This is the journal of my endeavours to grow a range of fruit, veg and flowers from seed, grow organically, and my attempts to create a personal paradise with 1/2 acre of maintained gardens and 1/2 acre wild meadows. Northern Ireland's average daily high temperatures are 18 °C (64 °F) in July and 6 °C (43 °F) in January. Soil type: Clay

Thursday, 31 March 2011

Digging Dilemna

I had a bit of an accident with my digging fork. Unfortunately in a moment of desperation I put my body weight on it and it snapped. I know better but it just happened. So my fork of about 10 years has been retired (until the day I find someone who fixes them).

Pictured with Mondo Black Grass.

So off I went to buy a replacement. Decided to give the business to a garden center and surprisingly they only had two forks to choose from. So I went for one that described itself as "high quality carbon steel" with a "ten year guarantee" and comfort grip. Happy with my purchase I went straight home to use it. Here's the result I got the first day using it...
It's maybe hard to see in this photo, but can you see the second prong has bent. The 'high quality carbon steel' bent from a rock it hit. I was quite surprised it bent so easily. So I'm wondering, is this just my hard luck or should it have bent so easily? The packaging doesn't say exactly what the 10 year guarantee is in relation to.
You can see in the photo above my ten year (broke) fork has straight prongs after 10 years' use. It's kind of embarrassing to think about returning a digging fork to the garden centre. Should I write it off as bad luck and use it anyway? Buy a new one? Ask for my money back?
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15 comments:

  1. Hazel31 March 2011 at 01:49

    Definitely take it back. I had the same problem with a fork and it was replaced by a wonderful heavy duty model. A guarantee is a guarantee...go for it!

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  2. HolleyGarden31 March 2011 at 08:09

    They just don't make things like they used to! Take it back and get your money. Good luck finding one that's 'heavy duty'. You have to sometimes look for commercial grade, if possible.

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  3. Egretta Wells blog31 March 2011 at 08:24

    I have had the same problem replacing tools used for many, many years that were wonderful quality and now the replacemnets are just junk!!Try replacing trimming shears with solid oak handles with a pair of PLASTIC handled ones! No way!
    I would take them back.
    I replaced my quality old shears by going to an auction and finding old, but less used ones just like mine!!

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  4. Mark Willis31 March 2011 at 09:51

    Wow, the way you ladies get through garden forks never ceases to amaze me. You'd better follow Hazel's advice on this - I reckon you HAVE to ask for a refund. A garden fork must expect to come into contact with the odd stone now and then, and you wouldn't expect it to bend at the first sign of trouble.

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  5. Peggy31 March 2011 at 13:30

    Take it back!I think a Co op store would be a better place as it is where farmers would but their hardware.

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  6. Anonymous31 March 2011 at 18:44

    I'd certainly return it, that's for sure. It shouldn't bend. Good luck!

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  7. ann31 March 2011 at 18:47

    Take it back, get your money back, fix the old one. You should be able to find handles--someplace. "they" just don't make things like they used to. Or go to flea market and buy a vintage one.

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  8. Kelli1 April 2011 at 00:53

    Thanks for your comments everyone, good to hear the experiences of others and seems 100% vote so far for me to take it back. I'm plucking up the courage.

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  9. Elly's kleine idylle1 April 2011 at 08:19

    Hi Kelly,
    Previously, the better quality tools as now. I would return and refund.
    The old fork can get a new handle, right?!
    I always replace the steal of my tools.

    Success and still a good weekend, Elly

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  10. Laura1 April 2011 at 12:44

    Hi Kelli! Thanks for stopping by my blog, glad you liked it :) We haven't had any boar here for a few weeks thank god but they'll be back I'm sure :( I've added your blog to my list of blogs I like to read with a cup of coffee when I need some time out :) Laura

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  11. Rainy Day Gardener1 April 2011 at 21:44

    Hi Kelly, that is such a bummer about your new garden fork! I agree with many of the comments here that you should take it back! Funny I was just thinking about how poorly things are made these days. I hope you can find someone to fix your old fork, it looks really well made! Do join in on Fertilizer Friday, it's fun to see who stops in around the globe on Tootsie's blog every Friday to 'flaunt their flowers' ;)

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  12. Malay-Kadazan girl2 April 2011 at 19:43

    It is so hard to find good quality things nowadays. Hope you have a refund or a replacement.

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  13. Digital Flower Pictures3 April 2011 at 05:28

    I would probably just keep using it. Too bad about your old fork. Ten years is a long time I bet you were used to it.

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  14. Dawn3 April 2011 at 17:34

    If you don't take it back, just use Gorilla Glue. That's what we use in the USA to fix about anything. I USED it on my rake, potato masher, pizza cutter, broken dining room chair, ornamental chaise. It is fabulous.

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  15. Kelli4 April 2011 at 11:31

    I like the idea of gorilla glue and might try that on a few things. I took the digging fork back to the garden centre and they gladly gave me a refund. So I'm content & back out in the garden for more forking around!

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