobwalls and tried it out but struggled to see anything at all, even on the clearest night.

"We did what the instructions said but saw nothing and really struggled to do anything with it.

"We took it back to the store and asked if we could return it - we were told no, it would have to be investigated and left with them."

The Fusion Science 700m refractor telescope, for 'land and sky', is the most expensive telescope on sale in Smyths.

The telescope was a Christmas present for Billy, four.
SWNS

According to the product description, the telescope is able to pick up great views of space.

It reads: "The TM7060 has been designed to provide views of the moon's craters, Jupiter's major moons, and Saturn's rings, in addition to dozens of galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae."

Emma says the day after she took the telescope back, she got a call to say the item wasn't faulty and she wasn't entitled to a refund.

"I asked if they were able to see the moon and he said, 'I can't say as it wasn't me who tested it.'" Emma explained.

"The whole reason we bought it was to see the moon closer.

"So now we're left with a telescope we can't even use and a store refusing to refund us even though they originally said we could bring it back if it wasn't right."

The mum-of-three said Billy was 'really excited' to try his new present, but now she felt like she'd just 'wasted £50'.


She said: "That's £50 we could've used for something the kids would actually enjoy. We are devastated.

"If the guy in store had said he had no idea if it was any good, we wouldn't have bought it - but he said we would definitely be able to see some things and we can't."

After reaching out to Smyths on Facebook, Emma received a reply which read: "Hi Emma, we are terribly sorry to hear of this issue.

"We have looked into this with our Plymouth store. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept the item outside of our terms and conditions unless the item is deemed faulty. Apologies.

"Please be advised we can accept the return within 28 days, provided the goods are unopened. The discretion to accept the item outside of these terms is at the discretion of the store manager.

"Apologies we cannot advise any further in relation to this matter."

LADbible has reached out to Smyths for comment.

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: UK News